Client Stories

Coaching Was a Game Changer

When Stephanie Brobbey came to coaching in October 2018, she was a qualified solicitor, working in the private client team in a top London law firm.  She was on track to become a partner in the firm, and being under 35; this is a highly prized achievement.  

But deep inside, Steph was beginning to wonder whether this was what she wanted.  

Following a confrontation with leadership about an issue she felt strongly about, Steph realised that partnership would offer her less autonomy and impact than she had initially thought. 

Here is her story … 

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At that moment, I saw that this wasn’t the place I wanted to bed down and invest in because there were fundamental differences between what I wanted and what partnership at a law firm was able to offer me.

Realising this gave me clarity, but it also made me feel stuck.  Suddenly, I was desperate to change something, but I didn’t know where to start.  

I was overwhelmed, and it sent me into a panic.  

On one hand, staying made sense on paper.  

I had invested so much into building my skills and network.  I trained at this firm and spent my entire career there, and part of my confidence was knocked because of so many unknowns.  My economic security was a genuine concern, particularly having come from a working-class background where I knew what it is like not to have enough money.   And this affected my emotional security, which can then begin to cloud your judgement. 

I could see I would spiral if I didn’t get some help.  I needed an independent perspective and accountability so that I wouldn’t be stuck there in 3 years, saying the same things and becoming resentful from fear of lack.

I chose Marianne because her coaching had deeply impacted someone else I knew. 

When I reached out, Marianne came back to me quickly, and in our exploratory call, she got to grips with my situation quickly and reassured me.

At the end of the call, I felt I just had to do this.  

It was a stretch financially, but I was determined to make it happen one way or another, and as soon as I said yes, my mortgage repayments went down the exact amount I needed for the coaching!

Coaching was truly transformative and a game-changer.  

I don’t know how I would be doing what I am doing now without the coaching.  I may have eventually made some progress, but it would undoubtedly have taken longer without the coaching, and I am convinced I would not be here.

Three years later, I am no longer a practising lawyer, and I am thrilled!  I am 100% confident in my decision.  I am grateful for the skills and confidence it gave me, and I feel free.  

I have done something I never thought I would do –  to set up and run my own business, and I love it.  It is a huge achievement.  I have done it slowly over time, going down to 4 days a week as part of the transition.  Now I live the lifestyle I want to lead. I have autonomy and can choose when and where I work.  I am so much happier.  I had a business meeting in Regent’s Park in the sun at the beginning of September, and I couldn’t believe this was my life!

I am the founder of The Good Ancestor Movement, a social purpose business that exists to disrupt the mainstream private wealth industry by challenging ideas about the economy, excessive wealth accumulation, tax minimization and the redistribution of resources and power in society.  We are doing that by supporting individuals and families who are pursuing radical wealth distribution.   Serial entrepreneur Jake Hayman, the founder of the UK’s most progressive philanthropic consultancy, Ten Years, fully supported my idea from the very beginning and is an advisor.  We launched on 1st September, and we already have a growing list of clients.  

The coaching process also brought additional benefits that I hadn’t anticipated.  I gained insights into my thought patterns, fears and behaviours.  I was opened up to new possibilities and challenged in my thinking. Coaching gave me an understanding that I am a leader.  

Without all of this, I wouldn’t have set something up on my own.

If you’re considering a career change, just do it!  Make it happen. And talk with Marianne.

If you are in professional services, a lawyer, an accountant, you can dance around the time and financial commitments which coaching demands, but you can’t even begin to quantify the return on your investment.  It is one of the best investments you will ever make.  

You probably need more help than you realise.  There is 100% benefit to having a strategic partner like Marianne, who can challenge you when you are not thinking big enough.  Embrace it as an adventure and trust the process.  You are investing in a relationship you can have long term – someone who is always for you. 

If you work in professional services, the chances are that you are in your head most of the time rather than connecting with your desires.  

Coaching opened up my imagination and new possibilities and forced me to challenge my thinking about the world and the opportunities out there.  Coaching also really helped me fully understand I am a leader and come to terms with that.

People might say you can do a one day workshop, but you need to get yourself into a zone where you are regularly revisiting this stuff and held to account.

Now that I look back, I can connect the dots with what I am doing now and our work together.  It was all gearing me up to what I am doing now but I didn’t know that then.  

You are going to be preparing; you just can’t connect the dots right now.

I have read things in my coaching journals that I am now doing, e.g. I am starting a global conversation around wealth and creating a boutique to advise wealthy millennials. 

The coaching I had in the past was around setting goals and accountability, but Marianne’s coaching was completely different as it was holistic. 

It is as if you are doing the work backwards – other coaches set goals and then make assumptions about the other pieces.  This coaching style is like blowing everything up and starting from scratch and providing loads more opportunities for exploring.  

Marianne was also completely invested in me, and I felt real support from her.