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

Hi. Floyd here. This week was my 13th birthday. In human years, that makes me about 70.

Does that make me wiser than younger dogs? Possibly, but not definitely.

Mum says age and experience are great, but that on their own, they don't mean much. She says that people who have been doing a job for 1 year may be far more skilled than someone who's been in that same job for 10 years.

She says the difference is a thing called learning agility. Some people, and some dogs, learn faster than others and can pick up new skills more quickly.

So you shouldn't write someone off because you think they are either too young or too old. Because their age doesn't mean they are either good or bad. Their ability to learn is what you need to figure out.

Mum dodges the question a bit when I ask her if I am wise. She says on some things I am wise, such as knowing the importance of sleep and play.

On other things, such as standing in front of a glass door waiting to be let in or out, when the other side of the door is already open? Not so much.

I think she expects a lot. I mean, the door is glass so it kind of looks the same whether it is open or closed. Maybe Mum shouldn't clean the glass so often.

PS: Mum told me to say that last bit so you think she is an excellent house cleaner. She isn't.

Happy Birthday to me! 🎂 🎉 

Hi. I'm a career and executive coach who also writes resumes and LI bios.

I publish original content about careers, leadership, and job search. 

Follow me, or message me if you'd like to learn more about how coaching could work for you. Or follow the 🔗 to my website at the top of my profile page for packages and pricing.

Brigid Leishman

The average adult span of attention in 2023 is 8 seconds. About as long as it has taken you to read this far.

And that number is declining.  So it becomes harder for you to stand out, make an impact, and achieve your goals, particularly when it comes to your career. 

To add to this complexity, you are probably a victim of this declining span of attention yourself. How many times have you told yourself you need to sit down and plan your career, rewrite your resume, or work on the stuff you know you need to fix to get you where you want to go?

The stuff that will make a big difference to your career trajectory, your earning power, or your ability to put strategies in place. Strategies to help you manage what is probably your biggest asset over the course of your lifetime. 

Your ability to earn an income. 

Here are some of the things I can coach you 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.

🔵 Helping you navigate the boardroom as a new or aspiring executive.

🔵 Helping you get market ready if you've decided to leave your current company, you are 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 backwards down the corporate ladder, or have made a career-threatening mistake.

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

I have a practical and straight-talking approach to coaching. I believe that real growth starts with honesty and challenging conversations. 

I have lived experience as a:

 ✔️ leader
✔️  executive
✔️  parent
✔️  board director 
✔️  mentor, and
✔️  business owner

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

I post free career content 5x a week so hit the 🛎 at the top of this page to make sure you don't miss out 

If you are ready to get moving with your career, message me to set up your free no-obligation discovery call. 

🕸 Or check out my website for packages and pricing.

leishmancoaching.com

🔵 Career & Executive Coach 🔵 Helping Professionals Get Unstuck, Get Noticed, & Get Hired 🔵 Resume & LinkedIn Writer

I can guarantee you that no matter who you are or what you do, you will not be immune to this. 

No matter what you do for a job, or what level you are operating at.

Every single person will experience a plateau in their career at some point in time.

A period of not knowing.

It might sneak up on you. Or you might have been feeling for a while that you were stagnating and wondering what’s next.

To reach a crossroads or feel you are hitting a brick wall in terms of career progress is completely normal.

In fact, it’s a perfect opportunity to re-evaluate where you are at and what you are doing.

Because if you are not moving to where you want to be, you are either in the wrong place or you need to make a change.

Or both. 

And staying put might seem safe. But it never is.

Because when you are not at your best you know it. And so do others. 

So a refresh is not a bad thing. 

Getting yourself market ready or discovering what is holding you back. 

Get ahead of the wave before it swamps you and reduces your options.

Hi. I'm a career and executive coach who also writes resumes and LI bios.

I publish original content about careers, leadership, and job search. 

Follow me, or message me if you'd like to learn more about how coaching could work for you. Or follow the 🔗 to my website at the top of my profile page for packages and pricing.

Photo: People, like trees, go through a seasonal bareness. Until the season changes and spring brings with it a period of new growth.

“Listen to this message I just got!”

The person then reads the message in question to you out loud.

And of course they add dramatic effect when they read it.

You both shake your heads and agree the other person is a complete plonker.

Email has no tone, and therefore the recipient always has a choice as to how they receive it.

And strangely, the person who is sending the message will make a material difference in how you choose to receive the message.

You always get to choose your response. 

People cannot ‘make’ you feel any particular way.

That is up to you.

Sometimes a message is just a message. 

It is there to provide info or ask for info.

You don’t have to make it into a limited mini-series with a blow-by-blow narrative of what they meant.

Hi. I'm a career and executive coach who also writes resumes and LI bios.

I publish original content about careers, leadership, and job search. 

Follow me, or message me if you'd like to learn more about how coaching could work for you. Or follow the 🔗 to my website at the top of my profile page for packages and pricing.

Your resume is a chronology, not an affidavit.

So, if your memory is stopping you from including metrics against the achievements on your resume?

Here’s what you can do instead.

When you are trying to think of exact numbers, percentages and ranges when you haven’t written your achievements down, it can be frustrating.

You worry that if you put a number down, it might be wrong and you don’t want to risk being untruthful.

If it is a whole number, use the number you think it is closest to and put ~ in front of it.

If you know it was bigger than something but you are not sure, use >.

And similarly, use < when you reduced a number.

You can also use a range if you are not sure.

You are telling a story, and what you are trying to demonstrate is your impact. 

Don't get stuck in the weeds.  


Hi. I'm a career and executive coach who also writes resumes and LI bios.

I publish original content about careers, leadership, and job search. 

Follow me, or message me if you'd like to learn more about how coaching could work for you. Or follow the 🔗 to my website at the top of my profile page for packages and pricing.
 
Photo: Tell the story about your breathtaking success. The numbers help you paint a powerful picture but no one cares at the end of the day if it was $1.90 or $2.00.

If you are not doing these five things when it comes to your career, the financial implications, over time, will be significant.

💵 Asking for a pay rise when you are worth it and you know you are being paid below market.

💵  Renegotiating your salary if you take on additional responsibility or a promoted internally. 

💵 Knowing your worth and negotiating hard when you are offered a new job

💵 Taking advantage of free or tax-effective benefits you can access through your company

💵  Investing in upskilling yourself every year so you don’t lose relevance.

What else would you add?

Hi. I'm a career and executive coach who also writes resumes and LI bios.

I publish original content about careers, leadership, and job search. 

Follow me, or message me if you'd like to learn more about how coaching could work for you. Or follow the 🔗 to my website at the top of my profile page for packages and pricing.

Photo: Small financial losses or missed financial opportunity can compound ove time, pilling up like stones of regret.

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