testimonials
Nancy worked with me for over three years. In that time she gave me and the office invaluable support and advice over what were formative and critical times.
From the outset Nancy’s incisive analysis of the business requirements helped define the way forward for the practice. She has a rare combination of talents having run a number of successful architectural practices giving strategic and management advice, but she also has an innate understanding of the creative sensibilities of an office like ours. This enabled Nancy to propose systems and structures that were appropriate to our culture and that have allowed us to flourish.
Nancy is a very skilled advisor in volatile situations and is tactically astute. She is an exceptional mentor and communicator at both ends of the experience spectrum and deploys humour to good effect. Nancy maintained an overview of our buseinss at both the micro and macro levels and was utterly dependable and committed.
Amanda Levete
Amanda Levete Architects
I came to coaching after recently being promoted to a senior role and struggling with confidence in myself, overwhelming workload, and not feeling heard at times. Having gone through Nancy's 12-week coaching programme, I have learnt techniques to help me improve my management skills, give myself time to prepare, think strategically and, importantly, believe that my contribution matters.
I’d thoroughly recommend coaching with Nancy and would sign up again in a heartbeat. She has been incredible at helping me build my confidence and giving me tips and tricks I can take with me wherever I go. She has a wealth of knowledge, and experience of succeeding in leadership roles whilst also having a family and making some time for yourself.
Sian Cooke
Senior Sustainability Consultant
Nancy Cogswell has been an invaluable asset in the setting up and running of my recently founded art consultancy. She has a remarkable gift of being highly creative as well as having a hugely impressive business brain. The way she has helped me to hone my ideas has enabled me to enjoy the building of my business with the knowledge that there is no-one better to have on side to coach me on its running and as I decide on its structure. My sessions with her over the past few months have been a complete godsend and empowering, and I really couldn’t have managed without her. I hugely look forward to our weekly sessions, as it’s both exciting and extremely useful to be able to run the week’s developments by her for her feedback and mentoring. She always provides ingenious ideas in a calm and measured way and I really feel Flora Fairbairn & Co. couldn’t have better support. I couldn’t recommend her more highly.
Flora Fairbairn
Flora Fairbarin & Co Art Consultancy
Nancy is an insightful all-in coach who possesses laser sharp skills in generating new awareness. She is a master at offering clients tools to help develop their awareness. Nancy is an expert in creating an open, sharing environment in which to explore thinking and perspectives and she’s a whizz at keeping one on track.
Emily Almeida-King
Strategy & Organisational Development Consultant
It’s hard to emphasise enough how much of a support Nancy has been to me as a leadership mentor and business/life coach, and the breadth of the ground that we have covered. She has shepherded me through a particularly challenging chapter in my life, helping me to find clarity, confidence and reserves of strength that I did not know I had. I have been endlessly impressed by Nancy’s intelligence, energy and focus; her ability to see and retain even the smallest piece of information, to put together the pieces of the jigsaw puzzle, helping me to make sense of things and to cast a light on the way forward.
I wholeheartedly recommend Nancy. Anyone would be lucky to have an injection of her skill and attention in their life and would come away with a better understanding of who they are, where they want to go and how to get there.
Nicola Harding
Founder & Creative Director Nicola Harding & Co
Nancy was recommended to us when we were transitioning from a young to an established architecture practice and winning larger private houses and cultural projects. We were juggling challenging projects of various sizes with a growing team. Nancy’s wisdom and drive were felt from day one. A thorough analysis of the practice was undertaken often on large sheets of paper stuck to the meeting room walls. She stripped what we wanted from the practice to the non negotiables, drilled into where our jobs came from and, critically, which ones delivered a profit. Perhaps most insightfully, Nancy was able to engage us in conversations which delved deep into our own personal ambitions and skills.
On the back of these sessions, we restructured our roles within the practice and went from strength to strength. We continued to ask Nancy back into the practice to work with the directors on an ad hoc basis. We would highly recommend Nancy for her forensic and incisive approach. Nancy became a critical part of our team at that critical transition stage, and is now a good friend.
Chris Romer-Lee
Director, Studio Octopi
Working with Nancy has been a treasure trail of discovery for both my business and personal growth. I couldn’t have imagined it possible that one person could offer the gamut of insight and knowledge that Nancy does: from business mentoring to transformational coaching, the tools and techniques she has to hand and to mind are awesome and truly do what they say on the can.
The 12 week programme felt like a beautifully considered trajectory that also created the perfect amount of space along the way for the spontaneous. Over and above her intelligence, laser sharp perception, and wit, the exchange is held with great care and respect for the work that is being done.
Jenny Jones
Architect & Thought Leader
Before my sessions with Nancy, I would typically always say ‘yes’ for fear of letting others down, which would then increase my already high workload. I was really struggling to create a good work / life balance and establish a work routine that I could plan around. Being coached by Nancy enabled me to find constructive ways of prioritising my time, and to meet my needs without the fear of disappointing others, or over-thinking or worrying afterwards.
Nancy is a great coach who has not only helped me build new skills and confidence which have hugely helped me within my professional development and helped me gain a new perspective on handling aspects of my work and home life that I had previously struggled with. Nancy helped me develop my leadership capabilities, including more confidently raising the level of discussion to create improvements through honest and constructive conversations and recommendations. Working with Nancy has been a very enjoyable and educative experience and I would highly recommend her to others who would like to have a more rounded approach to work and leadership.
Laura Graham
Associate Inerior Designer
I have worked with Nancy for more than 25 years. From the outset Nancy unstintingly nurtured and encouraged my development. This was mostly professional but also personal, because for Nancy the two are integral.
When I established my own practice, we were busy but needed financial vision and structure. Nancy, in crisp efficient moves coached me into transforming our results. This was especially beneficial because Nancy has both design and business expertise – and crucially she understands worth. How we as professionals value ourselves and our contributions is not always clear and nor is it limited to money. Nancy brought clarity to my understanding of my own worth and of the worth of the architect in the bigger picture.
In addition, I have observed Nancy deploy her skills across diverse sectors, from her own art practice, as a PhD examiner, charity trustee, mentor, writer, property developer, mother and friend. Her dedication and intelligence always enhance outcomes, with long-lasting effects.I continue to consult Nancy whenever fresh, clear, experienced, trusted, fast advice is needed, whatever the subject.
Alan Higgs
Alan Higgs Architects
Superb; that’s what working with, and being coached and mentored by Nancy is. I can say without doubt that she knows what she is doing and does it well. In three months she has gently but firmly coaxed me up to a much better place of self belief and affirmation with her creative, intuitive, focussed and well informed sessions. Nancy sees your potential, whether latent, dormant or suppressed and uses her arsenal of embedded resource plus a lot of lightness and humour, to bring you out to your best realised form.
She moves fluidly between both personal coaching and as necessary business mentoring which I personally found invaluable because to me personal growth is a multifaceted gem to polish. Having someone invest in you, believing in you, be in your corner and hold a space for you is an incredibly powerful tool for personal change. If that’s what you are seeking then absolutely, my vote is with this woman.
Elizabeth Cameron
Knowledge Exchange Professional for the HEI, Creative & Cultural Sectors
Working with Nancy is transformative. She helps you to let go of unhealthy coping mechanisms and offers you tools to rebuild the life you strive for and deserve. Nancy was amazing at reminding me of my worth; that has given me the confidence to speak my truth, even when at times it is uncomfortable.
I always appreciate her words of wisdom and intuitive observations when faced with life's challenges. Highly recommend her and wish everyone was lucky enough to cross her path.
Karen Findlay
Associate Interior Designer
I would recommend Nancy and her programme to any woman in senior leadership because she has a wealth of relevant experience. Her coaching is built on a deep understanding of the myriad challenges we face. She offers practical approaches for overcoming personal development challenges, while at the same time ensuring that we treat ourselves well. Perhaps one of the most wonderful benefits of working with Nancy for me has been that I now face every day, and life in general, with hope and positivity.
Nancy helped me to recognise and use effective behaviours in a myriad of different situations, for the benefit of myself, my colleagues and the organisation. She empowered me with greater belief in what I am capable of, and a library of useful tools and behaviours. I now find myself facing difficult situations knowing that, with consideration, “I can make the best of this”. Nancy has helped me develop a deeper understanding of my own values, worth, needs and desires which will help me to make plans and decisions about my future with confidence.
Alison Rivett
Senior Development & Fundraising Manager at ‘Teach A Man To Fish’
As this was my first experience of coaching, I was nervous and unsure what the sessions would bring. All my worries vanished in the first session; Nancy has taken me on an incredible journey that has really helped me to understand my emotions and desires both personally and professionally. As a young professional starting out in a leadership role, Nancy has guided me to understand my leadership style, my values in life and encouraged me to unearth the confidence that I already had and didn’t even realise.
I am beyond grateful for this experience and the chance to work with such an incredible coach, who challenges, enables, and encourages one to develop at a deep level, while giving insight into her remarkable experience and wisdom. I would encourage anyone starting out in a more senior role to take on this 12-week coaching course, I feel enlightened, energised, and empowered in my new role.
Ella Clinkard
Manager of Procurement & Special Projects: Interior Design
I received coaching from Nancy for three months early in 2022. I was at a really bad place at the time, having left a job in difficult circumstances and was in the process of setting up my own business, whilst also applying for interim roles, to tide me over until my business took off. My confidence had taken a severe battering and I was feeling confused, angry and bitter.
The journey which Nancy took me on, was truly enlightening and empowering. I am a very down to earth person and some of Nancy’s ideas initially seemed a bit ‘left field’, but, to my surprise they have made me see things so differently. Nancy never told me what to do. She never gave me advice. I answered all my own questions and with Nancy guiding me gently I found my way to a much, much, better place. This is itself was empowering.
I really do see myself and things around me differently now. I see where I fit in to the bigger picture and how I make a difference. I have clarity and confidence and realise my own worth. I am now in a role that I love and I feel that the organisation I am delivering a service for is lucky to have me! Any regrets? Yes – I wish I had gone to Nancy years ago!!
Simone Chinman Russell
Housing Sector: Strategy & Delivery Senior Executive