Tina Greaves is a close contact of our business and an outstanding Leadership and Business Coach.

Business Leaders who are professionally qualified in HR and Finance are a rarity. When you add the diversity of the different sectors that Tina has worked in, she had a strong foundation to build her coaching career from. One of Tina’s key areas of expertise lies in coaching professionals who are navigating career changes, such as transitioning to a new employer, promotion or embarking on a complete change of role.

With her background in commercial finance, she is a CIMA mentor and delivers training sessions on coaching skills to mentors as part of the CIMA UK Mentoring Scheme.

Her earlier career includes:

• CFO at Doncaster Deaf Trust
• Head of Commercial Finance at Saint Gobain / Façade &Glazing Solutions
• Senior Finance Manager at Doncaster NHS
• HR Manager at MFI
• HR Manager at Morphy Richards

With over 20 years of experience in senior and board-level positions in HR and Commercial Finance, Tina brings a wealth of knowledge and insights to her coaching practice.

Tina is a VIP in our network! We see so many situations where people are facing challenges with career changes and employers are looking for help to support their people. With her background in HR and Finance, she has a unique position to help in the Yorkshire and Midlands regions.

Please share your story of the transition from CFO of Doncaster Deaf Trust to setting up your own coaching business.

In December 2020, I faced a significant health setback when I contracted COVID-19 and developed long covid. It was a tough time, and as a result, I made the decision to step away from my role as CFO of Doncaster Deaf Trust and prioritise my recovery.

During that period, I experienced several weeks of being bedridden due to breathlessness and severe fatigue. These health challenges weakened my core strength and caused significant issues with my back. As a result, I relied on a wheelchair throughout the summer of 2021 whenever I needed to leave the house. Eventually, this required me to undergo back surgery and slowly increase the distances I could walk.

During my recovery, I had ample time to reflect on my future. Throughout my career, I had held various leadership positions and experienced the highs and lows of the corporate world. I had also navigated career changes and the associated challenges that come with them.

During those experiences, one thing stood out - my passion for coaching and mentoring - and I realised that the timing was right to pursue becoming a coach and establish my own coaching business.

“Navigating Career Changes” is one of the primary focuses for your coaching business. Tell us how this has developed and what you offer.

Navigating career changes is a primary focus of my coaching business, driven by my extensive corporate background and personal experience transitioning between careers. With over 25 years of experience in various sectors, I understand the challenges and opportunities individuals face when navigating career changes - be it climbing the corporate ladder; switching sectors; or starting their own business.

Having personally benefited from coaching later in my career, I recognise the immense value it would have provided earlier on. That's why I'm committed to working with a diverse range of clients including corporates, small businesses, and entrepreneurs; offering customised coaching solutions tailored to their specific needs. My approach combines various tools and techniques to support clients in exploring career options, transitioning into new roles, and building the confidence and clarity needed to thrive.

What are the biggest issues and recurring themes that you see with people changing jobs and careers today?

Lack of Clarity and Direction:

Changing careers often involves exploring new industries, roles, and opportunities. I see individuals who don’t have a clear sense of direction, who feel overwhelmed and uncertain about which path to pursue. They struggle to identify their transferable skills, passions, and strengths, making it difficult to align their career goals with the right opportunities.

Uncertainty and Fear of the Unknown:

Transitioning to a new career or job can bring about a sense of uncertainty and fear. I come across many individuals who struggle with the fear of leaving their comfort zone and stepping into unfamiliar territory. They question their abilities, worry about the risks involved in making a change, and doubt their decision-making.

Skill Gap and Competency Development:

Many individuals who are transitioning into new roles or changing careers often face a skill gap or the need for development. This is particularly common when individuals have received technical training but lack the necessary management or softer skills required for their new responsibilities.

Confidence and Mindset:

Transitioning to a new career or job requires individuals to have confidence in their abilities and believe in their potential to succeed in the new role. A reccurring theme is individuals experiencing self-doubt or a lack of confidence due to the unfamiliarity of the new career path or job, which can affect their performance, motivation, and job search efforts.

Over to some of your earlier career – there are not many people qualified in both CIPD and CIMA out there! Talk us through your moves and the challenges you overcame.

I initially began my career in HR within manufacturing, obtaining my CIPD qualification. I climbed the corporate ladder quickly and secured a position on the board of directors at the age of 25. As a young female transitioning from being a team member to leading the team, and within a heavily unionised, male dominated environment, it certainly presented some challenges.

Whilst I enjoyed my career in HR, I worked closely with finance and always felt a strong pull towards the financial aspects of the business and recognised the potential to expand my skillset. Following redundancy, I made a deliberate choice not to pursue other HR roles. Instead, I seized the opportunity to embark on a journey to become CIMA qualified.

I enrolled on the foundation CIMA, took on temporary roles in purchase ledger and sales ledger, and decided to join the NHS - an entirely different environment, where I spent 10 years building my expertise and climbing the management ladder.

My transition from HR to finance allowed me to bridge gaps between disciplines and bring a unique perspective to my work.

What have been the biggest lessons in setting up your own business?

When you run your own business, being a skilled coach is just one piece of the puzzle. You have to juggle many roles throughout the day. In the corporate world, I had the luxury of relying on a team of experts for different tasks. But when I started my own business, I quickly realised I had to become the accountant, the marketer, the salesperson, the IT specialist, and more. I had to learn and grow in various areas. It's all about finding the right balance between learning new skills on your own and knowing when it's better to outsource certain tasks.

The importance of building relationships and a supportive network cannot be overstated. Finding your tribe, connecting with like-minded individuals, and joining business networking groups and coaching communities has played a crucial role in my journey. Having a strong support system and surrounding myself with people who understand the challenges and joys of entrepreneurship has been incredibly valuable.

The transition from a corporate career to entrepreneurship was not without its moments of doubt. However, I've learned that maintaining a positive mindset, embracing growth, staying focused, and being consistent have been instrumental in overcoming challenges, building resilience, and achieving success.

Tell us about Tina when she is not working.

Husband, 2 kids Owen and Emma

2 year old border collie Finn. Love waking.

Volunteer Coach with Yes Futures. Working 1:1 with 11 - 16 year olds, with a particular focus on building their confidence, resilience, self-awareness and communication skills.  

Studying for Post Grad Cert in Business and Personal Coaching.