Abounding Solutions was created by me, Carol Stewart, when I was faced with redundancy after many years as a Senior Leader and decided to pursue my passion for developing and empowering people.
I had always used a coaching leadership style and over the years used coaching to develop individuals and teams so it only seemed natural when leaving employment to start my own coaching business doing what I was passionate about.
Known as The Coach for High Achieving Introverted Women, I am an Executive, Career and Leadership Coach, Speaker, Facilitator and Author of Quietly Visible: Leading With Influence and Impact as an Introverted Woman. I also host the Quietly Visible podcast.
Why a coach for introverted women leaders?
There is an unfavourable bias towards introversion in the corporate environment and it is often the case that she who shouts loudest is the one that gets heard, gets the recognition, and gets ahead. The quieter ones often getting overlooked. Being introverted myself, I remember the challenges I had in my leadership journey, and a few years after starting my coaching business I started writing about the challenges that introverted women face as leaders.
I was inundated with messages, comments on my articles, and emails from introverted women (and men) from across the globe, sharing their stories of unfavourable treatment with me. Some of which were quite shocking. I decided to make introversion an area of speciality and to change the narrative about it.
Add to this, the gender inequalities that still exist at senior levels is why I specialise in this. However, I don’t just work with introverted women, I work with people who are extroverted, as well as men.
Introverted women leaders and Black women leaders who want a career coach, leadership coach, or executive coach resonate with me because of my lived experience.
Awards and accomplishments
I bring to Abounding Solutions a wealth of talent and coaching and leadership experience gained over the past 25 plus years. In 2015 I was named as one of Britain’s top 50 Business Advisers for the work I do with women starting businesses. In 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 I was named as a LinkedIn Top Voice UK, and in 2018 named as a We Are the City, Rising Stars Champion for the work I do helping women to progress as leaders.
Typical coaching results
Results my clients have achieved working with me as their coach include:-
- Securing c-suite positions
- Promotion to Head of Learning and Organisational Development
- Promotion to Director
- Leading through Change
- Increased Influence and Impact
- Increased leadership effectiveness
- Developing resilience
- Managing stress
- Increased self-confidence
- Overcoming imposter syndrome, perfectionism and other self-limiting beliefs
- Confidence at public speaking
Contact me here if you are an introverted woman who is a senior leader and you:
- Are frustrated because you’re not having the influence and impact you would like
- Or you want to develop executive presence
- Or you want to raise your profile and visibility
- Or you want to get promoted
- Or your self confidence has taken a hit
- Or self-doubt and imposter syndrome stress you out
- Or you want to make a career transition
- Or any other challenge, situation or issue not mentioned
- Or you are a leader and have a woman who is a senior leader on your team who could benefit from my coaching
Considered to be one of the favourite speakers of the NatWest Group women’s network (which is 12,000+ members strong), my work is said to not only inspire and inform but to transform.
My experience is not only drawn from my studies and the numerous people I have coached over the years, it also stems from my own personal journey. A journey as someone who as an introvert has overcome issues of low self-confidence, imposter syndrome and feeling that I was not good enough; to excelling in my career from the most junior position in the organisation to that of Senior Manager (and dealing with the pressures and responsibilities that such a role brings), whilst being a single mum; to leaving 28 years of employment, starting my own business and within less than 3 years being named as one of Britain’s top 50 Business Advisers.
I give my time to causes that support the next generation and that advocate social justice, and gender and racial equality.
My Mission
My mission is to change the narrative concerning introversion and to empower and equip women globally to achieve their full potential as leaders, and support leaders to create environments that are inclusive to all.
My Vision
My vision is that ALL women achieve their full potential and become influencers for positive change in their respective fields.
Through a structured, evidence based approach you will be able to identify the areas in which change or improvement is needed. Through this process you will be equipped with the confidence to implement the changes desired.
Qualifications
- MSc Coaching Psychology from the University of East London comprising: –
- Evidence Based Coaching
- Career Coaching
- Psychological Perspectives of the Self and Others
- Leadership & Organisational Coaching
- Research Methods
- PG Diploma Management Studies
- Certificate in the Pillars of Neuroscience for Coaches and Consultants
- Certificate in Counselling Skills
- Institute of Legal Executives Parts 1 and 2
- Member of the Association for Coaching
- Fellow of the Institute for Leadership and Management
Research and Publications
- Quietly Visible: Leading With Influence and Impact as an Introverted Woman (listed as one of the 10 best self-development books written by women to read during lockdown)
- What Impact Does Coaching Have on Women in their Mid to Late Careers Who are Facing Job Loss as a Result of Organisational Change
- How Diverse is Your Pipeline: Developing the Talent Pipeline for Woman and BME Employees
- The Shy, The Brash and The Talkative – HR Director Magazine December 2017 edition
- Book Review of Leadership Coaching: Working with Leaders to Develop Elite Performance, 2nd Edition https://aboundingsolutions.com/quietly-visible-podcast/