About

As a retirement career, I have retrained as a Transformative Coach, and work in the Executive Coaching space. I use my coach training, career experience and life wisdom to help professionals overcome a challenge which is holding them back at work. I help them explore their situation through different lenses so they can resolve their challenge and show up at work as the best version of themselves. When my clients feel heard, understood and believed in, then magic happens.

Previously, I worked in the Payment Card industry for several decades, operating as a Technical Business Analyst and Subject Matter Expert, and latterly as a Product Owner. I worked freelance for leading organisations such as Visa Europe, Barclaycard, HSBC, MBNA and First Data, specialising in particular on Visa Authorisations and payment networks, plus Acquiring and Issuing banks. 

Outside of work I am a husband and parent of adult children, a former distance runner, and for the past fifteen years have (and still do) volunteer as an Athletics Coach, coaching children aged 8 to 18 in athletics. In the process, I'm shaping the emerging adult as well as the athlete, and I feel it's such a privilege. Here my purpose is to empower children to flourish in sport and grow in self-confidence.

It was coaching athletics which drew me into Executive coaching. The new soft skills which I had gained whilst coaching children in sport I also found myself using in the office, improving both my professional relationships and effectiveness. I already mentored and guided graduates at work, and increasingly provided a safe conversational space for peers and managers. Once I heard about Executive coaching, I became curious, researched, took courses, and unleashed a new passion. It has felt a very natural progression, as I have always thrived on helping others grow and learn.

As a surprize bonus, my new Executive coaching skill has made me even better as an Athletics Coach. Executive coaching of adults, athletics coaching of children, two roles and activities which fit amazingly well together.

Thanks for reading, and if any of this resonates with you, I'd love to hear from you.

Patrick Read.

I trained as an Executive and Life Coach with the Animas School of Coaching, and qualified in September 2024. 

My Diploma from Animas is accredited by the International Coach Federation (ICF), and I am now working towards my ICF Certification as an ICF Associate Certified Coach.