I grew up in the North East of England during the miners' strikes. I was surrounded by friends whose families struggled, some even relying on soup kitchens. My dad, who worked for a pharmaceutical company, wasn't affected. I felt guilty about having hot meals and clothes when many friends didn’t.My mum, who lost her father at six months and her first husband at a young age, was deeply affected by these losses. She and my dad had a son with hydrocephalus who died at age four after spending most of his life in an institution. My mum never talked about him or emotions, discouraging any display of feelings. I grew up in a household where love was never spoken of. When my grandma passed away when I was 17, I realised I’d never been told I was loved and had never said it myself. I decided I couldn't continue living that way. I wanted something different for my future.School was equally difficult, as I was relentlessly bullied. At 18, I "ran away" to University, but I quickly realised that I couldn’t outrun my inner struggles. I started my lifelong journey with therapy. While therapy and coaching differ, my experiences with both have added depth to my coaching practice.In my career, I’ve encountered both supportive managers and toxic work environments. I’ve always been passionate about championing employee engagement and psychological safety. I knew I wanted to work as a coach. In 2016, I developed pneumonia and sepsis due to burnout. By 2019, I was facing parental burnout, ADHD overwhelm, and more stress-related burnout. I knew I needed a change and my Leadership Coaching business was born.In my naivety, I started my business with only three months' pay as a buffer—just in time for the Covid-19 lockdown! Juggling a new business, recovering from burnout, and homeschooling a (suspected) neurodivergent six-year-old was challenging. It turned out to be the perfect timing. The lockdown gave me the space to reflect and work through my challenges, drawing on my lifelong therapy journey.While I’m not a therapist, my lived experiences bring depth to my coaching, helping integrate personal and professional development. By the time life returned to normal post-Covid, I was ready to move forward with my business and support others with their performance, resilience, and leadership challenges.That’s why I do what I do—I don’t want anyone to feel like I did. My goal is to help people unlock their brilliance, be themselves, and shine at work. If you’d like to explore how I can help, book a free one-hour session with me.https://calendly.com/luceatcoaching/call