Libby, thanks so much for your time, guidance and insight this year – it was perfect timing as I worked through the challenges in my new role. What were your ‘aha’ moments during our coaching sessions? “You are not your content”, this was a great emotional insight for me and has really helped me with both nervousness prior to presenting but also resilience and reflection afterwards. Also, when delegating work, taking the time up front to ‘whiteboard’ what I am looking for and give a really clear steer on the output, also review meetings along the way to shape the progress and give further guidance on direction. This has been a practice I have adopted and it works really well. What aspects of our sessions did you find most valuable? I enjoyed taking the time to discuss whatever was on my mind or challenges I was facing in a safe and secure environment and then spending time using the helpful frameworks that Libby provided to come up with some actionable insights and next steps. This was really action and solution focussed.
I've worked with Libby throughout 2024 and found her coaching invaluable. Our sessions were always well balanced, with Libby taking time to listen to whatever issues I was facing at the time before applying some practical methods to help me towards the answers. Libby was patient and thoughtful and was able to get to the core of some complex topics quickly. She held me accountable to my answers and helped me implement some useful strategies into my weekly routine. I particularly like how she never fed me the answer - she coached me to get there independently. Highly recommended.
The transformation in our team under Libby’s guidance has been extraordinary. As CFO, I’ve seen first-hand the challenges of bringing together a team after significant change. Following a restructure, our team — composed of both seasoned members and newly promoted leaders — struggled to find cohesion. Communication suffered, collaboration faltered, and tensions surfaced. The risk of disengagement and even talent loss was real. That’s when we engaged Libby. Over the course of 2024, she facilitated a series of structured workshops that did more than just address surface-level issues — they reshaped how we operated. Libby’s ability to create a safe yet action-oriented space allowed us to re-establish our purpose, align on values, and, most importantly, rebuild trust. What stood out was how practical her approach was — far from abstract theory, she provided tangible strategies that became embedded in our everyday operations. The impact? A reinvigorated, high-performing team. Productivity improved, collaboration strengthened, and we moved forward with clarity and momentum. For any C-suite leader navigating team dynamics, Libby is the expert you want by your side. Her insights, professionalism, and results-driven approach make her an invaluable asset. I highly recommend her to any leader committed to building a thriving team
Libby helped give me clarity and confidence throughout a vital period in my career and beyond. Her style of coaching allowed me to flourish and draw upon my own skillset to further develop my authentic leadership skills. Libby helped me unpack challenges and simplify them into realistic and achievable goals. This meant that I was able to achieve tangible results both at work and in my home life. It amazes me to reflect on how far I have come since my initial engagement with Libby and the obstacles I have overcome with her support. I cannot recommend Libby highly enough and will always be grateful for her support.
Before I started working with Libby, I was facing a mental block, a block that was not only holding me back professionally but even personally. Libby was able to identify the areas I needed to improve and provide the tools used to re evaluate my current career level, take stock of what I have achieved to date and how I use this to drive myself forward. Because Libby is an extremely humble person, I do not think she even realises how big the hurdle was that she has helped me get over. As I embark on the next step in my career, I feel even more empowered to tackle any opportunity that comes my way and have a newfound level of confidence in my ability to take that opportunity and hit new heights. Thank you, Libby, for the kick start or should I say “reboot” I needed. Eternally grateful Regards, Rob
As it was my first experience with coaching, I wasn’t certain on what I could expect to get out of the process. Libby’s structured approach meant I was able to focus on the issues that would deliver maximum value and immediate impact in my professional life. A highlight of my experience was gaining a set of skills to use in interactions with more challenging stakeholders – I was able to address situations with greater confidence, in a way that was authentic to me and aligned with my personal communication style and values. I would recommend Libby’s coaching for anyone who’s taking the next step up in their career – coaching is a brilliant tool to use in navigating complex situations and the value of an independent opinion and constructive challenge is huge.
I was coached by Libby Irwin at a critical stage of my career, being the time I was preparing for promotion to partnership. Libby was able to help me to clearly identify my values, my professional and personal goals and my leadership style and aspirations. Five years later, I have met many of those goals – I have a strong career as a partner in one of New Zealand’s longest established and most respected law firms and I’m an active father to my three children. Anyone looking to make the transition into a senior leadership role should consider Libby’s coaching and leadership development services.