Testimonials
What it is like to work with Hazel
If you are thinking about coaching, and wonder if it is worth it, or if Hazel is the right coach for you, then here is what a small selection of coaching clients say about her, in their own words: life changing.
I found my sessions with Hazel hugely helpful. She created time and space for me to gently but robustly challenge myself, offering me strategies to try out in between each session too. I really appreciated both her humour and humanity and find myself returning to some of her questions often – ‘Who told you that you needed to be a robot?’ is one of my favourites. I have gained vital distance and new perspectives on the changes I am undertaking. We all need a Hazel in our lives and I only wish I had met her earlier.
Founder & Director
Cambridge based Charity
Hazel provides the perfect coaching and learning environment, with just the right balance of the “science “to help understanding, together with a wide variety of brilliant, practical takeaway tools, and clever tips and tricks to support better conversations.
Hazel is exceptionally skilled at getting the best out of individuals and teams. Her approach is professional, relaxed, supportive, and honest, and she is highly skilled at continually flexing the content to ensure sessions are responsive to what is needed by participants. Most importantly, she makes it “real” by drawing on live examples and situations within practical discussions and tasks. For me, the humour and honesty she also brings is a bonus, sessions are always enjoyable, the time flies, and you leave wanting more.
I cannot recommend Hazel highly enough. She is the “go to “person if you want to better understand yourself, and how to use this insight to develop your personal style
and approach to have better and more meaningful conversations, in all types of situations. You will leave any session with Hazel with more confidence and self-belief, feeling totally inspired to apply what you have learnt.
Hazel is exceptionally skilled at getting the best out of individuals and teams. Her approach is professional, relaxed, supportive, and honest, and she is highly skilled at continually flexing the content to ensure sessions are responsive to what is needed by participants. Most importantly, she makes it “real” by drawing on live examples and situations within practical discussions and tasks. For me, the humour and honesty she also brings is a bonus, sessions are always enjoyable, the time flies, and you leave wanting more.
I cannot recommend Hazel highly enough. She is the “go to “person if you want to better understand yourself, and how to use this insight to develop your personal style
and approach to have better and more meaningful conversations, in all types of situations. You will leave any session with Hazel with more confidence and self-belief, feeling totally inspired to apply what you have learnt.
Director
National Sports Body / Sport and Physical Activity Consultant
If you’re on the fence about working with an executive coach, and whether and how it would be of benefit to you, you can get off that fence. Once you start working with Hazel you will wonder why it took you so long to arrange your sessions with her. Hazel has decades of experience, the benefit of which you will feel in your first session as she quickly gets to the nub of the issue or issues to be worked through to make the best of your strengths and overcome any obstacles, real or perceived, to progress. Sessions with Hazel are energising, thought provoking, and validating – they’re also great fun. Hazel has an astonishing ability to quickly read and understand people, she knows exactly what you’re thinking and what makes you tick, her insights are amazingly accurate and also invaluable.
Senior Lawyer / Partner
Government and National Security
The coaching sessions with Hazel were invaluable as I made the step up to a Board level role, she helped me explore and conquer my imposter syndrome, giving me confidence to own my role by focussing on my strengths. I love Hazel’s straight talking but supportive style and the fact that she would challenge my opinions, but always in a way that was kind and caring.
I enjoyed my sessions so much that I recommended Hazel to a number of others!
I enjoyed my sessions so much that I recommended Hazel to a number of others!
Finance Director
FMCG
I have been supported by Hazel as my coach for over 17 years. During that time I have greatly benefit from a positive, trusting & professional relationship.
Hazel has supported me through some of the most challenging times of my career. Hazel has an innate ability to find tools & techniques that have help me as the Coachee to improve, develop and grow both personally and professionally. This has helped me to tackle and cope with some of the most difficult decisions I have made that were required in my role.
Hazel has inspired me to become a coach, to try and emulate her compassionate style in helping others to make meaningful choices for positive change.
I cannot speak more highly nor recommend Hazel more as a coach and her willingness to go that extra mile will always be something I value and treasure.
Hazel has supported me through some of the most challenging times of my career. Hazel has an innate ability to find tools & techniques that have help me as the Coachee to improve, develop and grow both personally and professionally. This has helped me to tackle and cope with some of the most difficult decisions I have made that were required in my role.
Hazel has inspired me to become a coach, to try and emulate her compassionate style in helping others to make meaningful choices for positive change.
I cannot speak more highly nor recommend Hazel more as a coach and her willingness to go that extra mile will always be something I value and treasure.
NHS Chief Executive
Primary Care
I have nothing but praise for Hazel’s skills as an executive coach. She combines active listening with pertinent questions, models and reflections.
With her support I have grown much more confident as a leader. Through her deft questioning and observation of my non-verbal signals, Hazel has enabled me to work out what I stand for, the values I consider important and my sense of purpose, and helped me remain true to those. You are awesome.
With her support I have grown much more confident as a leader. Through her deft questioning and observation of my non-verbal signals, Hazel has enabled me to work out what I stand for, the values I consider important and my sense of purpose, and helped me remain true to those. You are awesome.
Chief Executive
Government Agency
Hazel and I first met when I was a middle manager without much confidence and little sense of myself as a leader. I have since become a CEO, have undertaken two professional qualifications and now have the confidence to be the values-driven leader I want to be. Hazel has played such an important part in this journey, through a coaching relationship that has lasted 15 years. Thank you, Hazel!
In my early encounter with Hazel, I felt really stuck in my career. I was doing a worthy job and was managing others, but I felt I was treading water and didn’t know what I wanted to do next. In assessing my answers to her many insightful questions, Hazel paid particular attention to my body language, my eyes and my manner of speaking (I had never noticed before that my slight lisp became more pronounced when under strain). Seeing what made me come alight and playing that back to me, not only helped me take the plunge to leave the organisation I was in but has also helped me spot for myself now what gives me energy when faced with similar choices.
Hazel has been a genius at helping me apply for jobs and prepare for interviews. She has a knack at reading between the lines of a job advert and assessing where they are as an organisation – steady state or transforming, for example. She has then advised how to play back their own language in my application, hitting the buttons of what matters to them. And it’s worked. Again, this is now a skill I am able to apply for myself when applying for non-executive roles and one I adopt when advising others. And as for interview preparation…. I shall remember forever Hazel’s brilliant question – “what do you want them to know, think and feel when you leave the room?”. Know, think, feel. Goodness, how many times I have used that over the years since Hazel first mentioned it, in preparing for interviews, when giving presentations, meeting new business contacts, managing a difficult work relationship, writing down my answers in advance and mentally checking them off during the process. It’s brilliant.
As I’ve moved on in my career, reaching more senior leadership positions, Hazel has been there beside me as a guide and coach every few months. She’s helped think through how I want to show up at the start of a role, as a voice of wisdom in tackling difficult work relationships, provided team coaching and, latterly, helped me plan how to leave my full-time executive career in a way that is positive for me and for those in the organisation I’ve handed on.
Through the coaching relationship Hazel and I have had, I fulfilled more than I ever thought possible. I have become a far more astute, sensitive leader and have worked out what I stand for. I always come away from our discussions wiser, more energised and thoughtful. She has taught me skills that not only helped me at a particular moment, but are skills for life that I am now bringing to my later career as I mentor and advise others. Thank you, Hazel, from the bottom of my heart.
In my early encounter with Hazel, I felt really stuck in my career. I was doing a worthy job and was managing others, but I felt I was treading water and didn’t know what I wanted to do next. In assessing my answers to her many insightful questions, Hazel paid particular attention to my body language, my eyes and my manner of speaking (I had never noticed before that my slight lisp became more pronounced when under strain). Seeing what made me come alight and playing that back to me, not only helped me take the plunge to leave the organisation I was in but has also helped me spot for myself now what gives me energy when faced with similar choices.
Hazel has been a genius at helping me apply for jobs and prepare for interviews. She has a knack at reading between the lines of a job advert and assessing where they are as an organisation – steady state or transforming, for example. She has then advised how to play back their own language in my application, hitting the buttons of what matters to them. And it’s worked. Again, this is now a skill I am able to apply for myself when applying for non-executive roles and one I adopt when advising others. And as for interview preparation…. I shall remember forever Hazel’s brilliant question – “what do you want them to know, think and feel when you leave the room?”. Know, think, feel. Goodness, how many times I have used that over the years since Hazel first mentioned it, in preparing for interviews, when giving presentations, meeting new business contacts, managing a difficult work relationship, writing down my answers in advance and mentally checking them off during the process. It’s brilliant.
As I’ve moved on in my career, reaching more senior leadership positions, Hazel has been there beside me as a guide and coach every few months. She’s helped think through how I want to show up at the start of a role, as a voice of wisdom in tackling difficult work relationships, provided team coaching and, latterly, helped me plan how to leave my full-time executive career in a way that is positive for me and for those in the organisation I’ve handed on.
Through the coaching relationship Hazel and I have had, I fulfilled more than I ever thought possible. I have become a far more astute, sensitive leader and have worked out what I stand for. I always come away from our discussions wiser, more energised and thoughtful. She has taught me skills that not only helped me at a particular moment, but are skills for life that I am now bringing to my later career as I mentor and advise others. Thank you, Hazel, from the bottom of my heart.
Chief Executive
Governmnt Agency/Whitehall
When I started my sessions with Hazel I was newly appointed into a Managing Director Role. I feel our sessions have been hugely beneficial, not only having an impact on our business but my general day to day life too. I feel as though I am an overall improved version of my previous self. Some of this may have happened naturally over time through experience but Hazel has helped to give me the advice, tools, and confidence I needed to accelerate this.
Hazel has helped me with decision making, relationships and most importantly for me, leadership. At times conversations went deep, delving into the past which has helped to give more perspective on how life has shaped me so far. Life events that I have never reflected on or analysed previously. I feel I now have a better understanding of myself as a person now too.
I looked forward to every session with Hazel, coming away from each one with the feeling I had something special that I now have with me for life. Thank you, Hazel, for everything!
Hazel has helped me with decision making, relationships and most importantly for me, leadership. At times conversations went deep, delving into the past which has helped to give more perspective on how life has shaped me so far. Life events that I have never reflected on or analysed previously. I feel I now have a better understanding of myself as a person now too.
I looked forward to every session with Hazel, coming away from each one with the feeling I had something special that I now have with me for life. Thank you, Hazel, for everything!
Managing Director
High Growth Family Business
The impact of working with Hazel? Life changing.
There is no other way to describe it.
On taking my first Executive Director role, I started coaching with Hazel – my first foray into the world of coaching. I had no clue what to expect, although I knew I had a lot to learn and expected that with her expertise, Hazel would be able to help me.
Over the last two years, my sessions with Hazel have been the highlight of my working life. I have turned over so many rocks within my personality and deep-rooted belief systems, that I didn’t even know existed. Always challenging, frequently fun, often emotional, and never dull, Hazel has been the guiding light throughout this personal work.
Hazel is a testament to the coaching profession, instilling high levels of trust and confidence through many highly sensitive and personally challenging conversations. Her approach is authentic and compassionate, whilst simultaneously always challenging you to dig deep for the answers within. Her healthy dose of humour always lightened the hardest parts of sessions and I always left feeling motivated to put in place the things we had discussed.
I am truly proud of the work I achieved as a director and do not doubt that working with Hazel has been critical to the speed with which I was able to deliver success. More important to me though is the profound and long-lasting changes that coaching with Hazel has brought about within me – I know who I am. I know why I am who I am. I know what I can achieve and how to do it. And, as a result, I am crafting the life and career for me that aligns with my values and beliefs.
There is no other way to describe it.
On taking my first Executive Director role, I started coaching with Hazel – my first foray into the world of coaching. I had no clue what to expect, although I knew I had a lot to learn and expected that with her expertise, Hazel would be able to help me.
Over the last two years, my sessions with Hazel have been the highlight of my working life. I have turned over so many rocks within my personality and deep-rooted belief systems, that I didn’t even know existed. Always challenging, frequently fun, often emotional, and never dull, Hazel has been the guiding light throughout this personal work.
Hazel is a testament to the coaching profession, instilling high levels of trust and confidence through many highly sensitive and personally challenging conversations. Her approach is authentic and compassionate, whilst simultaneously always challenging you to dig deep for the answers within. Her healthy dose of humour always lightened the hardest parts of sessions and I always left feeling motivated to put in place the things we had discussed.
I am truly proud of the work I achieved as a director and do not doubt that working with Hazel has been critical to the speed with which I was able to deliver success. More important to me though is the profound and long-lasting changes that coaching with Hazel has brought about within me – I know who I am. I know why I am who I am. I know what I can achieve and how to do it. And, as a result, I am crafting the life and career for me that aligns with my values and beliefs.
Trust Executive
NHS Trust
I was the CEO of a global Home Solutions business, a multi-million pound operation with more than 1000 employees and offices around the world.
Hazel facilitated a workshop for my team on several occasions.
The team comprised of 70 senior leaders in different business areas, from more than 10 different countries. As CEO, it was critical for me to have Hazel support in the creation of the right tone, agenda, and inspiration throughout these workshops. Hazel works extremely well face to face and online. Her online video conferencing techniques are very strong. The senior leaders were impressed and re-assured by Hazel. They felt she was able to take them away from day-to-day preoccupations, allowing them to focus on mid-and long-term topics.
Additionally, Hazel has provided me with one-to-one coaching for me and some of my very senior managers – a life changing experience.
I truly highly recommend her. 10 out of 10!
Hazel facilitated a workshop for my team on several occasions.
The team comprised of 70 senior leaders in different business areas, from more than 10 different countries. As CEO, it was critical for me to have Hazel support in the creation of the right tone, agenda, and inspiration throughout these workshops. Hazel works extremely well face to face and online. Her online video conferencing techniques are very strong. The senior leaders were impressed and re-assured by Hazel. They felt she was able to take them away from day-to-day preoccupations, allowing them to focus on mid-and long-term topics.
Additionally, Hazel has provided me with one-to-one coaching for me and some of my very senior managers – a life changing experience.
I truly highly recommend her. 10 out of 10!
CEO
Global engineering products & services
If you would like to book a free 30-minute discovery call to explore if I am the right coach for you, please click here:
If you would like to contact me directly please do so via: hazel@cartercorson.co.uk or contact my EA Sarah via: sarah@cartercorson.co.uk
