Shift from surviving to thriving in academia
The paradox of academic life
If you’re reading this, you’re likely someone with deep curiosity who relishes intellectual challenges and is driven to make a real difference in your field.
Academic life offers incredible opportunities for growth, autonomy, and impact.
But ……
It’s also demanding, isolating, and shaped by invisible expectations.
That’s the paradox: the very traits that fuel your success also bring unique pressures, persistent uncertainty, and emotional complexity.
In this environment, juggling responsibilities and striving for excellence can leave you feeling overwhelmed or disconnected from what truly matters to you.
Coaching meets you at this crossroads, providing the space and support you need to pause, reconnect with matters to you, and navigate these challenges.
Together, we turn uncertainty and overwhelm into clarity, confidence, and lasting fulfilment—so you shift from just surviving to genuinely thriving in your academic career and beyond.
From Here to There
Coaching Support to Help You Thrive
From Here to There is the name I give to a package of ten coaching sessions to help you move beyond the crossroads, past the complexity and uncertainty of your current situation, and step into greater clarity, confidence, and personal satisfaction.
This program isn’t just about getting unstuck or coping with demands—it’s about supporting you to navigate the changes you need to make to get you from where you are now to where you want to be.
Through personalised, one-on-one coaching sessions, you’ll:
Define what “there” looks like for you—whether it’s career progress, leadership, balance, renewal, or exploring new possibilities.
Understand what needs to change.
Develop practical strategies and build habits that support your wellbeing and professional success.
Stay accountable for taking actions toward the changes you want.
Receive honest feedback, with space to reflect and problem-solve in a confidential partnership.
With ongoing support, you’ll have time to implement real changes, nurture sustainable progress, and celebrate your wins. The structure is flexible to fit your needs and the real-life transitions you face.
Ready to find clarity, confidence, and fulfilment on your academic journey? Book your free 30-minute ‘discovery call’ to see if From Here to There is the right next step for you.
Here are just some of the challenges that have prompted people to work with me:
It’s time for me to step more into my leadership (new role, own research program), and I need help to work out how.
I have taken on a senior leadership role. I feel a bit uncertain about how to approach it, but I really want to make the most of the opportunity.
My workload is excessive and I find it almost impossible to get to the things that matter most to me, to prioritise – to say no…
It’s lonely at the top, and I need someone outside my organisation to talk to about the challenges and how to tackle them.
I am at the peak of my career now, and I’ve done it all – and it can feel a bit stale. I want to find ways to bring new experiences into my work – in ways that play to my strengths, stretch me and fill my cup.
I have my eye on the next level job or promotion, and I want to maximise my chances of getting there by being more strategic.
I’m back from maternity leave and trying to re-establish my priorities. How can I ever be successful in a career that requires endless hours of work?
I am heading towards the age when I ‘should’ be thinking about retirement, and it freaks me out. I don’t want to stop, but I recognise something needs to change.
When you choose me as your COACH…….
I will be your thought partner, cheerleader and accountability buddy.
I will hold space for you to think out loud, explore ideas, and look at possibilities you may not have considered on your own.
I approach coaching as a partnership where my role is to provide a space for you to:
Comfortably bring the challenges you’re facing,
Build your understanding about what’s going on and why, and
Generate possible solutions to test in real-time.
Stay accountable for making changes and learn from these experiences for what to do next.
Our first session will be 90 minutes, so we can both get clear on your specific goal for this time. We will then meet every two to three weeks for 60 minutes to gain momentum on the changes you want to make.
At the end of this period, we’ll review your situation, and you can decide whether to continue. Many clients continue to work with me in their corner in an ongoing way.
All sessions are online using Zoom and usually during business hours. Occasionally, after-hours appointments are available if needed, and I am always available for urgent appointments and emails.
How we’ll work together
What are the benefits?
Coaching provides you with a confidential space to step back from day-to-day demands, clarify career direction, and strategically plan for career development or transition. By engaging with a coach who understands the sector’s unique pressures, you can define goals that align with your personal values and professional aspirations. This support helps you strengthen your focus and make informed decisions about promotions, leadership opportunities, new research directions or even a new career.
Coaching helps you identify and nurture core skills essential for academic and leadership success. With support tailored to your unique context, you'll deepen self-awareness, refine your leadership style, and gain robust strategies to overcome challenges such as imposter syndrome, perfectionism, and workplace conflict. This process leverages creativity, critical insight, and collegiality to help you confidently navigate the demands of research, teaching, and collaboration, while maintaining your motivation and well-being as you advance your academic career.
Coaching empowers academics at all levels to prepare for change and sustained growth. By setting accountability structures and focusing on continuous improvement, you develop the adaptability needed in evolving environments and emerging leadership roles. This sustained support enables you to avoid burnout, maintain motivation, and achieve greater impact throughout your career as an educator, researcher, leader, and mentor.
I’ve worked with people from a range of universities, TAFES and research institutes in Australia.
Work closely with a skilled coach who understands the unique challenges and dynamics of the academic world in Australia. Over a twenty year period, I worked at four universities and a medical research institute in teaching, research and translation roles. In this time, I successfully navigated a path from lecturer/research officer to Associate Director and Research Group Leader, leading international collaborations.
I have coached and mentored academics for more than ten years and can help you successfully navigate the intricacies of the academic environment and support you to gain insights, develop effective strategies, and leverage your strengths.
By working with me as your coach, you will:
advance your career,
increase your professional satisfaction, and
achieve your goals.
I offer a safe and confidential space and provide a supportive partnership that empowers you to navigate your career imperatives with confidence and clarity
Are you ready to thrive in your career? Book a free 30 minute consultation to discuss your needs.
