Coach Profile
Meet Dr Kirsty Agar-Jacomb
Kirsty is an executive coach who works with senior leaders operating under pressure in complex organisational systems. She partners with executives and
senior leaders to build clarity, authority, and traction when the stakes are high, decisions are complex, and visibility is unavoidable.
With over 25 years of training and experience in psychology and leadership, Kirsty brings deep psychological and systemic insight to high-stakes leadership work. As an Accredited Coaching Psychologist, she works with C-suite and senior leaders across the private, public, and for-purpose sectors who are navigating pressure, transition, complexity, and scrutiny.
Dr Kirsty Agar-Jacomb
Associate Coach
Kirsty’s work sits at the intersection of psychology, strategy, and organisational reality. This is not therapy or skills training, but sustained, strategic coaching psychology designed for leaders whose roles carry real consequences.
Kirsty works with C-suite and senior leaders across Finance, Legal & Professional Services, Healthcare, Science and Research, IT and Tech, Higher Education, Public Service, and For-Purpose sectors.
As an Accredited Coaching Psychologist, she supports leaders to:
- Strengthen leadership clarity, authority, and decision-making under pressure
- Navigate complexity, competing demands, and organisational dynamics
- Lead through transition, increased scope, and heightened visibility
- Build self-awareness and psychological flexibility
- Work effectively with stakeholders, relationships, and influence
- Sustain performance, resilience, and well-being in demanding roles
She also has a particular interest in supporting women in leadership, especially where questions of visibility, authority, and influence are in play.
Her coaching style is thoughtful, challenging, and grounded in real-world leadership contexts. She works relationally within a strong container, naming patterns, surfacing what is often unspoken, and supporting leaders to develop the internal authority required to lead well over time.
Her work draws on developmental coaching psychology, Acceptance and Commitment approaches, systems thinking, positive psychology, and neuroscience, applied pragmatically within organisational realities.
Her leadership experience includes strategic planning, workforce development, and leading service development, change, and quality improvement initiatives. She has also designed and facilitated workshops across leadership, team effectiveness, and workplace wellbeing.
Summary of Roles
Summary of Executive & Governance Roles
Qualifications, Certification & Affiliations
Qualifications, Certification & Affiliations
I really enjoyed my sessions with Kirsty. I felt like she had a good understanding of what I needed to get from coaching and tailored our discussions accordingly. I'd highly recommend Mind Coach.
Kylie Williamson
Group Business Director, Raydar (Coachee)
This was my first experience with a professional coach and will not be my last. I'm left with an impression of having really sharpened the tools that I was already using to make things happen in my life and career. I've definitely had the chance to add a few new tools to the kit as well. Thank you to Kirsty and Mind Coach!
Matthew Webber
RDTI Assessment Team Manager, Callaghan Innovation (Coachee)
I really want to again thank you as without your support I would not have found the strength to stand my ground with (seniors and contract partners)
For me, it was very helpful that you understood that DHB context and culture – I felt like you
got the challenges of the power dynamics.
Kirsty helped me to realise how important personal development is and gave me a number of tools I can now use to help me grow personally and in my career. I feel like I have gained control back and have direction instead of just living day to day with no drive or purpose.
Kirsty has a deep understanding of gender issues and how they affect women in leadership. She has helped me develop my leadership, my confidence in my own abilities, and inspired me to become a mentor for other women in leadership positions. (Please use my name but not my organisation).
Sally Ure
(Coachee)
I got immense value from my coaching experience, I have learnt a great deal about how to processes situations that are tricky to navigate and how to show up in the best way to ensure great outcomes for all.
Vanessa Kennedy-Casas
Insights Capability Lead, Callaghan Innovation (Coachee)
I’m now in a great role as service development manager at X. Valued, respected, trusted,
managed by one incredible woman and our CEO. Having a great working life and involved in
and leading lots of cool pieces of cross agency and strategic work.
Kirsty was fantastic, highly, highly, highly recommend.
I have found the coaching a valuable tool to guide me on my career pathway and would
recommend it highly to anyone that was offered this.
I really valued my sessions with Kirsty. Her approach to coaching is so relaxed and at the same time so deep and meaningful. She knows how to draw things out of you, and has such a wealth of knowledge to back up all of her observations and advice with resources or examples. We covered everything in my goals and more.
I chose Kirsty because I knew she would push me outside of my comfort zone and that's what I wanted to learn and grow, and the feedback from my boss noting that she can see the impact the sessions had is the icing on the cake. I highly recommend Kirsty as a coach for leaders and managers wanting to continue their personal journey.
Adie Johansen
Community Services Manager, Manawatu District Council (Coachee)
My team and I really appreciate your ability to get us to focus on what we knew and to see
beyond was blurring or confusing our decision making. (Team Coaching)
It really has been a turning point for me in how to be the leader/manager I want to be,
validating my learning and having someone as a resource or to give guidance through the trickier parts of my role.
Coaching has supported me in developing confidence and guided me to make decisions about
my career.
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.