About | Empower Forward

organizations

International Coaching Federation (ICF)

SHRM (Society of Human Resource Management)

Certifications

Professional Certified Coach (PCC)

ICF

Certified Advanced Coach (CAC)

Center for Coaching Certification

SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP)

SHRM

Five Lens People Development Practitioner & Team Trainer

FIVE LENS

Volunteer work

Co-leader, Ethics Community of Practice

International Coaching Federation

Board Member

AlphaCare

Vision, laughter,
shared purpose

Lizabé and Mari

where transformation meets cultural immersion

The OCAA [OK!] Model, in Motion

The Empower Forward Way is grounded in the OCAA Model™—Observe, Choose, Adapt, Advance. This framework guides the personal, professional, and collective journeys we (Lizabé & Mari) offer through coaching and travel retreats.

The Model invites you to observe what’s true, make intentional choices, and adapt with honesty and care. Along the way, there are quiet but essential pauses: acceptance. It's these moments that transform reaction into resilience and make growth sustainable, embodied, and real.

Through coaching and travel, we create space for transitions, reflection, and forward movement—trusting the rhythm of OCAA in both the uncertainty and the unfolding.

Women join us to step outside their everyday radius—into new cultures, languages, and perspectives—to uncover what lies beneath the life they’ve learned to manage. They return home not just changed, but expanded—more rooted in their truth, and more aligned with purpose.

This retreat was designed with purpose; you were, too.

Join the Journey

Meet Mari, Managing Partner

Welcome! I’m Mari,
Leadership & People Strategy Coach + Consultant

My work is grounded in faith, formed through lived experience, and fueled by a passion to see people rise with clarity and conviction.

I support individuals in navigating life transitions, rediscovering who they are beyond expectation, and creating rhythms that align with who God designed them to be. Whether through personal coaching, workplace strategy, or a coaching and travel journey, I bring presence, honesty, and compassion to every conversation — creating space for truth, transformation, and trust.

The OCAA Model™ (Observe. Choose. Adapt. Advance.) shapes how I coach: with curiosity, structure, and space to grow.

For those seeking a more sacred path, I offer faith-based coaching designed to meet you in community. Accessible, grace-filled, and rooted in biblical truth, it’s a space for those ready to grow in Christ and walk forward with purpose.

No matter your season, I’m here to support your next step — not just with insight, but with intention.

Let’s move forward together.

Book an intro meeting

read my story

explore Faith-based coaching

“Growth, transformation, and fulfillment—these are more than just words; they are the foundation of Empower Forward.”

Partners of Empower Forward

The heart of Empower Forward

from the founder

Empower Forward isn’t just a practice—it’s where coaching meets community, a catalyst for bold movement and meaningful change.

Too often, we carry expectations and roles that cloud our ability to move with confidence. Here, we focus on realignment—not reinvention. Together, we create space to let go of what no longer serves you, allowing you to step forward with intention, resilience, and trust in what’s possible.

Through coaching, consulting, and community, we provide the space, tools, and support for people to take ownership of their design and step boldly into what’s next. This mission is deeply personal—it’s one I’ve lived myself. Read my story.

Courage

Clarity

Growth

Purpose

vision

A world where one person’s growth lifts many.

Mission

Creating space for people to move forward—and empower others in return.

Mutual respect

We honor every journey by valuing diverse voices and building trust through understanding.

Empathy in action

We listen deeply and act with care, turning understanding into meaningful connection.

Courageous growth

We embrace uncertainty as a path to evolve, adapt, and boldly move forward.

Intentional alignment

We align thoughts, emotions, and actions to create clarity and purposeful progress.

Purposeful momentum

We take bold steps aligned with our values to create meaningful, lasting change.

Guiding principles

Empower Forward core values

Lizabé Myburgh

A trusted partner in transformation and founder of Cont.x Coaching Studio, Lizabé brings a profound focus on context to the heart of the Empower Forward Way. Her expertise seamlessly intersects with the OCAA Model™, emphasizing how understanding and aligning with context can unlock clarity and bold action. Working alongside Empower Forward, Lizabé helps individuals uncover hidden patterns, embrace authenticity, and confidently navigate transitions, ensuring that insight leads to meaningful transformation.

upcoming events

OCAA Retreat: A Transformational Coaching & Travel Journey for Women

Portugal | Aug 27-Sept 2, 2025

view event details

Certifications: ICF Associate Certified Coach (ACC) and Certified Master NLP Practitioner (iGNLP)
Memberships: iGNLP (International Guild of Neuro-Linguistic Programming)

Together, we design spaces for renewal—through transformative journeys, workshops, and coaching experiences that restore clarity, deepen connection, and ignite purpose.

Rooted in shared values and a commitment to forward motion, we cultivate environments where vision becomes aligned action—and individuals are equipped to step into their next chapter with boldness and grace.

Martha Melendez

A dynamic speaker, author of The Aspiring Agent, and accomplished real estate advisor, Martha partners with individuals to transform vision into actionable reality. With a background in teaching and expertise in diverse learning styles, she collaborates with Empower Forward to help participants refine their aspirations and build tangible strategies for success. Her Dream Life Martha brand and work align with the OCAA Model™, providing the momentum to turn clarity and direction into impactful outcomes.