Karen Oakes - Director/Lead Executive Coach

 

A Little About Me

Before stepping into a working relationship, I believe it’s important that you know who I am — not just as a professional, but as someone who genuinely cares about the people and businesses I support.

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My career began in the corporate world, working in accountancy and overlapping with human resources throughout my twenties and thirties. While I was adept with spreadsheets and structure, I found myself increasingly drawn to what drives people beneath the surface — their motivations, relationships, and inner lives. That curiosity led me to retrain in counselling, family work, and psychotherapy, eventually completing multiple diplomas and degrees.

I went on to work in community-based roles including anti-social behaviour teams and family mediation services, supporting conflict resolution and relational repair. From there, I established and ran a psychotherapy practice for 19 years, training and supervising therapists and helping many build their own private practices.

Over time, I noticed a recurring theme: many of my clients were business owners and senior professionals, carrying immense pressure in isolation. It became clear that there was a real need for coaching that was not just goal-driven, but psychologically informed. That inspired me to complete my ILM Level 7 in Executive Coaching — a natural evolution of my work and purpose.

Now, I bring together nearly two decades of therapeutic insight with executive coaching and leadership development. It’s work I truly love. And let’s be honest — we spend a significant portion of our lives working, so it’s vital that the work we do feels purposeful, meaningful, and aligned.

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How I Work

I’m passionate about helping people reconnect with their own capability and confidence. I lead by example, and my coaching style is both compassionately challenging and deeply human. I won’t shy away from honest feedback, but it’s always delivered in service of your growth and success.

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In coaching, we’re often working with two layers — the goals of the business, and the goals of the individuals within it. When these align, great things happen. Businesses are born from a vision one person couldn’t achieve alone, so the ability for teams to work effectively together — no matter the size of the company — is vital.

I believe strong alliances are built by strong leaders, and strong leaders are those who are willing to grow, adapt, and evolve — both for themselves and for those they lead.

I’m here to support that transformation.

If you’re ready to unlock your own potential — or that of your team — I’d love to support you.
You can explore the services I offer [here]