Share it
Everyone knows the extraordinary energy nurses bring to their work. At Evelina Children’s Hospital, two lead educators in the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit wanted to strengthen collaboration and create a more dynamic way of working. With such large teams, it wasn’t always possible for staff to connect, share best practice or build a shared sense of purpose.
I was invited to design and deliver a bespoke series of workshops for six groups, each holding regular away days. The focus was on team connection, resilience and motivation, helping nurses support each other and thrive whatever the circumstances. Over the months that followed, there was a clear shift in how teams communicated and worked together, leading to stronger collaboration and renewed energy across the unit.
Design it
Prospect Trade Union
Prospect recognised that their members needed new approaches to career planning and support, and created an opportunity to develop a hub of accessible career learning. They commissioned me to produce Transitions in Action, a three-part podcast that explores how even the smallest changes can influence career direction. The series is available on careersmart.
In collaboration with Prospect and the National Physical Laboratory, I also designed and delivered a STEM career workshop for 50 women in industry. This work highlighted the unique value women bring to the workplace, an area that continues to shape my research and practice in career development and organisational culture.
Create it
Academy of Medical Sciences
One of its flagship initiatives, SUSTAIN, is a career development programme designed to support female researchers in realising their full potential as independent research leaders.
Each year, 24 researchers from across the UK are selected to take part in this three-day residential programme in London. I was invited to design and deliver the career development strand, with a focus on building balance, assertiveness, and career confidence. This work was about more than just skills – it was about helping talented researchers recognise their own strengths, build resilience, and step forward with clarity and confidence in their career paths.
Enhance it
Wellbeing and looking after self is an area of tremendous importance in the workplace. The Royal Free NHS Trust, recognised the value of this and wanted to enhance their offering by running a series of workshops in situ for staff to attend. It meant that the staff could easily attend and had the opportunity to dip in and out of the event. I wanted to provide an uplifting and energetic session for the 100 attendees. The workshop concentrated on finding your niche in healthcare.
Torbay NHS Trust, commissioned me to create a leadership session that would inspire and influence the department’s O&G trainees to feel empowered to speak with impact and build the confidence needed to lead.
Frimley NHS Trust, Paediatric Department wanted to bring together their nurses to re-define the way that the teams work together and support each other. I ran multiple team coaching days which provided the department with a clear team purpose and direction.
Support it
The Wellcome Sanger Institute has prioritised the learning, development and talent management of its staff, and I have been closely involved in delivering both virtual and face-to-face workshops on career planning, as well as one-to-one career coaching.
Alongside this, I continue to deliver redundancy and outplacement support for individuals as needed, offering a tailored blend of coaching, skills development and confidence-building at times of transition.
As a speaker, my engagements concentrate on themes such as Career Happiness, Inspiring Leadership and Taking Control of Your Career. Notably, I was invited to speak at the inaugural launch of the Technicians’ Commitment, a collaboration between the Francis Crick Institute and Sanger.
Research it
Imperial College London
Staff at Imperial College London benefit from bespoke career coaching and development support, particularly during periods of career transition. I have designed and delivered two flagship programmes aimed at developing the skills, confidence, and visibility of early career researchers.
The Women in Research Summer Programme, part of the Mary Lister McCammon Fellowship, supports 18 female researchers from around the world. Over five weeks, participants focus on confidence building, presentation skills, and career planning in research. The programme culminates in a poster presentation showcasing their research, providing a platform for visibility and recognition of their work. More information can be found here.
I also deliver the Autumn Programme for the STATML PhD joint programme between Imperial and Oxford. This programme is dedicated to developing researchers’ communication and presentation skills, equipping them to articulate their work clearly and confidently to diverse audiences.
Both programmes are designed to empower researchers to grow professionally, build confidence, and share their work effectively, ensuring they can make an impact within academia and beyond.
Produce it
NHS East of England identified three groups of healthcare professionals who would benefit from online learning, and I designed a suite of sixteen webinars tailored to their needs.
For medical educators and training programme directors, the focus was on leadership, creative thinking, and fostering engagement and debate. Resident doctors returning to work after a career break received support to refocus their careers, build assertiveness, and regain confidence. For staff and salaried grade doctors, the training concentrated on courageous conversations, feedforward techniques, and leading with emotional intelligence.
These virtual programmes provided high-quality, interactive learning experiences that inspired participants, strengthened skills, and supported professional growth across multiple levels of the organisation.
Embrace it
Outplacement and redundancy support is an area that requires energy and focus. It is an emotional time for everyone involved and in fact supporting the employees who stay is as important as helping those leaving the organisation. Team coaching can be invaluable during this time.
During a major decommissioning project, where a facility was closing I was brought in to support individuals who faced redeployment or redundancy. I designed and delivered a comprehensive outplacement programme including one-to-one career coaching and interview preparation, group workshops on career planning, CVs, LinkedIn and job search strategies. This programme was a tremendous success, with 100% of participants securing work after leaving Sanger.
Review it
The British Medical Journal wanted to support International Medical Graduates during COVID to help them to improve their medical CV for the UK market. This is a global project using zoom as a mechanism to review individual CVs and whether the doctors are based in Egypt, Nigeria, Iraq or Bermuda, I am able to meet them virtually, learn their amazing career stories and provide concrete and instant feedback to help them practically make an impact.
Thank you for the support and encouragement. I got the job!
Created a series of medical CVs for Junior Doctors, GPs, Consultants and SAS clinicians.
Spoken at BMJ Live a yearly event concentrating on career and employability.
Dream it
Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust was developing a leadership behaviour framework to strengthen culture, leadership and inclusion across the organisation. I was invited to support the development of their Change Champions, facilitating a synthesis day that helped shape the framework and its rollout to all staff..
The programme reached 6,000 staff, delivered through a combination of Microsoft Teams virtual training and custom e-learning modules. The initiative, Our Future Our Way, has been shortlisted for the prestigious national HSJ Awards in the Staff Wellbeing category, reflecting the remarkable collaboration between 80 Change Champions and teams across OD, communications, Health and Wellbeing, Staff Engagement, EDI, Freedom to Speak Up, HR and more. Over the past two years, these efforts have contributed to the Trust achieving the second most improved staff survey results in the country. Read more
Build it
The British Medical Association, initially commissioned me to recruit medical careers advisers to support their members. The project evolved significantly and I was able to help them to strategically develop their learning and development offering. They’ve now built packages of support for doctors and medical students and their non-clinical training has expanded to include e-learning, webinars, masterclasses & conferences. I co-curated their Primary Care Network Masterclasses offering for GPs, have chaired conferences, facilitated senior leader sessions and ran away days for them. I’ve spoken at a number of hospitals and events over the years on their behalf on medical careers, leadership & management in healthcare and well being. I’ve created 1-2-1 career coaching services for BMA members, and seen at first hand its impact. It is a delight to have been involved in building such a fantastic support unit.
Grow it
At NHS England, London and South East, my first involvement was as part of the recruitment panel appointing the Head of Careers. Medicine has a particularly complex training pathway, and career support is essential for doctors in training. Since the service was first established, I have been part of the faculty of career and interview coaches, supporting hundreds of resident doctors in planning their careers. Over time, this area of work has grown into a large professional support unit.
Helping doctors navigate their careers requires specialist knowledge and technical expertise, and I have dedicated thousands of hours of coaching to trainees across the region. Alongside one-to-one support, I deliver webinars on career planning and interview skills for resident doctors, and I have also developed tailored materials for SAS doctors on career development and leadership. I continue to play an active role in this work, helping doctors move forward with clarity and confidence.
Shape it
The European University Institute, in Florence, works exclusively with PhD students from around the world and focuses on Economics, Law, History & Civilization and Political & Social Science. At the Institute there isn’t a dedicated careers coach and I delivered academic 1-2-1 career coaching and a masterclass on career planning. I had the luxury of going out to Florence to deliver this which as you can imagine does not feel like work. Shaping the work to suit the needs of a global audience required flexibility and creativity which I thoroughly enjoyed.
Manage it
Kings College London’s - Centre for Research Staff Development, has researchers from all over the world. I have co-created a blended programme on Building a Productive Relationship with your Manager. The format is a series of webinars over a month with virtual peer-to-peer coaching and supported workbook materials. These have been a tremendous success with three sell-out programmes.
For the last few years I have delivered virtual zoom training and face to face teaching on negotiation skills and I have been a coach on their Resilient Leadership programme. Their researchers are full of energy, kindness and are such a supportive group to work with.
Work it
London School of Economics has two programmes: TRIUM (LSE, NYE Stern & HEC Paris) & an Executive-MBA where I deliver Executive Leadership & Career Coaching. The people that I have supported have worked in a variety of sectors spanning, FinTech, BioPharma, Oil & Gas, IT, Law, Automotive, Aeronautics and the Creative Industries. During their programme, they have the opportunity to have career support at a distance using a combination of virtual and face-to-face interventions. I keep in touch with many of the groups and it’s great to see the changes they have made to their career; from sector and geographical changes to complete career transformations!
Employer Testimonials
Susie is energetic, motivational and extremely knowledgeable and that is why our staff and senior leaders really enjoy it when she comes to support us. She has delivered key note speeches for our senior leadership community, she has facilitated full sessions for us, bringing 150 people together in one room, listening, noticing and adapting to their needs. Susie has also recently helped us to develop our Leadership Behaviour Framework which is for all our staff and we will be launching this shortly. Susie knows her subjects inside out and can easily adapt her style to meet the needs of varied audiences, she can relate to everybody and she also remembers all of their names. I would highly recommend that you bring Susie into your organisation to help and support, energise and motivate and make the improvements we all need in current times.
— Fiona MacNamee, Head of Organisational Development, Leicester Partnership NHS Trust
You were phenomenal! Thank you so much
- Sarah Needleman, Oncology Consultant, Royal Free NHS Trust
Thank you facilitating a very engaging session for us. The verbal feedback from participants was really positive and I am sure the formal feedback will reflect that too. It was an intense but also fun week for us!
- Felipe Fouto, Programme Officer, Academy of Medical Sciences
Susie provided high quality learning and development support via traditional, virtual and blended learning events, where feedback from BMA learners was consistently positive. Susie has great problem solving abilities and brings a can do attitude, ensuring that deadlines are met without compromise to quality. Her network is extensive and she is able to draw on an extensive body of expertise. She brings energy and high motivation - great qualities to introduce to a team and to learners.
— Vikki Smith, Specialist Education Adviser, British Medical Association
Thank YOU for your great work with our researchers!
- Judith Przyrowski, Academic Service, European University Institute
Magnificent as always! Thank you so much for working with our team, the difference that you make to their morale and motivation is exceptional.
- Laura Foxler, Paediatric Clinical Medical Educator, Evelina Hospital
Many thanks for your input - great energy!
- Digby Ingle, Royal Marsden & Institute Cancer Research
I thought your material and delivery were excellent and so appropriate for this group and the things they find challenging. Thank you for the the time and effort you put into understanding the situation and needs and producing the right material.