Career alignment coaching for women
Hi, I'm Esme - a career alignment coach working with women in their late twenties and thirties who are doing well on paper but quietly wondering when work is going to start feeling the way they hoped it would.
If you've ever sat on a Sunday evening with that familiar dread creeping in despite having a perfectly good job - you're in the right place.
Sound familiar?
You don't hate your job exactly. But you're not excited by it either. You show up, you do it well, and somewhere on the commute home you feel vaguely empty. Like something's off but you can't quite name what.
Maybe it's the Sunday scaries. Maybe it's the knot in your stomach on Monday morning. Maybe it's the way you catch yourself quietly envying people who seem to have figured it out, wondering why you can't just feel grateful for what you've got.
You've done everything right. You worked hard, took the opportunities, got the title. And yet there's a persistent, low-level sense of "this can't be it" that just won't shift.
The thing is, that feeling isn't weakness or ingratitude. Research consistently shows that when work isn't aligned with who you are - your values, your strengths, what you actually need - no amount of pushing through fixes it. The discomfort is a signal, not a flaw.
And that's exactly what we work on together.
What career alignment coaching is
It's not CV advice or interview prep. It's the deeper work that comes before all of that.
A lot of women arrive at As Folk having already tried the logical things. The promotion. The job move. The telling themselves it'll get better. They're not lazy or directionless - they've just been working on the wrong problem.
Career alignment coaching looks at what's actually going on underneath. We explore your values, your strengths, what you genuinely need from your working life, and what's been quietly getting in the way of building something that fits. We figure out what aligned really means for you - not a generic version of fulfilment, but yours specifically - and start building a path towards it.
My approach is neuroscience-informed, evidence-based, and always person-centred. That means we work in a way that supports real reflection rather than pressure or rushed decisions. I draw on over seven years in HR and People roles, a CIPD Level 5 qualification, ACC certification with the ICF, EMCC accreditation, and a Firework career coaching qualification.
But more than the credentials - I've been where you are. Twice, actually. I know what it feels like to be successful on paper and quietly lost underneath it. That shapes everything about how I work.
It's careful, honest work. And for the right person, it changes so much.
What our clients say
"I had a good job, but something wasn't sitting right and I couldn't put my finger on it. Working with Esme helped me realise what I actually needed - and I landed the exact role we'd identified together. I went in thinking it would help me find a new job but I came out with a completely different understanding of myself." - Hannah
"I kept getting promoted which did make me happy, but never for long. Esme didn't push me in any direction, she just helped me actually listen to myself. I've now retrained as a florist and it's the best decision I've ever made." - Alice
Is this the right kind of support?
If you’re feeling lost, unfulfilled, or out of alignment in your working life, and you’re ready to explore that with honesty and care, coaching may be a supportive next step.
If you’re looking for quick fixes, rigid career advice, or someone to tell you exactly what to do, this may not be the right fit.
If you’re curious about what might be next, a free connection call is a gentle place to start.
There’s no pressure and no expectation. Just space to talk things through and see whether working together feels right.
Coaching pathways
Everyone’s pathway to growth is unique, and that’s why our pathways are thoughtfully designed to fit wherever you are right now, and where you want to go.
From a single session that brings immediate insight, to a deeper programme crafted for lasting transformation - there’s a blend of support and creative structure available to meet you, and your goals, exactly where you are.
