The Reluctant Coach

🎄 Season’s Greetings from The Reluctant Coach 🎄

As the year comes to a close, it’s the perfect time to pause, reflect, and express gratitude.

This year has been filled with challenges, growth, and triumphs—not just for me, but for the incredible individuals I’ve had the privilege of coaching and supporting.

Watching my clients rise above obstacles, embrace change, and unlock their potential has been the most rewarding part of this journey.

To my clients, connections, and friends: thank you for being part of The Reluctant Coach community. Your resilience, determination, and trust inspire me every day.

From Kelvin (our Chief Happiness Officer 🐾) and me, we wish you a joyful festive season filled with rest, laughter, and time with loved ones.

We hope 2025 brings you success, the courage to embrace new adventures and pursue your dreams.

Here’s to an exciting and prosperous new year! 🌟

Warm wishes,

Lucy & Kelvin 💜 🐶

Let me re-introduce myself…

My name is Lucy. I was born in London, United Kingdom, and I am of Irish decent and heritage. As of today, I am also an Australian citizen, currently residing in Meeanjin, meaning "the place of blue water lilies" on the Brisbane River.

I would like to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land, the Turrbal and Yuggera peoples, and pay my respects to Elders past and present. I honour their enduring connection to the land, sea, and community and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.

Becoming an Australian citizen marks a major milestone in my journey of international travel and adventures, shared with my four-legged furry partner, Kelvin. He's originally from Budapest, Hungary. Kelvin and I have lived together in the sand dunes of the Middle East and now in the surf of Australia. We both love long walks on the beach, basking in the sunshine, and—of course—barking at possums.

It’s my career that has opened up these incredible opportunities to live and work around the world. I’m deeply grateful for the people I’ve met, the experiences I’ve gained, and the life I’ve been able to create as an international professional.

Here’s to many more adventures ahead—for both of us! 🐶 🥳 🌏 🇦🇺

🌟 I am incredibly honoured to announce that The Reluctant Coach has won Female Entrepreneur, Inspiring Leader of the Year (New Start-Up) in the 2024 TITAN International Women in Business Awards! 🏆✨

This recognition is a significant milestone for The Reluctant Coach, reinforcing the dedication and passion behind empowering high-performing professionals to achieve sustainable success. Being selected from hundreds of entries from across the globe—including the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom—is truly humbling.

A massive thank you to my clients, colleagues, and friends for their unwavering support and constant inspiration this year. I couldn’t have done it without you.

I’d like to dedicate this award to the most inspirational woman in my life, my Mum. She taught me strength, resilience, and how to live with courage. She demanded that I get up and keep fighting no matter what, showing me how to live fiercely—all with a wicked sense of humour. I am who I am because she loved me.

Here’s to breaking new barriers, making an impact, and honouring the ones we love with every step we take and every goal we pursue.

🕊️💜

“Women should just rule the world” – Last night with Trevor Noah: Laughter, Insight, and Resilience

As a treat to close out the year, I booked a ticket to see my favourite comedian and author, Trevor Noah, perform live at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre. It was an evening filled with belly laughs—the first time in ages I laughed that hard!

From his sharp societal observations in stand-up to his thought-provoking political commentary on The Daily Show, Trevor’s humour is delivered with honesty, humility, and insight. He’s a true storyteller, using humour to highlight the resilience, adaptability, and courage that define his life, as he shares so powerfully in his book ‘Born a Crime’, one of my all-time favourites.

I admire the journey he shares—navigating complex identities, embracing change, and finding his voice. It resonates deeply with the journeys many of us face in our professional lives.

In my coaching practice, I see leaders from diverse backgrounds pushing through challenges, redefining their stories, and finding meaning in adversity.

Whether you’re a C-Suite executive shaping strategy or a graduate finding your professional footing, the ability to embrace who you are and bring authenticity to your role is invaluable.

Here’s to the power of humour, resilience, and self-belief, and to more storytelling that connects us and strengthens us as individuals and professionals.

‘The Subtle Art of Not Giving A F*ck’ by Mark Manson

When I first picked up this book, I was grumpy, missing home, and exhausted from constant travel. I looked at the bold cover and thought… mood.

But beyond the title, the book was a moment of calm. It’s about recalibrating our mindset and focusing on what truly matters. Highly recommend for anyone open to honesty, humor, and a hard look at themselves.

Tonight, I heard Mark speak live and even got to ask him about what he does and doesn’t give a f*ck about. His answer? Not giving a damn about public opinion but being on a mission to change mental health. Inspiring, bold, and exactly what I needed to hear.

Bonus: I left with a signed copy for my collection and, somewhere out there, a photo of the audience flipping the bird with Mark. 🖕📚🔥

🌟 Announcement! 🌟

I am thrilled to announce that The Reluctant Coach has been selected as a finalist in the Australian Women’s Small Business Champion Awards for leadership in the Business Coaching category!

This achievement reflects the vision and hard work invested by outstanding women in business. Becoming a finalist is no easy feat, with over 3,000 entries!

“The program is a celebration of women in small business, aiming to provide recognition of incredible female leaders and the invaluable contribution they make to the Australian way of life,” said Steve Low, Managing Director of Precedent Productions, who created and presents the awards.

“When the Champion Judges evaluate the entries, they are looking at all aspects of a winning business: business strategies, customer service, vision, support of the local community, and growth, just to name a few. What we have sought to highlight are the many incredible women entrepreneurs, business owners, and industry leaders who are the best in their chosen field.”

The Reluctant Coach will represent our local community at the upcoming event in August. Our passion, dedication, commitment, and hard work will be recognised and celebrated amongst our peers in an experience we will never forget.

A massive thank you to the organisers for this shortlisting, congratulations to all the finalists, and to all the women out there leading the way.

With deepest gratitude for this recognition! 🏆

On a personal note, I'm so proud to be a finalist in these awards, the recognition for the hard work means alot to me. I want to extend my heartfelt appreciation to everyone who has supported and believed in me. 🙏🏻

For those who may not be familiar with my work, The Reluctant Coach specialises in empowering high-performing individuals in professional services such as architecture, engineering, law, and accounting. I offer tailored coaching programs that enhance strategic thinking, decision-making, leadership presence, and overall well-being. If you or someone you know could benefit from working with me, please reach out. I'm here to help you achieve your highest potential! 💜

Congratulations to all the finalists and look forward to the evening!

Now what am I going to wear?!

The Reluctant Coach 🤩🐶💜

🌟 Celebrating International Women in Engineering Day 2024! 🌟

This week, I had the opportunity to attend an inspiring event dedicated to International Women in Engineering Day with Queensland Major Contractors Association (QMCA) and NAWIC QLD - National Association of Women in Construction

From engaging talks to networking with new people and familiar faces, the event highlighted the importance of diversity and inclusion in the engineering field. I was particularly inspired by the stories of pioneering women who have broken barriers and continue to pave the way for future generations.

💡 Key Takeaways:

Innovation and Diversity: Embracing diverse perspectives leads to groundbreaking innovations and solutions.

Mentorship Matters: Supporting and mentoring the next generation of female engineers is crucial for continued growth and success in the industry.

Resilience and Determination: The stories of technical brilliance combined with thoughtful insights to shape future leaders were incredibly motivating.

A huge thank you to the organisers and speakers for making this event so memorable.

Let’s continue to support and uplift each other as we work towards a more inclusive and innovative engineering community.

Here’s to all the amazing women engineers making a difference every day! 🚀

Scrolling through the news and social media recently, my heart sinks.

The UN Women Australia honored today as Domestic Violence Remembrance Day, and the Australian Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, announced a $925M pledge to help women escape domestic violence, describing the high rates of violent crimes against women as "not a problem for women to solve; it's a whole-of-society issue."

The numbers and stories in the media are staggering. The recent horrific public attacks on women leave me chilled. It's clear that we all need to play our part to acknowledge, act, and protect the safety of others.

When I started The Reluctant Coach, I knew I wanted to do more than just offer services—I wanted to make a difference. That's why I created 'Project Ingrid' as part of my company's mission and values.

Through Project Ingrid, I am committed to using my time, energy, and skills to support those facing domestic or workplace abuse. I offer free coaching to help victims rebuild their confidence and re-enter the workforce.

To be clear, my support complements but does not replace appropriate medical and judicial help. It's important that those in crisis seek professional medical and legal assistance. As a coach, I have my limitations, but my commitment to helping others stabilize their wellbeing is unwavering.

This mission is deeply personal to me, as it's rooted in the memory of a woman who played a pivotal role in my own life journey. Her legacy serves as a constant reminder of the transformative power of compassion and the profound impact one individual can have on another's life. Her name was Ingrid.

If you or someone you know needs support, you can call 1800 RESPECT or 000 in an emergency.

‘You got to let your weird light shine bright so that all the other weirdos know where to find you’

That’s what’s written on the packaging to my rather stunning bracelet which is also engraved with ‘She believed she could, so she did’ Be. Bangles

A gift from this week’s women in business networking lunch with She’s The Boss

My first time attending this fantastic event and I honestly thought I’d hit the jackpot with the cool people I met and how much support there was in the room for each other’s success.

My favourite piece of advice from the day was - ‘You wont be everyone’s cup of tea, but you can be someone’s shot of vodka’

With that in mind I am sharing and advocating for Share the Dignity charity and encourage the Australian women in my network to take a few minutes out of your day to fill out the survey and help build the data to create change. Thank you!

Thanks to all the cool women I got to spend time with!

Looking forward to the next one!

Yup, that’s me….and the former Prime Minister of the UK.

Once upon a time I served him, the former Prime Minister of Singapore and the US Ambassador.

He’s actually a massively normal and down to earth person, we talked about being from London and where we grew up, connected by humble beginnings to our mutual ambition to make a difference to the world.

My most inspiring and insightful conversations have been with legends in the room. When people reach the top of their game, the common denominator in character comes in the form of giving back. Sharing the things they have learned to pass on and help others. Owning their strengths and embracing their vulnerability, leading to curiosity, knowledge and mindfulness.

It’s hard to tell what’s real and what’s not on social media, or fully share the experiences I’ve had in my career that I know could help others.

But in this tiny corner of the digital platform, all I can promise is to share my authenticity. Having lived and worked across the world, I’m still searching for ways I can learn more about my craft. What I can tell you for certain is I am committed to helping others.

Someday, someone so much stronger than me will make a massive difference to the world.

What I focus on is being a woman who made it that bit easier for them to do it, in the small steps I make to push the boundaries in front of me, I’ll help others to go further.

If you are ever in doubt of what you can achieve, just hold on

I’ll be here if you need me

💜🐾