User research can be a rewarding career, but it can also feel isolating at times. Maybe you're working alone, stepping into a more senior role or trying to make research land in environments that don’t get it. Maybe you’re thinking about work-life balance and how everything fits together.

Coaching or mentoring?

The terms coaching and mentoring are often used interchangeably, but when I use them I mean two distinct things. In our conversations we might move between them, depending on what you need. The common thread is that I won’t tell you what to do. I'll ask questions, share experiences where it's helpful and help you arrive at decisions you feel confident in.

• Coaching is about helping you think things through for yourself. Asking questions, exploring options and building your own clarity and confidence. It’s based on the premise that you know more about your personal circumstances, values and constraints than I ever will. The answers and solutions come from you.

• Mentoring is more directive. This is where I use my years as a user researcher: sharing experiences, offering perspective and suggesting approaches based on what I’ve seen work in similar situations. Some of the solutions will come from me, but it’s up to you what you take away and action.

What we might work on together

These are just examples. You can bring whatever you want to a coaching and mentoring session.

Research skills

• Turning messy briefs into clear, focused research questions

• Choosing appropriate methods, and knowing how much research to do and when

• Improving synthesis and turning findings into clear, actionable insight

• Communicating research so it influences decisions

Workplace challenges

• Handling stakeholder pressure, disagreement, or pushback

• Building influence and credibility within product teams

• Working effectively in your context

Personal development

• Developing confidence in your judgement and decision-making

• Career development, progression, and transitions

• Returning to work after a break or period of leave

• Managing overwhelm, uncertainty or lack of clarity in your role

• Work-life balance

How I work

I’m a trained coach. I have completed Barefoot’s ICF (International Coaching Federation) certified training course and am committed to ongoing professional development and the ICF code of ethics.  I have mentored many researchers, sharing my experience and supporting them to develop their skills.

What coaching and mentoring with me feels like

• A judgement-free space.

• Calm and confidential.

• Practical and grounded.

• Lead by you. You choose what we talk about.

• Focused, whether that’s based on a longer term plan or on you bringing whatever is on top of mind that day.

• As gentle, or as challenging, as you need.

Making myself redundant

My aim when I coach and mentor researchers is not to create dependency, but to build your confidence and capability over time.

I want you to feel more able to handle similar challenges independently. In that sense, success is when you need me less.

Practical details

Coaching and mentoring can be:

• One-off sessions for a specific challenge or decision

• A short series of sessions to work through a particular topic

• Ongoing meetings for regular support and reflection

Sessions are remote unless otherwise agreed.

Getting started

If you’re interested in working together the best next step is a short introductory conversation. We can talk through what you’re looking for and explore whether we’d work well together.

This is a free call with no pressure and no commitment. Just a chance to find out more and ask questions.