“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” Margaret Mead
Katy Boyd, Events Manager, Aspire
“Having just taken on a new, more senior role in my organisation I felt I needed some additional support. Katie’s ‘Manage Like a Leader’ coaching programme helped me hugely. I feel more confident in taking on responsibility and taking on new projects and I don’t feel overwhelmed with a growing career and very stretching targets.
While I was working with her I organised the most successful Aspire fundraising event ever! It raised £580,000, making it the biggest ever challenge by over £100,000. The event has grown again this year, and so has my team, from 1 to 4 people in the space of a year.
Throughout our sessions Katie had an intuitive way of quickly identifying the key issues and areas for development and she was very easy to talk to. She has a wealth of good advice and techniques which has helped me with both my personal development and time management and I always went away from her sessions in a good mood.”
Antonia Bance, Head of Communications and Campaigns, Trades Union Conference (TUC)
“What’s changed from last year and from where I was three months ago is the space you hold for me to reflect, to think and to plan, and the reminders and spurs our sessions give me to lift my head from the everyday. I can’t imagine going through the last few months without your coaching. It’s helping me to be the good leader that I want to model for the rest of my team.”
Lindsay Boswell, CEO, FareShare
“Taming Time helped me refocus on being more efficient but it also helped because we (the whole organisation) did it and it is now shaping organisational thinking and behaviours. I particularly liked your training style working in a group. I found your style professional and impressive. Keeping to time, knowing people’s names and listening yet keeping to your agenda are not easy things to do and were impressive.”
Louise Wright, ex CEO, Back Up Trust
“I see Katie as one of the team at Back Up. She has coached and trained nearly all of us over the years and is part of the magic here.”
Alexa Rees-Jones, Sustainability Adviser, Forum for the Future
“My experience with Katie exceeded my expectations. Prior to working with Katie, I faced two key challenges; managing my time and energy levels as I work across a diverse range of projects, and having a vision for the next steps in my career. In our sessions, Katie asked insightful questions and pushed me to think further than I would have on my own. Not only did Katie guide me with the upmost professionalism utilising good questions, she also instilled in me the skills to continue with self-coaching in the future.
Through working with Katie I was able to develop skills to help me be resilient in busy periods, troubleshoot my tendency towards overworking, and gain greater understanding of myself and my future career direction. I know myself much better, understanding how my signature strengths play out in a work context, and ensuring I continue my career along a path that aligns with my skills and values.”
Martin Williams, Chief Executive, Off Centre
“Katie is a top rate coach whom I’d highly recommend if you’re looking for business coaching with a human touch. Katie is one the best investments I’ve made, for myself and my organisation. Highly recommended.”
Kate Sassi, BBC Journalist
“Be prepared. Six months with Katie means you’ll never be the same again!
Working with Katie is like cutting a path through unexplored jungle. Difficult at times but exciting at others, with amazing discoveries along the way.
Katie takes you on an incredible journey of self-discovery. She’s both the foot-sure guide ahead of you and the person carrying the first-aid kit behind!
If you want to change career, be better at the job you do, change your life or all three then talk to Katie. Her holistic approach makes you realize how much work and life are all wrapped up with each other. She uses fun and thought-provoking techniques to help you on a journey of self-discovery, which cannot fail to move you on. Added to this Katie is warm and very easy to talk to.
As with any journey into the unknown, it can get difficult. But Katie knows this and understands why. She is by your side all the way.
Working with Katie will enormously improve your ability to secure a great job. She gets you to understand your skills and strengths and then sell yourself with your best-ever CV.”
Mel Oley, Fundraiser, ActionAid (now Bloodwise)
“After nearly 20 years in the charity sector, I felt a bit stuck in my career and I was keen to explore which direction to go in and how to get there. Working with Katie was really difficult and really easy at the same time. She is an energetic and encouraging coach who really challenged me to explore my values and goals. It is certainly true that the more I put in, the more I got out and Katie kept me on track with this. After working with Katie, I now feel clearer about my career ambitions and confident that I can reach them. Thank you Katie!”
Fiona McAlister, Operations Manager, Hill Homes
“Thank you, Katie for coaching Verene in the past few months. I am thrilled you have worked together so successfully. Verene embraced the idea of coaching very positively which I knew she would. She was not sure what the benefits would be, but during the period of her coaching I witness a significant change in her behaviour and beliefs. She is so much more confident and positive. Her energy at work sky-rocketed and she worked with a renewed focus on what she needed to do.
“She has loved her sessions with you. I must say that she’s been on fire the last few weeks (work wise) and she credits a large part of that to her work with you. Very impressive, Katie.”
Jane Abbott, ex Head of Programmes, Bliss Charity
“Katie has provided a number of training courses for staff at Bliss which have received very positive feedback. Katie is highly professional and her approach is innovative and creative. She makes her courses both fun and challenging. We will be using Katie again.”
Dan Crossley, Executive Director, Food Ethics Council
“I would highly recommend Katie to others. She has a wealth of experience, is a great listener and helps you build up areas that you want to work on. Katie can offer coaching, mentoring or a combination of both. I genuinely feel as though I wouldn’t be where I am now without her support.”
Stephanie Ross, Editorial Manager, ActionAid
“I surprised myself by really liking the coaching process. I thought it would mean extra tasks piled on to add to the deadlines I already have in my work as magazine editor. But that hasn’t been the case at all. Katie’s approach means I was always driving the process and I wanted to be in there, deciding what I was going to do. If I didn’t do something there was no guilt or judgement. The focus on learning has been empowering.”
“Coaching with Katie was like a little light going on. I highly recommend Be The Change to colleagues within ActionAid and other third sector organisations.”
Martin Guntrip, Club Secretary, All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC)
“Katie’s Taming Time training, which staff did over a morning, was a very positive experience. Katie created a good rapport with the group and immediate feedback was extremely positive, with staff saying they felt inspired to make changes in the way they organised their time.”
“Since the training, staff have been very appreciative of the chance to express and take time for themselves. I’d say there has been a higher level of well-being and contentment in the office, and a greater sense of ‘we’re all in this together’ than before, with staff more able to support each other. I have also seen tangible improvements in organisational skills and fewer examples of procrastination.”
“We hope to work with Katie again in the future and I am very happy to recommend her.”
Mel Herdon, ex Head of multimedia, Actionaid
“I started working with Be The Change because one of my team leaders was keen to find solutions to a number of challenges including, work/life balance, time-management and workload, competing priorities and demands, and dealing with challenging staff.
During one-to-one coaching, Katie helped him to find new ways of managing his workload, including carving out time in the working day so he can carry out the more creative work required of his role; and communicating more effectively with other staff. After three sessions, I can see that his confidence had increased and he had started to work on improving his work/life balance. Katie has also worked with him to develop a range of practical tools to deal more effectively with the day-to-day challenges of his work.
We have decided to continue working with Katie after the initial short programme. Be The Change has the vision, passion and experience I’m looking for to bring about improved well-being and effectiveness in my team.”
Hazel Norman, Director, British Ecological Society (BES)
“I have been really delighted with the significant impact that coaching has had. Katie had a plan and structure for the coaching so that expectations on both sides were clear from the start. There has been a real positive change in the way that the staff member approached their role and I wouldn’t hesitate in using coaching again.”
Gina Gleeson, investment banker, RBS
“When I started the coaching I knew I wanted to have a career vision that I could believe in and be inspired by. I knew I needed a stepping stone to change the direction of my current job but really couldn’t see what step to take. Now I’ve taken that step, I’ve moved my job to four days a week and volunteer at an NGO one day a week. It feels great, and feels right. Along the journey Katie has helped me with many other aspects in my life. I now have a new perspective on things in my everyday existence where I had been less than satisfied.”I think anyone who is willing to put in the effort and wants to make some really positive changes in their life, couldn’t do better than to have Katie’s support and guidance on their journey.” Gina has since left her banking job and is volunteering in Ghana for an NGO.
Gill Kerby, Science Editor
“Katie inspired trust and confidence from the moment we met. Her coaching sessions were the trigger for a new, more positive approach to life and work. She gave me tools and strategies to tackle my gremlins, and encouraged me to stop prevaricating and start taking action. For the first time in years, I focused on what really matters to me and by setting clear goals, I was able to take measured steps towards a more enjoyable, productive and sustainable lifestyle”.
Clare Mackie, Illustrator
“Katie is an inspirational coach, full of integrity and drive. Her uplifting approach is infectious and she has a clarity and rare ability to cut through to the core of any blocks that need facing. She comes from a position of self-empowerment and is completely non-judgemental. I recommend her talents to those who are genuinely keen to move forward – you will be amazed!”
Anya Haywood, Retail Consultant
“Before I started coaching with Katie, I felt really down. I’d been doing the same job for seven years and I felt stuck in a rut. My job wasn’t fun anymore and I felt it no longer matched who I truly was.
But I felt totally powerless to do anything. I just didn’t know where to start doing things differently. I’d been applying for jobs, but I wasn’t getting them. And to top it all, I wasn’t happy in my relationship either. It all seemed too hard a mountain to climb on my own.
Then, a colleague told me about Katie’s coaching programme, and it seemed perfect. I was really attracted by her promise to help you discover what you really want to do with your life. Now, I’ve landed a new job as a senior fashion designer in Florida. I’m looking forward to working with a new team of inspiring people – and enjoying the weather, of course.
As well, as getting the new job, I’ve got more confidence, I feel less helpless, and I’m more go-getting. I also know myself so much better. I’ve learned that the things about me I used to think were frivolous, like my love of comedy, and beautiful things are about being true to who I really am. I was really impressed with the work we did on discovering my true values, the things that really matter to me and make me happy. It was such a simple exercise, but so powerful. I will always have this knowledge about myself when I feel low or stuck again.
It was also really helped knowing that I was going to speak to my coach every week. It certainly made me get things done! If you’ve got one goal or one thing you want to achieve like getting a new job, or running a marathon Katie’s coaching will be invaluable.
I highly recommend her, in fact, I’m always telling friends about her coaching. I plan to do some more coaching soon.”