About
Supporting women in education, sport and health
My vision is to support women to be their career best in education, sport and health. As a values-led coach based on authenticity, compassion and trust, I aim to harness the transformative power of one-to-one coaching conversations. As your coach, this involves active listening, insightful questioning and using a range of effective tools and techniques, in particular, drawing on Gestalt approaches to co-create positive change.
Prior to starting my own coaching business, I worked in higher education as a senior academic in sport and education, then managed large-scale strategic education projects along with a role in mentoring and coaching university staff. I have also taught in secondary and further education, worked in sports coaching and coach education and as a marketing manager for an international sports publisher.
My clients are women at different levels and stages in their professions who wish to develop themselves further or make positive changes to their lives more generally.
My approach is informed principally by Gestalt coaching theory and practice which foregrounds the power of heightened self-awareness and focuses on the here-and-now, to be able to make the desired change. Woven into my approach is a range of creative and effective coaching tools, techniques and resources, leading to new perspectives and shifts in clients’ thinking.
I am a qualified business coach and an accredited Senior Practitioner through the European Mentoring and Coaching Council (EMCC). My professional practice is underpinned by the EMCC Global Code of Ethics: https://www.emccouncil.org/quality/ethics/ and I regularly attend coaching supervision sessions, coaching conferences and workshops as part of my continuing professional development.
Owing to the pandemic, I currently work online. When possible to work face-to-face, I also advocate the benefits of outdoor coaching – an open and creative space to think and feel differently.
I find coaching professional women both motivating and inspiring. Being able to contribute to and observe significant and lasting change in a client is nothing short of a privilege.
As a former England hockey international, outside of my role as a coach, I play golf, cycle and walk in the Yorkshire Dales where I live. I also relish returning to live music, theatre and comedy when it’s safe to do so.
I look forward to working with you
Testimonials
Senior Manager, University of York, UK
From the very beginning of our coaching relationship Karen established a foundation of trust which meant we could explore issues openly. She helped me to work through some self-perceptions which have been holding me back, developing a greater sense of self-confidence as I move into a new management role.
Karen has the ability to pick up on the most important aspects of a conversation and sensitively challenge underlying assumptions, leading to greater clarity. I also valued her ability to bring in new techniques and thinking into the coaching, such as the work we did on exploring narratives which significantly helped me think more positively about what I can achieve.
I have really valued my time with Karen and would strongly recommend her as a coach.
Associate Professor in STEM Education, University of Leeds, UK
My coaching relationship began with Karen about 12 months ago, following an impromptu conversation about imposter syndrome. At that time, my career was at a crossroads and I felt in a bit of a rut, despite a good track record.
Over the past 12 months, Karen has really helped me to understand where I am in my career, what my options could be, and has really helped me to find the answers I was looking for! Also, during that time period, I’ve applied for other roles and was then promoted. Karen really gave me the confidence to push myself forward and have a go, in a way I hadn’t been doing previously.
Karen has a great style of coaching. She is so authentic, bringing her own experiences to the conversation, so it really felt like a two-way relationship. Karen’s also not afraid to ask challenging questions – something that is sometimes needed if we really want to make progress! Karen has also helped me to kick the imposter syndrome into the long grass, for which I am very grateful!
Senior Project Manager, International Development, Chester, UK
In just 6 coaching sessions with Karen I moved from feeling like I was in a quagmire, paralysed by uncertainty, fear and unchallenged beliefs, to feeling positive and confident having devised a long-term vision based on my values and thoroughly explored ideas, with two feet firmly on solid ground (and already implementing my detailed action plan!).
I wholeheartedly recommend Karen as a coach, in particular due to her perceptiveness and her ability to find just the right balance between non-judgemental and supportive listening on the one hand, and incisive questions and challenges on the other, all delivered with kindness, good humour and helpful guidance towards resources, tools and reading.
Senior Project Manager, University of Leeds, UK
Karen immediately made me feel comfortable sharing my thoughts and feelings in our coaching sessions. I appreciated her clear explanations of her approach to coaching and how this could work for me. She always listened carefully to understand my perspective – as well as sharing her intuitive observations and providing the right level of constructive challenge when needed.
I found Karen to be a very insightful and inspiring coach with a very positive energy. Coaching with Karen benefitted me immensely and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend her.
Senior Manager, NHS, Leeds, UK
I think I recognised that a pivotal point in my career was on the horizon but probably didn’t realise how much I was on a treadmill at work. The sessions with Karen helped me to get my head above the parapet, scan the opportunities that mapped to my wider life goals and strengths/skills. It was hard to identify goals initially but the techniques she equipped me with helped to ground some literally transformative changes personally and in relation to career goals. I am well on the way to achieving these now and am using the tools with others.
The need for us all to take time to think is a key learning point and I realise now this was the one thing I had not taken for myself.
Go for it! You might be amazed at where it may take you.
Researcher, Robert Gordon University, UK
As an early career researcher in HE, I had been navigating an uncertain and precarious career path to date and felt that I needed to speak with someone independent about my next steps.
I entered into the coaching partnership with some trepidation, having never focussed on my career in this manner beforehand. However, I was quickly put at ease with Karen’s welcoming, supportive and organised approach. Throughout our sessions, I valued the opportunity to speak with someone independent, who actively listened and could probe the conversation and issues at play with non-judgemental questioning.
After our six sessions, I have elicited a deeper understanding of my core values and motivations on my career path (as well as personally) and have been able to take some key career decisions due to this. I would wholeheartedly recommend Karen as a career coach.