Everything You Need to Know Before We Speak

What is executive coaching?

Executive coaching is a professional development process for leaders, founders and senior executives. It's confidential, personalised and focused entirely on your situation, your goals and what you need to move forward.

In practice, the work adapts to what each client needs. Sometimes that's structured coaching to work through a specific challenge or decision. Sometimes it's drawing on commercial experience to give a direct perspective or practical advice. Sometimes it's supporting someone to build a specific leadership skill. The common thread is that every conversation has a purpose and stays focused on what matters most to you and what needs to move forward.

How is your approach different from other coaches?

Most coaches ask good questions and give you space to find your own answers. That has value, but it is not the whole of how I work.

I bring more than 30 years of business experience, including corporate senior leadership, building and running businesses, and working as a Non-Executive Director and Board Advisor.

I listen carefully, ask questions that make you think, challenge assumptions and tell you what I genuinely see. Sometimes that means coaching. Sometimes it means offering a commercial perspective, testing a decision or drawing attention to something you may be too close to notice.

I am direct without being theatrical and supportive without becoming comfortable. If you say something matters, I will expect us to come back to it.

Who do you typically work with?

I work with founders, senior leaders, business owners and leadership teams who are navigating complexity, growth or change, not just in the UK but globally. Some clients engage privately, paying their own fees - typically senior leaders and professionals who want confidential, independent support outside their organisation. Others are commissioned and funded by their organisation directly, including SMEs, professional services firms and larger corporates. I work with clients across the UK and internationally.

What should I expect from a 1-to-1 coaching session?

A focused, confidential space to work through what is on your mind - whether that is a decision, leadership challenge, difficult conversation, change in role or something broader that has been weighing on you.

Sessions are practical and focused on what matters now. We may challenge assumptions, test options, explore what is getting in the way and agree where your attention needs to go next.

The objective is not reflection for its own sake. It is to create useful thinking that makes a difference outside the conversation.

What sectors do you work with?

I work across sectors including professional services, legal, financial services, technology, energy, engineering, manufacturing, education, tourism and other SME environments.

I do not need to be the technical expert in your sector. My role is to understand the context quickly, ask the right questions and bring an independent perspective to the leadership, commercial and organisational issues you are dealing with.

Is everything we discuss completely confidential?

Confidentiality is fundamental to the work.

What you share in coaching is not disclosed to your organisation, sponsor or another third party without your agreement, except where disclosure may be required by law, professional obligations or an immediate safeguarding concern.

For senior leaders in particular, much of the value comes from having somewhere they can speak candidly about decisions, doubts, relationships and issues they cannot easily discuss inside the organisation. Protecting that space is essential.

Beyond the coaching relationship itself, the business is also Cyber Essentials Plus certified - an independently verified UK government-backed standard for data and cyber security. Any information you share, whether in our conversations or through the tools we use, is held securely and handled with the same care that underpins everything I do.

Do you offer online coaching?

Yes. The majority of my clients work with me online, which gives us the flexibility to work together regardless of geography. I work with leaders and founders across the UK and internationally. Online sessions are just as focused, confidential and effective as in-person work.

What are the benefits of team coaching?

A leadership team can contain highly capable people and still struggle collectively.

Team coaching creates space to work on what sits between people: shared direction, accountability, decision-making, communication, trust, difficult conversations and how the team behaves under pressure.

The aim is not simply to create a team that gets along better. It is to strengthen how people think, decide and deliver together.

How long does an engagement last?

It depends on what you need. For flexible 1-to-1 coaching, engagements typically run over 6, 9 or 12 sessions, providing focused support without a long-term commitment.

For leaders and organisations who want a more structured, sustained pathway, I offer three 12-month programmes covering individual leadership, team performance and business growth.

Board Advisory and NED roles are longer-term by nature, providing continuity through key phases of growth or change.

What tools and resources do you use?

I use CliftonStrengths®, Belbin® Team Roles and the Energy Leadership Index™ where they add useful insight into how individuals and teams think, lead and work together.

My structured 12-month programmes also use 51 North, a dedicated coaching platform that keeps your Growth Vision, goals, actions, reflections and progress visible between sessions.

The tools support the work; they are not the work itself. I use them where they genuinely add value rather than because a particular assessment has to fit every situation.

Can I earn CPD hours through your coaching?

Yes. My three structured 12-month programmes can provide up to 25 accredited CPD hours, allowing participants to evidence their learning and professional development.

The exact CPD available depends on the programme and level of participation.

What is the 51 North coaching platform?

51 North is the coaching platform I use across my structured 12-month programmes.

It gives you one place to keep your Growth Vision, annual and monthly goals, actions, reflections and relevant coaching resources visible throughout the programme.

It creates continuity between sessions and gives us a clearer picture of what is progressing, what is getting stuck and where our attention needs to go next.

It supports accountability and reflection; it does not replace the coaching conversation.

What are the fees for coaching or NED advisory work?

Fees vary depending on the type, scope and duration of the engagement.

Some structured programmes have published fees, while executive coaching, team work and Board Advisory can vary depending on what is required.

We can discuss the most appropriate option during a confidential call. There is no obligation and no pressure.

How do I know what type of support is right for me?

You do not need to know before getting in touch.

The starting point is a confidential conversation about what is happening, what you are trying to achieve and what may be getting in the way. From there, we can decide whether coaching, a structured programme, team work, Board Advisory or something else is the right starting point.

What happens on a discovery call?

It is a confidential, no-obligation conversation, usually around 30 minutes.

We will talk through where you are, what you are navigating and what you would like to change or achieve. I may ask questions, challenge some of your thinking and explain the different ways we could work together where relevant.

There is no hard sell. The purpose is simply to establish whether there is a good fit and whether working together makes sense.

How do I get started?

Simply book a confidential call. We'll talk through your situation and explore what type of support would add the most value. It's straightforward, confidential and without obligation.