Discussing challenging ideas, talking about new viewpoints

Female leaders often come to Praesta without a clear understanding of their challenges. They frequently misidentify their struggles, sometimes labelling them as imposter syndrome or confidence issues, when the root cause might be different.

Common questions are around the issue of influence and voice, the battle with self-confidence and self-doubt, and the need for excessive hard work and personal involvement to reach leadership positions. Louise emphasises the need to transition from being an expert who does everything personally to someone who can delegate effectively and maintain a strategic perspective.

Group coaching programmes for women create lasting professional networks, offering ongoing career support and development, forging deep connections that often extend well beyond the initial coaching sessions.

If female leaders mentor high-potential women in their organisation, they can share their experience and knowledge, empowering the younger women as well as developing their own leadership skills.

Praesta has expertise in coaching female executives, rooted in their market experience, gender leadership initiatives, diverse leadership team, and practical strategies to tackle stereotypes and unconscious bias.

Over the years Praesta’s coaching approach to female leadership has evolved, focusing on identifying and managing unconscious bias, supporting women as role models, and challenging resistance to female authority in leadership.

Lousie Sheppard shares her love of supporting women in leadership, blending personal experience, academic research, and practical coaching to address the unique challenges women face in professional growth.

Louise explores the challenges for women in executive roles, highlighting the need for confidence, courage, and representation—especially in male-dominated sectors like finance and professional services.

Nick explores imposter syndrome in coaching, emphasising practical support for clients feeling unworthy. He suggests using shared experience and research-based frameworks to help clients build confidence.

Praesta’s effective approach to executive coaching combines diverse professional backgrounds, research, and the practical experience of it’s coaches to form a balanced perspective. Discovery and development is found through one-to-one coaching, board reviews, and group or team coaching.

Nick shares how his leadership experience shapes his coaching, and highlights the value of diverse perspectives in guiding clients to find their own solutions rather than offering direct answers.

Gen Z and Gen Y leaders need to focus on the importance of strategic thinking amid complexity. Leaders must slow down, reflect deeply, and prioritise thoughtful decision-making.

Pete explains Praesta’s exclusive focus on coaching senior executives and high-potential leaders, highlighting their work with PLCs and private equity firms and the importance of strict confidentiality.

Frequent questions are around leadership challenges, highlighting imposter syndrome and self-doubt. Jane emphasises the need for leaders to adapt quickly and build broader collaboration networks beyond their usual trusted circles.

Clients often overlook their own context. By gaining broader perspective, clients can examine assumptions and motivations, leading to more conscious, informed decision-making.