Penny Sophocleous, BA (Hons) FRSA

Career background

Since September 2001, Penny has coached the senior executives and directors of MaST’s blue chip and multi-national organisations. She has also run her own executive coaching and training business working with professional services firms. Prior to that she was a partner of a venture capital company, financing start-up technology businesses. She has been the Vice President of marketing for EASDAQ and also at the London Stock Exchange, where she managed a team of 9 in the Listing group. She has had an extensive career in financial services, raising capital for global companies, travelling around the world and visiting 32 countries. She was an investment banker in the capital markets area for Chase Manhattan Bank, First Interstate and Continental Illinois.

Other qualifications and experience:

• University College London, B.A. Hons, English Literature
• Fellow of the RSA
• Member of the International Coach Federation
• Member of the Institute of Directors
• Graduate of Corporate Coach U
• Licensed Coach Facilitator for the Coaching Clinic

Over the last four years, Penny has focused on coaching senior managers and directors of FTSE quoted companies, professional services and financial organisations, including supra-national banks. She has also facilitated leaders and their teams in resolving team conflicts and improving group performance.

As an accredited licensed facilitator of the Coaching Clinic she has worked with organisations wishing to introduce a coaching culture by transferring coaching skills to senior managers.

Specialist field – Executive Coaching

• Improving leadership, inter-personal relationship and communication skills
• Effective and creative management of individuals and teams
• Changing behaviour styles, networking and expanding sphere of influence
• Structuring strategic and business development plans
• Work/Life rebalancing programmes
• Emotional and spiritual intelligence
• Personal growth and longer term planning
• Supporting clients with empathy, truth-telling, encouragement and challenge

Recent examples

• One to one coaching of a Manager at Unilever. Disaffected team members had complained of poor communication skills and a somewhat aggressive style. The coaching intervention created self awareness, using psychometric tools and specific exercises to build sensitivity to others styles. Focus was also given to adjust his leadership style to build a more collaborative approach with team members. Shadow coaching within the context of a two-day away process allowed for immediate feedback and adjustment. This was a very powerful reflective process that also facilitated a more honest interaction with team.
• A Director of a major professional services firm was required by a board member to redefine role and responsibilities which needed to extend to international branches. Coaching helped the director to work through his personal strengths and interests and redefine his role to deliver the best outcomes for the organisation. Focus was also given to strategically influencing and winning the support of key stakeholders worldwide.
• IT Director of major firm needed to win the support and cohesion of his team following some disturbing inter-personal conflicts. In one to one coaching, Penny helped him re-address his personal leadership style and communication skills. His team was given a number of feedback forms (designed by Penny to identify conflict points as well as measure team performance issues). Then a team and leader meeting was facilitated to share outcomes and agree new standards. A very positive and enhancing atmosphere was created, allowing relationships to be re-set on a more positive note.