Coaching and training testimonials
I work alongside a broad range of people in organisations and businesses of all sizes from Government departments and charities to well established SMEs and start ups as well as self employed individuals. There are so many thing we all have in common, for example so many of us want to communicate better and find ways to improve the way we handle challenges.
Coaching provides tools and techniques for better focus and clarity, something which is essential in work and business. It helps with communication skills, influencing others, better business strategy and planning and brings a sense of ease and confidence to decision making.
Get in touch to discuss how coaching could help you and your team or business by emailing catrinmac@gmail.com or phone 07785 996917
Gavin Rees, Consultant, Business Improvement.
Perceptive, emotionally intelligent and clearly very experienced in business. Catrin is relatable, challenging and an enabler. At the absolute top of her game!
Kim Witmaack General Manager, Hartley Farm
Thank you so much for the sessions. They have been insightful, helpful and appreciated but also relatable which for me is what made the difference. Our catch ups have genuinely surpassed my expectations and have given me so many tools and ideas to work with, on myself but also with the team. There’s something quite daunting about bringing on mentors or coaches but I didn’t feel out of my depth or uncomfortable once.
James Pepper, CEO Vista Retail.
I would highly recommend Catrin to all business leaders, being a CEO of a business can be a lonely role, sometimes we all need someone to talk to, share ideas, challenges, thoughts and concerns in a confidential environment. I attended regular sessions with Catrin over a period of 12 months and she had such a positive impact on me both as a leader and on my mental well-being. I have since appointed Catrin to work with other senior managers at Vista and she has delivered transformational results
Kevin Meredith, Head of Sales, Vista Retail
My peers have noticed (my change in behaviour / mindset) which has given me a lot more confidence when voicing my opinions.
Catrin has taught me ways of changing my mindset at Board meetings and to feel I belonged and no longer fear them.
Restaurant & sustainability entrepreneur, Bristol
“I feel this has given me much more clarity of purpose and can now see a path to making myself more of the person/business owner/leader that I want to be.”
Will you recommend coaching to others?
“Yes, and I have already in fact. Biggest sell for me is the tools with which to deal with challenges, process thoughts, ease my mindset into something more comfortable and make myself more compatible for increased workload, levels of pressure, tough decision making etc.”
Kat Mock, Director & Head Paraplanner, Unity Paraplanning
“I’m really grateful for all of your help and I’ve gone away with pages and pages of notes, ideas and plans. You have given me the confidence to implement my ideas and hunt the good stuff!”
What did you like most about coaching?
• Being able to talk openly about the challenges and work together to build potential solutions.
• Feeling heard.
• Being able to be vulnerable and not have to hide difficultiesHave you noticed a difference in your thinking and/or behaviour? If so, what has changed?
• I feel like a better advocate for both myself and my team
• My thinking is more organised and my behaviour is more planned and structured.Will you recommend coaching to others?
• Absolutely.
Zoe Sweet, previous Director of Leadership & Organisational Development, Academi Wales
Catrin MacDonnell has been a great asset to Academi Wales over the last 3 years. Commissioned to deliver training and development for managers and leaders from across the public sector in Wales, Catrin has brought her considerable knowledge and expertise to master class sessions on the power of listening, coaching and behavioural development. Always organised, flexible and focused in her delivery, Catrin has consistently scored over 95%, excellent, on evaluation by the Academi Wales learners. Its been a pleasure to work with Catrin who puts people at the heart of her development approach
Ian Else, 4 Financial Planning
Justin Greenaway, IT Consultancy
I had the mot amazing coaching sessions with Catrin. I don’t say this lightly, but they changed my life.
A very good service that helped me clarify, build confidence and take action.
Manager, sustainability
C Hutchings, Jisc
I learnt how to manage myself better, to reframe tasks I don’t like and deal with awkward conversations. I have definitely started looking at things from other people’s perspectives more
Catrin came in and did a session for us last Tuesday on growth mindsets. It tied in really well with something our wider team has been doing recently around creativity. We all enjoyed it very much and it certainly helped put us in a positive mindset which was the aim!
Director
Julie Lamming, Planning Ventures
“We were singing your praises again today to some work colleagues and saying that you were the best decision we made this year.
So thank you so much for all your help, guidance and support. Not sure how we managed before we found you.”
CFO
High growth firm.
“Discussing confidential thoughts to someone completely independent (was most useful).
Your approach allowed me to talk openly without being judged. You have a knack of eeking out the answer that lies within. I always felt very positive about myself afterwards.”
Managing Director
Ben Cosh, TGC Renewables
“I have worked with Catrin over a couple of years. She is hugely skilful
and able to ask insightful questions to help bring clarity of thought to
complex business issues and relationships. This clarity of thought has
enabled focused actions on my part, which have in turn led to amazing
business results.”
Senior Training Manager
National organisation
“The coaching exceeded my expectations. The first session allowed me to identify clear goals and as we moved along, these interlinked and supported every outcome.
The techniques and methods identified not only supported me, but helped me develop my staff. There has been a massive difference in my thinking and behaviour. I am able to communicate in a more clear and concise way.”
Managing Director
Abigail Stuart-Menteth, Damson PR, international PR and communications
Catrin provided me with coaching to progress my career and business approach. She is knowledgeable, intelligent, responsive and thorough in her method and provided practical, engaging and motivating insights to my business and personal development.
Head of Strategy and Governance
Alex Allen, Sustrans
“My time with you has equipped with me a whole handbook of tools to support my development and wellbeing – ways of thinking, tricks to get me thinking and acting differently. I am much more consistent in my ability to keep “wellbeing” as an active part of my inner dialogue and also in my conversations with my team and manager. You’ve helped me not only to survive but to begin to thrive again.”
Managing Director
Dieter Lloyd, Pam Lloyd food marketing and PR
“Lovely to see you today and thanks as ever for your counsel and support.
Thank you for all the time you have given me so far this year. I wouldn’t have been sitting there today with the much discussed and lately arrived clarity if I hadn’t had your guidance over the past 9 months.
Somewhat cheekily, in the spirit of taking the credit when it’s due and the time to appreciate it, I hope that you have taken a moment to acknowledge how much you have helped me this year. I am personally, and we as a business are where we are in no small part because of your challenges and insights. I hope that I have made clear how much I have valued and continue to value your input.”
Senior Partner
Corporate Law Firm
“Thank you so much for all that you have done. I can’t tell you what a difference it’s all made”
Managing Director
National marketing business
“Guiding me through a period of immense change in the business, Catrin helped me eliminate any uncertainties and deliver a confident new strategy that has been welcomed. Her sessions provided me with focus and a context in which to plan for next steps ”
High growth property firm
CEO
“Catrin is able to cut through all the general stuff and ask questions that bring a sharp focus to what’s important and what I really need to be working on. She has helped me communicate more clearly with teams and find ways to motivate.”
Head of Relationship Banking
Darren Farnell, Barclays – UK
“Thank you Ros and Catrin for tailoring the “Think Like an Entrepreneur” session for my Area Managers. … stepping inside our customers shoes is an effective way of helping our people with their empathy and understanding of running a business…. the practical exercises you facilitated were particularly useful. Feedback has been very positive … through the commitments you captured from the team, I can see that they are already making positive changes”
Jon Payne
Technical Director, Noisy Little Monkey
“Before Catrin: Only about 1% of ideas I have get put into action. They were often not the best ideas.
With Catrin: My ideas and business have become more focused, success is easier to measure and my colleagues have an understanding of what is planned, how they can benefit and what’s expected of all of us.
Amazing really – all she does is ply me with coffee and ask the occasional question for an hour or so and my business gets more profitable.
You should book a session now. Really”
Managing Director
Judith Ludovino, TelePA
“I worked with Catrin during a period of massive upheaval in my business life, with many decisions to make. At every stage I felt Catrin had an excellent grasp of the issues and she enabled me to think through options and take logical steps to test out my thinking. The result has been that I am able to move forward with confidence that my chosen path is right for me personally, not just my business. Thank you Catrin”
Career coaching client
Wishes to remain anonymous
“Sessions were extremely valuable. I became able to assess my strengths and weaknesses. Catrin also helped me articulate the type of work I wanted to do, and my career priorities. As a result of this and the confidence it gave me, I was successful in my application, and I am starting a new job next week. I have no hesitation in recommending Catrin, her advice and mentoring has been a huge help for me.”
Christina Robino
Director, Bud PR
“We have worked on a number of occasions with Catrin Macdonnell and her clarity, focus and understanding of the needs of a small business partnership in development are second to none. Catrin’s knowledge of business is extremely welcome and at times we have accessed her skills for internal supervision ( vital when working with vulnerable groups in the voluntary sector) high integrity and discretion figures big time for us and we are assured that with Catrin.
One thing we do know is that you cannot run a business without support, whether it’s one on one coaching and supervision or group. A view from the outside is vital.”
Carole Pugh
Managing Director, Four Corners PR
“Catrin understood instinctively my business and the challenges I was facing and helped me to identify changes I could make that have really made a difference to the way I run the business – and to the way I look at new challenges..”
Kathryn King
Commercial Director, JSB Design
“I met Catrin for the first time at a conference and really enjoyed the session she ran on making the most out of networking and developing strong networks. A friend of mine had also had 121 coaching with Catrin and when I was offered ‘matched funding’ by the government to attend 121 coaching to develop management/business planning skills, I didn’t hesitate to contact Catrin (she came very highly recommended).
I consider the time I spent with Catrin as a haven of ‘calm’ where I was able to talk, be listened to and develop clear actions and strategies to take back to the business.
I still use the tools that Catrin equipped me with to make sure that we are both as effective as we can be for the business and for each other.
I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Catrin to anyone who is at a point where they need toreflect on what they are doing and where they want their business to go, and needs someone understanding, calm and proactive to facilitate that.”
