leadership coaching
women leading - women in global development

We All Lead

We are all leaders – whether it’s in our homes, schools, organisations, or communites. 

Regardless of context, when we are leading, we are required to inspire, innovate, lead change, deliver results, and care for our people.

Women are often required to navigate additional challenges. Social and gender norms, prejudice and discrimination, bias, race, ethnicity, organisational structures, process, and practices, as well as personal choice – can all influence women’s access to, and participation in leadership. 

Leadership coaching can help navigate this journey so that you can lead with more impact.

WANT ACCESS TO MY RESOURCES?

Women’s Leadership Coaching

For women who want to maximise their personal, professional and social impact.

This leadership coaching is designed to help you:

  • Accelerate your career and your personal and professional development
  • Build your leadership impact and positively influence others
  • Lead from your values, strengths and interests
  • Build and leverage relationships, networks and resources
  • Develop greater self and other awareness
  • Cultivate resilience in you and your teams
  • Lead yourself and others with empathy and compassion

Depending where you are starting from, you will grow your capacity to: 

  • Articulate a leadership identity and build your leadership brand
  • Exercise your emotional intelligence
  • Identify and share your accomplishments
  • Develop compelling communications 
  • Positively influence others
  • Negotiate for what you want and need
  • Lead change with confidence
Woman coaching another woman - coaching for women in global development - leadership advancement for women

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How it works

Each person and each leader is unique – so we start from here. 

We discuss your wants, needs, and expectations so that we can co-create a coaching programme that suits you and/or your organisation.

We work together on-line for our sessions and you have the opportunity to continue your work between sessions with bespoke activities designed to help you go further by experimenting/practicing what we have done in the sessions. 

We do regular check-ins to see how you and doing and how we are doing as a partnership to ensure that we are growing.

    If you would like to explore individual or group coaching – schedule an introductory call (no charge).

    Older woman leading team - women leading in global development - women advancing in leadership

    Person-Centered, Solution-Focused

    My coaching is person- or ‘you’-centred and solution-focused. Individuals receiving coaching are the recognised experts in their life and drive the coaching agenda – and global development professionals often have unique challenges – we work on what is important for you and your growth and development.

    The coaching is focused on movement towards your goals, which involves identifying ways forward and taking action. This means that you are: a) your own agent of change b) you have work to do.

    Whilst one the key components and benefits of coaching is the non-judgemental thinking space – this needs to be complemented with action. Your results are largely dependent on your engagement in the process, including your willingness to experiment with your learning and put it into practice.

    women support women through mentoring
    Two women having a coaching conversation - leadership coaching for women in global development

    My coaching is founded on deep listening, inquiry, reflection, learning and doing. As a coach, I will:

    • Listen to you actively, without judgement: you will have my full attention
    • Ask powerful questions
    • Promote discovery and insight
    • Challenge assumptions and limiting beliefs
    • Help you to discover new thoughts and beliefs
    • Provide structure
    • Assist in setting goals, planning, and strategising
    • Create opportunities for learning and growth (exercises and activities)
    • Hold you accountable for what you want to achieve
    • Trust you to make your own decisions
    • Tell the truth

    what others say

    Palena was crucial in helping me to develop and grow as a person and professionally. Sessions with her were enlightening. Her coaching enabled me to put things into perspective and even shift perspectives. In particular I appreciated the tools she taught me, which I use regularly, and that have been of real practical value to me. Thank you so much, Palena. You are a great coach and I deeply value the time we have spent together and the progress you have helped me make in my life.

    Christine Adam, Deputy Director, International Organization for Migration (IOM)

    I had one of my most significant self-realizations in a session with Palena. If it weren’t for her incredibly thoughtful way of probing and reflecting, it would have taken me many more years to come to the same realization. Thanks to my sessions with Palena, I am able to work and live with a greater understanding of myself. This is a significant gift.

    Emily Sullivan, Senior Manager, UN Foundation / Family Planning 2030

    I really appreciated Palena’s listening skills, intuitiveness and adaptability. She demonstrates genuine kindness and empathy towards her interlocutors, mixed with useful and practical tools that promote self-reflection and realization. She places the human aspect above all and creates a safe space for expression. It was a very fruitful and enjoyable journey, the lessons of which will undoubtedly have lasting effects on my perception of my own leadership abilities and capacity to overcome difficult obstacles with strength and confidence. A very sincere thank you to Palena.

    Anne-Laure Henry-Gréard, Country Programme Manager, Bangladesh, Better Work Programme, ILO

    Palena is a wonderful coach and I cannot tell you how much I benefited from her leadership and guidance. A kin listener, she creates reflection, raising insight and self awareness. Very supportive, she motivated me to be a better leader, to increase my visibility despite my discomfort, and to take my career and leadership skills to the next level. I am so grateful for her guidance and motivation.

    Vanessa Coulomb, Director of Country Programs, Palladium

    Palena brings out the best in you! She really pushes your boundaries and supports you to find your own solutions to everyday personal or professional issues. All of what I learned during our sessions, I am currently putting into practice on a daily basis. The self-learning and reflection is immense and something I will carry with me throughout my career.
    Thank you!

    Yvonne Henry, Senior Programmes Manager, WomenWin

    Palena’s sessions have been an eye-opener for me. Each session widens your world view and brightens the path that you see for your future. Her style of facilitation is very engaging and encourages you to think and introspect deeply.

    Sankalp Jain, NGO India

    An Important Investment

    Leadership coaching has been shown to be an impactful investment. 

    The coaching relationship is a powerful partnership that produces transformation through inquiry, learning and action in a safe space to do so. 

    It encourages you to connect to the totality of your resources – your power, your strengths, your experiences, your wisdom – and to take action to create the results you want.

    JOIN OUR LEADERSHIP REFLECTION SPACE

    Download ‘Leadership Self-Reflection and Action Worksheet’. This resource includes a series of prompts to help you articulate your leadership identity and takes you through questions that can help inventory some of your key resources.