I help leaders carry less alone
I'm Nicola Hladky, a psychotherapist and executive coach.
I work with leaders who are used to being the person others turn to, but have few places where they can speak openly about what the responsibility is costing them.
You might be making difficult decisions, managing other people's expectations and keeping things moving, while privately wondering how long you can keep working this way.
You may already know what you'd advise someone else to do.
Doing it yourself can be harder.
My work gives you room to talk about both: what's happening in your working life and what's happening for you beneath it.
Why I bring psychotherapy and coaching together
A leadership challenge can be practical and personal at the same time.
Delegating, for example, may mean deciding who owns a piece of work and how to support them.
It can also bring up anxiety about letting go, disappointing someone or being judged if the outcome isn't perfect.
If we only address the practical side, you may find yourself taking the work back.
We keep the work connected to your life as it is now.
That might mean looking at how you lead your team, where your time goes, or how much of yourself your business relies on.
The aim is for what you understand about yourself to make a difference in what you do.
This is the thinking behind the Elevation Method: understanding what's driving you, getting clear on the leader you want to be, and putting that into practice at work.
What it's like to work with me
You don't need to arrive with a neat explanation of the problem.
We can start with what's been happening: a decision you keep putting off, a team dynamic you're struggling with, or the feeling that work follows you everywhere.
I'll listen carefully, ask pointed questions and make room for things you may not be able to say elsewhere.
Our conversations are thoughtful, direct and confidential.
We can look at a specific situation while also paying attention to patterns that show up across your work and life.
Some clients come because they're close to burnout.
Others are doing well on paper but want to feel more at ease in how they lead.
Either way, we start with what matters to you.
I didn't realise how much my anxiety was running my leadership until Nicola helped me see it.LLeahManaging Director, Marketing
I thought I was just someone who worked hard.
Turns out I was someone who couldn't stop because stopping felt dangerous.
Three months in, that had completely shifted.
Who I work with
I work with senior leaders, founders, business owners and high performers.
The pressures they face differ, but many are carrying a level of responsibility that leaves little room to think about their own needs.
Senior leaders and high performers
If you're leading within an organisation, we might work on difficult decisions, confidence, boundaries or your relationships with the people around you.
Explore 1:1 coachingFounders and business owners
If you own a business, we might look at how to share responsibility, support your team and make decisions without everything depending on you.
That work stays grounded in your business context and the way you lead it.
Coaching and leadership development
I also work with organisations seeking coaching and leadership development for their people.
Explore corporate partnershipsI also offer ADHD coaching for professionals and leaders.
A little more about me
Before this work, I spent more than 15 years in senior leadership, leading large teams.
I know what it's like to be the person everyone turns to, and how easy it is to keep going long after it has started to cost you.
That experience shapes how I work with leaders now.
My training in psychotherapy, psychology and executive coaching sits alongside it.
I'm interested in what people do under pressure, including the habits that have helped them succeed but have become difficult to live with.
Since moving into this work, I've supported hundreds of high performers through burnout, high-functioning anxiety, imposter syndrome and the demands of success, from founders building their first leadership team to senior leaders at organisations including the NHS, Deloitte, KPMG and the BBC.
Understanding why you keep taking responsibility for everything matters.
So does being able to leave a meeting with a different decision about what you'll take on next.
Let's talk
If you're considering working with me, book a free 30-minute conversation.
You can tell me what's brought you here, ask how I work and see whether it feels like the right fit.
