RESULTS
The real impact of coaching comes alive in the stories of the people and organisations I work with. On this page, you’ll find case studies and conversations that show how parental coaching helps individuals feel more confident in their return to work - and how businesses create lasting cultural change when they invest in their people.
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Watch the videos, read the stories, and see how coaching is transforming workplaces and supporting parents to thrive.
From personal insight to organisational change at Cherry
When HR Director Danni Buxton returned from maternity leave, she experienced first-hand the challenges of balancing new parenthood with professional identity. Coaching gave her the space, support, and accountability she needed - and inspired her to embed parental coaching across Cherry, making it a standard part of how the organisation supports every parent.
Transforming Parental Return-to-Work at Arval UK
When returners at Arval UK reported feeling isolated, disconnected, and unsure how to navigate life as working parents, Senior HR Business Partner Heather Messenger knew something had to change.
By listening to employee voice, updating policies, and introducing maternity return coaching, Arval created a culture of genuine support. The results? More confident returners, higher retention, and tangible progress on gender equity.
MORE WRITTEN CASE STUDIES
"The sessions were more helpful than I ever thought possible. I now feel more confident, capable, and better equipped to handle life's challenges."
ROSE
PRODUCT & PROPOSITION MANAGER @ ARVALS
"After having my second child, I returned to work and was offered some coaching sessions to support me. From the start, I found a safe space to explore my thoughts and feelings. Laura’s approach allowed me to delve into my emotions, which was challenging yet rewarding.
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As the coaching progressed, I noticed significant changes in myself.
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My confidence grew, empowering me to consider new possibilities.
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I gained valuable tools for self-reflection and learned to express my needs more clearly.
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I became less apologetic and more assertive.
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One of the most impactful sessions was around stress management. Through exercises like the "Circles of Influence," I gained perspective on what I could control, leading to a more relaxed approach to both work and life.
The sessions gave me the space to reflect on my whole life, considering what I want from my career, what I want for my family and how to also protect time for myself.
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Reflecting, at the end of the programme I was struck by the profound impact it had had. The sessions were more helpful than I ever thought possible. I now feel more confident, capable, and better equipped to handle life's challenges.
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I wholeheartedly recommend working with Laura to others. Whether returning to work, struggling with confidence, seeking better work-life balance, or feeling overwhelmed, I believe everyone could benefit from it."
“I feel proud of myself for having conversations out of my comfort zone. I wouldn’t have done that if it wasn’t for these sessions.”
MATERNITY RETURN COACHEE
There’s so much in this feedback from a recent maternity return coachee.
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The feeling of pride, increasing her confidence and belief in herself
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Acknowledging her success in pushing herself out of her comfort zone.
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Using the coaching sessions offered by her organisation as a safe space to talk, reflect and conclude that she was in control of the conversations that needed to happen.
It’s worth also noting that these conversations that were out of her comfort zone resulted in:
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Better communication with her line manager
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Enabling them both to set out expectations and agree on what was reasonable and realistic
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A ripple effect where, having seen the positive outcomes at work she felt better equipped to tackle some issues with her partner about workload at home
Feedback like this demonstrates how accessing coaching at the point of return to work after maternity leave can have a positive impact, not just on the coachee, but on the line manager, wider team and at home.
For more information about how I can support your employees send me a message and I’ll be in touch.
“You asked the right questions to help me shift my assumptions. You helped me shift the belief that you have to work between 3pm and 6pm in order to do a good job.”
MATERNITY RETURN COACHEE
We all have rules that we live by, mostly subconsciously. In her coaching session, my client was able to reflect on her belief that you can only do a good job when you work between 3pm and 6pm.
The impact of this belief was that she was working longer hours than she needed to, eating into the time she wanted to spend with her children.
Her organisation already allowed flexible working with core start and finish times. It was available to her but she didn’t want to change her working hours because she thought other people would think she wasn’t doing a good job.
As a result of our conversation she spoke with her Line Manager who was fully supportive of her request as it’s already company policy.
All she needed to do was update her working hours on her e-mail footer.
She told me that the results of this action are:
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She is more productive in the time she’s working as she knows there’s a definite end time rather than a blurred line.
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She’s more present with her children when she closes her laptop, improving their relationship and helping her feel more relaxed overall.
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She’s created a positive ripple effect where other people in the organisation have seen what she’s doing and are putting it in place for themselves.
She also told me that she’s proud of herself for creating a new habit, building her confidence in herself. She’s realised there are other rules she’s living to that are not real and it’s making her wonder what else might be possible.
If you’d like to offer something similar to your returning employees, send me a message to schedule a time for us to talk.
QUALIFIED & ACCREDITED
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