The Black Swan is me.
The Courtyard is my home.
The Black Swan is me.
The Courtyard is my home.
The Origin Story
Some stories begin with a triumph. Mine begins with a breaking.
After more than 30 years leading global teams across 35 countries, I had built a career that most would call extraordinary. I led with vision, inspired with courage, and delivered impact at a scale few ever experience. And yet, beneath the titles and the milestones, something was quietly unraveling.
Burnout has a way of stripping everything back to what is real. And what was real was this: the woman who had led thousands across five continents had lost her way back to herself.
It was in that stillness, in the tender, uncomfortable space of rediscovery that the Black Swan appeared.
Some stories begin with a triumph. Mine begins with a breaking.
After more than 30 years leading global teams across 35 countries, I had built a career that most would call extraordinary. I led with vision, inspired with courage, and delivered impact at a scale few ever experience. And yet, beneath the titles and the milestones, something was quietly unraveling.
Burnout has a way of stripping everything back to what is real. And what was real was this: the woman who had led thousands across five continents had lost her way back to herself.
It was in that stillness, in the tender, uncomfortable space of rediscovery that the Black Swan appeared.
First discovered in Australia in 1697, the black swan shattered centuries of certainty. The world had always believed swans could only be white. One unexpected sighting changed everything.
Over time, the black swan became a symbol of transformation, grace, independence, beauty, and prosperity. Of the rare. Of the unexpected. Of the powerful truth that what the world overlooks is often what changes it most.
I adopted the Black Swan as my identity. It helped me return to my core values of strength and personal power. And from that return, Black Swan Courtyard was born.
The Courtyard is the safe space I wished I had, a warm, intimate, virtual hub where creativity flourishes, voices rise, and unique stories find their home.
A place where women who have lived extraordinary lives are finally invited to tell them.
The Courtyard is the safe space I wished I had, a warm, intimate, virtual hub where creativity flourishes, voices rise, and unique stories find their home.
A place where women who have lived extraordinary lives are finally invited to tell them.
A Mother's Whisper
My mother taught me to love books before I could read them myself. I grew up watching her lose herself in stories, and without ever saying it out loud, she taught me that a life well lived deserves to be written down. I didn't know it then, but that quiet inheritance would shape everything.
When COVID closed the borders, I was thousands of miles from her, unable to come home. For two years, I could only listen from a distance as my sister carried the weight of what was happening alone. When I finally returned, I saw it with my own eyes: the Alzheimer's that was slowly taking her from us. Watching my mother's mind fade, unable to reach her the way I once could, was the most heartbreaking chapter of my life.
It was also, unexpectedly, where hope found me again.
Somewhere in that grief, a different dream started to take shape: what if I left the corporate world that had defined me for thirty years, and built something of my own instead? Not for ambition this time, but for freedom. Freedom to be near the people I loved. Freedom to live on purpose, on my own terms, while there was still time.
That dream became Black Swan Courtyard. And it became Stories Unleashed, because if my mother taught me anything, it's that the stories we carry are too precious to leave unwritten, and it is never too late to begin.
That dream became Black Swan Courtyard. And it became Stories Unleashed, because if my mother taught me anything, it's that the stories we carry are too precious to leave unwritten, and it is never too late to begin.
The Founder
I am Françoise Le Poulichet, CEO and Founder of Black Swan Courtyard, and living proof that your most difficult chapter can become your most powerful credential.
I was born and raised in Brittany, France. For over three decades, I led global teams, navigated complexity across 35 countries, and built a career that took me around the world.
Along the way, I collected something far more valuable than titles. I collected stories: of resilience, of reinvention, of the hidden burdens that quietly shape the leaders we become.
When burnout brought me to a crossroads, I made a choice that changed everything. I chose myself.
Today, I channel three decades of lived wisdom into Stories Unleashed, my boutique book coaching program for high achievers ready to stop sitting on their stories and start sharing them with the world.
I am a coach. A publisher. An author. And above all, a Black Swan: rare, graceful, powerful in shadow and light.
The Black Swan is me. The Courtyard is my home.
I am Françoise Le Poulichet, CEO and Founder of Black Swan Courtyard, and living proof that your most difficult chapter can become your most powerful credential.
I was born and raised in Brittany, France. For over three decades, I led global teams, navigated complexity across 35 countries, and built a career that took me around the world.
Along the way, I collected something far more valuable than titles. I collected stories: of resilience, of reinvention, of the hidden burdens that quietly shape the leaders we become.
When burnout brought me to a crossroads, I made a choice that changed everything. I chose myself.
Today, I channel three decades of lived wisdom into Stories Unleashed, my boutique book coaching program for high achievers ready to stop sitting on their stories and start sharing them with the world.
I am a coach. A publisher. An author. And above all, a Black Swan: rare, graceful, powerful in shadow and light.
The Black Swan is me. The Courtyard is my home.
TESTIMONIALS
Trusted by Leaders Worldwide
"Before Stories Unleashed, I didn't think of myself as a writer... Now I feel super confident sharing the story with the world. This literally changed my life."
"Françoise really helped me to focus... she always has this incredible ability to help me open up and make progress. That's one of the things about her, her energy and her vision."
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
What services do you offer?
We offer 1:1 coaching, group programs, clarity sessions, and personalized growth plans designed to help you move forward with your book project.
How do I get started?
Start by booking a free discovery call. We’ll explore your goals and see if our coaching is the right fit for you.
Do you offer virtual sessions?
Yes! All coaching sessions are held virtually via Zoom, so you can join from anywhere in the world.
How often do sessions take place?
Coaching sessions are held on a weekly basis to provide consistent guidance, accountability, and steady progress throughout your book project.
How long is each session?
Sessions typically last 60 minutes, allowing time for deep conversation, reflection, and action planning.
Is coaching confidential?
Absolutely. Everything shared during coaching is kept private and confidential in a safe, judgment-free space.
Do you offer payment plans?
Yes, we offer flexible payment options for coaching packages to make support accessible and stress-free.
What’s your cancellation policy?
We ask for 48-hour notice for any rescheduling. Missed or late-cancelled sessions may be charged depending on your plan.
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
What services do you offer?
We offer 1:1 coaching, group programs, clarity sessions, and personalized growth plans designed to help you move forward with purpose.
How do I get started?
Start by booking a free discovery call. We’ll explore your goals and see if our coaching is the right fit for you.
Do you offer virtual sessions?
Yes! All coaching sessions are held virtually via Zoom, so you can join from anywhere in the world.
How often do sessions take place?
Most clients meet weekly or bi-weekly, depending on their goals and coaching plan. We’ll decide what cadence works best for you.
How long is each session?
Sessions typically last 60 minutes, allowing time for deep conversation, reflection, and action planning.
Is coaching confidential?
Absolutely. Everything shared during coaching is kept private and confidential in a safe, judgment-free space.
Do you offer payment plans?
Yes — we offer flexible payment options for coaching packages to make support accessible and stress-free.
What’s your cancellation policy?
We ask for 24-hour notice for any rescheduling. Missed or late-cancelled sessions may be charged depending on your plan.
Your story is waiting for its Courtyard.
If it's time to stop carrying your story alone,
Stories Unleashed is where it begins.
Your story is waiting
for its Courtyard.
If it's time to stop
carrying your story alone,
Stories Unleashed is
where it begins.
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