Beneath the surface, John was frustrated and angry. He felt rage and flew off the handle daily. His relationship with his wife was strained, and despite his best efforts, he found his children impossible to deal with. The house didn’t feel like a reflection of his hard work, and he constantly had a list of improvements he wanted to make.

The only place he found solace was in his work. So, he worked more and more to feel better about himself and his life. John had become addicted to work, pouring every ounce of time and energy into his career to avoid facing the mess at home.

“I now realise I was sacrificing everything for work—my health, my family, and even my happiness. Coaching with Debbie helped me realize I needed to change—for my sake and for everyone else!”

During our work together, we focused on breaking free from work addiction by addressing stress management, internal communication, and relationship dynamics—both with himself and others. John learned how to create boundaries, reduce his stress, and reconnect with his family. His work performance also improved—he was able to be present with his family and more effective at work.

The transformation was profound: John found balance, became a stronger partner, and developed a deeper relationship with his children.

The challenge?

They all wanted to excel at work but also had personal challenges outside—juggling young children, mental health conditions, unrealistic expectations, low self-esteem, and imposter syndrome. In response, they tried harder, putting in more hours, but the stress and exhaustion took its toll......

Insight: They all had similar roles within the company but were very different in terms of personality and working style. While they got the job done and mostly very well, they were not operating at the level of collaboration or synergy required to take the team—and their results—to the next level.

“We are all doing our part, but seem to be working harder and harder but the results and output aren’t changing.. It feels like we’re pulling in different directions despite all sharing similar goals.”

Our work began with individual coaching sessions to help each team member understand their own strengths, weaknesses, and challenges. We used tools to increase their self-awareness and identify who they were, what they wanted and how they could leverage their individual qualities to become stronger on the inside and out (at work AND home).

We then worked as a team, spending a day understanding each other’s communication styles, and more importantly, how to navigate the differences in working styles and personalities.

Next, we tackled the department's focus—which, given their position in a global business, couldn’t be changed. Instead, we worked together to tweak each person's role to fit their strengths and passions. By aligning each individual’s work with what they were best at and enjoyed the most, they were able to deliver exceptional results as a team without burning out or sacrificing their personal lives.

“Debbie’s coaching helped me see how I could align my work with my strengths. It wasn’t just about working harder—it was about working smarter, in a way that kept me motivated and energized.”

The results: These were astounding!

The team’s communication improved dramatically, and they began to support and empower each other more effectively. But it didn’t stop there. Beyond professional success, the team members became happier individuals (please don’t underestimate that!). They found a better balance between their professional AND personal lives. They learned to respect each other's boundaries, take care of themselves, and still bring their best to the table at work. Their work-life integration became a cornerstone of their collective success.

“This coaching has transformed not only the way we work together but how we see ourselves as individuals. We have more balance, more trust in each other, and it shows in everything we do.”

As a result of their newfound teamwork and success, the team was asked to lead new teams in the US and Europe—a testament to the incredible results they achieved together.

Maria had always been a strong and capable leader, but at this point, she felt isolated. The loneliness of leadership was weighing heavily on her—everyone looked to her for answers, yet there was no one she felt she could turn to for honest feedback, guidance, or to just download her thoughts and frustrations. As CEO, she felt like she had to have all the answers, but the constant pressure and emotional toll left her feeling drained and disconnected. 

“I’m used to being the one others turn to, but who do I turn to? As CEO, it’s hard to find someone to trust who truly understands the weight I carry. I’ve realized I need someone who can guide me and help me process everything I’m going through.”

Maria knew her leadership was crucial to the company’s success, but as the business changed, she felt disconnected from her own team. She needed help navigating the organizational shift and ensuring the leadership team stayed aligned, motivated, and focused on the company's new direction.

Through coaching, we worked on:
• Helping Maria develop a clear, empathetic communication strategy for the leadership team, ensuring transparency and openness throughout the transition.
• Identifying her leadership strengths and learning how to use them to maintain stability and trust within her team.
• Creating resilience strategies for herself and her team to handle the emotional challenges and uncertainty of change.

Maria also found that having someone to talk to, someone who understood the complexities of leadership, gave her the space to be vulnerable and process her thoughts without the pressure of needing to always have the answers. She was able to navigate the challenges of being a leader at the top—knowing she didn’t have to go it alone.

Maria’s leadership during the transition kept the company’s operations running smoothly and strengthened the teams. As a result, the company moved through the merger with minimal disruption with happy clients and profitability up. Maria emerged as a calm, clear-headed leader, who guided her team through the storm and came out stronger on the other side – from the inside out.

She recognized the importance of cultural evolution and she wanted to empower the leadership team, make the workplace more proactive, and build an environment where everyone could be at their absolute best.

 I worked directly with the CEO, the leadership team, and the Head of HR to transform the company culture. Together, we redefined the company’s values and approach, emphasizing the importance of an adult culture of empowerment and engagement. We focused on trust, boundaries, and ensuring that everyone in the organization knew where they stood—so the right people were in the right roles at the right time.

We took the time to define what the company stood for—and just as importantly, what it didn’t. This process honoured the longstanding employees and practices while incorporating a fresh perspective that could elevate the people and the business.

By combining the old standards with new approaches, we established a balance that respected what had worked before, while giving the company the opportunity to evolve.

As a result of this culture shift, the company experienced significant growth in its internal dynamics. Employees felt more engaged, motivated, and aligned with the company’s vision. This shift didn’t just affect the internal culture; it also had a profound impact on their clients—with better service, stronger relationships, and a renewed commitment to excellence.

The company’s hard work and new approach paid off when they were awarded the top honour of three stars in a prestigious people award, a reflection of their commitment to building a sustainable, empowered workforce.

The CEO became more visible and took on the role of company ambassador, stepping up to become the face of the organization. Her newfound engagement and unique leadership style were pivotal to the company’s renewed success. Many of the leadership team, who had been coached and mentored throughout the transformation, saw promotions within their teams—something that was previously not happening.

“The changes were not just about the company, but about creating a better work environment for everyone. The leadership team was inspired, and I could feel the energy shift. We ended up being seen as an aspiration in the industry.” – CEO

The pressure of leading a demanding practice, combined with the emotional toll of trying to balance her health and personal life, was overwhelming.

“I feel like I’m running in circles. I’ve achieved so much, but I’m constantly tired and stressed, and it never feels like enough.”

Jody had reached a point where she needed help before she broke. Despite her outward success, she felt constantly drained, disconnected, and unsure of how to keep going without burning out.......The loneliness of being at the top was also beginning to show.

As a leader, everyone looked to her for answers, but she had no one to turn to for honest feedback, support, or to simply vent about the challenges she was facing.

“It’s lonely at the top. I’m always expected to have the answers, but inside, I feel like I’m falling apart. I need someone to help me navigate this or I don’t know how much longer I can keep going.”

Jody knew something had to change, but she didn’t want to give up the career she had worked so hard for. She reached out for coaching, hoping to regain some sense of balance in her life and reclaim control over her time and energy.

Through our work together, we focused on:
• Stress management techniques to help Jody reduce the emotional and physical toll of her high-pressure role.
• Creating clear boundaries between work and her personal life to ensure she could give her best at work AND home.
• Fostering self-awareness to help Jody understand the root causes of her stress and how to manage her expectations of herself—realizing she didn’t need to be perfect at everything.
• Learning how to delegate more effectively at work, set realistic expectations and proactively manage her team.

A key element was also helping Jody navigate the loneliness that came with being a senior leader. By giving her space to reflect and process her challenges, we worked together to find a balance between being a high performer at work and being present at home. I became the trusted partner she needed to help her decompress and work through the stress.

“Coaching with Debbie helped me realize what success means to me. I’ve learned how to manage my stress, prioritize what matters, and create a healthier, more balanced life. I feel more in control and more present with my family, and I’m performing better at work than ever before.”

The results were transformative: Jody felt energized, more connected to her family, and team. She no longer felt like a failure, but a leader who had learned to balance ambition with well-being and that filtered to her team. Her work performance improved, but more importantly, she regained her personal life, her relationships flourished, and she was no longer consumed by the pressures of leadership.

"We were in panic mode. The business had always been solid and successful, but suddenly everything felt like it was slipping through my fingers. I was complacent and probably took my foot off the pedal and ended up in crisis! I needed Debbie’s help urgently.”

We started by revisiting and revitalizing the company vision, one that reignited the founder’s excitement and gave him back the fire in his belly! But the change didn’t stop there.

Despite the amazing client relationships and solid external reputation, the internal culture had been neglected. Teamwork, communication, and trust were lacking, and the internal dynamics were holding the people and business back from achieving true potential. We focused on improving relationships within the firm, ensuring that people’s strengths were recognized and utilized.

Together, we introduced basic but powerful changes like flexible working, team huddles, streamlined laborious processes and created a trusting, adult environment where accountability and collaboration were the norm. This shift in culture and allowed each person to feel more empowered and excited about their role.

“Debbie helped me completely reshape the way we work, as individuals and as a team. We now talk openly, respect each other, and have mutual trust – it’s now the foundation of our firm.”

I worked closely with the leadership team to embed these changes. The results were nothing short of remarkable. Within 2 years , the firm grew three times bigger than it had ever been. Their turnover exceeded what they had originally imagined, and the company was more profitable than ever.

But the real success was in the staff retention and the fun they now have working together. The team is more engaged and committed to the joint goals, and the company culture has become a key driver of success.

“The growth has been amazing, but what really makes the difference is how much more I want to be here – I’m no longer looking for a job! The sense of teamwork and mutual respect we’ve built is priceless. Thank you"