Meet The Team

Diane Coolican – Founding Director

My mantra is why bother doing something unless you are going to invest your life and soul into it. I love anything new, challenging, interesting and relevant. I am energised by thinking on my feet and responding to what is going on in the world around me.

An avid reader, a love of live theatre, particularly hardcore stuff like Shakespeare and Chekov, I am also a compulsive “I must get fit soon” and gravitate to the latest fad but rarely for long! In my spare time I like to renovate houses!

I am incredibly nosey and love to get under the skin of businesses, what makes them tick and what stops them ticking even better. I am passionate about developing future female talent with organisations who want to achieve greater gender diversity.

Sally Smithies - Director

I’ve sometimes been referred to as the Matriarch at Redsky, not only for being the most senior in years but also because I’ve been here since the beginning over 17 years ago. It’s been an exciting, sometimes challenging journey and I’ve loved every minute working alongside a great team of people who are all equally and genuinely passionate about people development.

In my other life, I’m Mum to 4 amazing individuals whose company I can’t get enough of, and a lazy whippet called Lulu. I’m a foodie and love cooking and entertaining just as much as eating out. The rest of the time I’m an avid reader and music lover and visit as many art exhibitions as I can find time for!

I probably drink too much coffee and have promised myself I will rejoin Pilates soon!

Lesley Thomlinson

I am a resourceful and motivated learning and development consultant and coach with over 20 years of cross sector and cross functional experience in global blue-chip organisations and SMEs. I am passionate about personal development and have significant experience in all aspects of learning and development gained through strategic business partnering, programme design and facilitation at local, regional and global levels.

I am an experienced group facilitator who has trained, mentored and coached experienced senior leaders, managers at all stages of their management journey, and early career talent who are just starting out. I have worked with a huge range of clients in manufacturing, media, technology/utilities, logistics, estate agency, financial services and transport. I specialise in leadership and management development, aiming to engage and inspire those I work with. I consistently receive positive feedback from clients and delegates who appreciate my knowledge, pragmatism and support.

Annette Turner

I have held a number of UK-based corporate roles, the last of which was at Microsoft where I designed, implemented and managed a number of programmes that developed and increased the capability and resourcefulness of leaders, managers and employees. I left Microsoft to become an independent consultant and have since had the opportunity to expand my industry experience into the public sector and my international experience into the Middle East.

I am passionate about ensuring that learning transfers to everyday practices and take a learner-centred approach to facilitate this. I have used coaching, MBTI, Strengthsfinder, Insights and 360 feedback to increase self-awareness in individuals and within teams to enhance performance. I am skilled at active listening as well as implementation which enables me to get to the bottom of needs effectively and deliver desired outcomes.

Tracy Roden

I am a qualified Learning and Development professional and Executive Business Coach with over 20 years experience in the field of People Development. I have successfully and effectively delivered a wide-range of development solutions at senior and executive leadership levels. I have a proven track record of working with leaders in a wide range of businesses and sectors to make a difference through a pragmatic, engaging and authentic style of delivery with a compassionately challenging coaching approach.

I have a career grounded from an operational environment in the field of financial services which gives a down to earth, practical and results focused approach to the development of both individuals and teams. I hold qualifications in Learning and Development, ILM Level 7 Coaching and a range of Psychometric tools to enable significant personal and organisational change. I have a passionate interest in positive psychology which underpins many of my development solutions.

Zoe Jepson

With over 20 years experience as a Masters qualified transformational coach and facilitator, I've dedicated my career to enabling leaders, teams an organisations to thrive. Grounded in practicality and real-life experience, my approach focuses on fostering connections and inspiring others to lead with authenticity and resilience.

Passionate about helping individuals uncover their unique strengths, I believe in aligning the head and heart to make the best decisions. As a dedicated advocate for inclusivity and women in leadership, I strive to break barriers and champion equality in all spheres of life.

Beyond coaching and facilitating, you'll often find me exploring the Peak District with my trusty sidekick, Lola the dog, or cooking meals for family and friends. Nature and connecting with others brings me immense joy. In a nutshell, my mission is to help people reconnect with who they really are, gain clarity about what they want, and find courage to be themselves.

Natasha Millard

Since I was very young, I could not go anywhere without people sharing very openly with me and telling me their problems and dreams, in airplanes, taxis, weddings, you name it they would share, and this led me into the world of psychology!

I an a Chartered Business Psychologist and a transformational coach who has spent the last 25 years working with leaders to quieten their busy minds, enabling them to focus on their innate resilience and authentic self. Facilitating workshops, training programmes and coaching I help individuals feel at ease quickly and build trust whilst both supporting and challenging them.

I love working with managers who are new in their role as well as those who have been managing and leading for some time, exploring themes from creating and sustaining high performing teams, effective decision making, creativity, corporate well-being and inspiring authentic leadership. Another passion is supervising other coaches. My workshops and coaching provide invaluable insight resulting in a positive change for leaders, their team and ultimately the business.

When I am not facilitating and coaching, I love being a mum of two teenagers (well most of the time!) who make me look at myself every day and evaluate how I show up in the world. I love my golden retriever (despite the moulting and slobber), candles and hanging out with anyone who brings out the best version of me! This involves good banter, deep conversation and laughter that hurts my cheeks.

Fiona Butt

I am an experienced facilitator and coach, designing and delivering bespoke interventions to support individuals and organisations in a variety of sectors. I thrive on helping individuals realise their potential, providing a space for people to better understand themselves in terms of leadership and management. My aim is to always provide sustainable and lasting impact where powerful messages are retained.

I use a model-based approach to helping people understand their strengths and areas for development. I give people space and opportunity to reflect and learn from their experiences, analysing their motivations and values to better understand the impact they have. I employ a collaborative approach to facilitating and believe real learning comes from sharing and honesty.

Abigaile Crecraft

I am a people development professional with 16 years of cross industry experience. With a track record of crafting and implementing integrated leadership development strategies globally, my expertise lie in elevating leadership capabilities to drive organisational success.

Having held senior leadership roles and pioneered initiatives ranging from entry-level management programs to senior leadership development on both local and global scales, I firmly believe in the pivotal role of authentic, passionate leaders in fostering engagement and achieving clear objectives.

My philosophy centres on the belief that great leadership starts with self-awareness. I am dedicated to working with individuals to help them grasp the impact they have on their teams. I collaborate closely with clients to uncover the unique needs of their organisations and design tailored solutions that align with both individual and organisational objectives.

My commitment extends to demystifying leadership, making it accessible for leaders to excel in their roles. My ultimate goal is to simplify the leadership journey, enabling leaders to unlock their full potential and achieve remarkable results.