Sally Chapman is a professional coach, a wife, a mother, a daughter, a sister, a friend. She loves her family and friends, her animals, home, garden; they are her sanctuary. She loves to exercise most days, get outside, cook up a storm in the kitchen, feel the sun on her face preferably with a large glass of wine in hand, walk in the rain, sit in front of the fire. It’s all about being happy, finding joy in the ordinary that is important to her, not wasting time on the small or big stuff anymore, just being.
What were your initial years of growing up like? Tell us about your life before the venture/ corporate journey?
My wonderful family has shaped me into where I am today – my father, my mother, my sisters, and my grandparents – that strong family unit. So strong and good that I went out into the world thinking that life was going to be a hell of a lot easier than it actually is!
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!”
I founded Shine Coaching in July 2021, but prior to that I had no idea on how to start or run a coaching business. You could say it is like many things I do. I go in headfirst and fully committed! Prior to coaching, I predominantly worked in HR roles up to senior management level for about 12 years ago, which was a profession I sort of fell into, and then fell in love with. And before being in the world of HR, I worked in a variety of roles from a pub landlady to self-employed gardener and in the early days, even a pig farmer! So, I had quite an eclectic background and a squiggly career in coaching!
But it wasn’t until mid-2020 during the pandemic and feeling rather burnt out when I realised that I had fallen out of HR and that I was holding on to an outdated version of what success looked like to me, which had been to climb the corporate ladder and become this awesome HR Director. When I started to question myself and have coaching, I became very aware that this version of my success was not making me happy or living in line with my values anymore.
So, I made the big leap to leave the corporate world and train to be a coach. When I started my training and even when I founded Shine Coaching, I was still a little unsure of what type of coach I would be. All I knew at this point was that I loved finding out what makes people tick and helping them to grow, develop, and discover their strengths, dreams, and goals, and most of all, helping them ‘shine’.
As the months went by, I realised I was drawn to HR; I still held such passion for the profession and the people that worked in it, that I knew I wanted to help them stay as much in love with HR as I had been.
And as I have continued to grow as a coach, the brand SHINE has grown and developed too, into something that I am really proud of. It just goes to show that you never know what you are capable of until you give it a go!
Tell us something about your initiative or current role. What is it about, and what impact are you trying to make?
It has always been my dream, my goal to make coaching accessible to everyone, whatever their budget, wherever they might be in the world, whatever they want to achieve, and depending on how much time they have. You see, before I trained to be a coach, I was very fortunate enough to have been part of an executive team and given coaching myself. And that is often the case – you have to be a senior leader, executive or CEO to be in a position to be able to afford and have access to coaching.
But really coaching is such an important part of our own self-awareness, our development, that it should be encouraged in schools, apprenticeships and all organisations, whatever level or role you do. Every coach believes that the person, the coach, has all the answers they need, they just need the time, the questions and the mindset to unlock them. That’s what I am trying to do with my Coaching to Shine workshops and downloadable app – make coaching accessible to everyone so they can find their version of success and happiness.
My other great passion is HR – a profession I loved, and fell out of love with for a little while, but it still has a very dear place in my heart, which is why I work with HR professionals and have developed my HR Group Supervision programme to support them in what can be a challenging and emotional role, one that they often have to manage on their own. With my group supervision, I facilitate and support each small group of HR professionals and they get to spend time with like-minded people and are able to ask for a sounding board, support and/or suggestions for anything that is top of their minds. It is a provision that I know I would have valued when I was in the profession.
Your journey and your vision are very inspiring, but are there any achievements or accomplishments you would like to mention?
I think my biggest achievement is creating my brand, SHINE, having had no previous experience in marketing or branding. A large part of my brand is my own coaching model, SHINE, and I offer free online workshops for anyone to attend to work through the SHINE model with them so they can find their own version of success and happiness. As a result of creating my SHINE model and the success of my workshops, I am very proud to say that I have developed my own Coaching to SHINE app as a result. This is available to download from The App Store: https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/coaching-to-shine/id6443501557
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.coachingtoshine.app208025
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 like to see more support readily available for budding entrepreneurs. It is often the first few years that are the hardest to get going and if there was a network that could offer advice and support for all the hurdles that need to be jumped, that would be great. Sometimes, it is just having had someone who has walked the same path as you, that is all you need. So perhaps more mentors and coaches for young women entrepreneurs and also some emotional support as it is certainly a rollercoaster ride once you’re on it!
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’s leadership today?
Women have so much to offer and we are only going to continue growing in leadership roles. The world in which we live is becoming more flexible, agile, and hybrid and this is where women excel; we manage change exceptionally well and can adapt ourselves in any situation. I can only see us going from strength to strength and don’t feel there is a need to compete against our male counterparts; everyone of us is exceptional in our own right.
What would you want to say to our young women leaders/audience reading this?
Go out there and be you. Don’t be afraid to try things, don’t be afraid to be vulnerable. Fail lots and you will learn lots. Ask for help and help others. Be kind to others and be kind to yourself. You’ve got this – you can do anything you set your heart to and if it doesn’t work the first time, keep going.
