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Every summer since I created Wise Sherpa, I have taken time out to regroup, recharge, and reflect. When I started my business, I set out on an adventure with some ideas based on my 25 years plus experience, interest and sense of purpose of where I could add value to potential impact-focused clients. On the […]

I loved being part of a pioneer cohort of a programme for senior executives building their coaching and consulting businesses as they transitioned out of their large organisational careers. Rich Litvin – who was responsible for the programme – discussed with us his fascination with the English concept of Bespoke. This triggered something in me. […]

After leaving large organisational life, I decided to set up a business. I knew what the business would be – coaching and consulting impact-focused clients in a systemic and sustainable way. And to be truthful it wasn’t difficult coming up with a name – Wise Sherpa. But what’s in a business name and does it […]

This is a first for Wise Sherpa! Rather than writing about what it’s like to work with Wise Sherpa, Rebecca takes a moment to speak to Wise Sherpa coaching client, Jo Cumper. As the founder of a high-growth boutique talent consultancy focused on digital, data and technology in the public sector after having spent many years working […]

Originally, in deciding to float the idea with The Change Leaders – a community of practice I am fortunate to be part of – for this blog as part of a series focused on “lesser heard and more diverse” range of voices, I was hoping that we could shine a light on voices that have […]

Recently, I decided to re-read Carol Dwek’s seminal work on Mindset – how you can fulfil your potential; partly because I was reflecting upon my work as a coach, mentor and advisor at Wise Sherpa and my learnings and partly because I wanted to support my daughter more effectively as a parent in her development. – […]

When it comes to our careers and lives, so many of us face challenges in actually making a move. Our tendency is to plan (read dream), maybe take just another training course, talk to just a few more people to get their views, and then likely sit with the information for a long time. In […]

In the run-up to leaving large organisational life and creating Wise Sherpa, I talked to many people, read quite a few books, articles etc and listened to bucketful of podcasts. One book in particular which provoked my thinking was The 100-Year Life by Lynda Gratton and Andrew Scott.  The research is clear, our lives are […]

I was fortunate enough several years ago to be introduced to three interesting women in a very short time period – just at the point the Women on Boards discussion in the UK was hotting up with the publication of the Davies Review into the status of women on boards in the UK. And to the concept of A […]

My Board You Cannot Afford Blog was born out of my work as a consultant and coach. In particular, it focused on why and how Founders, CEOs and Business Leaders need to build a Board You Cannot Afford, a personal board of directors as a fundamental pillar to their current and future success. I continue […]

I’ve been reflecting on working with complex problems in an ever increasingly fragmented world – the sort of problems where there are no wrong or right answers just lots of data, multiple often conflicting opinions, agendas, stakeholders…. As you may know, I left large organisational life to embark on the adventure that Wise Sherpa is! […]

Whilst there’s a growing awareness of burnout as a condition – it remains ill-defined and as a result, there is not necessarily much reliable and credible advice available to sufferers. What advice is available, focuses largely on managing your resilience and having firm boundaries, and for those with more severe cases, potentially drug and or […]

It seems like all around us we’re hearing about mental as well as physical health – but what does this mean? I am self-confessed data junky so I turned to the data to see what it could tell us. In a survey published by HBR* on the state of burnout: 89% of respondents said their […]

There has been a considerable amount of research and discussion in the press and beyond on women’s health more recently. No surprise probably to those of you who know me that one particular piece of research caught my attention concerning women’s health and the impact on the global economy undertaken by McKinsey in time for […]

Who moved my cheese (yet again)?!  OR cultivating resilience in the face of ever-increasing change and uncertainty. This Blog was originally written during the 2020-2022 Pandemic. Twelve days before Christmas brought us not nice things but instead yet another self-isolation for our now eleven year old daughter as she tested positive for Covid – thankfully […]

Whether it’s the great resignation* or experienced professionals choosing to leave or being pushed out of the workplace, what comes next after life in a large organisation for those professionals is a challenge. Along with my former colleague, Mike Mister, I have been focusing on this issue for several years now. So much so that […]

As part of the research for our book From work life to new life – Reinventing retirement for Smart Professionals, my co-author, Mike Mister, and I found that when it comes to experienced professionals transitioning out of organisations in mid to later career, organisational leaders are missing an opportunity to work with these individuals as […]

By 2025 for the first time ever in the UK 50% of the working population will be aged 50 and over.* What does that mean for both professionals who want to continue working but frequently not in the way they have been? And what does it mean for employers who are facing an ageing workforce, […]

During the pandemic my dad spent a considerable amount of time creating a book of his family’s history which he subsequently gave to us as a present this Christmas. The book is full of wonderful photos and anecdotes of family members most of whom I never got to meet including my great grandfather – Joe […]

“Sociologist William Bridges made the distinction between change and transition. Change, he explained, is what happens to us, all around, every day, in ways large and small. It can sweep you off your feet, propel you to the top of your field or mow you down unnoticed in the mass collateral damage of crowds. Transition […]

Launching our book was fascinating, challenging, inspiring – and so many other things. One of the activities I really enjoyed as part of the process was talking to a variety of groups about it! At one of these sessions, I was asked an insightful question which has stayed with me, and I’ve spent time reflecting […]

As the oldest of GenX* enter their 60s, this question may not be as crazy as it seems! For those of us who were born into GenX in developed countries, our mid to later life is looking very different to the generation or two proceeding us (as will it for generations coming after us). As […]

The short film clip homes in on Richard Branson as he starts sharing his experience of ageing; in a nutshell, he states that he doesn’t think about age as he doesn’t feel any different within himself than he did when he was younger. As viewers, we’re then treated to inspiring clips of many of the […]

They say that healthy founders = healthy start ups. Why and how investors can support founders to thrive. “49% of founders say they’re considering quitting their start up this year.“ Amy Lewin, Sifted 2024. The benefits of an integrated approach by investors to supporting founders on their start up journey focusing not simply on the […]

One of the things I appreciate about my work as a consultant and coach, is the ability to spend time on learning, developing my skills and following my interests wherever they take me, especially when it comes to reading. If I’m honest, I probably underestimated just how much of my time and energy I could […]

I’m at the end of another year, and like so many of us, as I look back I wonder how we got here so quickly! Look Back One of the learnings of reaching midlife that I’m finding is how quickly I can move from my more intentional self to my execution-driven self in order to […]

Some reflections and a few hopefully useful insights. Many of you will know my keen interest in professionals as they enter mid-life and onwards. Part of my story of transitioning out of organisational life in midlife has been completely unintentional and yet surprising and rewarding on so many levels! I have over the years helped, […]

I am fascinated by exploring what a different way of living in mid to later life looks like. Much of my interest is anchored in the research that I did for the book I co-authored (www.fromworklifetonewlife.com) about living your best, most fulfilling encore (the stage from midlife onwards). While I still love much of my […]

Wednesday 18th May saw the launch of my first book co-authored with the very talented Mike Mister (whose second book it is!). Those of you who read my blogs will know that the book From work life to new life – rewriting the rules of retirement for smart professionals has been a collaboration project and […]

Maybe it’s due to the longer days, increased daylight (and sunshine!) and the chance for the first time in many years to take time out with my spouse, just the two of us, away from work, parenting and caring responsibilities, offering the opportunity for a much needed regroup, refuel, reconnect and reflection this midsummer. The […]

Why creating the right setting for working from home can make all the difference. Whilst watching a UK TV show one Sunday evening, I learnt a fascinating but when I think about it, obvious fact. Humans need time in nature not only for sunlight and fresh air but because our bodies rely on our sense […]

“….My generation broke down barriers. We confronted sexism, racism and workplace prejudice, and ploughed our own furrows…. we succeeded on our own terms. Now we refuse to fade politely into the background.” Eleanor Mills, Founder and CEO, Noon (former Editorial Director of Sunday Times and Editor of Sunday Times Magazine) I was very struck by […]

Over the winter holidays, we continued our family routine of earl(ish) daily morning walks. On one of the walks, I initiated a game of what have you learnt as a result of the pandemic that you value. We had a lot of fun and passed a good hour or so. Since that conversation, I’ve spent […]

I learnt to listen to what my body was trying to tell me was an article I wrote after being approached by Noon. It tells of my experiences and the help and support I received and needed following the birth of my daughter, the juggling of both my homelife, work life and menopause that led […]