As a Third Child Kid myself, I grew up between worlds. Chinese by heritage, American by upbringing, and shaped by every city that helped write a chapter in my life: Boston, Shanghai, London, and Singapore. For years, I learned how to blend in while quietly feeling like I didn’t fully belong anywhere. Like many TCKs, I became an expert at adapting and becoming a professional chameleon. 20 years in the corporate retail merchandising industry helped push that skill even further after completing multiple international relocation assignments. I led teams across Asia, Europe and North America, built a career across borders, and crafted a life many would call global, resilient, and accomplished. But on the inside, I often felt unanchored and without a compass. It took years of introspection, inner work, and honest self discovery to realize my story wasn’t one of confusion or adaptation but one of building bridges, integration, and leaning into my inner intuition.
As a TCK mother to a TCK and multicultural daughter, I wanted to create a safe coaching space that allowed individuals to freely explore their uniqueness. That is why I found the Inner Compass. The quiet, steady truth of who I am beneath all the layers I learned to wear. I hope I can help you find your inner compass through this journey.
~Sally Liang van Opstal
My story
My Approach
Growing up across cultures or building a life far from where you started can shape you in beautiful ways. What often feels like confusion or being lost is simply a signal that your inner compass has been overridden by adaptation, expectations, or constant change.
We will first start with understanding what your values are, essentially your non-negotiables. We’ll then examine how your energy shifts depending on how you respond to challenges, transitions, pressures, and uncertainty. We’ll partner together to create awareness and roadmaps to help you achieve your goals.
We approach each client uniquely as each story deserves its own time. Inner Compass is about coming home to yourself so wherever life takes you next, you move forward grounded, clear and connected from the inside out.
Get in touch
If something here has resonated with you, I’d love to hear from you. You’re welcome to share a little about where you are in your journey, and we can explore together whether this work is the right fit for you.