I don’t believe in leaving parts of ourselves at the door. The truth is, what shapes us most is often the thing people don’t see.
For me, that truth is this: I am a bereaved parent.
Losing a child changed me forever. Grief like this is not something you “get over”. It weaves itself into the fabric of who you are. It taught me that leadership, safeguarding, coaching, none of it really matters unless we remember that people are human first. It taught me to notice the quiet, to listen for what isn’t said, and to hold space gently, because we rarely know what someone else is carrying.
But here’s something else that’s true: I am incredibly proud of my family. My two sons, my two stepchildren, and my husband are my anchor and my joy. Their courage, humour, and steady love have kept me moving. Their achievements, big and small, remind me that life is still to be celebrated.
And that’s the heartbeat of my work.
What Grief Has Taught Me About Leadership
True leadership is not about appearing unbreakable, it’s about allowing yourself to be human and still leading with integrity.
Grief taught me that leaders often carry invisible burdens. And the best leaders don’t push those aside, they use them to grow in empathy, to create safety for others, and to give permission for authenticity.
This is why in my leadership coaching I focus on helping people lead with both courage and compassion. Because it’s possible to be steady without being hard, strong without being closed.
What Grief Has Taught Me About Coaching
Coaching isn’t about fixing …… it’s about listening deeply and creating space where someone can be fully themselves.
My own story means I bring lived empathy into every coaching relationship. Whether I’m working with purpose-driven executives, small business founders, or women changemakers, I hold a calm, trusted space where grief and hope, pride and pain, can co-exist.
This is why clients leave not just with goals, but with clarity, courage, and practical ways forward, tools they can actually use tomorrow.
What Grief Has Taught Me About Supervision
Supervision is protective. It’s a place for educators, safeguarding professionals, wellbeing leaders, and coaches to process the emotional weight of their roles.
Grief taught me that reflection is not optional, it’s essential. Without it, we burn out. With it, we build resilience.
That’s why in my reflective supervision I focus on slowing down, noticing what’s unsaid, and celebrating progress, because progress needs witnesses.
Why This Matters
There are many coaches, consultants, and supervisors out there. What makes me different is not a qualification or a title. It’s this: I live what I teach.
I know what it is to carry heartbreak and still show up. I know what it is to lead when you feel empty or undervalued, and to find courage when everything feels fragile. My empathy is lived, not learned. My resilience is real, not performative.
That’s why my coaching, supervision, and consulting are always values-led, human first, and deeply practical.
