Leishman Coaching

I started Leishman Coaching in 2019 because, while I had a successful corporate career for many years,   I also made a lot of mistakes. So while I got there in the end, I wish I had someone to guide and coach me. 

I worked with some great leaders along the way but I always knew that it was difficult for them to be truly independent when they were coaching me.  I needed someone who was. Someone who didn't have conflicting priorities. Someone who could support my career ambitions and accelerate my learning.

There were things I just didn't know. 

In the last few years of my corporate career, I was privileged to work with a couple of incredible coaches. I learned so much from them and still remember the things they taught me. 

And so, I decided to retrain and become a coach.

What makes my coaching approach different is what I call the triple threat.

🔵 I have an extensive corporate and business experience.

🔵 I am an accredited professional coach, AND

🔵 I am a writer, so with me, it can be a one-stop shop - and you can be confident that your personal brand is supported by great career documents.

I have coached more than 500  clients since 2020, across a variety of roles, industries and countries.  

While I have an extensive background in financial services, I have found that the challenges people experience at various points in their careers, are both universal and global.  

I am a lifelong learner, a voracious reader and I regularly pick up new strategies and approaches which I put into practice in my coaching business.

Principal

Financial Basics Foundation

FBF is a national NFP focused on building financial literacy in young people in Australia. As a long standing charity, it has delivered free resources to Australian schools for more than 20 years.

Chair

CUA - Credit Union Australia Limited

Chief Operating Officer

General Manager, Member Experience

Chief Operating Officer (Acting)

Head of Customer Experience and BPR

Responsible for program management, change strategy, and execution of the ANZ Distribution Transformation major projects portfolio.
Business dimensions and scope: Program budget $75M. 800 branches, two call centres and 6,000 employees.

ACHIEVEMENTS

1. Carriage of the GM Distribution Transformation position for an extended period of time - full accountability for strategy development and execution.

2.Branch redesign program to support evolving customer needs resulting in 37 new look branches in 2013.

2. Ongoing development and build of customer management and home loan systems.

3. Development of change strategies and tools for ANZ staff and customers, culminating in the ANZ 'Better Ways to Bank' program.

Portfolio Change Director, Distribution Transformation

Management of all support functions including major projects and program office, investment slate, risk functions, vendor management, business information and improvement teams (Lean Six Sigma community). Business dimensions $40M opex, $100M+ in project capex and opex.

ACHIEVEMENTS

1. Development of a new strategic operating model for all support functions which delivered both a 25% reduction in overall run rate and an increase in stakeholder satisfaction of 20% over an 18 month period. 

2.Leadership of the Australian Retail Offshoring Program. Moved 1000 roles to Bangalore and Manila over a 3 1/2 year timeframe.

3. Capacity planning focus and re-engineering work supported productivity improvements of an average of 27% across all teams and a 20% reduction in customer complaints.

4. Successful Delivery of a number of key infrastructure programs including a new fraud management platform. Benefits exceeded all business case targets.

5. Reduction in vendor management costs of $21M over 2 years.

Head of Business Enablement, Australia Operations

Quest Limited

Responsible for developing a Pacific Operations Hub in Fiji to mitigate financial and operational risk in the region. Business dimensions Opex $6M* Capex $12M. 
*NB Low cost of labor drove relatively low opex in Fiji.

ACHIEVEMENTS:

1. Developed the Pacific Hub strategy and centralised functions from 12 Pacific countries and 2 Asian countries into Fiji.

2. Developed a strong company culture and employment brand. Benchmarked using the Hewitt's survey. Achieved Best Employer status for three consecutive years and moved staff engagement from 68% to 92%. Became an employer of choice in Fiji.

3. Led the company safely through the 2006 military coup and subsequent upheaval, followed by Cyclone Gene in January 2008. 

4.Achieved ISO 9001 2008 accreditation in 2008. 

5. Won a number of external awards including: DHL (Fiji) Exporter of the Year Westpac Services award in 2007 and 2008. Fiji Business Excellence awards in  2006, 2007, and 2008. These awards were an integrated part of the business strategy to develop our quality standards and employment brand.

6. Obtained government approval for 10 year tax free status in 2006.

7. Oversaw design and implementation of a building fit out with all the associated challenges of doing so in a politically unstable and  developing country.

Managing Director

Responsible for mortgage processing Australia wide and all major Mortgages infrastructure projects.

ACHIEVMENTS:

1. Remediation and successful delivery of two infrastructure projects.
2. Restored service levels in 2002 to achieve lead bank status with mortgage brokers.

Head of Mortgage Processing

Responsible for running the end-to-end mortgage business in New Zealand. Business dimensions Budget $170M. FUM $10BN. 

ACHIEVEMENTS:

1. Exceeded profit targets in 2000 and 2001.

2. Achieved market leadership with a new broker value proposition.

3. Staff satisfaction levels of 90%.

General Manager, Mortgages

Responsible for national team of 1000 operations staff across five locations. Business dimensions: 1000 staff. Budget 30M.

ACHIEVEMENTS:

1. Rationalised processing sites from five to three.

2. Managed national restructure to align to new business model.

Chief Operations Manager

Led national  team of 500 staff across 8 locations managing all back office transactions.

ACHIEVEMENTS:

1. Major site rationalisation - from eight locations down to three.

2. Reduced run rate by in excess of 20% over 18 months.

Head of Retail Operations

Responsible for leading and developing all new retail and business distribution strategies.

ACHIEVEMENTS: 
1. Multiple new initiatives including centralised credit and cash processing, network configuration strategy, and ATM profitability model.

Head of Distribution Strategy

Various retail and corporate banking roles

You know you need to work on your career,  but life gets in the way.

We’ve all been there. 
 ➡️ The resume that’s sat half-finished for months. 
 ➡️ The vague idea of "planning the next step" that never makes it to your to-do list. 
 ➡️ The creeping feeling that you could be doing more, earning more, or feeling more satisfied at work,  if only you knew where to start.

Since 2021, I’ve worked with more than 700 professionals to break through that stuck feeling. Whether it’s career direction, preparing for a move, stepping into leadership, or navigating a tough patch, I will help you cut through the noise and take real action.

With over 30 years’ experience as an executive, leader, parent, and business owner, I know the career game from all angles. My coaching is honest, practical, and focused on progress, whatever that looks like for you.

Here are some of the topics I coach on: 

🔵 Gaining clarity on where you are heading with your career and putting a plan in place.

🔵 Pinpointing why you are not getting interviews, jobs, or promotions, and working with you to close the gap.

🔵 Navigating the boardroom as a new or aspiring executive.

🔵 Learning the art of executive presence and high-impact communication.

🔵 Helping you get market ready if you are preparing to leave, between jobs, or returning to work after a break.  

🔵 Writing your career documents because you have looked at them so many times you are losing the will to live. 

🔵 Building a plan to help you come back from the brink when you are sliding backward down the corporate ladder, or have made a career-limiting mistake.

I am a qualified coach with more than 30 years' experience as a leader and executive, both in Australia and internationally.  

I know what good looks like, and I will work with you to help you get there. 

"Brigid offers a rare combination of "expert/practitioner" and "coach/mentor" that distinguishes her from other executive coaches I've worked with throughout my career" 
CEO, Melbourne, Australia

I share practical career advice here every week — follow me for free tips.
Or message me if you’re ready to make real change, and we’ll book a free discovery call.


🕸 Or check out my website for packages and pricing.

leishmancoaching.com

Brigid Leishman

Associate Director-AML/CTF & Fraud Risk

Assurance Manager : APRA Remediation

Associate Director, Controls Uplift | Controls Transformation 

Associate Director, Enterprise Controls

Responsible for providing control specialist guidance and supports assisting the business execute their risk management accountabilities from a Design Effectiveness perspective.

Consultant, Design Effectiveness, Enterprise Assurance

Carlton & United Breweries | AB InBev

Senior Internal Auditor

American Express

•Identifying, measuring, assessing, reporting, monitoring and controlling operational risk exposures facing American Express. Supporting the business areas in overall implementation of the company’s operational risk framework, ensuring compliance with the requirements of the Enterprise-wide Operational Risk Policy.
•Supporting the financial reporting (i.e,  SOX) risk assessment activities, including the quarterly validation of the operating effectiveness of these internal controls in accordance with the company’s policies.
•Support the operational risk assessment activities associated with the implementation or launch new business practices, products or services, in accordance with the company’s New Product Approval policy.
•Support the effectiveness of business area risk management programs through appropriate behaviors and actions and reporting assessments to Director –Operational Risk Management .

Manager/Service Delivery Leader - Operational Risk Management

KPMG

Involved in internal audit business development initiatives and business proposals. 
• Appraise progressively the adequacy and application of the internal control systems, risk management and corporate governance processes. 
• Plan, organise and perform the internal audit reviews, audit work plan, process scheduling and estimating budget/resource requirements.
• Review/draft process flowcharting, system descriptions and outline risks and controls. 
• Review/compile: Internal audit risk registers, audit programmes, working papers & audit reports. 
• Oversee and review/perform fieldwork - internal audit tests and procedures; risk assessments & report progress against outcomes.
• Ascertain the system of internal control promotes efficient and effective use of resources; improved revenue/curtailed costs, value-add initiatives, safeguards from losses arising from fraud or irregularities
• Make recommendations on the systems and procedures being reviewed, identify inappropriate and inadequate controls, report on the significant findings and suggest improvements in processes. 
• Independently discuss findings with Management and obtain management comments; monitor management's response and implementation.
• Report to management and audit committee/Board on the policies, programmes and activities of the processes reviewed.
• Manage and mentor staff to ensure the achievement of audit objectives. Provide on-the-job training and transferring of skills to junior team members.
• Establish and forge constructive, professional and strong client relationships during audit reviews.
• Compliance review of for direct and indirect tax laws and FIN48 review of the organization. 
• Contracts review and Information systems audit

Governance Risk and Compliance Services

Control Solutions

• Audit Supervisor for the Internal Audit of Supply Chain Management, Hire to retire, Finance review, Value Stream classification restructuring and process rollouts during the period under review . 
• Project Member in Internal Audit – Supply Chain Management , 
• Review of Trust accounts and superannuation funds of Leading Telecom firm

Consultant

Harit Saris and Associates (Chartered Accountants)

•	Preparing MIS report for cash flows for a Real Estate  Private Co. 
•	Structuring of MIS and its preparation for a Construction Company. 
•	Coordinated with Venture capitalist on behalf of the client and with the client. 
•	Providing consultancy for establishing Indian offices of HNI'(High Net Worth Individuals). 
•	Led a team of 3 Article Assistants  for year end Corporate Tax requirements and filing of tax return for manufacturing clients

Senior Article Assistant

Deepak Gupta & Associates (Chartered Accountants)

•	Handling accounting and book keeping for sole proprietor clients.
•	Internal Audit of Small and medium enterprises

Articled Assistant

Aiyar and Co. (Chartered Accountant Firm)

• Statutory audit of superannuation funds of Indian Coast Guard, Ministry of Defence, Government of India.
• Conducted Statutory audit of a Corrugated Fibre Containers Manufacturer.
• Statutory audit of Listed Bank limited review as per Clause 49 requirements and limited review and year end closing as Central Statutory Auditors.

A qualified Certified Public Accountant (USA) ,Chartered Accountant(Australia) and Chartered Accountant(India) with more than 17 years of professional (including "Big Four") experience specializing in the provision of Internal Audit, Risk Management and Corporate Governance advisory services.
 
 Specialties: 
• Design effectiveness and operating effectiveness assessment of controls
• Strategic-enterprise risk management; Strategic/Operational risk management workshops
• Internal audits and Risk-based audits
• Operational risk management
• Business performance audits; Management of strategic risks
• Computer assisted audit techniques (CAAT) review  (Information Systems Auditor)
• Financial discipline & Year-end review (balance sheet)
• Legal and compliance review; Service level agreement review
• Auditor general (AG): Follow-up audits
• Model business process review
• Data Analytics: Power BI desktop, Power query, Power Pivot, ACL and advanced excel based Analysis

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Brigid Leishman

Vatsal Tayal

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