I’ve been coaching women for as long as I can remember. I just didn’t know what it was at the time. I thought it was ‘just being a good friend/colleague/employee’.

I worked with Mums from the age of 13 – at the time I was the babysitter - it is probably illegal to hire someone that young now, but I was extremely responsible for my age. In fact, my ‘employers’ were mostly in the police force! I didn’t just play and supervise the kids. I would have the washing folded, the dishes done and toys tidied away by the time the parents came home. And if Mum was the one picking me up or taking me home, I would be the listening ear too, which I really enjoyed because I learnt so much from conversing with these women!

I knew travelling was in my future so I decided I wanted to be a Nanny and earned my Certificate in Nannying. As soon as I graduated I headed for Queenstown in my beaten old Ford Cortina with just a sleeping bag and my clothes on the back seat. A couple of high-flying lawyers hired me but I soon realised I wasn’t cut out for raising other people’s children. I got offered a job in retail for a predominantly men’s clothing retailer, Action Downunder (which stocked high-quality brands, Rodd & Gunn and Logan). I worked for them for years; learning a TONNE about excellent customer service, re-naming and re-branding (they became Outdoor Heritage). Keen to learn more and show what I could do, I was fast-tracked from part-timer to Store Manager within one year and scooped up 'Best Salesperson of the Month' regularly. My fun, claim to fame is I served Brooke Shields, Greg Norman, Sally Jessy Raphael (!), and probably several others I can’t think of right now.

Then I began the incredible ride that was my big ‘OE’ (Overseas Experience). It lasted ten years! In that time, I learnt SO much about marketing, systemising, event management, product launches, rubbing shoulders with the likes of Claudia Schiffer, Sporty Spice, Kym Wilde, Boy George and again, probably more famous peeps.

The point is, I wouldn’t trade in the education I got from my experiences about building a business for anything. Working with so many different people (famous or not) in so many roles have served me well as a Qualified Coach. What led me to coaching? It’s a long story and a sad one that involves Post Natal Depression but basically women kept coming to me for advice – “How can I apply this phrase ‘work smarter, not harder’ to MY job/business?” “Can you show me how you handled studying full time with a toddler?” “Please teach me how to create an info-product out of this idea!” They kept coming to me because I consistently achieved whatever goal I set for myself.

The way I coach is unique. “Kirstie always works with the intent to help make your dreams a reality,” one client said. “Every session was focused on creating outcomes that became my actions for moving forward.” I love to see client’s breakthrough into reaching their ultimate goal. In fact, many people have no idea how much work goes into coaching BEFORE YOU EVER ASK A QUESTION!

Monthly I publish a highly regarded newsletter called ‘Success Strategies for Women’ and have written and designed several reports, checklists, templates and worksheets bundled into a FREE Woman’s Success Toolkit. Watch for my educational teleseminars – announced to my ezine list. (Are you signed up yet? If not, sign up at the top of this page!)

Not interested in exercise much, I keep ‘fit’ (probably too strong a word) by regular walking and Pilates classes. I live in sunny Dunedin (haha) with my husband, two boys (Ben & Harrison) and two goldfish. Want more useless information? My ancestors were Scottish, English and Irish. I’ve been to South Africa where I fell in love with my British husband, was held up at gunpoint in Seattle, and would love to return to Vancouver. I’ve been to most of Europe, Thailand, Australia too. Oh yes, and I lived in London for a number of years and swear I am still washing Northern Line tube grime off of my face.