Horse’s Mouth
Here are a taste of the situations that draw women to work with me and, in their own words, what they’ve got from our sessions. There’s a sprinkling of other feedback too.
“She’s given me a huge amount of confidence in my own abilities…”
Jessica has been part of some of the biggest decisions I have had to make so far in my career – she has supported and guided me through some challenging issues and has enabled me to get me where I am now where I feel over the moon with the outcome. Its actually quite amazing that my current situation is everything I would have hoped for and wanted 6 months ago, but somewhere I was really struggling to get to on my own. I’ve had 3 sessions with Jessica and each time had specific goals and issues that needed addressing. She has given me clarity of thought, a huge amount of confidence in my own ability, and has guided me through some stressful and confusing times. She has also helped me to make some major decisions that have and will continue to have a big impact on both my career and family life. I highly recommend time with Jessica – in terms of value it is money very well spent and I have got a lot more out of it than I had originally thought possible. Ms F, Marketing Director, March 2013
“It still amazes that one phonecall…”
When I came to you (via skype!) I was very confused and had become trapped in a tazmanian devil style whirl of thoughts. It still amazes me that one phone call could give me the clarity to move forward but that is what it did. I am very grateful. I am happy to say that one year on we are in a very good place. My son is in a daycare he loves and my fledgling parenting community project has taken wings and soared, as have I. When we spoke last year I had less than 200 members. We are now just days away from adding our 1,700th member, run a full calendar of events designed to connect parents in the community and have also launched our website, www.amsterdam-mamas.nl in May 2012 to provide information support to our active facebook group. Emmy McCarthy, Founder of Amsterdam Mamas, August 2012
“…professional, motivating and…”
“I have worked with Jessica over the past year in several capacities. Jessica has facilitated a workshop for my company, partnered with our Diversity and Inclusion for a better place to build a career and personally coached me through a year of transition and change with my role. She is professional, motivating and an expert in the fine art of considering every factor of the equation when striving for the best outcome. I am a communications executive and I appreciate that Jessica coaches and works with executives from every industry rather then just mine. I never hesitate to pass her details along to friends or colleagues who are looking for a professional coach or need help in returning to work after maternity leave.” Jessica Brookes, October 2012
“Something shifted after our conversation”
Something shifted after our conversation and I feel really comfortable about going back to work. I’m the main bread winner and I’ve got to be comfortable about that but two months ago I was in doubt. It felt really hard. The fact that I’d talked to you before having that conversation with (my boss) made a difference. I’m clear now that if I’m going to leave my baby for 10 hours a day I want to be promoted. I’m going to go for it, I’m clear about what I want.” Ms G, project manager, investment banking, November 2011.
“Your Flourishing Female columns are fantastic”
I am returning to work on a part time basis and am currently retraining so that my work can be more flexible around the children. You have given me so much good advice over the last year – the questionnaires you sent out while writing the book were sometimes very therapeutic to complete. It felt like I was getting it all off my chest and they really helped to sort out how I was feeling. Your flourishing female mail shots are fantastic too – the “are you just f**nying about” blog came just at the right time for me…. you can guess can’t you, I was so f**nying about! Not anymore though – I have a list of areas to focus on this year in order to achieve my goals for 2011 which I can refer to anytime I start drifting off towards the ironing pile again. Thanks Jessica, I am sure the book is going to be a great hit and I’m looking forward to reading it.
“I found your calmness and rationality tremendously inspirational”
I just wanted to say how much I valued our first session this week. I have been doing lots of ‘thinking’ which I suppose is a good sign. It’s really quite amazing how things can get so cloudy in your head and actually, having spoken about it openly with you, it feels as though the cloud has been lifted, for want of a better expression! I also wanted to say that you are very talented and professional and I found your calmness and rationality tremendously inspirational. Mrs B, a post-children ‘career shifter’, March 2011
“I came out of my fog and see things in a new light”
I met Jessica in my radio studio one morning and just started chatting to her about the fact that I was about to leave to start my new venture as a Digital Broadcast Consultant. I remembered Jessica that day so well – even though we’ve had tons of coaches through the studio – as she was so engaging and when it came to a time when I was in my transition phase and realising that I was now self employed and a bit alone I called Jessica. After our chat I felt like a new person. She gave me hints and tips on what to do to get me out of my fog and to start seeing things in a different light. I am a great believer in the law of attraction and actually since we spoke good things have been happening and coming my way. I feel a lot more positive and I will use Jessica again but I can’t tell you how much I recommend her. She’s an inspiring lady and like a great friend.”
Pam Lyddon, Bright Star Digital
“Jessica is an inspiration”
Marie Loh of Mums Got Talent decided to do a review of Jessica’s coaching and tell the world via YouTube. She’s a fan of the Flourishing Feamle newsletter and sums her coaching experience up as being a really useful way to work out the best way to spend her time and balance her professional life with home and children. Watch Marie’s 2 minute review of The Thinking Woman’s Coach.
“…everyone should have a Thinking Woman’s Coach…”
Jessica, I just wanted to say a huge thank you for your support and help. Your energy and enthusiasm are highly infectious and I always leave our conversations feeling energised and focused. As a coach myself, I recognise the value in having coaching with a reputable and highly qualified coach, and this is exactly what you offer your clients. Your experience in the field of psychology adds a special depth to your work and it makes for some incredibly interesting discussion and insight. Keep up the brilliant work you are doing with women everywhere. If it were up to me, every woman would have their own personal Thinking Woman’s Coach. Ms M, Lawyer in her 30s, East Anglia
“…so very positive and a fantastic listener…”
You’re so very positive, enthusiastic and a fantastic listener. After speaking to you about my career confusion, I’ve gained clarity about what I want and you’ve helped me to put things into perspective; I feel more positive. Thanks for being genuinely interested in my issues and very thoughtful – all the useful career info you’ve sent me, Jessica, has been much appreciated. You’ve been an excellent Coach. Ms Murray, Charity Project Worker in her 20s, London
“She gives me lots of support and encouragement which equals a more confident, happier and successful me.”
Turning 30 triggered Ms O into evaluating her life, questioning her choices and making comparisons with peers about the shape of her life. We’ve been working together to set out an inspiring plan for the year ahead.
“I used to feel like my friends were leaving me behind, some own a house, some are married, some have kids and some have all three. Not to mention people with jobs way more amazing than mine. I used to try making plans but never had the steam to follow through with them. Working with Jessica has made me realise that I haven’t been left behind, I’ve just taken a different path. I look forward to my sessions with her as its an opportunity to look at what’s happening in my life, build on the successes and learn from what’s not going well. We’ve only had a handful of sessions but I feel like she’s known me for ages. She gives me lots of support and encouragement and this is translating into a much more confident, happier and successful me.”
Ms O, Manager, Financial Services in her 30s, London
“You’re more than a coach…you’ve been better than any psychologist or psychiatrist I’ve ever seen.”
Mrs C wanted support during her transition from corporate life to a life exploring other things. She’d battled low self-esteem and yoyo dieting for most of her adult life and considered this new chapter in her life the time to tackle it.
“You are an inspiration. I was always re-energised to take on the world, and all my demons, after our sessions. They were inspiring and encouraging and really helped me focus. I want to bottle it and give myself a mini-session each and every morning to make sure I get the most out of the day…”
Mrs C, Senior Manager in the Communications Industry, in her 40s, Hertfordshire
“This was the best £300 I’ve ever spent.”
Ms S became a client after spotting me in Prima magazine. She was doing well professionally but low confidence and shyness were denting her social and romantic life. Working together to change her approach outside of work led to a promotion as she became more comfortable in a male dominated work space.
S reflecting on the benefits of our coaching experience:
- A much happier me, which is great.
- Feeling empowered as opposed to helpless, fed-up and de-motivated.
- Increased social life.
- Able to define boundaries, make decisions much more confidently, objectively and feeling comfortable with this. Previously, I made decisions from a weaker-self resulting in feeling even more helpless!
Ms S, Pharmaceutical Manager in her 30s, London
“Thank you Jessica, for everything.”
Mrs D and I began working together when she was adapting to a new life abroad and managing a stressful time trying to get pregnant. In our sessions we mapped out career goals, strategies to reduce the stress of waiting to become a mother and how to enjoy the life she was in now. Self reports of feeling calmer and more relaxed as a result of our coaching sessions probably played a role in her becoming pregnant. I asked her how her thinking and behaviour had changed since working together:
“I am better able to cope with things and to put things into perspective. I see my life as a whole now and not in parts. I also recognise negative thinking better in myself and can stop myself feeling negative. I’m not so much of a victim. I actually feel calmer too – and encourage my husband to be calmer too. I don’t get as stressed as I used to. My work is going well. I’m now pregnant! Life is good.”
Mrs D, Marketing Manager, Continental Europe
“You’ve helped me massively…more than you probably know.”
Working for a small and growing organisation, R was given a big promotion in her late twenties. The business required her to take on a team management role and a doubling of activities almost overnight. My role was to support, encourage and to act as a sounding board as she adjusted. I’ve enjoyed watching her develop and flourish after a stressful start when she wanted to jack it in. She says having an external confidante to whom she can talk with complete frankness has been an enormous help.
Ms R, Rising to a challenging promotion, Hertfordshire
