About
The coach behind Untrapped
Business strategist. Workshop facilitator. Recovering perfectionist.
Opening
I didn't set out to become a business coach. My name is Frédérique Niel — though most people call me Fred — and I set out to help entrepreneurs stop making the same painful mistakes I saw over and over: people with great ideas and real drive who were drowning in their own businesses.
What's in the name: Untrapped
Growing up in Brittany, France, my parents were hard-working entrepreneurs. They poured their energy into their business, but there was a quiet cost to that hard work: time.
I can only remember twice when our entire family went on vacation together. My parents were caught in a relentless loop — working, working, working. By the time the business was finally running smoothly enough for them to take time off, we kids were already adults. We never got the chance to build that deep connection, and I often felt my dad never truly got to know who I was.
That is why Untrapped exists.
Too many business owners become prisoners of their own success, trading life's unrepeatable moments for constant work. Putting scalable systems and structure in place isn't just about operational efficiency — it's about regaining balance so your business serves your life, rather than consuming it.
Background
Building my professional life across two cultures and two languages has given me a sharp instinct for finding what's essential and letting go of the noise.
With over a decade of experience as a business coach — backed by 17 years as a freelance web designer prior to that — I bridge the gap between high-level strategy and real-world execution. I know firsthand what it takes to build, scale, and fix a business from the inside out.
I work with entrepreneurs and solopreneurs in Vancouver and online, in both English and French. My approach is direct, structured, and human. I'm not here to motivate you — I'm here to help you think more clearly, build more deliberately, and regain your freedom.
What I believe
A well-run business is a design problem. Most entrepreneurs haven't designed their business — they've just accumulated tasks, habits, and workarounds over time. When we fix the design, everything else becomes easier, and you finally get to be untrapped.
My background includes
- 10+ years of business coaching & strategic planning helping solopreneurs and small business owners streamline and scale
- 17 years as a freelance web designer, bringing deep practical experience in systems, digital strategy, and client operations
- Workshop design & facilitation across leadership, operations, finance, marketing, and team dynamics
- Founding DESIDEES — a platform of tools and resources for coaches, trainers, and facilitators
- Hosting Business Power Breakfast — a monthly networking event for Vancouver entrepreneurs
How I work
Strategy. Clarity. Freedom.
01
Strategy
We start with where you actually are — not where you think you should be. Honest diagnosis before any prescription.
02
Clarity
We cut through the noise to find the one or two things that will make the biggest difference. Less is almost always more.
03
Freedom
The goal isn't a better hamster wheel. It's a business that gives you time, autonomy, and the ability to step back without everything stopping.
Let's talk about your business.
Book a free 30-minute discovery call — and let's find out what's really getting in the way.
Book your free call