Meet the Founder
Why I Founded The Leadership Coaches
Meet Zoé Lewis
Founder & CEO of The Leadership Coaches, Executive Coach
Following some significant life changes, Zoé found herself sitting on a rock in the sea each day during a holiday in 2019. By the end of that week, the idea for The Leadership Coaches was born, a business rooted in purpose, partnership, and high standards.
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Over 25 years in leadership development.
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Building a coaching business that challenges, supports, and gives back.
No traction
Without sponsor involvement or clear outcomes, coaching was often rated as ‘good’ by the participant but nothing was tangible.
No supervision
Many so-called coaches had never experienced supervision and those who had often dodged it. Great coaching demands reflection, feedback, and the humility to keep learning.
No proof of impact
Without goals, measurement or sponsor engagement, coaching value became guesswork. No data. No accountability. No way to prove it worked.
What Needed to Change
I’ve been in leadership and coaching for over 25 years and I’d had enough of coaching that’s all talk and no traction.
Not all coaching is equal. Proper executive coaching takes more than a friendly chat and a qualification. It takes depth, challenge, business acumen, and the ability to cut through complexity.
Too often, I saw coaching delivered by trainers or generalists who were well-meaning, but without the edge or expertise senior leaders actually need.
No sponsor. No strategic link. No measurable impact.
It wasted time, money, and potential.
The Turning Point
In 2019, on my first solo holiday, I sat on a rock in the sea and asked myself: What’s stopping me starting something bold?
That’s when the seed for The Leadership Coaches was planted.
I would overwhelmingly recommend working with Zoé and the team.
Gemma Graham
Head of Culture and Engagement Succession Group Ltd
I would highly recommend The Leadership Coaches. This external input has provided much-needed clarity and has been a significant element in my progress.
Director of Operations
Manufacturing
We achieved over 400% ROI from our executive coaching programme with The Leadership Coaches
Head of HR
Energy & Resources
Our Values
Exceptional service
We believe in being useful, responsive, and clear.
Act with integrity
We do the right thing, even when no one’s watching or it’s difficult.
Social Responsibility
We are intentionally building a business that creates a positive ripple effect, for people and communities.
Diversity, equity and inclusion is in our DNA
This has never been a tick-box exercise. It’s embedded in who we are and how we work.
Where We Are Now
From That First Rock to Now
The Leadership Coaches launched less than six months after that holiday.
We’re now five years in, with a growing team, powerful client outcomes, and a clear purpose:
Executive Coaching that challenges, supports, and delivers, while doing good.
It started on a rock in the sea, asking myself if I was brave enough to do it differently.
Now we deliver coaching that’s respected in the boardroom, rooted in integrity, and built to make a difference
Zoé Lewis
Founder & CEO of The Leadership Coaches
