About Me

Why did I choose to be a coach?

I worked for more than 30 years as a manager in big international organisations, much of it at a senior level.  I had some wonderful experiences and opportunities but I also experienced personally how painfully it can be when you’re not happy at work and how it  affects your performance and the lives of those around you. I discovered it doesn’t have to be like that and that sometimes quite small changes, provided they are  the right ones, can make a massive difference.   

I decided I wanted to work with others to discover for every individual what exactly are the changes that will make the big positive difference for them.   Once I started coaching I realised I had the capacity to help individuals change their working lives for the better. I love the work.  

How my background has shaped the coach I am today

 I’ve always been fascinated by other cultures and what makes other people tick. I have been lucky enough to spend most of my career working in cultural relations building international partnerships and fostering understanding between peoples. This has taken me to live in eight and work in over 30 countries across five continents. I have had two postings as a diplomat and learnt to speak, read and write Japanese.  From this I have learned to connect deeply with people from very different cultures and backgrounds whilst recognising the common humanity we all share.

I’ve worked in large complex international organisations in the UK, overseas, in Head Office developing strategy and running operations overseas. Together with the rigour of an MBA at London Business School I’ve gained an unusually deep and wide experience of how complex organisations operate and how to work successfully within them. This has led to my interest in systemic coaching.

I’ve been actively curious about of about my own interior world too. I spent time in a buddhist monastery in Nepal during my twenties learning meditation and over the decades have undertaken various types of personal and group therapy. These experiences have honed my skills in self-reflection and self-awareness helping me to be present and non-judgmental with my clients.

What are my values?

  • I believe that provided the client is truly committed to change and open to exploring issues and opportunities without fear, there is always a way forward.
  • I am committed to helping every client to the very best of my ability with their best interests at heart.
  • I work in a creative partnership with my clients to create a unique experience every time
  • I am non-judgmental and supportive. I’m here to help. This includes an element of challenge to enable the client move forward.
  • Through my own studies I am committed to continue my own personal journey to become the best coach I can.

Areas of expertise

  • Working internationally and across cultures
  • Leadership and Executive Presence
  • Creating high-performing teams
  • Building relationships and networks
  • Tackling difficult relationships and conflict
  • Strategy and business development,
  • Systemic coaching and constellations
  • Career transitions, talent development
  • Resilience, work/life balance, prioritisation
  • overcome impostor thoughts and increasing confidence

Selected qualifications, memberships and appointments

  • Professional Certified Coach (PCC), International Coaching Federation (ICF)
  • Professional Certificate in Coaching (PCIC), Henley Business School, (Distinction Level)
  • Certificates in the Fundamentals of Systemic Coaching and Constellations Part I & II, and Practitioner level training ( individuals, groups and teams )
  • Hogan Personality Tests and 360 degree feedback tools trained
  • MBA London Business School
  • MA Applied Linguistics, Essex University
  • Japanese language operational, spoken and written, Diplomatic Language Service Examinations
  • RSA Diploma Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL)
  • BSc Physics, Manchester University
  • Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (RSA)
  • Member Henley Coaching Centre
  • Member Association for Coaching
  • Member International Coaching Federation
  • External coaching registers UCL, British Council, Imperial, University of London, Henley Business School,
  • Associate, Kings Business School, KCL
  • Associate, Coaching on Demand
  • Associate, Global Coaching Network
  • Associate Sakura Leadership
  • Associate Advanced People Strategies
  • Associate Ace Up
  • Associate Barefoot Coaching
  • Former lecturer on Japanese culture to business associations, Japanese Embassy, London

Selected Coaching Publications and Conference Presentations

Darvill-Evans, J and Hayman, L Two Cultures in the Room, presentation at Ashridge Relational Conference, September 2022

Darvill-evans, J and Hayman, L. (2023) Effective Coaching Programmes for Cultural Leaders https://www.hultef.com/en/insights/research-thought-leadership/cultural-bridges-coaching-east-asia/ Hult/EF education, downloaded 9 Jan 2023

Hayman L & Darvill Evans, (2021) Cultural Bridges, Exploring Effective Approaches to Coaching Leaders from East Asia, https://the-goodcoach.com/search?q=cultural+bridgesThe Good Coach, Hong Kong downloaded 9 Jan 2024.

Hayman L, Cultural Bridges, Exploring Effective Approaches to Coaching Leaders from East Asia, Conference presentation at Annual Leadenhall/Coaching on Demand Conference, June 2022, London