Claire Hurst
Background
Claire is an experienced coach with more than 25 years’ experience specialising in leadership assessment and development. She takes a collaborative and results-driven approach to help individuals unlock their potential. Claire’s expertise lies in empowering clients to navigate challenges with clarity and confidence, refine their communication for greater impact, and develop actionable strategies to achieve their professional and personal goals.
She provides tailored coaching that balances support with challenge, enabling her clients to gain deeper self-awareness, enhance their decision-making, and lead with purpose and authenticity. Claire focuses on equipping clients with practical tools and insights to create meaningful, lasting change.
She has worked with clients globally in a variety of sectors including education, health, financial services, manufacturing, resources and emergency services.
Coaching philosophy
Claire believes that meaningful growth begins with self-awareness and a clear sense of purpose. She is committed to creating a coaching environment built on trust, respect, and genuine curiosity, where clients feel supported to explore their strengths and navigate challenges.
Claire encourages her clients to take ownership of their decisions, embrace accountability, and maintain a focus on long-term impact.
Claire also values the power of clear communication and strategic thinking, helping clients to articulate their vision, prioritise effectively, and lead with authenticity. Above all, she is passionate about fostering resilience and confidence, empowering her clients to thrive in the face of change and complexity.
Professional Snapshot
Areas of expertise
- Partnered with senior leaders to enhance their strategic thinking and communication, resulting in improved team alignment and measurable organisational impact
- Guided professionals through role changes, helping them clarify goals, build confidence, and navigate new responsibilities effectively, leading to accelerated success in their positions
- Coached clients to refine their communication style, leading to stronger stakeholder relationships, increased influence, and more impactful leadership presence
- Helped individuals develop tools to manage stress and complexity, equipping them to thrive under pressure and adapt to change with confidence
- Mentored high-potential professionals to step into leadership roles, ensuring a seamless transition and long-term growth within their organisations
- Conducted comprehensive assessments to identify leadership potential and development areas, enabling organisations to make informed decisions about talent placement and succession planning, resulting in stronger leadership pipelines and enhanced team performance
Qualifications and accreditations
- BA Hons Law and Accounting, University of Newcastle upon Tyne
- MA Industrial Relations, Warwick Business School, University of Warwick
- Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development
- IECL Coaching Level 2
- Core Strengths – SDI 2.0
- Saville Wave
- Hogan Leadership Forecast Series (HPI, HDS, MVPI), Team, 360
- Barrett Values Centre Cultural Transformation Tools (CTT)
- Korn Ferry viaEDGE Learning Agility, Voices 360, Assessment of Leadership Potential
Talent assessor
Claire has extensive experience in leadership assessment, using a combination of psychometrics, behavioural interviews, cognitive ability tests, work simulations, and coaching to evaluate and support leadership development across various sectors. She has worked with clients from federal government organisations, educational institutions, and global manufacturing companies to assess the strengths and potential of their leadership cohorts.
Claire’s approach is focused on understanding the overall strengths of individuals while also identifying areas for development, aligning assessments with succession planning, and providing tailored development solutions.
Success stories
- Coached an executive of a private sector organisation who was struggling with urgency, meeting deadlines, and influencing key stakeholders, helping the executive prioritise tasks more effectively, manage time better, and build stronger influence with key stakeholders
- Provided tailored coaching to high-potential individuals in a public sector organisation, developing personalised coaching plans to address specific growth areas and maximise leadership potential
- Assessed and compared two high-level candidates for an executive role within a large organisation, using a comprehensive process to evaluate their skills, behaviours, and potential fit for the organisation's needs and ensuring a strategic decision was made in selecting the right candidate for the role
- Supported a large-scale merger involving two distinct pools of candidates for leadership roles, assessing both groups, identifying the most appropriate candidates for key positions, and developing them into a cohesive, high-performing team