Coach Profile

Meet Kate Thompson 

Kate is an ICF credentialed coach with extensive experience in a range of senior HR and consulting roles, including team leadership, organisational change, performance and talent management, and process improvement.
She draws on her coaching skills, practical experience working in large and small organisations and keen interest in applying positive psychology research and tools to support client growth and wellbeing, including best use of strengths.

Kate Thompson

Associate Coach

Kate’s coaching style is supportive and encouraging, as well as practical, positive and focused on results. She has experience coaching individual contributors and all levels of leaders, from aspiring and new, to senior leaders, in the public and private sector.

Working to the client’s agenda, Kate encourages open and honest discussion and provides structured yet flexible support in guiding clients towards positive behaviours and strategies. In career development coaching, the focus is on helping clients to identify and take the small steps that lead to greater goal clarity, overcoming confidence barriers and taking a planned approach to career success.

Summary of Roles

  • Maximise Coaching & Consulting – Career & Leadership Coach (2015 to present)
  • Ezra – Executive Coach (2020 – present)
  • BetterUp – Fellow Coach (2020 – present)
  • LHH Associate – Career Transition and Exec Coaching (2015 – present)
  • Lightning Lab – Leadership Coach (2017 - 2019)
  • Transpower –Senior People & Performance Consultant to Manager, People Services (2006 - 2015)

Qualifications, Certifications & Affiliations

  • International Coach Federation
    Professional Certified Coach & Member (current)
  • IECL
    Executive Coaching Level 2 (2008)
  • Langley Group
    Diploma in Positive Psychology & Wellbeing (2016)
  • NMIT
    NZ Diploma in Career Development (2018)
  • Systemic Coach Academy NZ
    Explorer Programme (2019)
  • The Neuroscience Academy
    Cert of Completion (2019)
  • Cappfinity
    Strengths Profile Accreditation (2020)
  • Mindfulness Coaching
    Mindfulness to Coaching Mastery (2020)
  • The Institute of Positive Psychology Coaching 
    Foundations of PPC (2021) & Science of Wellbeing (2021)
  • St John
    Mental Health First Aid (2021)
  • TMS
    Team Preferences plus Leadership 360’s accredited
  • NZ Association of Positive Psychology
    Member

What Clients Say

I had the pleasure of working closely with Kate for three months in a career coaching capacity.

Kate was assigned to support me in my career aspirations and assist in the focus of my next steps whilst managing through significant change with my employer.

Kate listened, sought to really understand my circumstances and understand me as a whole person, supported and encouraged me to deal with the recent past but also the future and helped me set up a tangible plan that kept me motivated and on track to focus on me – which is something I needed to learn and practice.

It was great to have frank and focused conversations and set both stretch and realistic goals.

I would recommend Kate as a very capable and supportive career coach, if you need someone to keep you on track, focused on meaningful progress, then sign up. You will not be disappointed. Thank you Kate, I have grown and learned so much about my aspirations, drivers and non-negotiables when it comes to my career. I have greatly appreciated your support and guidance.



Senior Manager, ACC

Kate’s a great coach – an attentive and active listener and helps you get to the answer without telling the answer. Also a good motivator and challenger – able to push me to think past my own perceptions and barriers.

I liked the way Kate listened to where I’m at and where I want to be in my career, and asking “the right” questions to help me craft my career plan, including development activities. The action planning is where I’ve struggled in the past, so this part particularly was a huge help.



Senior Manager, DIA

Kate is a very effective coach who combines a warm and friendly approach with the ability to understand and pursue key points and enable greater understanding as well as insights regarding the raised issues. Kate is passionate about the coaching space and is very effective within it.



Business Owner

Kate, I can’t quite articulate just how impactful my conversations with you have been. You have created a safe space for me to be my complete self and so blatantly honest- and I feel I have grown, gained perspective and had the opportunity to really reflect.



HR Professional, Public Sector

Dialogue, free-wheeling but with structure and specific goals for each session. Growth focus + positive.



Senior IT professional, Public Sector

Kates coaching style worked particularly well for me as she helped me get clarity on my strengths and what I value most and how this impacts on my career choices now and in the future. It also helped me understand how I ended up where I am in my career to date rather than feeling like an ‘imposter’.

Going through this process has significantly boosted my confidence and helped me regain control over my own career pathway rather than a pathway that others want me to follow. This is very empowering!

Just want to say thank you so much, the sessions have made a big difference to my journey of life.


Senior Manager, Health Sector

Thoroughly enjoyed my sessions with Kate, she has helped me hold a mirror to my actions and thoughts and provided space for me to think through ideas and solutions to my development needs. A wonderful experience!


Senior Manager

Want to Know More?

Please get in touch for a no obligation consultation to find out how we can tailor our offering to your specific coaching needs.