About Emma & Thorp Coaching
Most of us want to show up as the best version of ourselves—to lead with purpose, clarity and impact. But sometimes that’s hard. We get overwhelmed. We get triggered. Old patterns take over, and it’s difficult to pause long enough to notice what’s really going on.
Coaching offers a space to slow down, get curious about what’s driving you, and reconnect with who you are and how you want to lead. It’s not just about support—it’s about creating lasting change, both personally and professionally.
Meet Emma
I’m Emma — executive coach, facilitator, and former commercial leader with two decades of experience navigating the complex, high-pressure world of leadership, business growth, and career transition.
Before founding Thorp Coaching, I worked my way through the corporate world—from junior roles all the way to the boardroom. I founded and successfully exited my own consultancy, then went on to serve as Chief Commercial Officer and Board Member at a global life sciences recruitment and executive search firm. I’ve experienced the highs and the burnout, the responsibility and the reward, and the challenge of trying to show up well—for others and for myself.
I’m also the CoFounder of the Diverse Directors Programme (DDP—a development initiative supporting individuals from underrepresented backgrounds to step confidently into Non-Executive Director roles.
You can view professional background here on linked in.
Coaching that goes deeper
Coaching with me isn’t just another meeting in the calendar. It’s space to pause, think clearly, and reconnect with your purpose, your strengths, and your impact.
It’s coaching that blends challenge and compassion—thoughtful, evidence-based, and designed to stick. Together, we get under the surface of what’s driving behaviour and build practical tools that help you lead in a way that feels both effective and authentic.
I bring rigour, warmth, and real-world insight. You won’t get fluffy theory or generic advice—you’ll get space to think, be stretched, and make meaningful change.
Why Work with Me
Credentials and Approach
I’m professionally trained at Henley Business School and hold a Professional Certificate in Executive Coaching. I’m a Senior Practitioner accredited with the European Mentoring and Coaching Council (EMCC) and a member of the International Coaching Federation (ICF).
My approach blends evidence-based coaching, trauma-informed methods, and strengths-based development. It’s an eclectic mix—always tailored to the individual in front of me, never a one-size-fits-all model.
Many of the leaders I work with are at key transition points—stepping into bigger roles, navigating change, or simply needing space to reset and reconnect with how they want to lead now.
Others use our sessions as an essential thinking space. It can be lonely at the top, and coaching offers a rare opportunity to pause, reflect, and grow—no matter how experienced or senior you are.
Coaching in Nature
Alongside my online coaching practice, I also offer immersive retreats and corporate away days—bringing people out of the office and into nature.
My purpose-built coaching space on the edge of Ashdown Forest (Sussex) provides a powerful environment for deep reflection and transformation.
I believe environment shapes thinking—and that leadership development doesn’t always belong in a meeting room. How can we expect new thinking in the same old setting?
Keeping a Finger on the Commercial Pulse
As well as coaching, I stay actively involved in the wider business and leadership ecosystem. This keeps my thinking fresh and gives me a unique perspective on the real challenges leaders face today:
EU Representative, Mid Atlantic Bio Angels (MABA)
A leading US-based life sciences angel investment group, keeping me closely connected to early-stage innovation and the venture ecosystem.Insight Expert, International Longevity Centre (ILC)
Contributing to global conversations on leadership, diversity, and the future of work.
These roles help me bring a commercially aware, cross-sector lens into every coaching session—supporting leaders to think bigger, act boldly, and lead with impact.
Neuro-Spicy Leadership Coaching
As someone with ADHD and dyslexia, I understand the fast-moving, creative, non-linear way spicy-brained leaders think, work, and communicate.
My coaching supports both neurodivergent and neurotypical leaders to:
Build confidence without masking
Lead from strengths—not survival strategies
Work in ways that honour their nervous system—not punish it
This work isn’t about “fixing” differences—it’s about helping leaders recognise, embrace, and harness their natural strengths, so they can lead with confidence and authenticity.
You can read more about my own spicy-brain journey here.
