CEO COACHING
& ADVISORY
More than a coach.
A thinking partner and strategic advisor.
Behind the most successful people is a specialised support crew. The blend of executive leadreship coaching and advisory gives you access to best practice expertise that's completely adapted to you and your workplace - an experienced, trusted partner and strategic right-hand.
You're a capable CEO leading an organisation with incredible potential. Whether you're creating genuine impact in the community or scaling a people-led business, you care about getting it right.
But somehow you've found yourself constantly responding to urgent matters and inefficiencies instead of thinking and leading strategically. Complex team dynamics drain your energy while trying to make decisions that matter.
The responsibility you carry creates a different kind of pressure that most people simply don't appreciate.
That's exactly why I do this work.
To help you to be your best, deliver your strategy; align your teams; and create sustainable success for you and your organisation.
Traditional coaching programs aren't enough for CEOs.
The CEOs I work with certainly benefit from a coach in their corner. But they also need an experienced accountability partner, strategic advisor, leadership and culture specialist to help them unlock their full potential and achieve greater success, satisfaction, and impact.
Your advisory support can be a blend of:
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Executive coaching
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Strategic planning
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Assessment insights
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Advisory across team leadership, strategy, communication and culture
Accelerating a process that can take years organically, I partner with you as your sounding board, coach, advisor and confidante to remove the guesswork and fast track your results.
The support is customised to you, but can look like:
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Observing you in action
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Reviewing key communications
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Helping you to prepare for a presentation
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Attending interview panels
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Providing guidance on cultural change and strategy development
It depends entirely on your evolving needs.
In addition to intensive individual support, you are also invited to be part of the CEO Collective community:
The CEO Collective
The pressures that CEOs must carry and keep to themselves are very real. Sometimes there’s nothing more valuable than being able to spend time with others who truly ‘get it’.
Through our Executive Partnering, you will become part of a community of likeminded CEOs to share experiences, explore challenges and foster connection in a confidential environment.
Facilitated sessions run quarterly where we address topical issues together.
Who is this for?
CEO Coaching & Advisory is for SME or NFP CEOs who are keen to continue their growth, be their best and create meaningful change.
It is for those who are looking for strategic clarity and supported, sustainable success.
The ADAPT Approach™
The ability to adapt is the key to success for individuals and organisations to thrive and make an impact in an evolving workplace and external environment.
The ‘Adapt Approach’ is based on the philosophy that successful adaptive leadership requires Awareness to understand strengths, blind spots and team or community insights, followed by Deliberate planning and action, to develop Adaptive and Purposeful leaders and teams for meaningful Traction.
Outcomes
With a trusted, experienced accountability partner available when you need, you are supported to achieve your potential, be your best and amplify performance across areas such as:
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Strategic leadership
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Executive team alignment
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Difficult discussions
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Elevating performance
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Prioritisation and planning
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Leadership confidence and capability
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Presence and performance
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Health, wellbeing and satisfaction
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Team productivity and cohesion
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Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
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Communication and credibility
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Decision making and results Influence and impact
We start by clarifying your strengths, defaults and personal priorities. We also explore the contextual attributes, challenges, risks and opportunities of your organisation. Underpinned by your personal career and lifestyle goals and professional deliverables, we define the focus of our work together. From there, you are truly supported to adapt and achieve your ambitions to lead strategically, with objective, informed and individualised support behind the scenes.Inclusions:
Inclusions
While each program is fully tailored, key components typically include:
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A deep-dive strategic review – Organisational strategy, annual reports, culture surveys, structure, and leadership/team assessments etc.
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Kick off strategy session – Set long-term and program objectives and align with your organisational and ecosystem context.
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Prioritisation & planning intensive – Address key pain points and identify key milestones for the next 12 months. Leadership & Self-Assessment – Customised reports and debriefs (e.g., 360-degree feedback, behavioural styles, leadership capabilities).
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Fortnightly/monthly coaching & consultation – Identify key challenges, clarify next steps, and accelerate progress.
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Unlimited SOS Calls – Responsive, real-time support when you need it most.
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VIP Access to the CEO Collective – Exclusive networking and thought leadership opportunities.
We partner together for a minimum of six months.
About Sophie Graves
Behind the most successful people is a specialised support crew. This blended approach gives you access to best practice expertise that’s adapted to you and your workplace. I’m like a leadership and coaching consultancy just for you.
With a depth of experience across culture, strategy, communication, leadership and organisational development, I've had the privilege of working with hundreds of CEOs, Boards and Executives for well over 20 years.
I founded The Adapt Group in 2008 and adapt what I've learned from corporate organisations to the unique needs of SME, Health and NFP clients.
Interested to find out more?
Book a confidential discussion to discuss further here, or email me directly at sgraves@theadaptgroup.com.au.
*Please note that limited places are available for this program*
Client experience and impact
I engaged Sophie to help me with my executive development, decision making and to avoid burnout. I wanted clarity on how I could best value-add, rather than working through a draining to-do list.
Sophie’s support enabled me to operate more sustainably, I’m feeling more balanced and satisfied. I’m clearer on what's reasonable and am doubling down on where I can have disproportionate influence.
Her approach is warm and direct, with a mix of support advice and challenge. I’ve valued her real-world experience, and her experience guiding other clients. I like that she has the best interests at heart for myself, as well as the business and stakeholders.
The work has been more holistic than I expected. The psychological elements of leadership have become a significant part of our conversations, and it's changed how I see myself in my role.
If you're a senior leader stuck in a rut, I'd highly recommend Sophie to guide you through it.
Dr Chris Holden, Chairman, Imaging Associates
I engaged Sophie as a CEO coach at a time of considerable growth and change for the for-purpose organisation that I lead. Sophie's broad experience and deep expertise in a range of areas vital to CEO and organisational performance was immeasurably helpful. Sophie moves seamlessly from practical suggestions, idea generation, and deep reflective questions that broadened and clarified my thinking and direction.
Further, Sophie's warmth and wisdom in asking insightful questions during a time of great change enhanced my personal wellbeing and assuredness. That sense of calmness and confidence will remain, as Sophie is not merely a champion of my work, but develops enduring confidence through strategic questioning and efficient consideration of alternatives clearly developed through a career supporting a wide range of leaders. I wholeheartedly recommend Sophie to any NFP CEO seeking to lift their leadership capability, and the performance of their organisation.
Damian Stock, CEO, ARC Justice
I have engaged Sophie over a period of 10 years in three different organisations and have found her support, knowledge and program delivery to be invaluable.
Sophie has helped me with leadership development programs for my teams, executive development and coaching, strategy planning and execution, culture and organisational development, structural change career decision, team building and in the development of high performing team programs.
She has enormous breadth and depth of knowledge and is a pleasure to work with. Sophie really cares about the people she works with and truly partners with them to get the best results for both the individual and the organisation. Her support has helped me with the decision making and execution as a leader, to improve organisational people management, culture and performance.
I would highly recommend Sophie to take your organisation or individual development to the next level.
Caroline Mulcahy , CEO Skin & Cancer Foundation Inc
I have worked with Sophie in her capacity as a facilitator and a coach over the past few years. I have always found her style to be open, calm, clear and engaging. She is always well prepared and although not forceful with the group, has an amazing ability to 'round up the troops' to achieve some definitive actions and agreed next steps before the end of the session! As a coach, I have valued Sophie's advice and capacity to understand my needs and areas of focus and then work with me to clarify key goals and priority actions to achieve these. She is always very responsive, meets face to face and provides me with relevant literature or tools that relate to the area that I am working to improve. I really enjoy and respond to Sophie's clear, calm and authentic style and through my experience would highly recommend her to anyone looking for a facilitator or a coach.
Kellie-Ann Jolly, CEO Victoria, The Heart Foundation
I have had the pleasure of working with Sophie on an Executive Development Roadmap and throughout the pandemic. Sophie was able to create an interesting and engaging program within a dynamic evolving environment. Sophie is a very welcoming consultant and has a wonderful sunny personality and is very client oriented. Sophie has the ability to quickly understand quite the key components of what is required and then develop solutions to be delivered.
Pam White, Director People & Culture, Orygen
Sophie has assisted my Board over the last 2 years, and we are engaging with her for a third occasion. My experience of working with her has included induction and team building for new appointees to the Board and a strategy review that included forward-thinking. She possesses a natural ability to quickly develop a meaningful rapport with people within the group. She has a knack that enables her to swiftly and accurately read people and the interpersonal dynamics of a small group or room. She has strong analytical skills and can grasp complex concepts and assist in explaining them in an accessible manner for a broad audience. She projects a strong sense of confidence and empathy in her verbal communications with clients.
Murray Thomas, Chair, Dental Board of Australia
I had the privilege of working with Sophie as my executive coach over the past year. Her expertise, strategic insights, and empathetic approach were invaluable during a critical period of career and leadership growth. Sophie's guidance was instrumental in helping me navigate the complexities of leading a high-growth tech business with confidence and clarity.
Sophie has an exceptional ability to ask insightful questions and inspire thoughtful self-reflection. Her clear, considered, and informed approach encouraged me to view challenges and my own leadership style from new perspectives. She strikes an ideal balance between being supportive and challenging me to step outside my comfort zone, which led to actionable insights that had a genuine and lasting impact on my leadership growth.
The trust and confidence I felt from Sophie was unwavering, and her impact on my development has been incredible. I wholeheartedly recommend her to anyone seeking to strengthen their executive leadership skills, accelerate their professional growth or successfully navigate a career transition.
Richard Stevens, Local Agent Finder
Sophie's expertise was invaluable to our success. Sophie consistently demonstrated her exceptional abilities in helping our ambitious and purpose-driven team navigate through a myriad of options and challenges, resulting in the creation of clear and actionable plans. Her extensive knowledge of external markets provided us with valuable insights and perspectives, enabling us to make informed decisions and stay ahead of the curve. Her expertise, calm demeanour, sense of humour, and remarkable ability to keep a group on track will undoubtedly contribute to the success of any team or organisation fortunate enough to work with her.
Tanya Large, Head of People and Culture, Ausmed