How did you come to be doing the job you are doing today?
I have worked in people development and coaching for more than 20 years. I love developing people and gave up employed work this year to focus on my business full-time. I’ve had the business since 2010, so it’s been an ambition since then.
What is the highlight of your working week?
Monday morning. A new working week, full of new opportunities (if you spot them and take them – ‘success’ is where opportunities and courage collide).
What is one common misperception of your work?
The an old adage, ‘people who can’t do, teach’ – which thankfully seems to be dying away. Some training facilitators and coaches have an impressive track record of success. They can add more value by teaching people to fish than by fishing themselves.
If you could offer a piece of advice to your 18-year-old self, what would it be?
Trust your abilities: when you see an opportunity, evaluate and take it (as above). People are rarely just ‘lucky’: you don’t see the work, knock-downs and risks that got them where they are. Oh, and in the words of Martin Luther King, ‘comparison is the thief of happiness’. If more people were focused on themselves and what they had, they’d be happier.
What is your favourite time of year and why?
Late spring. Re-birth, growth, beauty, greenery, warmth (putting the jumpers away for a few months) – what’s not to like?!
How do you feel to be nominated for the Institute Advocate of the Year 2025 award?
I’m truly honoured to be considered in the same company as some fantastic people. But I only advocate for things that are worth it. The Institute is going from strength to strength, and it is nice to be recognised as a key member of such a rich community.
The IOL Excellence Awards take place on 14 November at Hilton London Bankside. Read more about Institute Advocate of the Year finalists.
