Hello, I'm Cheryl

I've always been the one who digs their heels in when others say "Are you sure thats a good idea?". That raised eyebrow or look of sceptisicm is what fuels me. That's what propelled me into engineering in the 90's when women were scarce in the profession and later had me managing humanitarian response programmes in war torn Eastern Congo.

Those years in male-dominated industries and high-risk environments taught me to be bold and direct – sometimes too direct. After 18 years of proving I could handle anything the world threw at me, I realised being tough wasn't the same as being strong. I wanted to find a way to lead that didn't require armour. That's when I discovered Martha Beck's approach to coaching . Her blend of scientific rigour and deep empathy resonates with both my engineering brain and my humanitarian heart. I love that it combines structured problem-solving with the messy, magical business of helping people find their own way forward.

How would it feel to show up and not have to turn down your volume for fear of offending someone. To be courageous when everyone else is telling you to step back. I've pushed myself out into some uncomfortable places but now I know the difference between proving yourself to others and being confident to do something because you know, deep down, you are going to love it.