Insights

When I first began perimenopause, I didn’t know that’s what it was. Like many women in the UK, I went to my GP exhausted, emotional, forgetful and struggling to think clearly. Instead of a conversation about hormones, I was initially diagnosed with depression. 🫠 And honestly? For a while, I genuinely thought I might be developing early onset dementia. I was forgetting words mid-sentence. Walking into rooms and forgetting why. Re-reading emails three times. Losing my train of

If coaching were a person, it wouldn’t sit quietly in the corner sipping tea. It would be out in the street, sleeves rolled up, gently but persistently asking better questions until something shifts. 🌱 Anyone that knows me will know this is a staged shot, i don't have my water or pen and pad! International Coaching Week 2026 is a timely reminder that coaching isn’t just about polishing CVs or climbing ladders. At its best, it’s a quiet revolution. One conversation at a time,

There’s something gloriously symbolic about the May Day Bank Holiday in the UK. The daffodils are past their dramatic “look at me” phase, the trees have stopped pretending they’re dead, and suddenly everyone’s buying garden furniture with the optimism of a Victorian poet. 🌿☀️ Spring doesn’t just wake up nature. It wakes up questions. Am I happy? Am I exhausted? Why do I have seventeen tabs open in my brain at all times? And when exactly did “surviving the week” become my per

April 2026 is Stress Awareness Month. If stress were a colleague, it would be that one who turns up uninvited, eats your lunch, rewrites your priorities, and then leaves you holding the mess. 😏 For many professional women, especially those navigating career shifts, menopause, or workplace pressure, stress doesn’t just knock politely. It barges in, kicks off its shoes, and sets up camp. The problem? Most people are trying to manage stress with surface-level fixes, rather th

Every Earth Day (April 22), we hear the same well-meaning messages about recycling, reducing waste, and protecting the planet. But here’s the uncomfortable mirror moment: many professionals are still treating their own careers like single-use plastic. Use it. Burn it. Replace it. Repeat. That is not a career strategy. That is quiet burnout dressed up as ambition. And frankly, it is rubbish. If your career had an environmental footprint, would it be a thriving ecosystem… or a

This week, I read a LinkedIn review that stopped me mid-scroll… not because it was polished (although it was), but because it captured something many people struggle to articulate. The client spoke about the power of blending coaching, mentoring and HR expertise… about navigating “the full picture of work and life ”… and most importantly, about experiencing a mindset shift that didn’t feel overwhelming, but instead built through small, manageable steps. That last bit? That’s

If Easter had a message for our careers, it wouldn’t just be about chocolate eggs (although, let’s be honest, they help). It would be about renewal, rebirth, and perhaps most importantly… reassessment. Because for many women, careers have quietly been built on a foundation of sacrifice. Not always consciously. Not always willingly. But consistently. We say yes when we mean maybe. We stretch when we’re already exhausted. We prioritise being “helpful” over being heard . And som

Let’s be honest.If hormones had a LinkedIn profile, they’d be listed under: “ Influences everything but rarely gets credit.” From confidence in meetings to whether you can remember why you opened that email (again), hormone health is quietly shaping women’s careers every single day . And yet — in most workplaces — it’s still treated like a “personal issue” rather than a professional reality. Its time to get real about hormone health... for the business. As a career coach work

On 20th March , something rather magical (and scientifically precise) happened. The Earth tilted itself into perfect balance — not leaning towards or away from the sun — gifting us a rare moment where day and night stand almost equal. Lovely, isn’t it? Balancing the seasons: Winter and Spring. But beyond the astronomy, the Spring Equinox offers something even more powerful: a gentle nudge to pause, reassess, and perhaps… bloom. For those of us navigating leadership, careers

If AI were a colleague, it would be that wildly efficient new starter who can draft meeting notes in 12 seconds, reorganise a spreadsheet before your tea goes cold, and still leave everyone slightly suspicious about what exactly it is planning next. For professional women in the UK, artificial intelligence is not some distant sci-fi plotline . It is already shaping recruitment, job design, promotion pathways, skills expectations and, quite frankly, the mood music of work itse

We’ve just celebrated International Women's Day on 8 March – a moment when the world reflects on the achievements and contributions of women everywhere. And this coming Sunday is Mothering Sunday in the UK, a day traditionally dedicated to appreciating the women who nurture families and communities. Both occasions are lovely reminders of how much women give to others. Sharing insights and ideas: meaningful conversations that spark growth and connection. Who is looking after

On International Women’s Day (Sunday 8th March) , we celebrate progress — but we also pause to challenge the leadership narratives that still shape how women experience power, influence, and opportunity at work. T his article is for women who have gathered experience, perspective, and resilience over the course of their careers. Women who have led teams, navigated complexity, and delivered results — yet are now asking deeper questions about meaning , impact , and how they wan

You know that feeling? It’s like standing barefoot in the middle of a muddy field: you can’t go back to the role, career or identity you’ve outgrown — but you also don’t know where the path ahead actually starts. Welcome to the awkward middle . Working out what you want to do next doesn't need to be too tricky. This is the space many people find themselves in during a career transition: no longer aligned with what they were doing, but unsure how to articulate what comes next

February can feel like a long, grey stretch — especially if you’re in the middle of a career change. Whether you’re navigating redundancy, re-evaluating your professional identity, managing menopause-related shifts, or simply feeling the nudge that something has to change , this time of year can heighten uncertainty and self-doubt. There are many ways to offer an act of kindness.... Against this backdrop sits Random Acts of Kindness Week , anchored by Random Acts of Kindness

This week includes Valentine’s Day , a day that I’m more inclined to call Galentine’s Day (being a single woman and all). So I thought I’d write an article about women loving themselves — because honestly, if we can’t turn our own potential into a lifelong love affair, why is anyone else lining up to dance with us? Welcome to the compassionate, slightly irresistible world of loving you — your career, your choices, and yes, that amazing brain tucked behind your glasses (eye

I’ve just returned from a long weekend in Ireland, where 1 February is celebrated as St Brigid’s Day. While St Brigid herself is fascinating, I found myself more drawn to the older roots of the day: Imbolc, the Celtic festival that marks the very beginning of spring. Imbolc is associated with Brigid the Goddess – a powerful, pre-Christian figure from Irish mythology. Brigid represents wisdom, protection, creativity and personal growth. She is also known as a guardian of th

We’ve all been there — that awkward stage in life when it feels like the universe nudged (or shoved) us off the treadmill and into the metaphorical ball pit of confusion. One minute you’re on track, the next you’re wondering why your professional life resembles a slightly chaotic rom-com montage. But take heart: rough patches are not derailments . They’re more like… unexpected intermissions with free snacks. Yes, you can get your career back on track — with clarity, confiden

Every January, something curious happens. A “day” known as Blue Monday is whispered about in offices, shared in social feeds, and even splashed across news headlines as “the most depressing day of the year”. But before you reach for the duvet or resign yourself to low energy and low morale, let’s take a fresh look at what it is, why it matters, and how you can turn it into a moment of clarity, connection and career confidence . Our bodies are wired to respond to daylight,

Imagine this: you’re a seasoned copywriter who desperately needs help with your bookkeeping. Meanwhile, a brilliant accountant wants help writing punchy website copy. You could pay money — or you could swap skills and both walk away happy, smarter, and a little richer in connections. 💡 Welcome to the delightful world of skill swapping — where your talents become currency , collaboration becomes your secret business-growth strategy, and everyone’s a winner. What on earth is

At the start of this year, I saw a very established (US-based) LinkedIn-er share this statement: “HR exists to manage risk for the company, not to help us. Understand this so we know how to proceed… and prepare.” Cue a collective intake of breath from people professionals everywhere as the post gathered global momentum . 😱 (I’ve used the People title for the last 5 or so years, but I do see that HR is still widely used, so am utilising the simple “HR/People” format to cover