Our Team

Gillian McCready Executive coach, supervisor and facilitator

I have over 35 years of experience in coaching and leadership development, both in managerial roles and as a consultant. I have coached several hundred CEOs, Directors and Senior Managers, and supervised the practice of many Executive Coaches, helping them to find and attain their true potential.

I relish the opportunities I have of working with senior professionals across all sectors. Seeing the results of our work together and the real impact that coaching has is why I love what I do.

From building leadership capability and handling team dynamics, to developing self belief and influencing skills, the scope of my work is broad, yet always specifically focused on your needs.

I founded gemm in 2002 and have developed the span of the business by engaging with a number of trusted associate colleagues for large projects and when a specific background or expertise meets the client’s needs best. Their profiles are below.

Suzanne Braid Executive coach, trainer and facilitator

Sector specialities: Construction, manufacturing, insurance and finance, healthcare, IT/software, public sector and charities.

I have worked as a Learning and Development specialist for 15 years, also working as an Accredited Coach in a range of sectors from finance, construction, IT to the public sector.

I work with individuals, leaders and teams at all levels and have extensive experience in using coaching to improve performance, enhance leadership capability, explore team dynamics and develop future talent.

My coaching approach closely reflects my natural passion and desire to continually learn. I thrive from developing potential in others, to share and inspire them to grow and continually improve. I love to make authentic connections and bring a curiosity and energy that allows me to support them in understanding their development needs, enabling them with the best way forward to achieve them.

As a trainer and facilitator I design, develop and deliver a range of development programmes such as ILM accredited Leadership & Management development, coaching & mentoring skills and behavioural skills, as well as working with leaders and teams to deliver a range of tailored organisational development initiatives such as cultural change, strategic focus, team building and talent development.

Robert Gordon, CB Executive coach and mentor

Sector Specialities: Government and the wider public sector, charities and not for profits.

I have extensive experience of transformational leadership and radical change roles in the public service in Scotland over a varied career in government, culminating in over 10 years at Board level.

I have a passion for helping clients expand their leadership repertoires, developing new skills to deliver performance enhancing change. My focus is on helping grow courageous, committed, energising and imaginative leaders with the appetite and skills to bring about substantive and enduring change in their organisations.

I am supportive, engaging and encouraging and couple this with constructive challenge. Clients are encouraged to be energising, to inspire their teams to aim higher and to achieve things they thought themselves incapable of; to lift morale in parts of organisations that feel neglected; to re-engage the disaffected and semidetached.

The imaginative leader is helped to find new and unexpected ways of engendering enthusiasm and commitment – the new role, the new project – to overcome the seemingly immovable obstacle. I encourage them to see how they can deploy emotional intelligence to understand behaviours and demeanours and make the unexpected interventions that make the difference.

Sheila Hamilton Executive coach, counsellor, supervisor and facilitator

My work with individuals and groups is focused on increasing and sustaining self-awareness, creativity, confidence, resourcefulness and overall wellbeing, enabling clients to be the best they can be.

I have extensive experience in helping clients to adapt to major transitions, develop decision making skills and deal with personal challenges. I enjoy working collaboratively, empowering clients to tap into their personal and professional potential, to support them through life changes, recognise successes and challenges, resolve relationship difficulties, and achieve their personal and work-related goals.

In my coaching practice, I draw on my experience as a senior member of a university leadership team for over 20 years, and as an integrative counsellor/psychotherapist, using Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and a Solution Focused approach in particular. From my therapeutic background, I bring the skills of attentive listening, non-judgement and acceptance, and my values of integrity, honesty, transparency, congruence, equality and justice. Being bilingual enables me to consider different perspectives and to value cultural differences.

I am passionate about seeking to meet our human need for connectedness and am involved in community projects and facilitate classes in wellbeing both face to face and online.  I supervise a wide range of practitioners in the caring professions, to support their client work and their professional development.

Gordon Laird Executive Coach, team coach, facilitator and counsellor

My coaching practice is informed by over 20 years of experience and training as a commercially focused HR leader, as a specialist in leadership effectiveness, and over 1000 client hours as a psychotherapist.

Clients and colleagues appreciate my ability to walk in their shoes, make the complex simple and apply fresh perspectives to their business challenges. I bring a collaborative and systems approach to my work and am skilled in establishing a strong rapport as a basis for discovering enduring change, success, and personal fulfilment. I am able to understand the individual’s experience and see this within the context and system they are in, making connections which may be helpful, boost confidence and release new, creative ideas.

Fundamentally, I see coaching as a way to effect positive change by helping individuals, teams and organisations to do their best thinking, realise latent resources and talents, make positive choices about their future and find meaning in their work.

Colin Jones-Evans Executive coach, team coach and facilitator

Sector specialities: Broadcast media, education, insurance and financial services, manufacturing, professional services, public sector, retail, oil and gas.

Our work together will enable you to do your best thinking, to think about the goals in your professional and personal life in such a way that you feel drawn towards them rather than being pushed. You will create a deeper understanding of the challenges you face in achieving those goals and how you can address them while still being true to yourself and your values. In other words, enabling you to work smart, by making the changes that provide maximum effect.

We all have the potential to grow but sometimes get ‘stuck’, either when we are too close to the issue, or because our emotional attachment prevents us thinking as clearly as we can. My training in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) can sometimes help to understand the source of being stuck, and provide ways forward that are sustainable.

I have worked as a coach and consultant for over 25 years, in a range of country cultures including the Far East, Middle East, Eastern and Western Europe and the USA.

I am accredited in a number of psychometric and team effectiveness tools, and coach teams to develop a greater sense of awareness of one another’s preferences, and facilitate leadership teams to refine their strategy, values and approach.

Kirsty Leishman Executive coach, supervisor and consultant

Sector Specialities: The NHS, education, oil super majors and contractors, international energy, financial and professional services, entrepreneurial start ups.

My 20+ years of working in the field of leadership development includes consulting, team and executive coaching: from ‘high potential’ leaders through to CEO’s and Non-Executive Directors. I maintain a spread of engagements between private and public and voluntary sectors. I am also a qualified coaching supervisor.

I support individuals and groups to develop and expand their leadership capacity, in the context of unprecedented change. My approach fosters confidence, and enables leaders to step into uncertainty with a readiness to lead both from the front and in collaboration with others. I challenge leaders to expand their repertoire with an inquiring approach, to dissolve siloes, understand difference, and drive for outcomes that are shaped and owned by all concerned.

It can be easy, in fast-paced environments, to regard conversations as passive and time-consuming. My experience tells a different story: coaching conversations become the action: a platform to explore past and present experiences, and to prepare for the future; and a safe space to develop a leader’s own change-agency.

Pamela Macphee Executive coach, trainer and facilitator

Sector Specialities: Financial services, public sector, information technology, manufacturing, retail, education and charities.

I have worked as a Learning and Organisational Development Consultant for over 20 years in a range of Learning, OD and HR roles. Specialising in leadership development, management and behavioural skills facilitation and business coaching (including 360 feedback and psychometrics), I have extensive experience of team coaching, career transition, change management, resilience and people development interventions, built on a reputation for helping people and organisations achieve their goals.

My knowledge, skills and experience allow me to develop strong coaching relationships with my clients to enable them to deepen their self-awareness, and effectively strengthen their performance.

Within my Career Transition specialism, I have over 15 years’ experience in career development, in-placement, outplacement, and pre-retirement coaching. I am passionate about the growth and development of individuals, and my client centred approach enables clients the space to think to identify their career values, purpose, and strengths for their next transition.

I have designed and delivered many workshops virtually and face to face, including Leading and Managing Teams, Coaching Skills for Managers, Communication Skills, Emotional Intelligence and Wellbeing at Work.

Susan Marr Executive coach, counsellor, supervisor and facilitator

Sector specialities: Financial services, social enterprise and charities, legal and accounting, aviation, and higher education.

I have been involved in coaching for over 30 years.  I operated at Executive level within financial services where for over 20 years, I had a  range of roles including Corporate Finance, Business Development, Learning and Development and Strategic Marketing.

I have worked with Senior Executives in the UK, Asia and across Europe. I have led teams through major change programmes, supported organisations by driving their corporate social responsibility agenda, and worked with both teams and individuals to develop business skills that matter.  I am also a former Board member and Trustee of a mental health charity.

I am an accredited psychotherapist and coach supervisor and work with individuals and groups.  I also have training in trauma and have supported organisations with Crisis Coaching at times of sudden bereavement of colleagues.

I have developed my own approach, drawing on my years of experience as well as formal training. I have designed and delivered workshops on innovation, change, team work, and improving professional relationships. In particular, I pay close attention to the style and needs of the group members I coach, and look to integrate support with challenge to aid each individual’s professional development.

Being fluent in French, I offer French speaking clients the opportunity to work in their mother tongue.

Su Openshaw Executive coach, team coach, facilitator

Sector specialities: Finance and insurance, pharmaceuticals, FMCG, retail, professional services, third sector.

I have over 30 years’ experience as a Management Consultant, Executive Coach and Facilitator of learning events for individuals, teams, and organisations across every sector and over the world. I build deep relationships to enable me to challenge individual and organisation behaviours and limiting beliefs.

My aim is always to help individuals and teams be as effective as possible in their environments, and with the people around them, to achieve their individual and organisational goals.

People say I am able to quickly get to the core of business challenges and bring ideas when working with those issues. I work intuitively with leaders to help them fluidly manage the complex demands of today’s business environment. I care passionately about creating sustainable change and always work authentically to enable that to happen.

My pragmatic approach to developing individuals and leaders was formed by a management career in the retail sector before moving into management and organisation development roles across a range of sectors, and then as a partner in a management consultancy business for 10 years.

Chris Smith Coach, consultant and business manager

Sector specialities: Financial services, technology, professional services, FMCG, public and third sector.

I have over 20 years’ experience as a coach, consultant, and business manager, working with a range of industries. I have held leadership roles in a number of businesses, tackling growth, culture change, downsizing and integration challenges.

I coach senior leaders and rising talent, especially as they lead change or step into new roles that require them to expand their leadership. Clients greatly value my care for them, and my ability to connect strategic and systemic perspectives with the personal. My approach is to listen, question, support, and challenge, holding up the mirror for better self-insight.

Change comes from building on existing strengths and disrupting unhelpful patterns, offering a basis to think, feel and behave differently, generating individual growth, greater team effectiveness and business change. I draw on a wide range of frameworks, theories, and resources to inform my coaching and on my many years of experience working with leaders and teams around the world.

Rathy Thiruchelvam Executive coach, trainer and facilitator

Sector Specialities: Financial services, professional services and creative industries.

I have worked in Human Resources for nearly 20 years within Financial Services (General Electric and Royal Bank of Scotland), and throughout my HR career have coached managers at all levels with challenging people issues. The success of the outcomes were grounded in a common sense, straight forward and compassionate approach to sensitive situations.

My coaching approach is rooted in an innate understanding of what is playing out for my clients. I work openly, honestly and authentically and ask the same of my clients. I will pay attention to everything, what is said, how it is said, those subtle signs which are a gateway to rich insights. I work this way because I want to serve my clients powerfully and wholeheartedly. What comes from this are observations, questions and patterns which all help a client’s individual goal, whatever that might be. My intention throughout the coaching relationship is to make sure clients see their potential now and the potential they’re yet to fulfil.

I help my clients to transition successfully into senior roles, find direction professionally, understand their leadership style, to develop self-awareness and confidence, to find and connect to their personal purpose, increase their well-being and to be at their best in difficult times.

I have developed and facilitated many development programmes such as coaching skills for managers, mental health resilience, how to have difficult conversations, understanding your personal conflict style and understanding your leadership values.

The core of my work as a coach, trainer and facilitator is based in a daily practice of personal mastery. Showing up every day with the intention of being at your best so you can do your best.

Mags Welton Career and leadership development coach

I believe in people’s limitless potential, wholeness, resourcefulness, and natural creativity and in a world where change is constant. Taking personal responsibility for your career and personal development has never been more critical than it is today.

I help ambitious professionals to define the outcomes they want and achieve what matters most to them. I get to the core of what might be holding them back and what they need to do to move forward.

My leadership coaching focuses on three core areas: leading yourself, leading others, and delivering the business. Combined together, these competencies underpin a leader’s ability to perform successfully and enjoy a thriving career.

I draw upon my insights and experiences of over 20 years’ experience collaborating with and coaching leaders across a range of sectors, and as a HR Business Partner in national and multi-national companies.

Melissa Whiting Leadership and career coach

I work as a leadership and career coach, workshop facilitator and gender equality specialist. I have 20+ years of senior corporate leadership experience, including 5 years in the role of Vice President Diversity & Inclusion for a global multinational company.

My coaching work is focused on supporting people to expand their self-awareness, self-confidence, and self-acceptance; to be braver leaders, able to have a greater positive impact within their organisations and the people around them. I typically work with successful mid-career professionals, leaders and emerging leaders who experience self-doubt or who have hit a bump in their road.  I help them identify their values and strengths, get clearer on what they want and how best to achieve their ambitions.

Specific areas of coaching support include stepping into a new career or level of leadership, changing roles, creating more sustainable work-life integration and wellbeing, dealing with conflict and difficult relationships, and changing career direction.

I also co-facilitate a Women in Leadership program, comprising of group workshops and individual coaching, to support women as they work towards their next career level so they can thrive personally and professionally.

I started my career as a corporate lawyer, leading in-house legal teams in Australia, Asia, and Eastern Europe.