ABOUT ME
Mental training has been my specialty for 14 years
Performing under pressure is not only a question of talent. It is a question of mental preparation and that training is something you acquire, structure, and work at.
This has been the foundation of my work alongside Swiss Olympic athletes and leaders operating in high-stakes environments.
What interests me is what happens upstream in the mind, before it shows up on the field. How confidence is built not declared. How an individual crosses a threshold they once thought was out of reach.
On the ground, not on the sidelines
I have supported 5 Swiss athletes through their Olympic selection process. One of them won a medal at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympic Games in ice hockey.
This is not a line on a CV it is the result of months of shared work, often out of the spotlight, rarely in it.
Since 2025, I have been the co-lead mental coach at the National Athletics Performance Centre in Aigle. I work directly with national-level athletes and their coaches.
More than 3,000 hours of individual coaching. More than 800 hours on the ground training sessions, competitions, video footage. I observe people perform under real pressure. That is where it matters.
Before coaching, four other worlds
Rolex Watches. ICRC. Sony Music. Montreux Jazz Festival
Four environments with no obvious common ground except one: the standards are non-negotiable.
Managing demanding talent, tight deadlines, stakes that leave no room for approximation.
It is where I understood that the mechanics of human performance follow the same logic whether you are a precision watchmaker, a humanitarian delegate in a crisis zone, an artist under the lights, or an Olympic athlete. Only the setting changes.
A method, not an instinct
I hold two university degrees in positive psychology and mental training, along with a professional coaching certification.
My work is grounded in protocols drawn from sport psychology and neuroscience research. No generic formulas, every protocol is adapted to the profile, goals, and context of the person in front of me.
I work with elite athletes across Olympic and professional disciplines, as well as executives in organisations and national sports federations.
What I transmit is a precise map of the path to the highest level, not motivation, not generic well being.
I know exactly what it costs and what the pursuit of excellence demands, from elite competition to Olympic selection.
That same exigence is what I bring to the corporate world, with the same DNA: autonomy, assertiveness, performance and self-efficacy.
I offer an outside, independant perspective, developed alongside elite athletes and accomplished professionals.
Geneva, and beyond
Born in Geneva and rooted in my city.
Four years in the United States hence fluent English and a certain comfort with multiculturalism.
Italian is the language of my Sicilian roots. French, the language of my thinking.
When I am not in a session, I recharge in nature or open water.
And I claim an uncertified but entirely serious expertise in risotto and parmigiana.
Portrait by Eric Trezza
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“Excellence in performance and in life begins with a vision of where you want to go and a commitment to do what it takes to get there.”
Terry Orlick, In Pursuit of Excellence - Author
Key Qualifications
| 2023 | Positive Psychology diploma, University of Lausanne (Switzerland). |
| Associate member of the Swiss Positive Psychology Association (SWIPPA). | |
| 2012 | Mental training and Athlete’s Psychology diploma, with mention, University of Lille (France). |
| 2011 | Certified Professional coach, BrieF’R Institute, Geneva. |
| 2009 | Certified Jeunesse+Sport (J+S) Swimming instructor. |
Additional Trainings
| 2025 | Psychology of refereeing, webinar by Benoît Louvet. French Society of Sport Psychology (SFPS), Paris. |
| 2020 | Emotional Competences in the Professional Field, by Donald Glowinski, University of Geneva. |
| 2016 | Nutrition & Sport Performance, by Pascal Prévost. Center for Sport & Health. University of Lausanne. |
| 2016 | Tennis Psychology. Swiss Tennis Center. Biel. |
| 2015 | The Art of a Sustainable Success, by Robert Dilts, Paris. |
| 2013 | Young People and Risky behaviours: the role of adults, REPER Association, Freiburg. |
| 2013 | Action Types & Typologies, by Bertrand Théraulaz. Swiss Federal School of Sport, Magglingen. |
Interviews and Media Contributions
FAQs
How long does a typical coaching program last?
Each program is tailored to the individual. Most clients see significant progress after 10 hours of coaching.
For young athletes, students and apprentices - customized programs are offered based on their goals and schedules.
Can coaching sessions be conducted remotely?
Yes. I work in person in Geneva and online with clients based internationally.
The format is tailored to your needs, the results are just as effective.
IS MENTAL COACHING ONLY FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE STRUGGLING?
No. Mental coaching is first and foremost a performance tool, not a remedy. It is designed for athletes, managers or artists who want to raise their game, hone their mental resources, and perform consistently under pressure.
The goal isn’t only to solve problems. It’s to go further.
How do I know if your coaching is right for me?
I offer an initial free 20-minute phone consultation, with no obligation.
This is your chance to ask questions, share your goals, and see if my approach is a good fit for you.
Which sport disciplines do you have experience in?
- Professional sports: football, ice hockey, basketball, volleyball, rugby, equestrian (jumping and eventing) marathon, trail, ultra-trail, free-diving, golf.
- Motor sports: karting, Formula E, Formula 1 (pit stop), LMP3 (endurance), motorcycle.
- Olympic disciplines: athletics, triathlon, sailing, swimming, diving, gymnastics, trampoline, archery, table tennis, tennis, judo, shooting, boxing, muay thai, cycling, alpine skiing, biathlon, fencing, figure skating, rowing, badminton, handball, canoe kayak.
- Other: military special forces and police.
WHAT IS YOUR EXPERIENCE IN THE PERFORMING ARTS?
WHAT ARE YOUR ETHICAL COMMITMENTS?
My practice is guided by four sets of guidelines:
- The ICF Code of Ethics, which sets the professional and ethical guidelines for coaching.
- The SFPS Charter about interventions in sport psychology.
- The Swiss Olympic Charter, promoting integrity and fair play in sports.
- The Charter of Children’s Rights in Sport, ensuring the protection and rights of young athletes.
These principles guide my work, ensuring a foundation of trust, respect, and responsibility in every engagement.
Are the sessions confidential?
Yes, without exception. No information—including your identity will be disclosed without your explicit consent. Privacy is a right, not an option.
WHAT MAKES YOUR APPROACH DIFFERENT?
14 years of experience working at the highest level with Olympic athletes, Swiss champions, managers and executives in organisations, and national federations.
Appointed in 2025 as co-lead Mental Coach at the National Athletics Performance Center in Aigle.
Protocols grounded in sports psychology and positive psychology research, tailored to each individual.
An outside, independent perspective, developed alongside elite athletes, accomplished professionals, and artists.
No motivational speeches. Just results.
Why did you change your first name from “Valérie” to “Arode”?
Arode is my favorite middle name.
By choosing it, I pay tribute to my Sicilian maternal grandfather, a member of the Resistance who was deported in 1943, escaped, was recaptured, and was finally freed in 1945.
His courage in the face of adversity shaped my understanding of mental strength.
It is this legacy that I carry with me in my work.
"Enthusiasm is common. Endurance is rare."
Angela Duckworth - Psychologist and author