Region
United Kingdom
Area of expertise
Developing Leaders, Women in the Workplace
Michelle Smith
Executive Coach & Design Lead
Michelle is an experienced Executive Coach and Facilitator with a strong background in professional learning & development. Her deep understanding of organisational dynamics and leadership challenges combined with her practical, results-oriented coaching style, makes her an ideal ‘thinking partner’ for those looking to accelerate their career trajectory and hone their leadership identity.
She has spent the past decade across a variety of key roles within the ECC business and is regarded as pivotal in supporting our operational expansion globally, navigating technical transformations to support our learning interventions, championing our growing international coach team and overseeing employee learning and development. Furthermore, she was elected to serve as Trustee Director on the board of the ECC Employee-Owned Trust.
As Design Lead at ECC she’s focused on partnering with clients to co-create transformative impact-led talent programmes that empower women, accelerate equity, and propel diverse talent forward.
Her expertise in educational theory and organisational learning & development ensures sessions are client-focused and impactful. Her interests in neuroscience and wellbeing strategies further enhance her toolkit and approach, enabling her to foster environments where everyone can thrive and reach their full potential.
Coaching Style
Michelle views the coaching relationship as a partnership of equals, using a solution focused style that helps clients be intentional about the change they’d like to see realised and proactively working towards these goals. The coaching conversations provide a dedicated space to explore what can often feel like insurmountable ambitions and break them down into actionable plans, concentrating on small shifts that make a big difference.
Her compassionate yet direct style encourages clients to ask challenging questions of themselves, leading to real breakthroughs and encouraging clients to step out of their comfort zones. Adept at creating a psychologically safe environment and building trust, her coachees report this has been paramount in aiding these transformational changes and stepping into their leadership style.
Where appropriate or desired, she can skilfully integrate a vast array of leadership coaching tools where beneficial, such as weaving neuroscience principles into her coaching, using strengths-based theoretical frameworks to accelerate performance and enhance reputation, or using models rooted in positive psychology to help clients overcome internal barriers.
Coachees often describe her as honest, curious, and insightful, mentioning they’ve valued the accountability and motivation the coaching sessions offer.
Special Interests
- Leadership presence and impact
- Influencing and presentation skills
- Women in Leadership
- Self-confidence and motivation - The power of mindset
- Maintaining equilibrium and wellbeing under pressure and through transitions
Training & Qualifications
- Michelle is committed to continuous professional development, regular supervision, and reflective practice
- Professional Coach Recognition Programme, ECC
- Leader as Coach certification, ECC
- Learning & Development Diploma, CIPD
- Applied Neuroscience for Coaches, The Collaborators
- Full member, Association for Coaching
- Associate member, CIPD
- Bachelor of Music Education, Trinity College Dublin
- Two-years experience as Trustee Director of ECC’s Employee Owned Trust
Current Clients
- As an Executive Coach and programme Facilitator, Michelle has recently worked within the following organisations, primarily to accelerate their future leaders: Reckitt, Deliveroo, Morgan Stanley, Telereal Trillium, Derwent, Space & Time.
- Her recent programme design work includes strong partnerships with EssilorLuxottica, Bank of America, UBS, Deloitte, Simmons & Simmons, Herbert Smith Freehills, and Stevenson Harwood.
- Michelle has also hosted panels on topics such as work/life balance for organisations like One Loud Voice for Women and volunteers as a coach with MyBigCareer, supporting young people in exploring their future career ambitions.
.svg){kind=logo}
.png?width=300&height=63&name=AO-Shearman-e1715683890872%20(1).png)
