What Our Clients Say

“As for the coaching – this was genuinely revelatory! Kristy’s questioning led me to find solutions where I thought none were possible –a very effective technique and of huge practical help to me”.

“I would highly recommend Kirsty for anyone feeling stuck or working towards realising their potential. I was looking for someone to help me unlock my thoughts and ideas on how to take my business to the next level. Kirsty’s sessions have left me feeling empowered and more in control. A year on I’ve achieved more than I originally thought possible.”

"Kirsty was able to put me at ease very quickly, having not been coached before, I really didn't know what to expect.  I found the experience to be extremely positive and beneficial and would recommend Kirsty in the future.  She is focused, very professional and motivational.  She has helped me identify what was preventing me from achieving my goals and I now feel like I am able to overcome any obstacles"

"Kirsty instils an aura of self-belief in the individual and continually probes and questions all aspects of your personal development.    She makes you think outside of the box, is very probing, very perceptive, incredibly tenacious and gets you to feel great about yourself.

It takes time and a great deal of effort but you feel you have achieved something at the end of each coaching session.”

“I have more self-confidence in my abilities.   Am now more relaxed in acknowledging what is  required of me in my professional role at work and I believe less stressed in dealing  with daily requirements of Job.    I now understand more about our business requirements and what is required to achieve them.   Also feel more confident in being able to contribute more in Management and Board meetings”

"From a personal and business perspective, the benefit and impact of Kirsty’s coaching has helped to reassure my ability to implement change at an organisational level and effectively establish a solid support structure whilst including associated team members as part of the planning. This has ultimately led to a clear realisation of my role within the company. "

“In a very short period of time, I believe I have progressed significantly towards my goals whilst working with Kirsty. Her direct approach helped me see alternative approaches and realistic actions which I could move forward with. I am more confident and comfortable in the focus of my role and how I can progress to achieve my personal objectives and that of the business”

“Kirsty was a very effective coach and very quickly gained my trust to allow focus on helping me move forward. She was able to quickly understand the business and expectations that exist, in order  for these to be quickly progressed. I thoroughly enjoyed working with Kirsty and am now feeling  the benefit of the progress made whilst working with her”

”I have developed some skills which are new to me, but more importantly for me I have further honed other skills which I thought I couldn’t develop further. I have developed a greater awareness and understanding of the sales process and am now much more confident of the actions I am taking in this area. Making time to spend on my own reflection and development is another key area which I am now consciously acting on. I am considering communications”

“I thoroughly enjoyed my sessions with Kirsty. Specifically her challenging but friendly approach allows you to fully consider your particular development areas in detail without losing sight of the bigger picture. Overall my motivation has improved significantly and I would highly recommend Kirsty.”

“I found the Gearing for Growth Program stimulating and invaluable. The opportunity to share issues and challenges with peers was both useful and insightful as the sharing often helped me to arrive at solutions on my own without input from the group or the coach.

The one-to-one follow ups with Kirsty were also extremely useful as she doesn't give answers - she guides towards finding your own answers which is the way executive coaching should work.

I would thoroughly recommend this program for both new and experienced Executives who want to lead as opposed to manage their organisations.”

Angus MacFadyen, Pufferfish

“Kirsty Bathgate creates workshops that challenge and motivate CEOs like myself to examine their leadership styles and to look at ways in which we could lead better. I found the workshops to be a fantastic way to step out of the business, without having to spend too much time away, and to reflect on areas in which I could grow as a leader.

It was useful to have a blend of both group sessions and one to ones. I also found that Kirsty Bathgate created an environment in which both CEOs and non-execs could be open and honest, which was very powerful in the context. I couldn’t recommend it highly enough to those looking to participate in future workshops”            

Alison Grieve, G-Hold

“Kirsty pours her passion for leadership development and clear communication into her programmes. There is a great energy and honesty that is fostered in the workshop and I’ve been inspired to communicate more clearly with my team, been challenged on how I lead, and become more focused on what the important tasks are of running a successful organisation.”  

Colin Hewitt, Float

“Gearing for Growth has been hugely valuable. I've loved the community vibe of it - the dynamic and supportive nature of the cohort. Another key aspect was the blend of tuition, coaching, and practice - it goes beyond lecturing and gets you actively engaged with the topics as they relate to your business, and really helps to make things sink in. The hour long one to one follow-ups that Kirsty gives each participant after each session really add value to the programme - it keeps you accountable, lets you discuss the aspects most relevant to you, and helps you capture any bits that you missed”             

Richard Walker, Photon Force

“The CEO leadership programme has had a positive impact for a number of reasons.

The 3 areas that stand out for me are; the input and honesty from Kirsty whether that is in the group or individual coaching sessions; the opportunity to take a step back from the day to day and focus on your own and your organisations development; and finally, the opportunity to interact and learn from other like minded people who have been, are going, or about to go through similar challenges and successes.

I include Kirsty in this, when I say that it was the people I shared this experience with that made it a very worthwhile programme.

It is now up to me to take what I’ve learned and work with the people around me to make a difference.”          

Andy Muir, CEO Coach Logic

‘I would highly recommend Kirsty for anyone feeling stuck or working towards realising their potential. I was looking for someone to help me unlock my thoughts and ideas on how to take my business to the next level. Kirsty’s sessions have left me feeling empowered and more in control. A year on I’ve achieved more than I originally thought possible.’   

Kirsty MacKenzie, CEO iMultiply

"What a great investment Connect Learn Thrive CEO Strategic Leadership Programme has been for me. Kirsty’s unique style and experience and the background of the other participants made it an extremely challenging and worthwhile experience. Using a coaching leadership approach is simple in theory but so difficult to apply in practise. The way Kirsty breaks this down and takes the participants through the practise of applying it, and the pitfalls to avoid, mean I have been able to bring it back successfully into our live environment with excellent results. I thoroughly recommend leaders in any organisation to go through this experience – your teams will thank you!”   

Neil McInnes, CEO Umega Lettings

“I’ve found the programme to be extremely valuable for encouraging me to analyse the role that I’m in and most of all, to take practical steps to improve its effectiveness. All delivered at a pace that kept me engaged and multiple layers of content to think about between sessions. Discussing with the cohort generated lots of insights and was very enjoyable too.”          

Catherine Breslin, TTO Strathclyde University

“This programme has enabled me to increase the pace of my growth, while letting me refine the direction of my professional growth. It also helped me gain a better understanding of the growth journey my organisation is on”             

Jakub Dostal, Senior Engineer, Dayshape

"I was going through a significant period of change in my role and with our company growing so rapidly, I found the programme hugely impactful in helping me move into a more strategic position, become a better leader and help facilitate my team to be more effective daily! Would highly recommend the course to leaders of all kinds within high growth companies”       

Ashley Jones, Appointedd

"The Accelerate course was challenging in all the right ways. It helped me question why I react to certain situations the way I do, and what behaviours I can adopt to become a better leader. The learnings from the course have spilled over into my personal life too, and I'm no longer shying away from difficult conversations."          

Louise Bayley-Boyd, Float

"The Accelerate programme has played a vital role in parallel with my day-to-day leadership role. The timing of most modules were exactly when I was needing the clarity, support and guidance. I've been able to put the takeaways into practice and also have seen the results turn me into a better leader."  

Sid Vel, Krotos Audio

"Accelerate is an excellent course for anyone preparing for or starting out in a leadership role. It will help you identify your strengths and weaknesses and understand what impact these will have on your leadership style. It will also give you helpful tools for guiding your team through growth and change."

Sharon Mackison, Lawrie IP

"The Gearing for Growth training was a massive help to me in starting my career as a leader. I have learned different ways of working/thinking and have gained more confidence through the course. Would highly recommend."

Heather Linning, Amici Procurement

"This is my first leadership role, and I joined this course to build on my confidence and to define what was expected of me. Since I have done this I am more confident, less emotional in my reactions and more focused on what is needed from me."

Jodie Emmerson, Turnbull Scott

"It is a great way to learn about the skills and tools required to effectively lead a team, whether you are a leader for the first time or need additional skills if you have been one for a while.

It has been a pleasure being taught by Kirsty and Suzanne over the last three months, and I would highly recommend this course to anyone considering it."

Megan Campbell, Enterobiotix

"My name is Itzel Magana, and I work for EnteroBiotix. When I joined this programme, I had less than a month in my current position (Production Team Leader) and near zero experience as a leader. I learned the basics of what a leader is, the types of leadership, and the tools that you need to develop to become one.

This programme helped me find myself between all the types of leaderships styles but also to find my own tools to help my team grow, not only as a team but also as individuals. I am very grateful for all the sessions and topics we discussed together because the other people who did this programme with me made me realise that it does not matter where you work or the position you have; you will always face similar challenges regarding leadership and how to deal with people either below or above you, and that gave me the confidence that I believe I was lacking at the beginning of this programme."

Itzel Magana, Enterobiotix

"I had been a manager before, but this course gave me a fuller understanding of what that really means. I feel a lot more confident in my role and feel more able to coach my staff to their fullest potential."

Ross Vernal, DayShape

"Great development of understanding the types of leadership styles and how to implement them into your management journey!"

Jennifer Harbison, Amici Procurement

"The programme was extremely valuable for me in helping to identify and mitigate risks and challenges when building and leading a team during business growth.

The programme was also great in providing a platform to start to build a strong and clear company culture and vision, as well as strategies for implementing and maintaining this culture and vision as the team grows.

I would highly recommend Gearing for Growth to leaders at any stage of business as I had learnings that will be just as useful when leading a large team as they are just now with a smaller growing team."

Scott Kennedy, Revive Eco

"As a young founder with limited experience building a team, I found Gearing for Growth to be hugely valuable! I've already implemented a few things and seen a positive impact.

It's a fantastic course and I'd highly recommend it to anyone looking to step up, grow and improve their team and take their company to the next level."

Alex

"The 4-day retreat on the beautiful shores of Loch Lomond has had a lasting impression on me. I have discovered the benefits of yoga, mindfulness and made some great new friends."

Euan Cameron, Willo

"I can not put into words how much this retreat changed my life!!!

As with everything that takes you away from your business you think have I got time for this...will it be worth it??? The answer is YES!!!!!

The perfect mix of business strategy/planning and well-being. I left the retreat with a spring in my step and a whole new perspective on how to be the best version of myself both personally & professionally.

The whole team were amazingly supportive and knowledgeable in their fields and ensured we were looked after.

The Ardoch was the perfect location too!

I would 100% recommend this retreat!"

Laura Widdop, Fuze Management Services

"Attending the Leadership Renewal Retreat was truly an eye-opening experience. The opportunity to step back from my daily responsibilities and immerse myself in a community focused on the intersection of business and personal wellbeing was invaluable.

I was able to engage with founders from different industries, learning how they face challenges and innovate within their spaces. This exchange of ideas allowed me to gain fresh insights and approaches to apply to my own business.

The expertise and support from the retreat facilitators were outstanding. With their guidance, I was able to work through business concepts and merge them with holistic wellbeing practices. The integration of mindfulness and leadership training helped me to approach decisions with a newfound clarity.

I am incredibly grateful for the supportive environment the retreat fostered, where sharing and peer learning was encouraged. Being surrounded by such passionate professionals was not only inspiring but also reinvigorating."

Cham Abeyratna, Arceptive

The retreat was exceptional, it was professionally run and facilitated with the perfect mix of business and well-being activities.

Michael Young, MBM Solutions

"The retreat/refuge was probably the best use of my time so far this year. Who knew slowing down, meditating and finding my compassionate self would be the best things I could do for my business right now. Certainly not me.

Not only was this a great opportunity to take a step back and give myself some care, there were also some real heavy-hitting business takeaways that we will be taking back to the business."

Andrew Wood, Willo

"The retreat was a fantastic mix of wellbeing, business strategy, peer conversations and free time in nature with a lovely bunch of people, in a beautiful setting. It did what it said on the tin: I came back feeling recharged and ready for the next chapter, with some fresh perspectives."

Paul Reid, Trickle Data Insights Limited

"The retreat was a great way to press pause. It helped me recognise that as CEO, I have been spending too much time firefighting and doing. When you lead a small team and a scaling business, it's easy to get stuck in the weeds and forget to look after yourself.

The three days gave me some much-needed time and headspace to reflect on where I am as a leader and what I need moving forward. A timely reminder that as a leader it's important to breathe, step out of the doing, go easy on yourself and recognise how far you've come.

I left feeling refreshed and clearer on what I and my organisation needs in the coming months. Thank you!" 

Helen Denny, The Melting Pot

"A course like Gearing for Growth was something I had never made time for. But, I am so glad that I finally decided to make a conscious change. It has been so enjoyable to work on self improvement alongside others in the same boat."

Euan Cameron, Willo

"A fantastic programme focussed not only on business growth but growth of you as a leader. Pushes you to step outside the business, take time to think, and work on the hard things you otherwise might not give the attention they deserve."