STEEL & SOULThe art of both.
Extraordinary leadership takes steel, soul and artistry.
Steel to challenge assumptions, make difficult decisions and pursue ambitious goals.
Soul to lead with self-awareness, empathy and humility.
Artistry to bring both together with judgement and purpose.
STEELThe strength of conviction.
Conviction. Candour. Resolve. Decisiveness. Ambition.
SOULThe strength of connection.
Empathy. Authenticity. Curiosity. Connection. Humility.
ARTISTRYExtraordinary discernment.
Awareness. Judgement. Adaptability. Perspective. Influence.
Working together.
Bold conversations. Alternative perspectives. Shared ambition.
COMMITTMENT
Invested.
I bring my experience, energy and unwavering commitment to help you achieve your ambitions.
CONVERSATIONS
Candid.
Honest questions, fresh thinking and constructive challenge. Not always comfortable. Always purposeful.
RELATIONSHIP
Collaborative.
A trusted partnership to navigate complexity, explore possibilities and turn new thinking into meaningful action.
…with a healthy dose of laughter and bad jokes.
MEET FAYI’ve sat where you’ve sat.
Executive Coach and two-time CEO bringing…
Boldness.
Conviction to challenge the familiar.
Ingenuity.
Imagination to explore possibilities.
Humour.
Perspective to enjoy the journey.
I've led organisations through rapid growth, complex transformation and significant change. I know the demands of executive leadership, the weight of difficult decisions and the challenge of delivering exceptional results through people.
As CEO of a national non-profit, I grew its reach from 57 to 124 schools, built a £24.4m diversified income model and led transformation across 18 regions. This included digital transformation, operational restructuring and cross-government partnerships.
My second CEO role involved transformation at scale: a £53m education organisation, 1,100 staff, 6,100 students and 15 sites. I redesigned organisational structures, built a multidisciplinary executive team, modernised digital infrastructure and led cultural and strategic change. Within 18 months, seven sites achieved Good or Outstanding Ofsted ratings.
These experiences reinforced my conviction:
Lasting organisational change depends on the quality of leadership, relationships and conversations.
CEO TO EXECUTIVE COACHI loved the variety, complexity and pace of being a CEO. Leading transformation, developing culture, navigating competing priorities and working with talented people to achieve ambitious goals.
Though the aspect I found most rewarding was helping leaders recognise their strengths, challenge their thinking and achieve more than they believed possible.
During time spent with family in New Zealand, I had the opportunity to reflect on where my experience could make the greatest difference.
I realised that much of what I valued most about leadership came down to three things: people, culture and performance -and the ability to bring them together.
Building on my MBA, MSc and leadership experience, I pursued professional coach training to Professional Certified Coach (PCC) credential with the International Coaching Federation.
Now, I combine executive experience with professional coaching expertise to help ambitious leaders navigate complexity, challenge assumptions and pursue extraordinary outcomes.
HIGH GROWTH & TRANSFORMATION 
Leadership from the inside.
2017
Senior Adviser,
Cumbria County Council
2020
CEO,
MCR Pathways
2024
CEO,
Authentic Education Group
Today
Founder,
Steel & Soul Coaching
‘Senior leadership gives you few places to think out loud. Fay creates that space. Our conversations give me clarity and confidence.’
Karim Kabbara, MD, Accra Pharmaceticals