Elaine Atkinson
Certified Leadership & Career Coach
I know what it feels like to build a successful career and still wonder if something needs to change.
Before becoming a coach, I spent more than 20 years in senior leadership roles in global organisations.
Like many high achievers, I became good at handling pressure, delivering results and keeping going. But I rarely stopped to ask what it was costing me.
From the outside, I was still performing but I didn’t always like who I became when I was stressed, overwhelmed or running on empty.
There were moments I wasn’t proud of and would handle differently now.
When I eventually achieved some of the career goals I’d worked so hard for, it didn’t feel right.
The expectations intensified, and I wasn’t sure I wanted the life that came with them.
After spending years building that kind of career, it was scary to consider that I might need to find another way.
The moment I stopped pushing through
I stepped away from my career to work out what mattered beyond achievement.
It taught me that often you already know what needs to change, the harder part is acting on it.
The moment I stopped pushing through
I stepped away from my career to work out what mattered beyond achievement.
It taught me that often, you already know what needs to change - the harder part is acting on it.
What changed for me
When I returned to corporate leadership, I led differently. I trusted myself more and relied less on overworking.
I realised I could still be successful without constantly pushing myself to the edge.
I started building In Wonder Coaching alongside my leadership role, before eventually stepping away and focusing on coaching full-time.
What I learned through that process is that not every change needs to be a dramatic leap.
Sometimes it starts with noticing what no longer fits and making space to explore something different.
That doesn’t always mean changing jobs. It can also mean understanding what’s driving how you think, feel and respond to the work you’re already doing.
That experience now shapes how I coach: helping people stay ambitious while making choices that feel more meaningful and more their own.
What I bring to coaching
My coaching brings together professional training, senior leadership experience and first-hand insight into building my own business.
20+ years business experience across technology, financial services and professional services
Associate Certified Coach (ACC),
International Coaching Federation
Certified Professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC), Co-active Training Institute
What coaching with me is like
You don’t need to have everything figured out before you start.
You can bring whatever is actually going on - work, leadership, relationships, confidence, pressure or simply feeling like you’re juggling too much.
Most of my clients already know more than they think they do. But pressure, self-doubt and overthinking can make it difficult to hear themselves and trust their own judgement.
My role is to help you make sense of what’s going on, think more honestly and decide what to do next.
You’ll feel safe enough to be honest and challenged enough to change.
I’ll ask questions, reflect patterns back to you and say what I’m noticing, even when it might be uncomfortable to hear.
And I’ll help you turn insight into action, with commitments between sessions so the work continues beyond our calls.
A little bit about me
After travelling and working abroad, I’m now based in Northern Ireland, working with clients across the UK, Ireland and internationally.
I live near the coast with my husband and two dogs. I love being outdoors, especially by the sea, whether I’m walking, running or convincing myself that cold water swimming is a good idea.
I’m a big rugby fan, love live music and comedy, and will happily plan a trip around any of them.
I still have plenty of ambition, but I’m increasingly conscious that life is short. I want to use it well, doing work that matters and making time for the people and experiences that matter too.
A little bit about me
After travelling and working abroad, I’m now based in Northern Ireland, working with clients across the UK, Ireland and internationally.
I live near the coast with my husband and two dogs. I love being outdoors, especially by the sea, whether I’m walking, running or convincing myself that cold water swimming is a good idea.
I’m a big rugby fan, love live music and comedy, and will happily plan a trip around any of them.
I still have plenty of ambition, but I’m increasingly conscious that life is short. I want to use it well, doing work that matters and making time for the people and experiences that matter too.
Ready to talk?
If you're considering coaching for yourself or your organisation, the best place to start is a conversation.
We'll explore what's going on and what you want to be different. Then we can decide if we're a good fit.
For Individuals
For Organisations
Helping successful people rethink
their relationship with work.
