One Thursday morning in December 2008, I sat in a Caffè Nero with two fellow managers, cappuccino in hand, gearing up for a big fundraising event. My talented events team was ready, and I’d delivered far bigger projects before — larger budgets, larger targets. But that morning, I burst into tears.

Why? Because I didn’t feel trusted. I felt watched. I was shielding my team from an impending restructure so they could focus on their work — and in that moment, my outward confidence cracked. The mask slipped, and all the pressure I’d been carrying poured out.

I knew what a truly supportive culture could feel like — I’d experienced it before — and I made myself a promise that day to find it again.

Not long after, I stepped into a learning and development role where I was encouraged to create, experiment, and (eventually) train as a coach. I thrived there, supporting leaders across countries to build the skills, practical strategies, and cultures that help people do their best work.

Since then, I’ve worked with leaders from organisations as diverse as the UN Refugee Agency, HSBC, the Department for Education, law firms, tech start-ups, and small charities. I help leaders thrive even when resources are tight — cutting through the noise to uncover what’s really going on, and supporting them to process the emotional fallout that comes with difficult situations, strained relationships, and shaken confidence.

My coaching style is warm, practical, non-judgemental, and yes — joyful. Emotions aren’t just welcome; they’re encouraged. (You can hear more about that on my podcast, My Emotional Work Life.) Because on the other side of the tricky stuff — the doubt, the overwhelm, the tears-in-the-coffee moments — is you: a calm, compassionate leader ready to handle whatever curveball comes next.