WHAT MY CLIENTS SAY

"People don't grow by accident. They grow by design."  

"Thanks v much for all your help, I think our work together primed me really well to talk clearly about my values and motivations. I think in many ways I was lucky to meet [new company] at the right time in their development, but I think that without your help I wouldn’t have been able to define what I wanted and where this could be of value to them….and so don’t think I would have been able to carve out this role."
Associate Director, London

“Thank you so much for the fantastic coaching over the past year or so. I truly feel I’ve benefited on so many levels—most importantly, I got my confidence back! I really appreciated your approach of listening to my thoughts, helping me find structure, and offering options rather than just a single solution. That really worked for me. The fact is, it offered me an opportunity to be completely honest with my struggles and it helped me see a clearer path which is what I needed. It is one of the best investments I have made in my career."
Associate Architect, London

“As someone who's very used to making my own decisions, I really enjoyed the process of meeting a coach who I trusted and respected almost immediately. Having my behaviour and ideas challenged was long overdue. I believe it has made a huge difference to my life and was incredibly supportive and transformative - particularly during lockdown. Do it without hesitation! Wherever you are in your career, it's never too late to get some perspective. I'm confident that you will benefit."
Lorna Byrne, Raven Communications, London

“Working with SleepingGiant has been fantastic. The programme has helped me focus on my career goals and provided a sounding board for ideas around business strategy. Karen’s knowledge of the industry has made the conversation easy while also bringing an outsider’s perspective, offering a friendly critical friend to the discussion. I would highly recommend the coaching to those who want to focus on career development and need the support and discipline to do this.”
Architectural Director, London

"I can't emphasise enough how valuable coaching has been to shaping my career. I was incredibly sceptical about whether there would be any benefit, but the benefit has far outweighed the cost and time I've put into the process. Along the way, I was terrified about the consequences of making any changes to my career path, but coaching has transformed my career outlook in positive ways that I couldn't have imagined six months earlier. I would recommend this type of coaching to anyone, at any stage of their career, and for any reason. I can't stress how useful it is to have been given a framework and tools to facilitate self reflection and career planning. I wish I'd done it a lot earlier!"
Associate Architect, London

"Thank you for the <coaching> feedback report. It is really useful and good to see how the ADs have progressed. We've also seen their growth firsthand and are very pleased with the investment in coaching with SleepingGiant."
Janet Lewis, Strategic HR & Operations Partner, JTP

“I approached Karen at a time I was transitioning from part time to full time work and felt lost in my career direction. Karen provided guidance which was thoughtful, supportive and helped me build confidence and self awareness. I am very grateful!”
Architect, Australia

“Thank you so much Karen. It's been an absolute pleasure working with you. Your way of giving me perspective has changed a lot for me and will stay with me forever. Great person and great coach. Highly recommended to everyone.”
Sustainability Lead

“Coaching with Karen has been wonderful! She has helped me to clarify my goals and values, and then helped me tailor my career path to to suit. Highly recommend."
Tara W.

"The conversations we’ve had in the last few months have helped me a lot. I understand my career motivations better and recognise past behavioural mistakes. I’m pretty happy in my office at the moment, and thanks to some of your tips in anger management and my self-discovery, I’m currently managing better my relationship with management. "
Project Architect, London

“I was particularly interested to work with Karen, due to her insightful work with Women in Architecture. I’m a firm believer that we don’t grow in isolation of others, and am convinced that everyone, at any career stage will benefit from coaching/ mentoring. As a small practice director, my primary concern was to unlock a better model for financial sustainability. Coupled with the challenges of adjusting to the shifting sands of practice demands, there was a lot on my mind. Karen provided helpful tools to not only address this, but delved deeper into strategic thinking and personal goals. Karen is friendly, calm and gifted in unlocking potential. Just brilliant!”
Grace Choi, Director, Grace Choi Architecture

“Karen supported me through a period of business realignment with understanding, patience and humour. I found my sessions with her inspiring and uplifting. Being a one-woman business owner, it’s easy to get stuck in your ways, so it was very useful to get a fresh pair of eyes on the issues I wanted work on. I particularly enjoyed our practical sessions in which we worked on a new service launch. Without her help it would still be something I wanted to try but never had the courage to. Thank you Karen for helping me get it done!”
Interior Designer, London

"Working with Karen has given me what feels like a ‘scaffold’, from which I have learnt how to both think critically about my business and develop personally. Most importantly, her approach has instilled a friendly curiosity towards the problems and challenges I encounter. There is a kindness and openness to this process that at first eases pressure on one's self, removes shallow preconceptions, and creates the space to follow a line of questioning that can take you forward. It feels like an invaluable part of my practice.”
Tim Norman-Prahm, Norman-Prahm Architects, London

“Karen has a real unique way of helping you break down where you are with your mindset and navigate your way through the issues that present themselves to you. She created a real safe space for me. Whether my issues were personal or professional Karen’s calm and professional demeanour was a great reassurance for me. I am building my business at a pace that suits me and Karen’s coaching has made me feel reassured that I will accomplish all my goals that are related to it.”
Interior Designer, Manchester

“I definitely felt that the more that I put in, the more I got out. I have regained my sense of self and professional identity and have a toolkit with which to approach previously difficult areas. The coaching was well tailored to my specific requirements and Karen responded well in each session to my progress and direction of travel. It felt like an evolving and nuanced process rather than a prescribed course. I would highly recommend this coaching process.”
Senior Architect, London

“The coaching was useful in defining what I do and what I want to achieve. It also allowed me to realise the tools I need to get there and how I might make small changes or alterations to improve efficiency and a more positive approach. It's also useful to have an external perspective from someone who understands the industry and understands the 'juggle' of work and family life.”
Design Writer, London

“The senior management team at Planning Potential have been working with Karen for a year now and her wise advice, prompting us to focus on what we should be doing in the business rather than what we want to do, has been invaluable. She ensures we set clear targets and keeps us to task with regular one to one meetings. She tailors her approach to suit the individual, rather than following a one size fits all approach. I would highly recommend Karen to any small business seeking to get the best out of its people.”
Helen Cuthbert, Director, Planning Potential, London

“I wasn't sure what to expect going into it, and was slightly unsure if it would be of use, but I found my time with Karen eye opening and highly useful. I regained my confidence at work and have become more assertive and direct. The sessions ended at an opportune time and have left me in a great place both professionally and personally.”
Executive Creative Director, London

“It was really great to go about finding a new job in a different way and have someone to give a different perceptive on the situation. I have learnt a lot of new tools that will be useful for the rest of my career!"
Associate Architect, London

"Karen, guided me through the motions of making difficult decisions in a process that allowed me to transition more smoothly to the next step. Her positivity, presence and support was very important for me to get me through this crucial stage of my career."
Architect, London

"The feedback from the directors on their coaching sessions has been very positive. Your skill in ensuring everyone had the space to discuss long held issues in a safe and supportive environment has very much helped."
Business Operations Director, Architectural Firm, London

"Karen is a great coach, open to all issues of any kind, whether work or personal related. Really helps to talk things through, to help you in a variety of situations and to gain clarity of your own thoughts and in your own internal processes and procedures."
Director, Construction Services, London

"My sessions with Karen were extremely helpful and ultimately product in giving me the opportunity to step back and critically reflect on my personal and professional approach to my business."
Business Owner, Senior Architect, USA

"It's valuable to have these leadership discussions with an independent professional regardless of how well things are going in working life. It has given me greater confidence in my current role and helped me evaluate my future career trajectory. [Coaching] offers a valuable insight into preconceptions about working structure, personal effectiveness and responsibility. I found the whole experience very valuable."
Associate, Grimshaw Architects, London

"Prior to working with Karen, I'd not had any experience with a coach. I engaged with SleepingGiant Consulting so that I could achieve some long term career goals that had previously seemed unattainable. Karen was able to provide me with tools from the onset that helped me identify the obstacles in my way and affect changes that I could make easily and immediately. Continued work on the analysis of my drivers and workstyles allowed me to understand my ways of working so that I could recognize what old habits were holding me back and those which I could use to drive me forward. Karen has provided me with a framework not only for working steadily towards my goals, but also for creating and maintaining a more positive and balanced life. I always feel inspired after my sessions with Karen and look forward to mapping out future goals with her."
Etain Fitzpatrick, Senior Architectural Designer, London

"I feel like a different person. It's not a false confidence, it's genuine."
Associate, Grimshaw Architects, London

"I found myself at a turning point in my career with the choice to develop my own architecture practice or to return to working in a larger architecture practice. Each pathway in had its own clear advantages and possible challenges. Conversations with Karen helped me identify my core values and how they fit best within these different types of practice. Karen helped me see things from a different angle, used tools to help demonstrate possibilities and always kept me looking forward. I felt that Karen's past experience was as important as her coaching credibility, as I didn't have to explain the politics of an architectural office. I recommend Karen's coaching to any architect/mums who need clarity."
Senior Architect & Mother of two, London

"Having previously worked with Karen in her role as a mentor, I was interested in how her shift to coaching would benefit our relationship and my business. The approach used in coaching is considerably different and when I speak about how Karen works I say that she is a good listener. What I mean is more than listening though - Karen transitions what I say into very effective and productive outcomes. For instance, I have started a coaching session feeling overwhelmed, stressed and behind in work, but ended it excited, focused and in control.  
Business Owner, Bristol

Contact Karen Fugle today to learn how SleepingGiant can help you.
E. karen@sleepinggiant-consulting.com   M. +44 (0) 77628 11703