What is Coaching?  Coaching is a thought-provoking and creative partnership that supports you to maximise your personal and professional potential. The International Coaching Federation (ICF), which describes coaching as a process that:

• increases self-awareness
• supports clarity and insight
• enables self-directed action
• builds confidence and capability

As your coach, I don’t tell you what to do or give advice. I create a safe, confidential space where you can think clearly, challenge assumptions, and reconnect with your own judgement and inner authority. Coaching is future-focused, strengths-based and client-led.

What is Mentoring? Mentoring involves drawing on experience and expertise to guide, support and inform development. Mentoring may include:

• sharing insight from lived leadership experience
• offering perspective on career and organisational challenges
• supporting confidence, decision-making and progression

In my work, mentoring is used intentionally and selectively, often alongside coaching — particularly where women value reflection and informed perspective from someone who has worked at senior level.

What’s the difference between coaching and mentoring? Coaching and mentoring are closely connected, but they offer different kinds of support.

Coaching creates a confidential space for reflection, helping you think clearly, build self-awareness and find your own answers. Rather than giving advice, coaching focuses on strengthening your confidence, judgement and self-trust so that change feels authentic and sustainable.

Mentoring draws more on experience. At times, sharing insight or perspective from lived leadership experience can help you navigate challenges or see new possibilities.

In my work, coaching sits at the heart of the process, with mentoring used thoughtfully where it adds value — offering both space to think and reassurance that you are not figuring it all out alone.

Are you qualified to coach at senior level?  Yes. I am:

• ILM7 Executive Coaching & Mentoring
• International Coaching Federation ACC
• Chartered Fellow CIPD
• With 25+ years’ experience in senior HR, OD, EDI and Leadership roles

I’ve coached and mentored senior leaders, managers and high-potential professionals across public and private sectors, often in complex, high-pressure environments.

Have you worked at the level I’m working at?  Yes. I’ve spent over two decades working at senior leadership level; advising Boards, Councillors and senior executives, leading large multidisciplinary teams, and being accountable for high-risk people, culture and governance decisions. I understand the realities of senior leadership because I’ve lived them.

Do you understand public, private and third sector and male-dominated environments? Very much so. Much of my career has been spent in male-dominated sectors, including Fire and Rescue Services and local government, under intense scrutiny and inspection. I understand:

• visibility and pressure
• organisational politics
• cultural dynamics
• what it’s like to be a senior woman holding responsibility in these spaces

This lived understanding is central to my coaching.

Is your coaching practical or reflective? Both. My approach blends:

• deep reflection and emotional insight
• practical tools and frameworks
• real-world leadership application

Clients often tell me they value the balance of calm space to think and grounded support with real decisions, conversations and challenges.

Who is coaching for? My coaching is particularly suited to:

• senior women and experienced leaders
• women in male-dominated or high-pressure environments
• women juggling career, family and responsibility
• those experiencing self-doubt, overthinking or loss of confidence
• women at a transition point for example promotion, change or re-evaluation

You don’t need to be “broken” to benefit from coaching. Most of my clients are already capable; they just need time to think or have lost trust in themselves.

What can coaching help with?  Clients come to coaching with a wide range of themes, including:

• being successful and high achieveing, and asking - what next?
• self-doubt and imposter thoughts
• confidence shaken by workplace experiences
• decision making and overthinking
• leadership presence and visibility
• identity and confidence after burnout or stress
• boundaries, energy and wellbeing
• career transitions and next steps

We always work with what matters most to you.

How do we work together? We begin with a discovery call to explore:

• what’s going on for you
• what you want to change
• whether we’re the right fit

If we decide to work together:

• sessions are usually held online
• goals and outcomes are agreed collaboratively
• sessions are confidential, reflective and practical
• coaching is grounded in trust, safety and challenge

Between sessions, clients notice greater calm, clarity and confidence.

Do I need to know exactly what I want before starting? No; and many people don’t. It’s very common to begin coaching feeling there are too many options to decide from; being unclear or unsure what you want next. Creating clarity is part of the coaching process; not a prerequisite.

How long does coaching last? It can be 30 minute "laser coaching" or bespoke programmes. I typically recommend a 6 month programme, as this allows time for:

• insight and awareness to develop
• confidence and self-trust to rebuild
• new ways of thinking and leading to embed

Many of my clients; work with me for months or years; coming back to me when they want to explore further.

How much does coaching cost? Please see my Services page for further information.

Is coaching confidential? Yes. All coaching is conducted in line with ICF ethical standards and ILM professional guidelines. Confidentiality is essential for trust, openness and meaningful progress.

Is coaching therapy or counselling? No. Coaching is not therapy or counselling. It does not diagnose or treat mental health conditions. Coaching focuses on awareness, choice, confidence and action. That said, coaching can feel deeply reflective and emotional; especially when confidence or identity has been impacted.

Do you offer consultancy as well as coaching? Yes. Alongside coaching, I offer:

• workshops and facilitation
• leadership development
• culture and EDI consultancy
• speaking and keynote delivery

This work draws on my 25+ years’ experience in HR, OD and organisational transformation.

How do I know if coaching with you is right for me? Coaching with me may be right if:

• you value warmth and challenge
• you want a executive coach who understands senior leadership realities
• you want space to think, not be told what to do
• you’re ready to rebuild confidence from the inside out

The discovery call is a chance to explore this openly and without pressure.

What results can I expect? While results are individual, clients often report:

• feeling calmer and more grounded
• reduced self-doubt and overthinking
• renewed confidence and clarity
• stronger decision-making
• greater self-trust
• improved sleep and wellbeing
• a more authentic leadership presence

What if I’m not sure I’m “ready”? That uncertainty is often the sign you are ready. You don’t need to have all the answers. You just need to be willing to explore. When you’re ready, I’m here.