Exclusive Interview with The Genius Behind INGOMU’s Ground Breaking Coaching APP, Al Wynant
Best: Holistic Life Magazine: Tell us a little about you.
Al Wynant: This question stirred memories of an experience that has deeply shaped me—something I hadn’t revisited in years, yet it feels like the beginning of my journey. It gets to the heart of why I do what I do.
During my first clinical practice as a nursing student, I was assigned to the geriatric ward, a placement I was eagerly anticipating. I’ve always had a natural rapport with older adults, so I was excited about the opportunity to work with them.
Nearly 38 years later, I can still vividly remember the first patient I encountered during my training. He was an elderly man battling Parkinson’s disease. The moment I stepped into his room, it felt like a punch to the gut. There he was—a frail, broken soul, trembling uncontrollably, strapped by his wrists and ankles to his bed, unable to utter a word. His eyes spoke volumes. They were filled with pain, fear, and loneliness. To this day, I can still see his eyes and feel the emotions they elicited in me.
For about two weeks, I cared for him—a man whose family visits were scarce and whose severe illness and uncontrollable reactions to it left many other nurses reluctant to take on his care. His condition was challenging, but I found a deep sense of purpose in being there for him, doing everything I could to bring him comfort. His uncontrollable shaking resulted in unintentional hits that caused a few minor bruises on my body. Though he could never speak, his eyes told me everything—gratitude and kindness through the pain and fear. It meant the world to me to treat him with the respect and compassion he deserved during such a difficult time.
He wasn’t my only patient, but I made sure he felt like he was. Each moment with him deepened my resolve to dedicate my life to helping others, in whatever form that might take. This brief encounter with him left an indelible mark.
One morning, just two days before my clinical practice was to end, I walked onto the floor and noticed his door open. As I approached, I saw the bed—empty and neatly made. He had passed away during the night with no one by his side. The starkness of that empty room hit me hard, a poignant reminder of the loneliness he endured.
As a nurse, the reality of death is a constant companion. But this experience taught me something profound: even in the face of life’s darkest moments, a small act of kindness, a touch of compassion, can make an incredibly positive difference. It instilled in me a deep desire to bring light to others and to ensure that every interaction, no matter how brief, carries meaning and care. It’s a reminder that, in those quick moments, we have the power to change someone’s world.
Though I completed my training, I never worked professionally in the field. As an empath, the suffering and death I encountered felt deeply personal and difficult to compartmentalize. Balancing my professional and personal life proved challenging, and it took a toll on my mental well-being. However, this experience reinforced my commitment to serving others and making a meaningful, positive impact, no matter how that would evolve.
Best Holistic Life Magazine: Why are you such an advocate for coaching?
Al Wynant: In my early twenties, I thought I had it all figured out and acted like it, too—not an uncommon trait for someone that age. But in hindsight, that attitude didn’t serve me well.
During a particularly rough patch, both personally and professionally, a friend suggested I meet with a coach. I reluctantly agreed, expecting the coach to give me a list of things I needed to fix. I walked into that session annoyed and skeptical, ready to dismiss whatever advice came my way.
The coach didn’t offer any advice. Instead, after asking why I was there, a single, powerful question was posed: “What is your role in this?” It hit me like a wake-up call, shifting my perspective from blaming everything around me to taking ownership of my situation. Suddenly, it wasn’t about what was wrong with the world but about what I could do to change it. That one question opened my eyes to my own responsibility and the possibility of fixing things myself. It was a moment of clarity that revealed the true power of coaching.
Best Holistic Life Magazine: What is your mission behind Ingomu?
Al Wynant: The company’s mission grew out of my personal mission to make a positive impact in the world by helping as many people as possible. Ingomu’s mission is to uplift humankind by making a positive difference in the lives of many. We do this by empowering humanity through affordable, high-impact personal coaching.
Best Holistic Life Magazine: Why create a company out of that mission?
Al Wynant: It is driven by a desire to democratize coaching, making it accessible to everyone. Traditionally, coaching has been costly and primarily available to high-level executives and affluent individuals. However, everyone faces challenges related to life, work, wellness, and personal growth. Additionally, getting help in a timely manner can be challenging. People may have to wait weeks or months to get appointments.
By creating a holistic faculty of coaches and developing technology that makes coaching accessible to a broader audience, we can offer support to individuals who may otherwise go without it. Imagine the impact of having a support group of coaches available 24/7 right in the palm of your hand—providing guidance and support precisely when it’s needed most. This could transform how people manage their personal and professional challenges, making coaching a universal resource for positive change.
Best Holistic Life Magazine: How do you identify what your users need?
Al Wynant: We identify what our users need by listening closely to them. We ask them about the challenges they’re facing and adjust our coaching communities accordingly. The Ingomu app also plays a key role in this process. When users subscribe, the app asks what they’re currently working on and recommends coaches based on those specific needs. As users’ needs evolve, so do our recommendations. Plus, with unlimited access to all coaches, users can always find the right support at any time.
We recognized the need to make high-quality coaching accessible and affordable to more people and companies.
Best Holistic Life Magazine: Why did you want to step out of the box and create something so unique?
Al Wynant: We wanted to step out of the box and create something truly unique with Ingomu because we saw significant challenges in the coaching industry that needed addressing. From lengthy wait times for support to high costs and difficulties in finding vetted support, we believe that with the right technology, we can overcome these challenges.
The industry can feel like the Wild West, where anyone can call themselves a coach without necessarily having the proper credentials or experience. While there are reputable organizations like the International Coaching Federation (ICF) that offer valuable certifications, many people in need of coaching may not have the resources to hire the best, most qualified coaches. We recognized the need to make high-quality coaching accessible and affordable to more people and companies.
To achieve this, we had to rethink the traditional coaching model. We developed technology that delivers coaching in a new way—moving beyond the traditional one-on-one sessions. By creating a user-friendly app, we allow users to engage with coaches at scale, making support available to those who need it most without the high costs typically associated with coaching. This approach enables us to keep coaching accessible, affordable, and impactful for a broader audience. Through Ingomu, we host live virtual group sessions, hundreds of on-demand recorded sessions, one-on-one communication with coaches, and peer support, all anonymously.
Best Holistic Life Magazine: How do you see this making a difference in your users?
Al Wynant: The power of coaching is undeniable. We see our users self-report an average increase in well-being of more than 60% after participating in just one virtual group session.
We believe the Ingomu app can make a profound difference in our users’ lives by providing immediate, 24/7 access to a team of expert coaches, right in their pocket. Whether they’re struggling with issues at home, work, wellness, or spirituality, they can find support whenever they need it most. Imagine the peace of mind that comes from knowing you have dozens of coaches on call, ready to help with whatever keeps you up at night.
Through live virtual group sessions, hundreds of on-demand sessions, and one-on-one messaging, users can access personalized guidance tailored to their specific needs. And all of this is available for less than the cost of a weekly lunch out. This level of accessibility and support has the potential to transform how people navigate the challenges in their lives, offering them the tools and encouragement to overcome obstacles and thrive.
At Ingomu, we meet the user where they are on their coaching journey. Users can watch videos on demand if not ready to jump into a live session. They can join live sessions and listen in, or fully engage with the coach during the session.
Best Holistic Life Magazine: How do you find your coaches, and what makes them so special?
Al Wynant: Our coaches are exceptional individuals and highly skilled professionals—a true community of superheroes dedicated to helping our users thrive.
We find our coaches through referrals, networking, and careful research, ensuring that each one brings something unique and valuable to our holistic approach to coaching. Occasionally, we advertise open opportunities, but coaches can’t buy their way onto our platform—they are invited. They are selected based on their expertise in specific areas of coaching that complement our mission and the needs of our users.
What sets our coaches apart is their experience and commitment. We require that each coach have at least 10 years of verifiable coaching experience and hold the necessary certifications. After passing our onboarding process, they are invited to join our faculty of coaches.
Despite being spread across three continents, our coaches have formed a tight-knit community. I love seeing the connections they’ve built, the respect they show one another, and their willingness to share knowledge and grow together.
Best Holistic Life Magazine: Where do you see yourself and Ingomu in 5 years?
Al Wynant: In five years, I see Ingomu at the forefront of transforming how people access coaching and personal development. Our goal is to continue expanding our platform to make high-quality coaching accessible to even more individuals and organizations worldwide. We envision Ingomu as a leading force in the coaching industry, providing innovative solutions that empower users to overcome challenges, achieve their goals, and improve their well-being. To support companies with retention, engagement, productivity, and resolving absenteeism issues.
Personally, I want to continue driving this mission forward, growing alongside Ingomu as we adapt to the evolving needs of our users. I see myself deeply involved in fostering our community of coaches, exploring new technologies to enhance our offerings, and ensuring that we remain committed to our core values of accessibility, affordability, and impactful support. Ultimately, I aim to see Ingomu recognized as a trusted, go-to resource for anyone seeking meaningful growth and transformation in their personal and professional lives while being a profitable company for all stakeholders.
Coaching is future-oriented, aiming to help individuals set and achieve specific goals, improve performance, and enhance personal and professional growth.
Best Holistic Life Magazine: How are you different from the therapy program?
Al Wynant: Coaching and therapy are distinctly different fields, each with a unique focus and methodology. Coaching is future-oriented, aiming to help individuals set and achieve specific goals, improve performance, and enhance personal and professional growth. It is client-led, with the coach guiding the process of self-discovery and action planning. Coaching uses solution-focused techniques, emphasizing goal setting and accountability, and is often a collaborative partnership.
In contrast, therapy addresses psychological issues, emotional difficulties, and mental health disorders, focusing on both the past and present. It aims to understand and resolve deep-seated issues, with the therapist leading the diagnosis and treatment. Therapy uses insight-oriented techniques like cognitive-behavioral therapy and is more directive, providing structured clinical interventions.
Coaches come from varied backgrounds and receive specific training and certification in coaching methodologies, such as those provided by the International Coach Federation (ICF). Therapists, however, are licensed mental health professionals with advanced degrees and clinical training regulated by state and national boards.
Coaching is non-clinical, focusing on life skills, wellness, and career progression, often involving short-term commitments. Therapy addresses mental health issues, ranging from everyday stress to severe disorders, and can involve long-term treatment. I believe that coaching, in certain cases, may help an individual from escalating and needing therapy.
In terms of confidentiality and ethics, coaching maintains client confidentiality but is less regulated than therapy, which is bound by strict legal and ethical standards to protect client confidentiality, such as HIPAA in the U.S. Overall, coaching targets personal development and future goals, while therapy focuses on resolving psychological issues and mental health.
Best Holistic Life Magazine: Tell us about some of the coaches at INGOMU?
Al Wynant: We work with a holistic group of coaches addressing issues around life, career, wellness, and the soul.
Highlighting just a few:
A familiar name of Best Holistic Life Magazine, Theresa Byrne, CPF, CPQC, and CCht, is a coach and expert in boundaries, communication, and inner power. She has been helping others access self-empowerment through the use of boundaries since her time running a crisis hotline through college, where she studied communication, social work, and psychology. Her coaching community on the app is Boundaries 101: Protecting Your Time, Energy, and Well-Being.
- Anjanette Sullivan, MA, coaches on how to make good teams better.
- Chris Weals, MBA, CCSPT, invites users to change their beliefs to change their lives.
- Erika M. Schreck, MA, supports users dealing with grief and loss.
- Leonie Augustine, BPharm, Dip, and PCC focus on unlocking our full potential.
- Dominique Brits, ACC, CLC, B. Ed. Hon., helps families empower their dynamics as a pathway to harmonious living.
- Jen Nash, AFC, helps her coaching community members to understand and get out of debt.
- Arlene Cohen Miller, JD, PCC, works with users on boosting confidence and self-esteem.
These are just a handful of the talented and amazing coaches users have unlimited access to with the Ingomu app.
Best Holistic Life Magazine: Do the users have access to all the coaches or just a specific group of coaches?
Al Wynant: Yes, users have full and unlimited access to all coaches. They can join unlimited live virtual group sessions, which each coach hosts twice a month at a designated time. Users can watch hundreds of on-demand recorded sessions, engage with questions, and even send coaches direct messages.
Best Holistic Life Magazine: Can you share some user experiences?
Al Wynant: Just a few weeks ago, I was in a session where one of our coaches asked if anyone had any celebrations or wins to share. A participant proudly shared that she had just achieved a major goal she’d set with another Ingomu coach. The response from the coach and the other participants was incredibly heartwarming—it was a beautiful moment of shared joy and support.
With permission, one of our users shared: “I’ve been going through a tough time at work, and it’s been spilling over into my home life. I started using the app a while back, and I’ve found so much support in the communities. They’ve really helped me come up with strategies to tackle the challenges, both at work and at home. They’ve boosted my confidence and helped me improve my relationships with my colleagues and family. I’m thankful for the impact this app has had on my life and career.”
What I enjoy most is seeing the results our users share in the sessions. The notes I receive from our users sharing what they have been able to accomplish are heartwarming. Seeing the breakthroughs of the users and the significant increase in well-being scores makes all the hard work in creating Ingomu worth it.
Best Holistic Life Magazine: I would love for you to share your offer.
Al Wynant: Ingomu offers a 7-day free all-access trial. During this time, you can access all coaches, communities, and messaging. You can also unsubscribe at any time.
Enjoy a 7-day full-access complimentary trial. Join and engage in over 50 live-streamed monthly coaching sessions, access hundreds of on-demand recorded sessions, and engage with coaches between sessions.
- Join the INGOMU Community and start your Journey to Wellness.
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