Celebrating our newest WOL Coach: Petra Bücher
I first met Petra in Frankfurt Airport. I was two hours late, straight off an overnight flight. She was gracious and kind, and immediately struck me as smart and focused.
Like our other Coaches, Petra’s experience with her Circle is what inspired her to become a Coach and “pass it on.” And she has a clarity of vision about exactly who she wants to help with it.
“I’ve been through a WOL Circle myself, and I know what it feels like when something quietly shifts — when you start showing up differently, connecting more intentionally, and moving toward what actually matters to you.”
To me, WOL isn't an off-the-shelf method. It's a framework that meets people 50+ exactly where many of them stand: between uncertainty and the wish to shape their own future again. It brings together what I consider essential – reflection, visibility, and real relationships, beyond hierarchy and generation.
That's why I want to pass WOL on: because I know it works – and because I believe many people need exactly this kind of framework right now.”
As someone who was laid off at 52 years old, I too stood “between uncertainty and the wish to shape their own future again.” I wish I knew Petra back then.
Her experience with a wide range of coaching tools, combined with her decades working in large organizations, will make her an excellent WOL Coach. I’m excited to see what she does with WOL, and the positive difference she’ll make for people—of all ages—finding their own paths through change.
Note: For each new WOL Coach, I ask three questions so you can get to know them and their reasons for becoming a Coach. You can also visit Petra’s WOL Coach profile on workingoutloud.com. Or connect with her on LinkedIn or at www.petra-buecher.de.
1. Please share 5 facts about you so people get to know you.
I've worked in IT for more than 30 years – currently as an IT Architect at an international corporation. Alongside that, I've spent more than 20 years guiding people as a trainer and coach, on topics like leadership, resilience, and generational issues. Not because I had to, but because it never let go of me.
I'm also building my business as coach, mediator, and trainer – because for me, people are at the center: their questions, their crises, their motivations. And above all, the resources everyone carries within them – which some can no longer see for themselves. That's exactly where I start.
In early 2026, I took part in a WOL Circle – and I was surprised how much it moved. I gained clarity, was able to sharpen my vision for the future, and found personal connections that are more than enriching. This is exactly the experience I want to pass on.
I Iove animals – and live it fully: four dogs and three cats are part of my everyday life. They ground me, make me happy, and make sure things are never boring at home.
My greatest value is respect – in how I treat others, and how I treat myself. I believe real change is only possible where people feel seen and respected. That shapes how I work: without judgment, on equal footing, with genuine interest in what each person brings.
2. What positive difference do you aspire to make?
I want to support people 50+ in finding their own paths through change. I firmly believe that no one is “finished” at this stage of life. On the contrary: the years leading up to retirement – and the years after – still hold many new possibilities. The experience people bring with them is a treasure – even when they themselves sometimes no longer believe it.
My goal is to create spaces where people become visible again – to others, and to themselves. Where they realize: I'm not alone with these questions. And where they find their own path – for the time that still lies ahead of them.
3. Why WOL?
I've experienced firsthand what WOL can do. In my first Circle in early 2026, I gained a clarity I hadn't had before – about my own vision, about my own path. And I met people whose connection reaches far beyond the Circle itself.
To me, WOL isn't an off-the-shelf method. It's a framework that meets people 50+ exactly where many of them stand: between uncertainty and the wish to shape their own future again. It brings together what I consider essential – reflection, visibility, and real relationships, beyond hierarchy and generation.
That's why I want to pass WOL on: because I know it works – and because I believe many people need exactly this kind of framework right now.
