About Me
I am passionate about helping people outwork who they are in what they do in ways that energise them and help them feel more alive and more fully themselves. I believe each of us has a unique design shaped by our experiences, values, strengths and passions.
But how do we live that out in the reality of our roles, organisations, responsibilities and the wider context of our lives? That question now shapes my work.
– Through coaching, I support people to think carefully about how to align who they are with what they do within the real constraints of their work and lives.
– Through Work and Why, I explore how people navigate role recrafting, innovation, transition and entrepreneurship in practice.
The question of what energises us and makes us feel more ourselves is not always easy to answer. In my own experience, it has become clearer gradually through trying things, noticing what fits and what does not, and adjusting course over time. The examples below are some of the ways this has unfolded in my own story.
How this has looked in my own story
Role recrafting
I’ve learnt that I am curious and like trying new things. In one season, this meant spotting a gap in digital learning and gradually building the skills to meet it alongside my existing responsibilities. The shift did not happen overnight. There were setbacks, frustration and long periods of uncertainty. I know what it feels like to carry both the work you are paid to do and the change you are trying to create, and to hold the ambiguity between the two.
Innovation
Over time, that early work grew into establishing digital learning as a recognised area within a large international development organisation, reaching learners in many countries each year. Starting something new inside an existing organisation can feel exposing. There is no guarantee it will work; you are often asking others to take something seriously before it has a track record. I know the mix of risk, persistence and quiet hope that it takes.
Transition
There have been seasons of transition too. I have worked across policy, organisational learning and digital roles, and taken a career break to relocate with my young family. Some shifts were chosen; others were shaped by circumstance. Transitions can unsettle identity and momentum. I know what it feels like to sit in that in-between space, making decisions without full clarity while juggling multiple priorities and sometimes feeling unsure of my direction.
Study
I have learnt that learning is a passion of mine, both producing it for others and doing it myself. Around fifteen years after completing my formal degrees, I chose to return to structured study. I completed the CIPD Level 5 Diploma in Organisational Learning and Development and am now undertaking the ILM Certificate in Coaching and Mentoring alongside work and family life. Returning to study mid-career means investing time, energy and money without knowing exactly where it will lead. I know both the vulnerability of stepping back into assessment and the quiet confidence that grows as you realise you are capable of more than you assumed.
Entrepreneurship
Most recently, this has meant starting my own coaching practice and blog. It is an experiment built gradually alongside existing responsibilities, without everything mapped out in advance. There is uncertainty and exposure in putting your thinking into the world without knowing whether it will gain traction. I also know the clarity that can come from shaping work around what you genuinely care about.
Beyond work
I am involved in the Smartphone Free Childhood movement. I believe in the importance of speaking up on issues that matter. Courage appeared in my strengths profile as something I do, but that also drains me, which feels true. I do not always find it easy and have learnt I need to pace myself.
I attend an art class where the theme changes each week, which suits my curiosity and enjoyment of trying new things. I also take part in parkrun and belong to a local church, both of which remind me how important community is for me.
These parts of my life continue to teach me what matters to me and the ways I can live that out.