Starbuck&Associates Reviews 36

The course is well-paced and expertly delivered by Paul and his team. It shows you how to maximise your chances of getting a NED role by setting up a plan that covers a number of key areas. I would personally have liked more instruction on core skills needed when in the role, such as legal aspects and governance. However, I recommend the course for it's clear message, plus you get to meet a group of like-minded people and share tips and stories.

Paul was a fantastic coach. Great challenge, support and questioning. I've come a long way working with him and would strongly recommend.

I've just competed the excellent NED course with Paul and Paige. It is very targeted and aims to provide practical and immediate tips for anyone willing to transition to a NED role in the short-term.
Paige has also been really helpful after the course has finished to help bring the key outputs of the course alive.

Took the 6 week NED course. Paige was and has been a great source of encouragement and explanation. Despite the course ending she has remained in touch and continues to offer valuable advice. The course run by Paul was enlightening and helped explain key elements of being an NED and the interaction with Boards in that capacity.

Took the 6 Week NED course led by Paul Starbuck, some great insights and an excellent workbook to help me better prepare for future NED roles.

Brought to life the challenges and made what could have been a very dry topic into something that was much more enjoyable.

I worked with Paul as my coach over a two-year period, and it completely changed how I turn up at work. We worked through challenging situations such as navigating workplace politics and handling difficult colleagues. The coaching was practical, supportive, and had a lasting impact on my confidence and effectiveness.

I recently completed the ICF ACC programme, and the reason I chose The Coaching Craft was because I am neurodivergent and traditional essay-based learning has never been a strong fit for me.
I found the programme to be insightful and highly practical, particularly in how it supports working with people in real coaching situations, rather than focusing purely on theory.
Paul and Liz bring very different perspectives to coaching, they’re chalk and cheese in the best possible way, but together those differences complement each other and create a really effective learning experience. Their combined approach made the programme engaging, balanced, and genuinely impactful.

I took the NED program led by Paul Starbuck. It was very informative and helped me to understand what is involved with becoming a NED and the process to find roles. Paige was also very helpful in guiding me through the process. I can not speak highly enough about Starbuck & Associates.

I recently completed the ICF ACC programme with Paul and Liz and cannot recommend it highly enough. I am a former Headteacher, with 28 years of experience in education and 12 years as a school leader. The power of coaching was something I never truly experienced in my career and it is something I believe can make a huge impact in schools, as well as in other areas of industry. Paul and Liz kept the course going at pace, the quality of the materials was excellent, and they created a culture where each of the attendees on the course learned from each other, as well as our tutors. Thanks to Paul and Liz for an excellent course!

Working with Paul Starbuck has been a pivotal point in my professional journey. His approach to executive coaching is both insightful and empowering, fostering a space where I could genuinely explore and enhance my leadership capabilities.

Paul's extensive experience in retail and healthcare leadership, brings a depth of understanding that's both rare and invaluable. He challenged me to reflect deeply on my leadership style, encouraging growth through honest conversations and practical strategies.

What sets Paul apart is his ability to balance support with constructive challenge, always aiming to unlock his clients' full potential. His sessions are not just about professional development; they are about personal transformation, leading to increased confidence and clarity in my career path.

I highly recommend Paul to anyone seeking to elevate their leadership skills and achieve meaningful growth.

I had the pleasure of receiving two sessions with Zoe through Starbuck&Associates, and they exceeded all expectations. The sessions were incredibly informative and provided real clarity in my new entrepreneurial journey, helping me focus on what truly matters for the year ahead.

What stood out most was Zoe’s ability to create a genuine sense of partnership. Her approach was both insightful and collaborative, and I came away feeling supported, motivated, and better equipped to move forward with purpose. I’m confident this is the beginning of a professional relationship that will continue to grow as I progress in my career.

Highly recommended to anyone seeking thoughtful, empowering guidance from someone who just gets it.

And thank you to Alex who connected us in the first place.

Working with Paul over the past six months has been an incredibly valuable journey. I truly appreciated our open and honest conversations, and the way Paul consistently challenged me to think beyond my usual patterns. His guidance helped me grow both personally and professionally, broaden my leadership vision, and consider new perspectives I hadn’t thought of before. I feel fortunate to have chosen him from a pool of excellent coaches—not only is he a great coach, but his previous leadership experience brought practical insights that added real depth and value to our sessions. Highly recommended!

I've just completed a transformative period of exec coaching with Paul. I engaged Paul during a period when I wanted to take a significant step forward in my leadership journey and because of Paul's challenge and encouragement I was able to take on things I never before thought possible. His sessions are relaxed but still directive and he draws on a wealth of senior leadership experience and leadership theory. I highly recommend Paul to others!

An excellent series of sessions with Paul over a 6 month period. Paul is clearly experienced and insightful. He has an excellent deck of slides to pull upon which help to visually demonstrate the points he wants to make.
His approach is to draw out the points from you and he lets / makes you find your own solutions which he then re-enforces. This is empowering as well as thought provoking. I feel better equipped in my role following my time with Paul.

I had a 30 minute coaching session with Zoe and it was so powerful! With her ability to make you feel seen, heard and supported she helps you to dive deeper and think in a completely different way to help you find what you need. I can't recommend a coaching session with Zoe enough!

Our leadership team completed the Mental Health Awareness course for managers with Starbuck & Associates. The session was thought-provoking, informative and practical; leaving us all more confident and better equipped for conversations with our team. Cathy's facilitation was great, covering all the material while taking time to cover questions and allow for team discussion. Recommended for anyone who talks to other humans!

I have known Paul for 5 years since when I started my NED journey. We just finished my 121 sessions together. What I like about Paul as a coach is that he is a very good listener and observer. This is vital for personal development as he spots the blind spots of the person being coached. He is an excellent animated communicator. He has definitely provided me with valuable insights into myself needed to change the way I communicate & operate.

I recently attended the 6-week NED course delivered by Paul and supported by Paige. The course gives a good insight into what a NED is, the expectations of one, and some of the skills needed to fit the role. I found it particularly useful in helping me to frame my thinking around what skills I already have that I could bring to a NED role and where some of my gaps lie.
I also enjoyed the group work element of the course as it allowed me to connect with people from different industries and to share knowledge and best practice.

I honestly couldn't recommend Zoe enough for her selfless mentorship insights, guidance and support she's given me. I found myself stuck at certain sections of trying to complete my ILM 7 Task work, and with her guidance and support, I've been able to navigate the toughest bits seamlessly, even much more than I had expected. I love the way she challenges. She goes straight to the point, helping you get clearer on your objectives and priorities. She gives full value for time in just 60 mins and beyond, and I will definitely use her again. Thank you so much Zoe.

I recently attended the 6 week NED programme and found the training, and the accompanying resource material, extremely helpful and beneficial. Paul is very knowledgable and regularly drew from his experience to put information across in a relevant way. The regular breakout rooms with other group members were great and helped reinforce each weeks learning. Paige was also extremely helpful and has a great way of getting you to think outside the box. I would recommend this course and Paul and his team to anyone looking to develop their career.