Learn about my approach 
Learn about my approach 
My name is Celia Clark, and I’m a career development coach and facilitator. I help people professionals to be happy and successful by building the skills and mental fitness to work effectively without sacrificing your values, wellbeing or homelife.
I understand the challenges described above because I’ve faced them myself. During my 15 years in inhouse Learning & Development, I experienced the satisfaction of making a positive impact along with the struggles of navigating tough situations, especially ones that affected individuals. I saw how easily the pace, volume and complexity of business change – and the politics that go with it – can erode confidence and resilience, not just for me, but for my colleagues too.
Harnessing that experience, my mission now at Inspires Coaching is to support people professionals to thrive, not just survive. By helping you build your resilience, confidence, and skills, you’re able to create better outcomes for yourself, your teams, and your organization.
I live with my husband and two sporty sons in the ‘dreaming spires’ of Oxford – hence my company name, Inspires Coaching. However, I grew up further north, in a village Post Office. Working as soon as I could see over the counter is perhaps the source of my fascination with the world of work and why people do the jobs they do.
Recently, I’ve rediscovered the enjoyment of serving customers as a Waitrose Partner. I do this a couple of days a week alongside my coaching, to stay active, be part of a team again, and make sure I remember the pleasures and pains of being an employee!
I’m also a volunteer CAP Job Club Coach providing hope, encouragement, and practical job-search strategies to unemployed, or under-employed, people seeking work.
What’s important to me?
- Keeping mentally and physically fit to live well. Country walks are my go to for this, like this baking hot 50 mile fundraiser to celebrate my 50th ⇒.
- Making time for friends and family. A perfect day is a leisurely brunch and a theatre matinee with singing, dancing, and a captivating story.
- Respecting and living in harmony with nature. I love making and mending things to minimise waste, growing food (as well as people), cooking seasonally, and keeping life as simple as possible.
People describe me as:
Calm, empathic, grounded, holistic, logical, organised, thoughtful.
My approach to coaching and development is rooted in my business values:
Compassion: I hold a safe, confidential, and non-judgmental space for you to reflect, explore challenges, and move forward. I focus on helping you feel heard and supported throughout the process.
Balance: I encourage you to prioritize self-care and well-being while building on your strengths. Together, we’ll create habits that sustain your resilience and allow you to thrive in both work and life.
Practicality: My coaching is rooted in pragmatism, focusing on what you can realistically do to move forward. I don’t tell you what to do; instead, I help you identify and decide on actionable steps.
Insight: I bring a clear-thinking perspective to our sessions, helping you untangle complex situations and see fresh possibilities. With my organisational development experience, I understand how individual challenges fit into the bigger workplace picture.
Growth: My goal is to guide you toward meaningful progress, building the capability to coach yourself, and others, through situations in future.
Among my beliefs that underpin my approach are:
- You have more potential than you have yet realised.
- You are naturally resourceful and likely to have the answers within yourself if you have help to look for them.
- The outlook you choose affects everything – your beliefs, thinking, actions and ultimately your outcomes can all be changed by changing your outlook.
Calm, confidence and focus is within your reach
5 steps from stress to success
