Gemma studied Communication Studies at Sheffield Hallam University. During this time her care and drive to help others and create impact was evident as she chose an applied project to mark her final year and created an awareness scheme on eating disorders as she realised there was a huge gap in the market for information for students around this topic. For her project Gemma produced a marketing campaign and website to raise awareness in this important area.

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Gemma left University and like many people, fell into a corporate career within Talent Acquisition. Starting as a Recruiter, Gemma worked with many global clients including Diageo, HSBC, Anglo American and Lloyds Banking Group to name a few. Gemma managed global teams of 10 people and received many promotions during this time. This was a rewarding career, helping to change people’s lives and being a Manager came naturally.

‘In September 2023 everything changed. I received a call from my brother one morning to let me know that my Mother had been rushed to hospital unwell. One Month later my Mother had passed away to Cancer. To say this turned my world upside down is an understatement. As a single working Mum of a 7 year old daughter, my mum had been my constant support and I wasn’t sure how I was going to carry on without her in my life. I had gone through a divorce just 2 years prior to this so I was left with so much fear of my future.

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Grief changed me. And what I wasn’t prepared for was the journey it took me on of huge reflection, I went right back to my childhood reliving all the amazing memories but I also started to wonder; Was what I was doing really me? Was I following my true purpose? I started to read old school reports ‘A girl with great sparkle’ I realised that sparkle had been lost in the daily grind of managing a corporate career.

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I had to take action, so I started to look at a Career coach to help me. The coach told me about this incredible course he had just completed and when I looked into this course and the contents; I had a lightbulb moment. I loved people, I had a deep care and passion to help the lives of others, to create as much impact as I could and as I had been through so many life changes I had built a high amount of compassion and empathy for people’s journeys. The signs I needed to make the change were becoming very clear, I was starting to feel very drained in my corporate role, I was becoming very ill. 

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In January 2025 I started a course to become an Associate Coach with Optimus Coach Academy. A course which is accredited by the International Coaching Federation (ICF) & the European Mentoring & Coaching Council (EMCC)  with a huge focus on psychology. The holistic coaching framework I followed blends psychology, neuroscience and real life application. This course changed my life and this is why I am so passionate about Coaching, the transformation I went through was huge. In March I handed my notice in as I knew this was my journey, the path I was always meant to go on and everything that happened in my life before this all led me here.

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In May ‘Hello Empower Coaching’ was born with a focus on helping both individuals and Organisations through Life and Career change. And the rest as they say is history!’

 

Gemma

FOUNDER