Leading on Purpose
Taking you from disconnected and disillusioned to feeling reconnected to your values, your purpose, and a vision for leadership that is authentically yours
Leading on Purpose is an 8-week group coaching programme for values-centred women leaders in the creative industries ready to reconnect to their purpose, reimagine their future, and reframe their leadership. You will leave the programme with a roadmap for your next steps on the leadership journey towards creating more collaborative, compassionate cultures that will help you and your colleagues to truly thrive
>> Leading on Purpose brings together a small cohort of awesome women leaders, so sign up now to be part of the group in spring 2022 <<
How did it all start?
Picture this...
It’s early 2020. I was one of so many people in the arts who had been made redundant, and I was scraping by on low-paying freelance projects without much idea of what I was going to do next. I was seeing so many people struggling, but so many leaders in the cultural sector were failing to address the pandemic of anxiety and burnout that was accompanying the public health crisis. It’s fair to say I was feeling pretty disillusioned.
But this wasn’t where that disillusionment started.
In almost 15 years of working in the arts within different organisations and varying scales, I’d witnessed so many examples of leadership that lacked vision and compassion.
I’d sometimes felt isolated and embattled, trying to fight my corner and take the lead in toxic working environments because I felt so committed to the mission those organisations wanted to achieve. As someone who believes passionately in the power of the arts to give voice to untold stories and genuinely make the world a better place, it broke my heart. I was feeling uncertain about my future in the arts, and had no idea how to fix these broken systems.
To be honest, by late spring 2020, I’d pretty much had enough.
But, as the pandemic reached its height, I realised that so many women in the creative industries were coming up against that same crisis of uncertainty and disillusionment that I had experienced. I was coaching women who, like me, had come to a point of desperately needing to make change. They wanted to turn this crisis into an opportunity to create more compassionate leadership cultures where everyone is supported and encouraged to thrive.
I realised that I could bring to bear my unique combination of context and lived experience as a cultural professional and coach to help women shape a new leadership philosophy in alignment with their values and their vision for the world, while maintaining that vital balance between ambition and self-care.
That’s when I decided to create Leading on Purpose.
"I gained greater leadership confidence, improved empathy and listening skills, and clarity about the support I need to be my best self”
About Leading on Purpose
Leading on Purpose is an 8-week group coaching programme for women who are ready to envision a new form of leadership for themselves and for the world.
The programme is structured around three key themes:
Connection
In Connection, we look at connecting to each other, and exploring how the support of your peers can help you to connect to your values
Compassion
We look at what a new, more compassionate form of leadership could look like, and how we can also practice compassion towards ourselves as we make change
Clarity
Clarity is all about how we bring our values more fully into our leadership practice, best next steps, and the support we need to take them
"It's a weekly investment in self-development that future you will be so glad you made"
Meet your coach
Hi, I'm Annette
I help caring, creative women to break free from the feelings of overwhelm, dissatisfaction and burnout that come from constantly working to service the vision of others instead of their own. I support women to find focus and clarity and around their own vision, so they can step into a more joyful and fulfilled life on their terms.
Almost 15 years ago I was a Legal PA. I was pretty well paid, working in an office that had an in-house gym and swimming pool, believe it or not! But, I just couldn’t summon up motivation any more for managing diaries for stressed-out senior partners when I felt so disconnected from whatever the results might be. I was hating it.
Things started to change when I spent some time volunteering as a theatre steward and I realised that I did care about being part of creating amazing experiences through culture. That’s when I ran away from my corporate job and started working in the arts.
I have since gained experience across theatre producing, fundraising, arts management and cultural policy. I’m a qualified coach, facilitator and strategist, and also run my own creative consultancy called Rough Information, working with groups and organisations to foster cultures rooted in equity and compassion.
I formally established my coaching business in 2020 so that I could dedicate my energies to pursuing my real passion: helping women make empowered decisions to become leaders in their own lives.
"Annette’s facilitation creates such an easy-going space, but also one that is full of dynamism and possibility"
Are you ready to take the reins?
The uncertainty of the pandemic has thrown so much up in the air, prompting many of us to reassess what we value and the kind of life we want to create for ourselves. For so many, it’s unearthed a sense of dissatisfaction that may have been long lurking beneath the surface, but that we were just too busy with day-to-day life to address.
Are you…
💫 Feeling like you’re constantly busy, but not necessarily moving in the right direction?
💫 Feeling stressed, overwhelmed and unclear about your future leadership goals?
💫 Tired of seeing poor leadership, and working in environments where you feel unfulfilled or unsupported?
💫 Looking to reconnect to your sense of joy and purpose in your role as a leader?
You’ve been reading the books and watching the videos, so you know all the theory. But that just isn’t cutting it when you know these are based on the old models of leadership that have led to the structural inequities that just haven’t been working for so many people. Trust me, you’re not the only one.
Perhaps it’s time for a change in how we view leadership.
Perhaps it’s time for your style of leadership.
And I’m here to tell you, you don’t have to do it alone.
If you’re ready to be part of a small cohort of women working together to explore what leadership could look like, and how you can step into leadership in your own life without constantly serving the vision of others, burning out, or compromising your values, Leading on Purpose is for you!
“I feel like the programme helped to give so much more substance to my leadership philosophy, and to feel more confident in having a philosophy at all!"
How does the programme work?
Over the course of 8 weeks we’ll work together as a supportive group to help you define the guiding principles that drive you, and envision your own authentic leadership philosophy that supports you to make the positive impact you want to see in the world, while bringing you more joy and fulfilment.
Interactive tools, guided group work, and independent reflection will support you on your journey from uncertainty to clarity. You’ll leave the programme with a clear sense of your own authentic leadership philosophy, and a roadmap for how you can step into that vision of leadership.
Programme structure
Weekly 90-minute group evening Zoom calls
Spring 2022 dates tbc
Alongside weekly group Zoom workshops, participants will also have access to videos, additional resources, prompts and check-ins between sessions via email and private Facebook group.
Leading on Purpose includes over 10 hours of group coaching time, plus weekly videos and Q&As.
To work with me as a coach 1:1 on that basis wouldn’t be far off £1,000, but if you join my group coaching programme today you get access to all this plus access to resources you can take away with you for only £597.
Also, you’ll become part of a tight-knit cohort of other awesome women like you. And having that space to share your challenges, reflect on your progress, and celebrate your successes together - that’s priceless!
"I felt privileged to be part of a group of women I had such immediate respect for, and it boosted my confidence so much that I was included in that gang”
Don't miss out on these juicy bonuses!
For people who sign up before Christmas Eve, I’m offering bonuses worth £221!
To help you maintain momentum after you leave the programme, you get access to 1:1 coaching to check in on your progress.
Either
2 x 30 minutes 1:1 coaching calls
Or
1 x 60 minute 1:1 coaching call
All Leading on Purpose participants who register before Santa shows up will get free access to the membership network for the length of the Leading on Purpose programme. The membership won't officially launch until the new year, so this means that you’ll get to be in on the ground floor as a founder member with access to additional support like Action Learning Sets and self-coaching resources. You’ll also get the first three months at a discounted rate after you participation in Leading on Purpose ends
What makes Leading on Purpose different?
Leading on Purpose is so much more than a leadership development course
I don’t come to each session with a fixed script and cookie cutter solutions. I know that everyone brings different backgrounds, life experiences and levels of privilege to the programme, so I believe in being truly responsive to what you need to progress. So much of the power of the programme comes from exposing you to different ideas, perspectives, and experiences.
And that’s why I always keep the cohort small – so I can create a space where everyone feels heard, seen and respected, no matter what they bring to the table.
None of us have all the answers alone, but together I just know we can change the world!
"…you felt like you could bring anything to the sessions, that you would be heard, and that you’d be given lots of opportunity to listen and support the other group members"
Any questions?
What’s the time commitment? One 90 minute evening Zoom call each week (Spring 2022 dates tbc). To get the most from the programme I’d recommend attending all of the calls, but if you can’t make it they will be recorded so you can catch up on the replay. Outside of those calls, it’s up to you to engage as much or as little as you like – I know everyone is super busy, so I’ve tried to make everything as flexible as possible.
What if I can’t make a call? All group sessions will be recorded and shared, so you won’t miss out on everything. There will be some breakout exercises, which won’t be recorded, but materials will be shared in a pdf workbook and you can also catch up with your fellow leaders in a private Facebook page in between the sessions
Will there be homework? There will be something for you to take away from each session, but these are usually reflective exercises or something you can put to practical use in your day to day, so they shouldn’t be too onerous. I promise I won’t make you write an essay!
How do we stay in touch between calls? I’ll be sending out emails to make sure you have all the information you need. All videos and materials will also be shared in a private Facebook group, where you can also keep the conversation going with the rest of your cohort.
What’s going on in the break week? We’ll be thinking about a lot of things over a pretty short period of time. I know that can be pretty intense, and sometimes you might not have fully processed an idea before we move onto the next session. The optional call on Week 6 is an opportunity to check in on how everyone is getting along, reflect together on any progress or challenges, and revisit any topics that people would like to discuss. It’s also a chance for us to just have a more informal chat and have a bit of fun!
Can I pay in instalments? Yes, if you can’t make the £597 investment in one go, you can pay £299 up front, and another £299 after the programme finishes.
Do you do refunds? It’s a small cohort, and I really want you to commit to engaging with this programme, so I don’t offer refunds once people have started the course and have access to the content.
Will there be men on the programme? In a word, no. This is a space for women and those who identify as women. I do work with men in my practice as an associate coach, but in my own business I choose to work with women, and I’m committed to preserving that dynamic. I firmly believe that the challenges we face as women are different, and that it’s vital we create spaces in which we feel we can openly and honestly share our experience of those challenges.
