Catherine has over 25 years’ experience of working in large complex organisations in commercial, HR and strategy development roles. She is a talented change management specialist, focused on enabling teams to deliver lasting and successful change. She is a confident and positive facilitator who brings energy, enthusiasm and a practical approach to the teams she works with. She has developed a keen interest in the neuroscience of conversations and how improved conversations can lead to significant improvements in performance outcomes. These skills have enabled her to make a successful move into the executive coaching arena.

Coaching style

Leadership can sometimes be a lonely place. Working with the outcome in mind, Catherine gives clients the space to explore what they want to achieve and what might be getting in the way of delivering that outcome. She enables individuals to identify their strengths and how these can best be deployed, whilst understanding their personal patterns and the impact they have on those around them.

Catherine uses her business experience to ensure clients are challenged and supported in equal measure. As a result they set stretching goals for themselves and see the impact of their own leadership improve.

Background

Catherine spent much of her early career with Marks & Spencer working in HR, commercial, strategy and change roles. As Head of Change for the International Division she worked with the senior leadership team to deliver a major change programme and following coach training, began coaching individual executive team members. Catherine created a culture change programme starting with the leadership team, developing shared values, behaviours, respect and departmental feedback processes, supported with individual coaching for leadership team members. For the whole department, she launched quarterly meetings which proved very popular.

Her coaching assignments include retail (George at Asda, Monsoon), banking and financial services. She has worked on change projects with Microsoft, Cisco and Alzheimer’s Society.

She is chair of governors at a local school and sits on pay and personnel, and teaching, learning and assessment committees.

Training and qualifications

Catherine is a trained coach and associate member of the European Mentoring and Coaching Council (EMCC). She is a certified Conversational Intelligence Coach, utilising neuroscience to enable clients to move from conversations that miss the mark, to those that trigger trust, growth and innovation.

Catherine is a Chartered Member of the Institute of Personnel and Development and has a Masters in Leadership Studies from the University of Exeter.

Catherine was key in driving all key aspects of our change agenda at M&S in the International Retail team. She led the much needed cultural change, developed and coached members of the team with special reference to the newer and more experienced members. She led with readily accepted changes in shared values, behaviours and processes. Catherine effectively and firmly kept the team on track. The International team was transformed and within the company changed from a backwater in the business to the most progressive and highly respected. Catherine’s role in this cannot be understated.