Catherine Harrison
Leadership Partnership
Where senior leaders come to think when the stakes are high
A trusted thinking partner for senior leaders navigating high-stakes decisions, leadership transitions and organisational complexity.
Leadership rarely fails because capable people don't care enough. It falters when pressure, uncertainty and competing demands make it difficult to think clearly.
I work alongside senior leaders and leadership teams to create insight, perspective and challenge that lead to better decisions, stronger relationships and more confident leadership.
When people come to me
You may recognise this...
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You're carrying decisions that affect many people
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The demands of leadership leave little room to think
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You're navigating uncertainty, competing priorities or organisational change
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Relationships feel more complicated than the issues themselves
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You're expected to project confidence while privately questioning your next move
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You need a place where you can think openly, honestly and without judgement
The partnership
Leadership doesn't become easier as responsibility grows. The questions become more nuanced, the decisions carry greater consequences an the opportunities to think openly become fewer.
My role is to create the space where you can slow down enough to see clearly, challenge assumptions, make sense of what is happening beneath the surface and move forward with confidence.
Why clients choose me
I know that leadership is rarely about having all the answers. It's about making sound judgements when the way forward isn't immediately clear. My role is to help leaders think more clearly, understand their situation more fully and act with confidence when it matters most.
I bring together more than two decades of experience in executive coaching, leadership development and governance, underpinned by a systems thinking approach. That means we don't only explore your leadership, we examine the organisational, political and relational context shaping your role.
Together we build insight that is both deeply reflective and immediately practical.
I have worked with government departments, global brands and leading charities and have helped shape national programmes focused on organisational culture and improvement. My experience has given me a deep understanding of how leadership, relationships and organisational context influence each other.
My credentials include:
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Certificate in Coaching for Leadership: Psychodynamic Approaches - Tavistock Institute of Human Relations (TIHR) Accredited.
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ILM recognised action learning facilitator.
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Fellow of the RSA (Royal Society of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce).
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Expert-in-Residence at the Imperial Enterprise Lab.
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Associate coach for the NHS Aspiring Directors programme.
Client stories
Ben*, a high-performing investment professional with a PhD in neuroscience, joined a rapidly scaling start-up at a critical stage of growth.
Despite being hired for his strategic capability, he was operating in an environment marked by unclear expectations, inconsistent communication and a newly appointed CEO “brought in over his head.”
*pseudonym
Brenda*, a senior leader in patient co‑production, started working with me at a point where her effectiveness was being compromised by organisational complexity and team dysfunction.
Her expertise in lived‑experience was frequently dismissed, she was managing a direct report whose behaviour she described as “coercive” and “Teflon,” and she was carrying a level of emotional load that was diluting her authority.
*pseudonym
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James* had left a long-term employer without a new role secured – a high-risk career move that created both opportunity and uncertainty.
He wanted clarity on what roles would genuinely energise him, how to articulate his
strengths, and how to make career decisions
aligned with his values rather than “luck”, “chance” or “favouritism”.
*pseudonym
Leadership doesn't have to be a solo endeavour
If you're navigating an important decision, transition or leadership challenge, I'd be pleased to explore whether working together would be helpful.
Book a confidential conversation