Having the ability to know when to flex between coach, mentor and advisor delivers sustainable change.

In our Tales from Beyond series, graduates of our business coaching programme share their many and varied stories, from career changes and professional transformations to breakthroughs in their coaching practice. These stories offer a glimpse into what’s possible when leaders invest in themselves.

This month, we hear from Lesley Cotton a former board director, specialising in HR, having worked in multiple sectors across privately owned, corporate and private equity businesses and who graduated from Mastered in 2022. Since graduating, Lesley has approached her roles with a coaching mindset and firmly believes that having the ability to know when to flex between coach, mentor and advisor delivers sustainable change.

My love of work started when I was 15, with my Saturday job at a neighbours’ market stall where I found a passion for selling. This continued at my next Saturday job working at a Ravel shoe shop, ensuring the customer always bought the best quality products to take care of their new footwear.

My love of the commercial world started at Marks & Spencer. I joined their ‘A-Level Management Development Programme’ to learn all areas of retail. I quickly realised that people are at the heart of business, and as I had natural skills in the ‘people’ aspect of my role I specialised the next phase of my career journey in people leadership. I loved it – having some amazing roles at Marks & Spencer over the 17 years I was there.

I then left to progress my career as an HRD moving into a founder led fashion retailer – a major learning curve. Then the fast-paced world of private equity came calling. I spent three years in a leisure business that led to a sale and four years in hospitality, leading through the pain of the 2008 financial crash! Whilst restructuring and caring for people through multiple TUPE transfers, I had the opportunity to move into maritime & logistics and the unknown world of trade unions, European trade and works councils – a second major learning curve. I led a fantastic team for 10 years and worked with excellent executives, spending COVID consulting everyday with the major trade unions to minimise the impact of job losses as best as was possible.

I had always wanted to ‘do something’ on my own; I was ready to leave the permanency of a corporate role but not to stop my career moving forward. My next step hinged on the answer to two questions: “where was I at my happiest?” and “what part of my work drove my energy?” I have always stated that “I am a Business Director I just happen to know a lot about people”. I knew I was at my happiest and most energised listening to leaders concerns, supporting them in finding the best way forward, and understanding the business context to support their progress. The next step to me seemed obvious – executive coaching.

It is not unusual for a Chief People Officer (CPO) to transition straight into coaching. My personal preference was to keep learning and as such I wanted to achieve a coaching qualification. I sought advice and the strong recommendation was that there is only one Programme to get on to – the Meyler Campbell Mastered Programme. I was fortunate enough to gain my place, graduating September 2022. I also decided to qualify as an Advanced Hogan Practitioner as this provided another string to my coaching bow.

Prior to graduating Mastered, I established Lesley Cotton Consulting – with a plan to create three revenue streams: 1) executive and team coaching, 2) consulting and advising on strategic people areas of business, and 3) (in time) gain a NED role.  My Mastered business panel topic discussed my business model asking the question: “When is a Coach not a Coach?” which was also my graduating essay topic. Using GROW I was able to explore how coaching resonated in all aspects of my work, explore my personal coaching brand, and considering this when applied to The Big Five.

The Mastered Programme, the ongoing opportunities for continual learning and the Meyler Campbell community have changed me as a leader. During 2025 whilst continuing to coach I spent the year supporting PizzaExpress as their CPO and could clearly see the difference in my leadership approach as a CPO who now permanently wears the hat of a coach (we all know once there it never leaves you) and having the ability to know when to flex between coach, mentor and advisor delivers sustainable change.

My new world has enabled me to be at peace with the coachee’s silence, remembering that the word ‘listen’ contains the same letters as the work ‘silent’ (Alfred Brendel) – to truly listen one must first be silent! I am fortunate to work with exceptionally talented leaders; I am humbled by their willingness to be vulnerable and allow me to get to the heart of who they really are. Supporting them to discover solutions within themselves is a privilege that I continuously respect and never cease to be amazed that personal growth goes far beyond individual expectations.

And of course, I need to answer the question “When is a Coach not a Coach?”

The answer… never!

Lesley Cotton is a former board director, specialising in HR, having worked in multiple sectors across privately owned, corporate and private equity businesses. Lesley left her last corporate role in April 2021 to establish her own business as a board advisor and executive coach. Lesley ensures her clients have the space to find their own solutions; her approach is one of courage, curiosity, creativity with appropriate challenge – she gets results! Read more about Lesley here.