My working life..

May 30 2008 Gillian Brown

Gillian Brown, founder of New-U Coaching

Using coaching inspired Gillian Brown to set up on her own.

After a decade of working in human resources, she decided it was time for a change.

Initially working solo as a life coach, she realised she could use her previous HR experience to train other people.

She said: "I had been using coaching in my last permanent role and I found it to be one of the best ways to develop people and organisations.

"I also realised that it was the only way to help others achieve their potential, which I am absolutely passionate about."

New-U Coaching was born in 2005 and Gillian soon developed a product for the commercial market called the New-U Business Exchange.

This was designed as an affordable leadership development service for small and medium-sized businesses.

Since then further products, called Total Development, and more coach training programmes have been brought to the market.

Now New-U provides services to a range of companies, including some in the FTSE 100.

But as with any fledgeling business there are difficulties.

Brown, a married mother of one, added: "The challenges have quite simply been cash flow.

"I got told once that cash is king and that is absolutely right.

"However, you cannot let the fear of that stop you from growing your business."

And Brown is proud of the results she delivers for customers.

She said: "We take our clients on a learning journey like no other and we go above and beyond their expectations.

"Not only do our clients learn more about themselves, they also learn how to overcome their biggest obstacles and challenges."