Joanne Lally, in a bright vibrant workspace with colourful background.

Meet Joanne

Leadership Catalyst

Ready to find out more?

"My audacious mission is simple: to change the way we work.

To bring more humanity into business and leadership so we build organisations with both heart and results - one conversation at a time."

Purposeful passion. Bold energy. Grounded wisdom. Deep, lasting impact.

Hello, I'm Jo. I help leaders and teams awaken possibility, ignite their brilliance, lead with purpose and values, and create cultures where people thrive - even in today’s messy, challenging world. I’m based in Leamington Spa and partner with clients across the UK and globally.

For almost 30 years I’ve had the privilege of working with thousands of leaders, from global corporations to thriving SMEs. I’ve helped them navigate complexity, embrace change, build capability and unlock results they didn’t think possible.

My own journey started at Diageo in commercial roles, then into a start-up coaching organisation where I built my coaching, consulting and facilitation expertise while growing the business from the ground up. For the past eight years I’ve run my own successful leadership development business, giving me a grounded, real-world perspective on what it takes to truly lead.

I believe leadership transformation starts from within - when you shift your relationship with yourself, everything changes. My style is warm and accessible, but I’ll also challenge you with the questions that matter, hold up the mirror and be clear and kind with my feedback.

Clients say I bring depth with lightness, energy with focus, and tools that actually make a difference (probably enough to tackle every leadership challenge and if all else fails, I’ll bring common sense).

Importantly, I am a mum, a runner who chairs a women's running community, and a lover of nature and particularly, the ocean. Life is short, and sometimes hard, which is why I believe the hours we spend at work should matter.

If you’re looking for box-ticking, I’m probably not your woman. But if you’re ready for real conversations, doing the work that matters, a bit of stretch, and a good dose of fun along the way, then we’ll get on brilliantly.

My values guide everything I do:

Balance, Relationships, Integrity, Fun, Fairness.

Joanne is smiling and looking to the right. There is provocative art in the background including 'get shit done' and 'but did you have fun?'

Joanne is warmly smiling at the camera, casually leaning against a vibrant bold wall outdoors.

Why work with me?

I’ve been the great leader, the average leader, and everything in between. I’ve helped build a start-up into a multimillion-pound organisation, led teams, and worked alongside some of the biggest names in the FTSE20. Over time, I’ve become known as a 'safe pair of hands' - because I deliver, I challenge, I have high empathy, I bring humour, and I care deeply about all we do and its impact. I’m always learning, perfectly imperfect, just like you, and I see that as an asset in today’s fast-changing world.

Whether you want to refine your leadership, reignite your spark, strengthen your team, or navigate complex dynamics, I’ll create a safe, stretching space for you or your team to reflect, stretch, get unstuck, gain new perspective, and then get pragmatic and create energising ways forward. Let’s make brilliance happen - and be human - together.

Leadership is human and relational. That’s why my work isn’t something you can replicate with AI, slides, or self-directed modules - it’s about connection, context, and energy in the room, both face to face and virtual.

With me you get conversation, connection and transformational change.

My Toolkit & Credentials

My first and most important credential is my humanity and experience - and the insight I’ve gained from coaching almost 2,000 leaders (and thousands more in groups) over the years. I’ve led teams, navigated many life and leadership challenges, and learned what actually works.

So, while you won’t find a degree in “being a coach,” you will find plenty of qualifications, a strong code of ethics, and a 98% recommendation rate that speaks for itself.

Here's a flavour of the training and tools I draw on:

ICF-recognised coaching qualification (Coaching Development)
Accredited in Human Synergistics LSI/ILF (Life Styles Inventory)
ORSC Fundamentals (Organisation & Relationship Systems Coaching)
Train the Trainer
Former ACC (Associate Certified Coach, ICF)
NLP Diploma (INLPTA)
Working knowledge of Insights Discovery
Diploma in Strategic Marketing Management, Chartered Institute of Marketing
BA (Hons) Marketing, University of Plymouth
Ongoing CPD in Team Coaching
Executive and Team Performance Certified (Autumn 2025)

And because I’m endlessly curious and always trying to keep up in this fast-changing world, there are always a few more in the pipeline (watch this space).