My name is Ailsa and I have worked in HR for the past 27 years, specialising in recruitment, D&I and strategic HR leadership, mainly in the Financial Services industry. During this time, I built on my interest in psychology and the human experience by completing a yearlong course in Psychodynamic Counselling and, more recently, studied for a Practitioner Diploma in Executive Coaching.

I have enjoyed a wide range of roles over the years, but my experience running ‘Return to Work’ programmes was both a highlight and a pivotal turning point; it gave me an insight into the obstacles that many carers, mostly women, face when they seek a return to the workplace and the experience prompted me seek out more opportunities where I could learn and support the inclusion agenda.
On a personal level, I have also developed a deep understanding of the unique challenges women face during their working lives, including work-life balance, menopause and parental responsibilities, including supporting children with special educational needs.

As I enter a new chapter in my working life, I’m keen to utilise what I’ve learnt along the way in an executive coaching capacity, supporting women to navigate the unique set of circumstances, problems and opportunities they face at work.

My approach tends towards the practical, with a focus on creating awareness and generating actionable insight. Having said that, I have also found that creative techniques can be hugely effective and enjoyable for my clients, particularly for those who don’t typically have the opportunity to explore their challenges in a creative way. I focus on helping my clients to understand what it means to be coachable and to give them the muscle memory, experience and sense of empowerment to support themselves in the future.
Outside of work, I’ve got two teenage boys and an English bulldog to keep me on my toes and I’m on the Board of Trustees of a Prosthetic & Orthotic rehabilitation charity.

Education and qualifications
• Foundation Certificate in Psychodynamic Counselling
• Practitioner Diploma in Executive Coaching from the AoEC – EMCC accredicted
• MSc Social and Occupational Psychology – London School of Economics
• BA Industrial Relations and HRM – University of Kent