Curium’s coaching transforms four IWD competition winners
Birmingham-based Curium Solutions joined forces with Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce to boost career prospects for four winners of an International Women’s Day event.
Earlier this year, Curium celebrated Women’s Day by offering free coaching to a quartet of winners of a competition organised in tandem with GBCC - giving them the chance to pause, reflect, and invest in themselves.
The winners were Charlotte Ritchie, Clare Noakes, Tracy Peddle, and Laura Suffolk, who have now embarked on impactful personal development pathways.
Charlotte Ritchie, head of external communications and engagement at West Midlands Trains, entered the coaching experience with reservations.
She said: “I had quite a sceptical view beforehand of what coaching could achieve and what companies like Curium could actually do.
“My perception has wholly changed since engaging with Curium. I've been telling everybody how great the experience has been.”
Charlotte worked with Curium’s chief people officer Emma Taylor (pictured), whose motivational approach and coaching questions led to practical tools that were easy to implement.
She continued: “I found the things we talked about really insightful. There were things I got out of the sessions that I didn’t think I would.
“I thought I would just give it a go but didn’t think it would have the impact that it’s had
“Emma was really good at sharing examples of tools and ways of thinking that I could take away and use in between the sessions.
“Each session left me energised, motivated, and positive.”
For Clare Noakes, executive assistant at Aston University, the coaching came at a pivotal moment.
Having unexpectedly gone from managing one person to leading a team of eight, Clare faced a steep learning curve.
Coaching helped her clarify her thoughts, confront avoided issues, and build confidence in her leadership.
Clare said: “I found Jane to be really receptive and understanding of both my situation and the sector I'm in.
“After the first session, I actively looked forward to the next two. I wanted to give it my full attention and engage properly.”
Tracy Peddle, senior executive assistant at Intercity Technology Ltd, described her coaching experience with Kate as “really positive,” highlighting the value of an external perspective.
Tracy said: “It was good for me to have an outside vantage point of what my world is like, share some of my challenges, and receive guidance on how I could potentially do some things differently.
“Kate very cleverly didn’t give me the answers. She facilitated me having the answers already.”
Tracy implemented strategies discussed in the sessions, instilling discipline and structure in her work.
She continued: “I’ve printed out the stuff she sent me, and I keep them in my agenda to not lose that focus.”
Laura Suffolk, regional director at NatWest, appreciated the informal and conversational style of her coaching sessions: “It didn’t follow a rigid process, making it feel more personal and tailored.”
Her coach’s inquisitive approach and trust-building helped Laura tackle delegation challenges and team management more effectively.
Even with just three sessions, the impact was profound.
Laura continued: “The coaching brought greater clarity and helped me prioritise more effectively, which made a real difference.”
