Testimonials
My personal career journey had brought me to a place where I was involved in various businesses as an investor, board advisor, c-suite executive and non-exec director.
My time was limited and I needed to bring my best to each of these roles including a busy family life. Lesley managed to peel back to what was important to me and through her expertise of the Hogan assessment helped me to understand how my personal traits impacted those around me for the best (and at times the not so good).
Through her deep appreciation of human nature and passion to see people reach their full potential we have put in place a reflective programme where I am seeing tangible results and feeling more energised in each of my commitments.
I cannot recommend Lesley highly enough as someone who is professional, thorough, holds me to account and a pleasure to deal with.
My time was limited and I needed to bring my best to each of these roles including a busy family life. Lesley managed to peel back to what was important to me and through her expertise of the Hogan assessment helped me to understand how my personal traits impacted those around me for the best (and at times the not so good).
Through her deep appreciation of human nature and passion to see people reach their full potential we have put in place a reflective programme where I am seeing tangible results and feeling more energised in each of my commitments.
I cannot recommend Lesley highly enough as someone who is professional, thorough, holds me to account and a pleasure to deal with.
Steven MatthewCo-Founder, STEM Innovations
I have worked with a couple of Executive Coaches over the course of my career and have enjoyed the process on both occasions. However, I did not feel fully understood or heard.
I met with Lesley fairly recently and had an instant rapport with her. I knew she was the “one”. She has a wonderfully warm, engaging personality and approach which instantly put me at ease. She is also no- nonsense and I thoroughly enjoy and indeed respect, how she holds me to account and challenges my language, patterns and responses I am already noticing a shift in my leadership and life, both personally and professionally.
She seems to have an uncanny knack of drilling into an issue, behaviour or pattern very quickly and is then able to guide me to the “solution”. I find our sessions utterly invaluable and she has guided me through a tricky internal process recently and was my confidant throughout. I also particularly appreciate the counsel she provides me outside of our sessions. I could not speak highly enough of her.
I met with Lesley fairly recently and had an instant rapport with her. I knew she was the “one”. She has a wonderfully warm, engaging personality and approach which instantly put me at ease. She is also no- nonsense and I thoroughly enjoy and indeed respect, how she holds me to account and challenges my language, patterns and responses I am already noticing a shift in my leadership and life, both personally and professionally.
She seems to have an uncanny knack of drilling into an issue, behaviour or pattern very quickly and is then able to guide me to the “solution”. I find our sessions utterly invaluable and she has guided me through a tricky internal process recently and was my confidant throughout. I also particularly appreciate the counsel she provides me outside of our sessions. I could not speak highly enough of her.
Kirsty DouganManaging Director, Warren Partners
We have worked with Lesley for over 12 months, focusing on a number of key projects with our C-Suite, our senior leadership
teams and then moving on to an assessment of the organisation structure, areas for people development as well as the
recruitment of a permanent HRD. Lesley has proven to be an enormously valuable service provider across all People and OD
parts of the Jollyes business, as we move through a period of accelerated company growth in both revenue and new store
openings she has been able to provide a structured and coherent external view on specific areas of focus and priority..
Lesley brings a very pragmatic, sleeves up, down to earth approach to developing people and organisations, the Jollyes team has really enjoyed working with her and for sure Lesley has been an integral part of the success we are currently achieving. .
I would have no hesitation in recommending Lesley to any organisation.... you will get a ‘Real World’ approach to the task of developing people and structure which will add immediate value
Lesley brings a very pragmatic, sleeves up, down to earth approach to developing people and organisations, the Jollyes team has really enjoyed working with her and for sure Lesley has been an integral part of the success we are currently achieving. .
I would have no hesitation in recommending Lesley to any organisation.... you will get a ‘Real World’ approach to the task of developing people and structure which will add immediate value
Richard CotterChairman, Jollyes
Having worked with Lesley for over 18 months across three workstreams, I can see the value that she has created. All the
Jollyes C-Suite has become more empathetic, more dynamic and more thoughtful, resulting in a more professional operating
model.
Firstly, she has continually challenged my thinking as a new CEO and has proved herself to be an extremely capable critical friend.
Secondly, her work with the Jollyes C-Suite, through several workshops, has helped us to understand each other far better on a far more personal level and has galvanized us as a team.
Thirdly, Lesley has shown herself to be an extremely capable strategic People leader through her work on specific, discrete projects. She assisted me greatly with a highly complex people matter and provided a very high calibre holistic diagnostic to a Private Equity Board on the Jollyes People function. She was clear about the links between a strong People function in a customer-facing business, and her narrative made discussions with my shareholders far easier.
I would highly recommend Lesley to any CEOs or C-Suites who think they may benefit from having an independent view on how they operate both as a team and as individuals. We are now undoubtedly a higher performing, more cohesive, C-suite unit thanks to her support and challenge.
Firstly, she has continually challenged my thinking as a new CEO and has proved herself to be an extremely capable critical friend.
Secondly, her work with the Jollyes C-Suite, through several workshops, has helped us to understand each other far better on a far more personal level and has galvanized us as a team.
Thirdly, Lesley has shown herself to be an extremely capable strategic People leader through her work on specific, discrete projects. She assisted me greatly with a highly complex people matter and provided a very high calibre holistic diagnostic to a Private Equity Board on the Jollyes People function. She was clear about the links between a strong People function in a customer-facing business, and her narrative made discussions with my shareholders far easier.
I would highly recommend Lesley to any CEOs or C-Suites who think they may benefit from having an independent view on how they operate both as a team and as individuals. We are now undoubtedly a higher performing, more cohesive, C-suite unit thanks to her support and challenge.
Joe WykesCEO, Jollyes
I engaged Lesley to support Executive development and team building. Lesley’s professional and focused feedback and coaching
got to the heart of the challenges quickly and effectively in a highly empathetic way.
Lesley followed through in terms of ensuring the interventions had been implemented and had the desired result. These have resulted in a long term sustained impact and therefore I would recommend her highly.
Lesley followed through in terms of ensuring the interventions had been implemented and had the desired result. These have resulted in a long term sustained impact and therefore I would recommend her highly.
Sue HayesCEO, Nottingham Building Society
Lesley supported me as I transitioned from the Commercial Director of P&O Ferries to the role of Chief Executive, a
planned succession with several orchestrated role moves as part of a business succession plan.
Lesley took on the role of my internal coach working with me to develop the inner confidence and self-belief in readiness of stepping up to the lead role. Lesley brings a unique style and blend of attributes to coaching; part strategist, part thought provoker and because of just who she is, part cheerleader.
Through working with Lesley, I valued her honesty, integrity and her very own brand of “tough love”, but most importantly Lesley brings real insight to the relationship - she has that rare talent that helped me to discover and get comfortable with those things that were so obvious to others but such a blind spot to me.
As a result of the work we did, when the call to step up to the new role came at very short notice, I made the transition with confidence and belief which underpinned those critical first 100 days in role and beyond.
Lesley took on the role of my internal coach working with me to develop the inner confidence and self-belief in readiness of stepping up to the lead role. Lesley brings a unique style and blend of attributes to coaching; part strategist, part thought provoker and because of just who she is, part cheerleader.
Through working with Lesley, I valued her honesty, integrity and her very own brand of “tough love”, but most importantly Lesley brings real insight to the relationship - she has that rare talent that helped me to discover and get comfortable with those things that were so obvious to others but such a blind spot to me.
As a result of the work we did, when the call to step up to the new role came at very short notice, I made the transition with confidence and belief which underpinned those critical first 100 days in role and beyond.
Janette BellManaging Director, First Bus
I started working with Lesley relatively early into my tenure as Managing Director, whilst facing huge transition across our senior
leadership team.
Through Lesley’s curious and challenging style she very quickly helped me confront some inner demons and grow my self-confidence.
Anyone working with Lesley will find her very personable and supportive. While I knew I had to invest time in the process outside of our 1-2-1 sessions, Lesley did the same, helping me to navigate some unexpected hurdles throughout.
My leadership style continues to evolve as a result of Lesley’s support, leading to more growth opportunities for me, my team and our business.
Through Lesley’s curious and challenging style she very quickly helped me confront some inner demons and grow my self-confidence.
Anyone working with Lesley will find her very personable and supportive. While I knew I had to invest time in the process outside of our 1-2-1 sessions, Lesley did the same, helping me to navigate some unexpected hurdles throughout.
My leadership style continues to evolve as a result of Lesley’s support, leading to more growth opportunities for me, my team and our business.
Duncan CameronManaging Director, First Bus Scotland
Lesley has coached a number of my team to support them through transition into senior roles and this has yielded great
development for the team and has had a material impact on our success.
I would recommend her as a coach, particularly in a new team building environment. She is a pleasure to work with.
I would recommend her as a coach, particularly in a new team building environment. She is a pleasure to work with.
Sue O'Brien OBEExecutive Chair, People Advisory, UK & Vice Chair, Teneo
Lesley has recently provided exceptional consultancy services to American Golf.
She has a wealth of expertise, and exhibited professionalism, and discretion. A diligent consultant who kept all parties informed throughout the stages of the process and she provided a thorough feedback session upon conclusion.
Nigel OddyCEO, American Golf
During 2022/2023 Lesley Cotton provided expert advice to support the development of the Trinity House
Corporation's approach to pay and reward for its general Lighthouse Authority.
Lesley's specialist knowledge and experience as a senior leader in the maritime sector, together with her proactive engagement with stakeholders at board level, helped the Authority to lay the foundations for the establishment of a clear pay policy, which was an important component of our emerging people strategy.
Lesley's specialist knowledge and experience as a senior leader in the maritime sector, together with her proactive engagement with stakeholders at board level, helped the Authority to lay the foundations for the establishment of a clear pay policy, which was an important component of our emerging people strategy.
Captain Sir Ian McNaught, CVO, MNM, FNIImmediate Past Deputy Master of Trinity House
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