Mentoring

Michelle is an accredited career coach and executive mentor; certified as a Professional Certified Coach by the International Coaching Federation. She has helped countless individuals and teams reach peak performance and career and life success.

Whether you want to refine your approach, shift your thinking, change careers, accelerate your progress, uncover hidden goals or elevate your leadership and ability to connect, inspire and achieve Michelle can help you secure these outcomes.

If you would like to enquire about working with Michelle, please email support@michellegibbings.com.

How this works

Michelle loves helping people find their purpose, build capability, accelerate their success and elevate their careers to new levels.

Having worked in some of the world's largest and most complex organisations she understands the challenges you face. She shares her depth and breadth of experience with her clients - bringing insights from the past, as well as a focus on the future.

Every person is unique and so too, therefore, is the coach mentoring experience. Her programs are tailored to the needs of each client and designed to ensure they receive optimal value and deliver maximum impact.  An impact that is tangible, practical and makes a real difference in their career and life.

She believes passionately in the benefit that mentors play in shaping career and life outcomes. Throughout her working life, she’s relied on mentors to guide her, and challenge her actions and perspectives.

Who this is for

This approach is for people who want to:

• Take their leadership and career to the next level
• Find greater fulfilment in their work and life
• Position themselves to thrive in a changing workplace
• Successfully transition from one career to another
• Influence more effectively at work

What you can expect

When you work with Michelle you can expect to receive:

• Tailored program to suit your needs and personal circumstances
• Support and guidance based on expertise
• Original and innovative ideas based on the latest thinking
• The challenge to ensure you’re reaching your potential
• Opportunities to broaden your network and be exposed to new ways of thinking and being
• Access to the latest diagnostic tools to help you understand yourself, how to make decisions, and accelerate your leadership capability

There is a range of career coach mentoring packages available to suit your needs:

• Activator - for people who are looking for short-term career advice and support
• Accelerator - for people who are looking for more comprehensive support and advice to advance their career and life
• Accelerator Plus - for people who are looking for an exponential career and life success

What you can achieve

If you'd like insight into what it is like to work with Michelle as your career and executive coach, then read this article which originally appeared in The Australian Financial Review. It was a privilege for Michelle to work with Renate Vogt, General Manager of CitiPower and Powercor, as she navigated a new executive role. 

Testimonials

"After working with Michelle in two workshops, I decided to approach her to see if we'd be a good fit for coaching.

The coaching program with Michelle has been incredible. I was at a point where I was stepping up to a temporary role and wanted to perform well in the role. I was also thinking about using the opportunity of the temporary role to work out my next career steps. Michelle stepped me through this process by assessing my leadership style, identifying areas to focus on, challenging me to think in different ways or from different points of view and providing me with lots of resources and tips to help me.

During my coaching time with Michelle, I had the opportunity to apply for the temporary role I'd taken on and was successful in being appointed to the most senior role of my career. Michelle also provided excellent support for my application and interview which meant I was able to describe my skills clearly to the selection panel. I'm using the skills and knowledge Michelle provided to me in my everyday work life and sharing the knowledge with members of my team.

Investing in coaching with Michelle has been very worthwhile and rewarding."

Cathy Ward, School Manager at School of Rural Health, Monash University

"I had always questioned the need for an executive coach, but then I had the opportunity to work with Michelle. I appreciate that finding an executive coach that challenges you, suits your style and provides precisely the guidance you need isn't easy, and I feel very fortunate to have found that in Michelle. Having worked with her over the last few years, during a particularly demanding period of my career, I can attest to the soundness of her advice, the breadth of her experience and her warm and engaging style. Importantly, she understands organisational contexts and situations and therefore can readily support you as you work through the optimal way forward. She is fabulous to work with and I highly recommend her!"

Katrina Bobeff, Group General Counsel and Company Secretary, Opal Group

"Michelle was a guest speaker at a work event. Her vast, varied and impressive professional executive career, her discipline, her practical tips on leveraging your skills, navigating corporate life and her authenticity greatly impressed me.

After reading Michelle’s second book ‘Career Leap - How to reinvent and liberate your career’, I sought out Michelle’s mentorship to help me navigate a career transition.

Michelle’s 6-month Accelerator mentoring program was customised and well-paced to fit my circumstances and gave me structure, support and inspiration. The extensive reading, latest research materials, the toolkit of strategies and practical insights that Michelle provided challenged me to think differently. The 6-month mentoring program was an enriching self-investment and transformation opportunity. I also had the opportunity to participate in the Your Career Investment Program, which provided additional tools and a peer support network. It was a fantastic experience.

I highly recommend Michelle’s programs if you are looking to supercharging your career or re-shaping your value proposition."

Neermala Cash, Senior Manager, Operations & Project Management

"Michelle is an extraordinary executive coach with extensive Group Executive and Global media and coaching expertise. She is constantly sought after to appear on major media channels. I have known and worked with her for twenty years, and I only refer people I believe exceed my standards. She works and partners with an executive to get them to where they need to be. As an author, she has written books precisely aligned to executives' success. I have used her text in my consulting programs, and she receives glowing accolades from senior executives and board members on how the coaching guides have changed their life. Michelle has personally been responsible for influencing several vital executives in Government and ASX 1-5, helping them reignite and rebrand for significant success. I cannot praise her more highly. Michelle will work with you over an extended period to support you in creating the best you. There is a cost of time and money. It is a commitment, but I can guarantee that you will secure the outcomes you seek. Taking risks and being courageous is how we find our best opportunities. Many executives experience a catalyst that propels self-reflection, self-investment, and a desired new vision of self-direction for happiness and fulfilment. Michelle will help you in taking the first step. From there is the future that allows you to thrive and grow."

Wendy Leegel, CEO, Leegel Consulting Group

"After reading Michelle’s first book, Step Up: How to build your influence at work, I was keen to work with her. Michelle is incredibly relatable and knowledgeable. She shares wisdom and insights that show a depth of understanding of the working world, and what you can do to make it work for you. Michelle also helped me focus on my personal goals as well to grow as a whole, not just in my profession. I valued her advice and appreciated her genuine interest in helping me navigate critical choices. If you are looking for an executive coach who challenges, inspires and supports you, then I’d highly recommend Michelle."

Carolina Jimenez Polanco, Director, Business Excellence & PMO, Edwards Lifesciences

"I came across a podcast where Michelle was invited as a guest speaker. I was so impressed with her authentic approach and practical insights that I engaged her as my coach. Her incredible storytelling style, ability to actively listen and craft impactful questions as well as the rich toolkit of strategies that she shared through our sessions have been invaluable in helping me grow and work towards realising my goals. A worthwhile investment which I have gained back triple fold."

Pam Davis, Human Resources Manager, Samsung C&T Corporation

“Regardless of your career goals, it is crucial to have a soundboard that exists external to your organisation that can provide you with the guidance and broader perspective required to succeed. Through Michelle’s extensive career successfully navigating the C-Suite, she provided me context, support, advice, and a well-honed listening ear whether I was facing tactical personality challenges or broader organisational and inter-organisational dynamics. Career advancement is about relationship management and Michelle not only understands that she excels at it. She provided me with no-nonsense, clear, and helpful perspectives on multiple fronts. From understanding my personal leadership style to getting clarity on how my sense of satisfaction influences and drives my behaviour, she helped me understand that my personality is an asset. Michelle knows how to give you clarity on your abilities and insight into how to own your strengths so that you are driving your own success.”

Ruchika Deora, Manager Marketing and Community Partnerships, Citipower Powercor

"My executive coaching journey with Michelle over the last 10 months has been a fantastic experience. I made a commitment to myself to focus more intensively on my professional and personal aspirations, passions and goals, and on getting a whole-of-life balance that deeply energises me every day. I deliberately wanted Michelle to work with me on supercharging this journey.

Michelle’s heartfelt enthusiasm, insights and coaching approach has supported me in being absolutely clear on what my superpowers are and how I can be my best self every day in all aspects of my life and career. Michelle gets me, she challenges me to think differently and most importantly keeps me focused when everyone else is trying to pull me in different directions. She has helped me navigate and negotiate a way forward and set short and long term goals that work for me, my family and my career. I have immense respect for Michelle and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend working with her."

Claire Cornfield, Head of Customer Service & Operations, Corporate & Institutional Bank, National Australia Bank

"Michelle is a fantastic coach and mentor – she made a huge difference to my first year in an executive role – providing insightful and strategic advice, whilst drawing from a wealth of diverse and relevant experience. Her support didn’t just apply to my day-to-day job, but also to my general career and life. It has proved invaluable, and I will use and apply it for many years to come. She is organised, thoughtful and very switched on to the nuances of work and people: I have no hesitation in recommending her."

Alison Huitfeldt, General Counsel, Linfox Armaguard Pty Ltd

"As part of my career development, I worked with Michelle to provide advice, counsel and challenge on my leadership and operating style. I found the sessions tremendously valuable. Michelle has a unique ability to quickly understand an organisational environment and context and to therefore ensure the sessions are targeted and relevant. I never felt like Michelle was following a formulaic approach, but that she was responding to what I needed, tailoring the sessions and contextualising the advice. She is not only supportive, wise and very insightful but is not afraid to hold me accountable. I would highly recommend working with her, and I am looking forward to working with her again."

Matt Scrafton, Senior PMO professional, New Zealand

"Having seen Michelle in action during my time at ME when she was engaged to facilitate Risk leadership team sessions, I was keen to work with her during my transition to a new career. During the time we worked together I found Michelle's counsel, support and challenge invaluable. She helped to keep me focused on my key drivers and long term goals, challenged me to think differently about the options in front of me, and encouraged me to forge a path forward that worked for me. I felt my needs were a little unique as I was committed to forging a different way forward to achieve my desired goals. Her advice was insightful, constructive and practical as well as empathetic to my goals and desired outcome. She genuinely cares about getting the best outcomes for the people she works with and in short gets results! I have already recommended her to a number of friends and colleagues."

James Haviland, Risk Executive, Financial Services

"I recently took on a senior role in a different country and found I was facing a number of work challenges, where I felt I needed support and advice. I felt I needed a career coach to help me navigate some of these challenges and found Michelle to be very professional and engaging. Working with Michelle over the last 6 months she helped me shift my approach and re-position myself to make positive progress in the work environment. She was a constant source of support and provided sage advice along the way, which definitely helped me develop. It was a very worthwhile and beneficial process that provided me with more insight around the politics that play out daily at work."

Risk Executive, Asia Pacific Region, Financial Services

"I've had personal coaching in the past and wanted those next steps in broadening my skills and strengthening the areas that I had desire to leap into. What I discovered during the six months with Michelle is that through certain tools and techniques, she enabled me to discover and hone my skills and more importantly, to learn how to ask the big questions and have deep conversations with people both personally and professionally. From a very personal perspective, she also helped me in broadening my daily meditation skills and to develop the more creative literary side of me. I continue to learn and implement everything she has taught me."

Maryrose Bayot, PMO Lead, Financial Services

"At the beginning of our coaching path, Michelle asked me what I wanted to get out of the next 6 months. I had an idea and knew where I wanted to get to. Michelle would ask challenging and thought-provoking questions and would assess situations or challenges from a different perspective. Where I got to, in the end, was far further than I could have ever imagined. It took courage and Michelle was in my corner all the time having my back. She has this ability to bring out the best in you."

Alexandra Shea, Senior Compliance Professional

"I engaged Michelle's support to help guide me through the next steps in my career and to equip me with insights on how to best position myself in a dynamic and constantly changing work environment. Michelle is empathetic and supportive and was always available to discuss any challenges, whilst providing the necessary challenge and questions to help me see things through a different lens. I walked away from the sessions enthused and engaged to make positive change. It was a fantastic experience, which I'd highly recommend".

Senior Compliance Professional, Financial Services

"I worked with Michelle during my transition to a new executive position. She provided enormous support, great counsel and appropriate challenge to ensure I was able to leverage my skills and leadership to best effect in the new role. Her extensive experience guarantees that you walk away with additional knowledge, insight and fortitude. It was an enriching and very worthwhile experience."

Renate Vogt, General Manager Regulation, Citipower and Powercor

"I partnered with Michelle over the last six months to help me work through the next steps with my career.  I found the sessions insightful, thought-provoking, and at times, challenging.  Michelle was focused on helping me stay committed to my goals.  She provides sound counsel, when required, and was genuinely interested in helping me find what worked best for me.  I would highly recommend working with Michelle."

Deborah Greenwood Smith, HR executive

"I had been 3 months in a new organisation and needed help with navigating a new culture and carving out my position. I engaged Michelle on a six-month executive coaching program to help do this. Michelle was fantastic at cutting through the 'fog' that you can experience when you are new and really helped me identify what was holding me back, address it, and give me the confidence to fast track conversations and my career progress. At the end of the program, I can definitely see a difference- I am more confident, more likely to speak up and put my hand up for any opportunities. I would highly recommend Michelle as an executive coach."

Kirsten Ridgway, Business Improvement Manager, MECCA

"The Influential Leader course provides a fresh and creative approach to what it takes to be an advocate who can influence more effective change outcomes. I’d definitely recommend the program to anyone who is looking to improve their personal style and get the skills to be a more influential business professional."

Georgie McGibbon, ANZ Bank

"Michelle’s coaching technique is highly effective. I don’t think I would have been able to push through without her. She was really able to put things in perspective for me and helped me realise that I had the ability to move outside my comfort zone, and look for different opportunities where I would be much happier."

Gina Eddie, SNSWLHD Change Manager

"I decided to engage a professional coach for the first time in my career this year. Prior to this, a few people had mentioned the idea but I wasn’t clear how it could assist my professional strategy. Then I met Michelle. We clicked immediately because she has such a wealth of experience, insight, and understanding of what it is like to be working in the senior leadership space. One of the things that had made me hesitate in the past was the sense that coaches provide a generic model and just walk you through it. That was never going to suit what I needed. I knew I had made the right choice when Michelle explained that our work together needed to be tailored for my experience, personality, and goals, and she was there to make sure I got the right degree of encouragement and support to make use of everything in her incredibly extensive kit bag. Every step was targeted at stretching me beyond my ability to see myself. The exercises were really helpful. The sessions were booked in around my availability, and I feel like I have taken huge leaps forward in the time we have worked together. As a result of Michelle's coaching, I am in a new role that I have the confidence and clarity of vision to craft to fit where I want to be in 5 years time. I didn't take the first offer on the table. I negotiated, put forward the things that were important to me in balancing my life and aspirations, and finally feel like I have found a way to navigate the career minefield."

Melinda Penna, Entrepreneur in Residence WiseTech Global

"I was feeling a little lost and directionless when I attended an event at which Michelle spoke on building influence. I realised the subject matter was key to driving my career forward and climbing new rungs on the corporate ladder, but I still wasn’t sure what my professional goals were. During the six months mentoring program Michelle helped me to better understand myself, my strengths, and what was important to me when establishing my goals. The next step was coaching to develop and implement an action plan to achieve those goals. Now I know what I want and how to achieve it, the rest is up to me! Thanks to Michelle I feel inspired, enabled and driven to achieve my goals and do great things, in both my professional and personal life."

Jody Wakelin, Market & Liquidity Risk, Arab Bank Australia