Testimonials from professionals
We have worked with professionals from large organisations, medium sized and very small. We are proud to have been the catalyst for so much positive change for professionals. Here are some of their testimonials:

Career coaching
“Uncertain of the direction my career should be taking I asked Anna if she would assist with some career coaching in 2009. Although I knew I could simply continue going in the direction others expected me to, I was unsure if this was really what I wanted. I found it really helpful to talk through this with Anna as she listened intently, and she then provided a structured methodology and a tool to help analyse any jobs I would consider doing – and even some I would not for comparison.

Assessing all my job options against my values, motivations, passions and environmental criteria I was able to conclude that although I was in a very suitable job – which would allow me to progress my career one way – another I had considered would not only be extremely fitting, but would also give me new experience, new challenges and a better work-life balance. The move to this could be sideways or upwards (depending on circumstances) but it was also dependent upon an opening being made available which at that point it was not.

Through continued support from Anna, I communicated my desired move to influential people and raised my profile. At the end of 2010 such a job became available and I was asked to apply for it, having made my aspirations known. I interviewed for it, clear as to why it was right for me, and I got it!

Anna enabled me to do some constructive and logical thinking about my career, and the holistic viewpoint has significantly contributed to my satisfaction with my career – both then, and now.” Manager, IBM

Maternity coaching
“I met Anna just as I was about to have my second child. We had a great first meeting and I instantly found her to be authentic and wise. We agreed that I could pick up the coaching once I was ready to start to think about me again. Anna has been supporting me since i returned to work in August. My confidence was low and in our first session she helped me write down the words that best described me and asked me to read this out loud. I honestly have gone back to that page in my journal a number of times as it was a turning point in my thought process for going back to work. If organisations had line managers who were like ‘Anna’ we would all work in fantastic companies. I am actually doing a different job in my corporate life and have also started to sell children’s books all because Anna listened, offered ideas when i needed them most, but also provided techniques that i continue to use when i just need a bit of help to feel confident about a situation. It proved to me that coaching really can work if you find the right coach.” Susan, RBS

Time to achieve course
“The course ‘Time to Achieve’ is possibly the best money I have spent on myself in the last 10 years. Techniques for assessing what is priority, setting goals, avoiding procrastination and looking at how life can be managed by putting in place simple systems were great ideas which I picked and am using on a daily basis. People have asked me what the difference is about me this year and it is the result of this course.

I am organised, I have focus and spending time on me is not something I feel guilty about because I am balancing the other things. I share drop off /pick up for the gymnastics and dance classes and have a network with other mums. I do the fun things with my daughter and have quality ‘us’ time together. Issues which used to bother me don’t as they somehow don’t seem as important as they used to be and my life genuinely seems happier. Time to Achieve was a catalyst for a transformation which I am continuing. I like to try new things and am getting more out of my personal and work time and no one can put a value on this.

Anna is a great listener and clever analyst who can break down issues into components and areas to tackle. The approaches she taught me will be employed again and again. I will be booking a top up session for 2012. Life is fun and I have the confidence to know I can achieve anything I decide I really want to focus on.”, Judy Gillespie, IBM

Personal and career coaching
“I am fitter, happier, more focussed, more organised and having more fun! You’ve empowered me to start living my life instead of coasting along being miserable. You’ve also helped an adult daughter and her mother become true friends, which is priceless. I wish I could get you for everyone I love.” Naomi, Home Office

Personal coaching
“Working with Anna feels a bit like having a wise best buddy. She’s helped me focus, not just on what I want, which is the easy bit, but crucially, how to achieve it. I particularly love the way every goal or task gets broken down into manageable chunks, so that what seemed impossible before the session becomes practical and do-able.

I’m a naturally cynical, pessimistic sort of person, so for me to say, hand on heart, that working with Anna has been an inspiration, is high praise. And I do mean it. I’ll be going back to her in the future whenever I need help in organising or focusing, or when I need a (kindly) kick in the pants.” Barbara, Newcastle University

Career coaching
“Anna was recommended to me by a friend as I was at a stage where I was dissatisfied with my job but not sure I wanted to leave the security of it. I’ve been in my current job for 3 years and the company for 14 years so there was a lot to think about and these sessions helped enormously in helping me step back and look at the bigger picture by examining what my values and motivations are in life, not just in work.

My particular favourite was the Career Options spreadsheet tool. On and off for years I have regretted not doing a particular course after I left university and doing the spreadsheet made me realise that the job I could get after that course did not actually tick all the boxes. In fact, examining my values and motivations made me realise the company I work for ticks a lot of the boxes for just now and before the course even finished I had been very honest with my line manager about how I felt which may result in working 4 days a week for some of the year and doing some more of what interests me. I shall be able to use the 5th day to explore my other interests without losing the job security. I feel really positive and more confident in general and believe that the course will help me both in my personal and work life.

I would heartily recommend Anna and am in fact intending also doing some personal coaching with her” Susie, Baillie Gifford

Career and personal coaching
“Anna has changed, and is still changing my life despite the fact that our sessions have now finished. Before my trial session I was rather unsure of what the outcome would be, if it really would help, and how easy I would find talking about me and my concerns, but Anna put no pressure on me. It really started me thinking what it was about my life that I felt I should address (not just career which had been my initial reason for getting in touch). It became so clear to me that my confidence in social circumstances was extremely low and I put unnecessary emotional demands on myself in so many situations. I am far more relaxed about meeting new people, and where I do still have nerves I have the tools to help me deal with them. My expectations of myself are far more realistic.

I also struggled with my future career; being fortunate enough to have several possibilities ahead of me I was unsure of where to go, how to pursue my career. Anna’s structured thinking was key to my focussing on my values and personal drivers, leading me to understand what activities and employment keeps me satisfied.

Anna is a listener, and has a gift of asking the right questions to explore further what the root is of your trouble, or what the desire is of your heart.

I’m really looking forward to our catch-up session in a few months. When I feel that some other things are slipping out of my control I just need to sit and think about some of the tips and techniques she has to help (and those seem to be endless in supply).

I’d recommend Anna in an instant.” Sharon, IBM