Suzanne Brydon
Suzanne Brydon is a successful Strategy Coach and has been self-employed for over 10 years and has been a coach of various types throughout her varied career and job roles.
She tells us that, “I live in the South East of England, am married and am a step-parent to a brilliant 25 year old. I love people and have an amazing support network of friends and family. I love to run and exercise (most days!) as I know it’s great for both the mind and body!”
What were your initial years of growing up like? Tell us about your life before starting your corporate journey/venture/initiative.
In my early years I grew up being encouraged to try new things and believing that I could do anything I wanted. However when teenage years hit I found out that not everyone thinks like me and I had to become mentally and physically stronger. If I wanted to achieve something then I realised that I had to put the time and effort in and not everything would work out. I very quickly found where my passion lay and that was in sport and being in a team. I loved being surrounded by people who are determined to find a way and achieve. In my late teens I had quite a few setbacks with my health which really tested my mindset and mental strength. I had an illness which meant my GCSE studies were affected and this led to a long-term condition I now have to factor into most things I do. However, I have always been stubborn and strong willed and was not going to let my studies and exams suffer, so I put my heart and soul into my exams and passed all with flying colours – even though I was completely exhausted afterwards. But I had proved a point – I could do it and I could achieve it! I then went on to achieve A-Levels and a degree and my work ethic grew as I was fiercely independent and wanted to succeed. This strength of mind and character has thankfully stayed with me as I have progressed in life and my career!
Every industry that is now a large-scale, top-notch business once started as a small idea in the minds of entrepreneurs. What was that idea or motivation that made you start your business /initiative? What motivated you within to say YES, go for it!”
After working for other people and other companies, and consistently putting in my full effort into everything I did, I realised that not only were they benefitting from this but they were actually using me and almost expected me to keep over-performing. I had found my strengths in the corporate world and these lay in developing people, empowering others and bringing projects to life through organisation of tasks, people and time. So with this realisation I decided that instead of making money for others who did not have great people skills, I would start out on my own and make money for myself instead! I knew what I was good at and together with my confidence and perseverance I decided to put myself first and give self-employment a try.
Tell us something about your initiative or current role. What is it about, and what impact are you trying to make?
As a successful Strategy Coach, I enable you to calm your overwhelm, remove frustration, and dissolve the negativity you feel. This allows you to develop your thoughts, broaden your perspective, unlock your potential and feel confident and in control. I enable you to gain the energy, mindset and focus to succeed and have a strategy to keep them focussed and motivated in their personal and professional life. I typically coach around subjects of confidence, relationships, anxiety, careers, wellbeing, time-management, frustration, procrastination, fear of change or changing a role personally or professionally. I really want people to live the life they want and to succeed. Nowadays we have so many roles and responsibilities that we can let life run away with us and we can find ourselves dreaming of what might have been and start regretting things. I want people to be confident, in control and feel alive!
Your journey and your vision are very inspiring, but are there any achievements or accomplishments you would like to mention?
I think in this day and age and especially as a woman we have so much to do and there are so many pressures on us that I am still so proud that I am just as determined as I was over 25 years ago when I first walked into my first serious job. I am out to prove I can do it, I can be like others, I am worthy and I am capable! Women are amazing and strong and this should be celebrated because we do so much.
Would you like to share with our young budding women entrepreneurs the change you would like to see in the world if given an opportunity?
I would love to see more women in more senior positions and roles of major decision making. We need more women to feel empowered that they can match the roles men take on and even surpass this!
Women are a growing force in the workplaces worldwide, standing shoulder to shoulder with their male counterparts. There are cracks in glass ceilings everywhere, with many women breaking through to carve out a space right at the top of the pyramid. What are your thoughts about women leadership today?
Women leaders are often more capable than men. Women have a way of seeing the world in a way that includes everyone and brings everyone along on the journey. We are resilient, strong mentally and physically, and have the intelligence and creativity that the world needs right now.
What would you want to say to our young women leaders/audience reading this?
I would love everyone who is reading this to know they are amazing, they are capable and they do have the confidence and success inside them. We all just have to find our own way to release it and move forwards in life. We should all ask for help as when we collaborate that really is where the magic happens. Women will and can lift other women up and we all take turns to succeed and support.