EXECUTIVE COACHING
I believe that people learn in different ways, on different issues and at different times in their lives. I also realise that my clients will always know more about their life and career than me. Thus I use an eclectic blend of coaching methods, tailored to each person and the moment they are in. They are the expert; my role is to help them clarify and explore what they already know so that they can find the right path forward for themselves.
Most of my clients face complex transitions, either personally or in their leadership role. I can be a sounding board or a critical friend who can help them discuss, challenge and coalesce their options to find solutions that best suit their situation.
In all cases, I help my clients develop the practical skills, knowledge and/or techniques they need to better serve themselves.
CASE STUDY 1
SUPPORTING A STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP TRANSITION AT THE TOP
The president of an international consulting company was stepping up and bringing in a new CEO. He wanted the transition to go beyond a handover - his aim was to ensure strategic clarity and position both himself and the new CEO for success from day one.
We worked together over several months. Through one-to-one and joint sessions, we clarified expectations, surfaced unspoken tensions, and mapped a clear division of roles between the President and CEO. We addressed potential overlaps early and created alignment around key business and organisational priorities.
By the end of the process, the new CEO stepped into his role with confidence. The President remained actively engaged on the strategic agenda and the leadership team had a shared understanding of who was leading what, which enabled them to move forward with clarity and pace. The result: stronger cohesion, better decision-making, and a platform for continued growth.
CASE STUDY 2
HELPING ENTREPRENEUR-CEOS LEAD THROUGH GROWTH
An early-stage founder approached me as she prepared to raise investment and scale her business. She had built a strong initial product and mission, but the demands of fundraising, hiring, and setting culture were increasing. She wanted space to think, make decisions with confidence, and ensure the values she had started with weren’t lost in the scale-up.
​
We established a regular rhythm of coaching that gave her a confidential space to step back, reflect, and move from reactive mode into more intentional leadership. We explored how to build a team that aligned with her mission and how to manage the emotional intensity of building something from scratch.
​
Over the course of our work, she raised two successful rounds, made her first key hires, and began selling product within nine months. She reported greater clarity in her decision-making and a stronger sense of control over both the pace and direction of her business. Coaching helped her hold the line between growth and focus—and made her feel less alone in the process. The company is now winning awards.
CASE STUDY 3
REGROUNDING PURPOSE AND STRATEGY MID-CAREER
A senior NGO leader, who had also run small businesses in parallel, came to me at a moment of pause. After two decades of non-stop work, the pandemic had created space—and uncertainty. She was unsure whether to return to previous paths, change direction, or invest further in what she had already built.
​
Our work focused on surfacing what really mattered to her now. We explored both personal and professional questions—what gave her energy, where she saw impact, and what kind of work and life she wanted to shape going forward. Together we explored her options and the implications for her pace and structure.
​
She chose to recommit to her current path, but with greater clarity and intention. What had begun as a moment of doubt became a turning point—coaching gave her the structure and perspective she needed to move forward with purpose and energy.
“Xenia’s insights and ability to help me see issues in a new light is invaluable for strategic decision making. The toolkit we continue to build together has made me a more confident, empathetic and resilient leader.”
Morgan Mixon, Co-Founder, Peachies
“Xenia was an invaluable guide during a particularly complex period in which professional demands, personal circumstances, and health challenges became closely intertwined. Her calm, incisive approach and refusal to rely on platitudes made each session both intellectually rigorous and practically effective. Her coaching techniques were consistently insightful and bespoke—finely attuned to the nuances of my situation. I not only regained clarity and confidence, but was equipped with tools and frameworks that will serve me well beyond our time together.”
Jacqueline Borsboom, Managing Director, The Asia Group