IAN WHITE

Me: I have a degree in history from Bristol University; and read law at City University and the Inns of Court School of Law; called to the Bar 1989. I spent three years at the common law bar then worked in-house mainly in the financial services industry but also in construction and retail.
I have been the Chief Legal Officer and/or Company Secretary for both listed & major private companies. This has led me to develop an expertise in corporate governance and working with boards on effectiveness, enhancement and performance. I also work with directors and lawyers on training and performance. While most of my work takes place in the corporate sector, I have also undertaken assignments in the not for profit and public sectors. As well as being a lawyer I have an MBA from Ashridge Business School (where I am an Adjunct member of Faculty) and have a coaching qualification. I am also a CEDR accredited mediator.

My Approach: I seek to understand leaders and the challenges they face. I aim to listen, really listen to be best able to help the people I work with. I set clear objectives in whatever work I am doing with a client - coaching, evaluation, mediation or facilitation ensuring that my support is forward looking. Contracting is clear and there are regular reviews of how effective the sessions have been to ensure the client is progressing. While my style is generally non-directive I am not prescriptive about this. My aim: For my clients to be the very best they can be! More particularly with Boards, I get a real buzz from helping them, even in a small way, improve their performance so they can generate more success for the organisation.

Professional Skills and Expertise: Qualified as a Coach through Coaching Development (ICF accredited coaching hours) and as a mediator through CEDR. I have acted as a facilitator and coach at Board, executive, senior and middle management level. I have just undertaken training to qualify as Type Mapping interpreter (team dynamics assessment) and British Psychological Society Test User.

My clients: FTSE and large private companies; major charities, public sector organisations and Professional services firms. These include: Admiral Group plc, Welsh Water, Mothercare Group plc, BBOXX, Harworth Group plc, Wesleyan Assurance Society, Pinsent Masons, NEST, Simmons & Simmons, The Gambling Commission, Ashridge, Go Compare, NXD, and NCVO.

What inspires me: Walking along the Northumberland coast listening to the waves and looking at the sky!