Who we are
Coaching built on experience.
Delivered where it matters most.
Ariane Rühl-Daguisé
Founder & Executive Coach
Ariane founded Columbia Executive Coaching after over 25 years as a senior executive in international finance. For the past 15 years, she has been coaching leaders navigating demanding environments. Having entered professional life unusually young and quickly progressed into senior roles, she brings both early-acquired adaptability and genuine first-hand knowledge of the pressure, the pace, and what it truly takes to lead. A mother of four, that combination of lived and professional experience is what sets CEC apart.
Background
Prior to founding CEC, Ariane worked in international financial institutions — banks, investment management, brokerage and hedge funds — holding senior positions in sales and investment, building and leading international teams across London, Paris and Frankfurt. Managing investment portfolios under performance pressure gave her a concrete understanding of the resilience and adaptability required of senior leaders today.
She combines coaching acumen with extensive hands-on business experience — helping executives bring their talents to the fore, broaden their skillset, and fully embrace their evolving responsibilities.
Approach & Style
Ariane's coaching is empathetic yet direct, relaxed yet structured — always driven towards clearly articulated objectives and measurable outcomes. She creates the conditions of trust required for honest conversations and meaningful reflection, whilst maintaining a clear focus on accountability, progress and sustained performance.
An international career alongside significant professional and family commitments deeply informs her work with leaders today.
Reach
Ariane coaches executives and their teams principally within financial services and luxury — and across all high-performance, high-visibility environments. She designs and delivers workshops for both Anglo-Saxon and European companies, including Leadership Teams, Executive Committees and Boards; she also focuses on Women of Talent programmes.
With first-hand experience of international postings across London, Paris and Frankfurt, she brings a genuine understanding of the cultural dimensions of leadership — across Anglo-Saxon, French and German corporate environments. Coaching is delivered in English and French, and she is also fluent in German.
For larger mandates and workshops, she works in association with other accredited and experienced coaches.
Industry Experience
Asset Management | Banking | Brokerage | Consulting Firms | Creative Industries | Engineering | Hedge Funds | Legal Firms | Luxury & Cosmetics | Private Equity | Venture Capital
Client Level
C-Suite | Executive Committees | Boards | Partners | Managing Directors | Associates | High Potentials
Certifications
Recognised by the ICF:
Post Graduate Certificate in Business & Personal Coaching — Barefoot Coaching / Chester University
Master Practitioner Diploma in Systemic Team Coaching — Academy of Executive Coaching
Psychometrics:
Hogan Assessment & MBTI (behavioural preferences)| Map & Match (energy skills)