Cecilia Garnett is a qualified career coach with a background in recruitment and corporate talent strategy. With over a decade of experience in the industry, she specialises in helping women and young people build confidence, identify their strengths, and take actionable steps toward fulfilling career paths. Known for her empathetic and practical approach, Cecilia blends real-world insight with a strong belief in people’s potential, supporting her clients to turn uncertainty into progress.
What were your initial years of growing up like? Tell us about your life before starting your corporate journey/venture/initiative.
I have lived in different countries growing up because my father’s job took us there. It meant that when I arrived in the UK at 7.5 years old, I couldn’t read or write and had to be put back a year. I didn’t realise how much this affected my confidence. I fell in and out of jobs once I left university with no real plan. I ended up moving into a career in recruitment where I remained for over a decade, because I loved the people element and being able to help. I also had corporate experience, having been invited to set up a recruitment function for one of my clients where I ended up as Head of Talent for a well-known group of media advertising agencies. I retrained as a life coach and started my journey into coaching and more specifically career coaching. I wanted to help those people like me, who struggled to find the right career path for them after uni and, now as a mother, I want to help my mum clients find the confidence to get back to work or change careers by showing them how to do this. At the heart of everything I do is helping my clients get clear about what their strengths are and what transferable skills they have developed to move into a career or role that plays to their natural talents.
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!”
The idea behind my business came from a deep frustration that too many capable, bright people, especially women and young people, were feeling stuck, overlooked, or unsure about how to take the next step in their careers. I saw first-hand, both as a recruiter and as a mum, how overwhelming the job market has become, and how little practical, empathetic support is available to help people navigate it with confidence.
What made me say “yes” was the moment I realised that I could be that support. I knew I could blend real-world know-how with genuine empathy to help people not just improve their CVs or interview skills and help rediscover their confidence, direction and sense of possibility. That’s what still motivates me every day.
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?
If given the opportunity, I’d love to change the school curriculum so that every young person is equipped not just with academic knowledge—but with the confidence, self-awareness and practical skills they need to thrive in the world of work.
I’d love to see a future where career education isn’t an afterthought, but a core part of every young person’s journey—where CV writing, interview prep, communication and self-belief are taught alongside maths and English.
And beyond that, I want to help build a job market where everyone feels they have something valuable to offer—because they’ve been shown how to recognise their strengths, tell their story with confidence, and believe that they belong.
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?
I believe the most effective leadership today isn’t about copying what’s been done before, it’s about bringing diverse perspectives to the table and truly valuing different ways of thinking. Women often approach challenges with empathy, nuance and a deep consideration of the people involved. That difference isn’t a weakness—it’s an essential strength.
Leadership isn’t one-size-fits-all. We all have our own style, and that’s exactly what makes teams, and businesses, work. I’d love to see more female decision-makers in boardrooms, not just for representation, but to shape more balanced, thoughtful and forward-thinking strategies. The more we celebrate these differences, the stronger and more successful our organisations will become.
What’s the most important thing you have learned in your personal life and professional journey? What is your personal motto in life?
The quality of the communication you receive is only ever going to be as good as the quality of the communication you give, so make sure you understand and can empathise with the other person’s situation first.
With your grit and determination, you are making a considerable impact, breaking through, and serving as role models for many budding entrepreneurs. What would you want to say to our young women leaders/audience reading this?
Believe and you can! Don’t stay in the state of ‘analysis paralysis’. Instead, make sure you are taking little actionable steps every day. It’s all about progress, not perfection. And find your tribe—we are infinitely stronger together, so make sure you find good mentors and role models to support you.
Your website link
www.ceciliagarnettcoaching.co.uk
