Case studies: Kate French Associates

Kate French Associates
Kate French

Tel: 0131 467 0642

Email: coach@katefrench.com

Kate French started her business Kate French Associates in January 2001 and offers coaching and personal development for individuals and businesses.

Background

Like many entrepreneurs Kate French was spurred into action by redundancy. A passing comment from her partner about this being the fifth time that she was going to do something different made her determined to make the most of the opportunity that being out of work provided.

Kate’s working history has followed a path between marketing and project management for a variety of industries including multimedia, Scottish contemporary Sculpture and personal development. With a BA Business Administration (with Distinction) to add to that, she was well placed to enter into the world of the self-employed.

Past experience

Kate says; “Since starting up in business I’ve found my past skills and experiences invaluable to help me develop what I do. I’m able to mix the creativity of marketing with the strategy of project management to help me stay focussed and remain flexible. The skills I’ve since learnt in coaching and through personal development has enabled me to stand back from certain situations and see what’s going on as a bigger picture rather than be drawn into the personal and emotional side of it, where solutions seem fewer.”

In March 2001 Kate started on a Co-Active Coaching programme and has since gone on to complete a six-month coaching certification programme, making her only the second certified Co-Active coach in Scotland.

Natural

Coaching seemed like the right choice to Kate from the start. She comments:

“Becoming a coach felt so natural to me not just because I believed myself to be a good listener and a creative problem solver, and because my life and work experiences had taught me I could choose to either enjoy or endure life. What I learnt over the past ten years through personal development is that change and life choices can only come about when you are ready to make them, and the greatest expert you can call upon is yourself.”

Kate made a decision early on not to put all her eggs in one basket and to build on her business and personal support services by doing consultancy as well as coaching. This meant that she was able to develop the coaching side without the need to make any income from it, whilst being supported by her consultancy work.

Although she didn’t require funding to start up she did have the support, both mentally and financially, from her partner which gave her the freedom to learn and grow at her own pace.

Help from Business Gateway

Business Gateway and Business Advisers in Edinburgh also provided invaluable support as Kate looked at the ins and outs of business. To keep things simple she decided to remain a sole trader and look at building associate relationships in order to expand her business.

Kate says; “My associates now enable me to offer a fuller service to businesses including skills and expertise from a variety of backgrounds.”

“I work mostly with people looking for more out of life, standing at a cross road of change, people committed to making a difference not only in their life but those around them.”

“Working alongside experienced and certified Co-Active Coaches, counsellors, personal development trainers, actors and HR consultants, I have collaboratively developed a ‘Kaleidoscope of Personal and Corporate Development Solutions’.”

Personal qualities

Kate is able to identify some of the personal qualities that have made her business venture a success.

“Being a hands-on-multitasking person definitely has helped me work for myself. Even when I was employed I thrived on the challenge of being involved in all areas of business and managing as well as creating change. What I’ve learnt is that I don’t have to be expert at everything and when I need help I ask for it.”

Learning to have some time to yourself is a challenge for all entrepreneurs, and Kate is no exception;

“When I first contemplated being self employed I imagined being able to add yoga, meditation, maybe even a morning bike ride before starting my day of work. I dreamed of lunchtime meetings, coffee and chats with colleagues and clients; all in all a more relaxed and social existence.”

“What I got instead was a routine of early starts and late finishes. Learning to be a better boss for me is realising that work life balance is something that I strive for along with the rest of the working world and that it’s up to me to put it into place.”

Bright future

The future looks bright for Kate. She has recently started to develop a coaching and personal development programme with four other women to take into the business market.

“Early on I realised that I had an ambition to ‘share’ the workload with other like-minded people. I feel very excited about the prospect of sharing skills and resources, to make marketing more fun as we develop as a company and as a group of women.”

And her ambition may take her further afield: “I’m already dreaming of owning retreat somewhere hot to run week long workshops and being able to travel part of the year.”

Kate’s advice to other potential businesswomen:

Simply ask yourself – what am I leaving behind and what will I be taking with me? You may be surprised to discover there is more to you than you realise.