Personal Profile
I have spent over twenty years in the commercial world working with many large corporations in a variety of roles and have experience in both customer facing and operations management. Much of this time was spent within training and development running leadership and management workshops. My business now specialises in personalised coaching and development programmes and I combine this with an Affiliate role with Oxford Brookes University Business School. As part of the International Centre for Coaching and Mentoring Studies I also engage in consultancy and research with the University.
Coaching approach
Everyone has the potential to achieve more. Coaching linked with other development interventions is an efficient way to achieve transformational change, generating long-term performance improvement.
My approach is based on creating personalised plans which are flexible and linked to the overall business strategy and objectives. In order to adapt to the needs of individuals and organisations I use a variety of approaches, based on a non-directive philosophy. My main research interests are in the practical application and use of coaching as a development approach to enhance performance and retain staff with a special focus on building resilience.
Career and Experience
An initial career in recruitment with Rowntree Mackintosh was followed by a period in Account Management with AC Nielsen who work with a large number of FMCG companies and this gave me varied business exposure with such companies as P & G, Fisher Price Toys, Dunlop Sports and Polycell. After moving into Training and Development I was responsible for developing key competencies for new commercial executives and for management development as part of the Dun and Bradstreet Group. Following a short period managing a quality improvement project I took on the role of Customer Services Manager, leading a team of over 70 staff running operations across three UK sites. Having leadership experience with a large team means I can bring a practical and realistic approach to management development.
During a secondment to a McKinsay led change initiative I gained valuable international business re-engineering experience and this led to a cross European role. My subsequent international training career has included projects on performance management, competency initiatives and change management in many sectors including retailing, manufacturing, marketing, marketing research, and call centres. Projects undertaken include working with Tesco, Tellermate, CPM and Oxford University.
More recently, the focus has been on coaching and leadership development, designing and delivering a number of bespoke programmes aimed at developing leadership coaching skills and one-to-one professional coaching. I also often deliver professional development masterclasses on specific topics such as resilience, or aspects of positive psychology. Recent clients include Intercontinental Hotels, Brita, Oxfordshire County Council, Elsevier, Oxford Instruments and Civil Service Learning.
During a secondment to a McKinsay led change initiative I gained valuable international business re-engineering experience and this led to a cross European role. My subsequent international training career has included projects on performance management, competency initiatives and change management in many sectors including retailing, manufacturing, marketing, marketing research, and call centres. Projects undertaken include working with Tesco, Tellermate, CPM and Oxford University.
More recently, the focus has been on coaching and leadership development, designing and delivering a number of bespoke programmes aimed at developing leadership coaching skills and one-to-one professional coaching. I also often deliver professional development masterclasses on specific topics such as resilience, or aspects of positive psychology. Recent clients include Intercontinental Hotels, Brita, Oxfordshire County Council, Elsevier, Oxford Instruments and Civil Service Learning.
Qualifications
- Doctor of Coaching and Mentoring. Thesis title: ‘The role of coaching in the resilience of leaders’
- Accredited Oxford Brookes University Coach
- Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching in Higher Education from Oxford Brookes University
- Postgraduate Certificate in Coaching and Mentoring from Oxford Brookes University
- MSc in Training from Leicester University
- Qualified to run & administer SHL Occupational Personality Questionnaire
- Qualified to Level B Personality Assessment, specialising in CPI and MBTI
- Qualified in Level A Occupational Testing
- Qualified as a D32/D33 Assessor
- First Class Honours Degree in Psychology from Bristol University