Executive Coaching for Leaders
I work with clients to improve their performance and well-being by considering how the way they think and behave is affecting their ability to manage the demands of their professional and personal lives.
I am an executive coach with over twenty years of experience in communications, issues and crisis management. I believe that understanding how our thoughts, emotions and behaviour can work for and against us is the key to better relationships, communication and ultimately performance.
My role is not to give advice or judge. Instead, I work alongside clients to disentangle the cognitive and emotional knots created by complex jobs, competing professional and personal priorities, interpersonal conflict and too little time to think. In solving these problems my clients feel energised, think more clearly, and behave more effectively. This enables them to improve their relationships at work and home whilst feeling confident that they are in control of their inner and outer worlds.
My approach, which has been described as ‘iron fist in a velvet glove’, is based on calm, warmth, humour and a healthy dose of truth to power. Skills honed during twenty years in issues and crisis management consultancy working with clients in big pharma, energy, finance and multi-laterals.
I work internationally with leaders and founders in professional services, private equity, media, healthcare and not for profit foundations.
I trained as a coach with Meyler Campbell in 2013 (where I am now Faculty) and I am accredited as a mediator by CEDR. I have an MA in English Literature from St Andrew’s University and an MSc in the Neuroscience and Psychology of Mental Health from King’s College London as well as qualifications in Hogan, MBTI and TKI.
In addition to Byron & Wilf, I am a co-founder at Kennan & Grant where we take a coaching approach to resolving relationship breakdown between peers, partners, co-leaders and founders at work.
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I worked with Alex following a promotion, when I was struggling, as many people do, with imposter syndrome. She helped me understand some of the misconceived assumptions I was holding on to and identified strategies to help improve my confidence and performance. Whilst some of those imposter feelings never leave, I now have control of them and feel so much more confident in my role and am performing at a higher level. I highly recommend Alex as a coach, as she gets results and is great fun to work with.
Managing promotion – General Counsel -
Alexandra helped me with transitional coaching when I moved law firms and was promoted from associate to partner. Our sessions combined a relaxed discussion around my situation, and natural (but highly effective) questions and guidance to unpick feelings from fact and reach conclusions as to the appropriate approach and behaviours. These sessions have given me a "blueprint" for managing situations going forwards. It feels as if there has been a step change in my ability to handle all kinds of situations with calmness, consistency and sophistication. We also discussed perception vs reality; what I would like to be known for and I how I felt when I initially joined vs how I feel now. This helped us set appropriate goals and supported discussions around professional identity, self-awareness and authenticity.
Transition Coaching – Partner, International Law Firm -
I have been working with Alexandra for a year now and I my professional and personal growth is visible! Her emotional intelligence and knowledge of the mind adds incredible value to Alexandra’s excellent coaching and business experience. I highly recommend her as a coach and mentor”.
Female leader at Global Philanthropic Foundation -
As an executive who is engaged deeply both in the organizational management of our medical foundation, and in the global strategic work of addressing the treatment side of Covid-19, I am quite certain that I would not be operating at the level that I am without Alexandra’s coaching. She has helped me; analyse the principles under which I will perform my work; prioritise when the load has become too big; modulate my responses to colleagues/boss/family; understand where my value lies so that I can continue to contribute at my highest level; and occasionally allowed me to whinge so that I don’t overwhelm my direct reports, peers and boss.
Coaching through a crisis -
At a time where my team is at the heart of the global COVID19 crisis response, Alexandra’s support has been invaluable to me for both my personal and professional life. These sessions have surpassed any expectation for which I am very grateful. From the start, I felt comfortable and at ease to discuss complex matters. I was supported and heard, and enjoyed insightful feedback that helped tackle obstacles specific to my field of expertise. Alexandra has helped me unravel and understand myself better, allowed space to re-evaluate, take a step back and provided perspective. This kept me sane in extraordinary times, and allowed me to regain some work-life balance.
Coaching during COVID – Epidemiologist, Academic Institution