I help women in consulting position themselves for Partner or MD.
From the “do I even want Partner?” question through to being seen as ready, I help you navigate the personal and organisational realities of the path — drawing on my own senior roles in consulting firms and complex client environments.
The Reality
You're brilliant at the work. Clients trust you.
Teams rely on you. Senior leaders know you'll deliver.
But delivery is what got you here - it won't get you there.
To make partner, you need to build commercial credibility, get the right people behind you, generate revenue in your own name. You know this. What's less clear is how to do it in a way that actually fits who you are.
The advice you've been given - be visible, secure heavyweight sponsors, build your profile - isn't wrong. But the guidance on offer is often modelled on a version of leadership that doesn't feel like you. And following it leaves you second-guessing yourself, performing confidence you don't feel, and wondering why this has to be so exhausting.
The Quiet Barrier
Here's what most coaching and development programmes miss: they focus on the outer game - tactics, visibility, sponsor conversations - without addressing what's happening inside.
Leadership is still defined by masculine traits - assertive, decisive, unemotional, direct. That's what gets rewarded. But women are raised differently - to be modest, collaborative, nurturing. The "good girl."
So we adapt. We work twice as hard. We over-prepare. We suppress our emotions. We become superwoman. And it's exhausting.
And it shows - not in your competence, but in your presence, your voice, how "partner-ready" you appear in the rooms where decisions get made. Because you're trying to be strategic, visible and commercial while also being likeable, careful and not too much. It's an impossible balance.
But here's what no one tells you: adapting is what holds you back - not your natural style. The research is clear: women leading with their full range of traits are rated more effective than men.
You don't need to adapt better. You need to stop adapting and lead as yourself.
That's what I help you do.
“Working with Kathy during my transition into a new firm and leadership role was one of the most impactful investments I made at a pivotal point in my career.
Kathy helped me cut through the noise and focus on what truly mattered, sharpening my strategic positioning, clarifying my leadership narrative, and ensuring visibility with the right stakeholders at the right time.
What sets Kathy apart is her deep understanding of the professional services landscape and the unique challenges women face in leadership. Her advice is both practical and insightful, helping me feel grounded, confident, and in control of my trajectory.
— Michele, Aspiring Partner, BDO.How I Work
This goes beyond tactics and mindset. We work with the patterns that run deeper - the ones that show up in your body, your voice, and your presence under pressure.
I help you strengthen three things that determine partnership:
Identity
Whether you truly believe you belong at partner level - moving from proving yourself to knowing your worth
Presence
How you show up in high-stakes situations - leading from calm authority, not adrenaline
Commercial confidence
How you build relationships, create opportunities, and bring in business in a way that feels natural, not like selling
Who I Am
I spent 35 years in consulting - with Deloitte, Oracle, CapGemini and EY - leading high-stakes transformation programmes and running a P&L. I reached Director level. I know the pressure, the politics, the unwritten rules - because I lived them.
And I did it the way most women do: by adapting to a version of leadership that didn't quite fit, overworking, and proving myself again and again.
It cost me my health. In 2019, I had a heart attack.
That changed everything. I retrained as a coach, immersed myself in the research - neuroscience, psychology, somatics - and became determined to help women reach the top without the personal cost I paid.
Now I bring all of that together to help senior women in consulting navigate the partnership path in a way that is commercially strong and personally sustainable.
Companies I’ve Worked For and With
Ways To Work Together
Partnership Readiness Assessment
(20 min assessment / 20 min debrief)
Get a clear view of where you stand - and what you need to focus on to reach partner, MD, or VP.
Foundation Programme
(3 months)
Strengthen the identity, presence and commercial confidence that partnership requires - in a way that feels true to you.
Ascent Programme
(9 months)
From business case to board conversations, get the intensive support you need to make a credible, compelling run at partner, MD, or VP.