Testimonials

Testimonials

“Obi encouraged and supported the team and through her facilitation of practical exercises, she created a wonderful space for the team to speak honestly and openly about their level of well-being and self-care approaches.”

Michelle Jardine, Head of Philanthropy and Partnerships, Starlight Children’s Foundation

As part of Mental Health Awareness Week, Starlight Children’s Foundation wanted to show our support of well-being and self-care within a workplace setting. Obi James Consultancy provided a well-structured session for a diverse group of employees at Starlight Children’s Foundation. At the onset of the session, Obi set clear boundaries that fostered a feeling of trust and confidence. Her enthusiasm and passion for the subject provided a sense of ease and reassurance for the delegates.

Obi encouraged and supported the team and through her facilitation of practical exercises, she created a wonderful space for the team to speak honestly and openly about their level of well-being and self-care approaches. In a short period of time, the conversation was flowing and common themes from the self-care and well-being discussion were emerging from the break out brainstorm.  As a team we now have a better understanding of each other’s self-care approaches and we have adopted some new methods for taking care of ourselves.

“I would recommend Obi to any team who’s serious about making their working environment more human.”

Jeanette Bain-Burnett, Head of Community Engagement, Greater London Authority

We had never worked with a systems coach before, so there was a bit of fear of the unknown bringing Obi James Consulting in. We asked Obi to facilitate an away day with us to support us in thinking through some of the day to day challenges we face, managing a heavy workload with demanding stakeholders. We also wanted to strengthen our long term strategy, despite working in an environment in which priorities change a lot. Obi managed to maintain a clear structure while being responsive to our needs and even our mood. Her focus on ‘what’s emerging’ helped us to feel free to explore more possibilities and solutions than we ever have. As a result, we felt energised, hopeful and we had genuinely bonded as a team. We also left the session with a clear plan which felt authentic and true to our vision. We loved Obi’s mix of challenge and playfulness.

I would recommend Obi to any team who’s serious about making their working environment more human. She helped us scratch behind the surface of our work and really strengthen our relationships. Obi’s work is not for the faint-hearted. We all had to be brave together as a team.

“The whole team left on a high and built on this success since then.”

Andrea, Director, Banking & FS Company

Managing a large team of many different personalities brings a multitude of challenges and in particular communication is always on top of our agenda. Obi and her team have been instrumental in opening up discussion and self-awareness in my team. Her approach enables each participant to be an active part in the training. Whilst this might have been an unusual experience for many in my team it was just what was needed and Obi put everybody at ease. Even during a short period of time within the session it was clear to see the difference this made, quieter team members became much more engaged and more prominent team members took notice of what others had to contribute. The whole team left on a high and built on this success since then. I would certainly use OBJ Coaching again.

“We found the techniques you employed on strategy highly effective.”

Janet Thomas, President, Women in Banking & Finance (WIBF)

Thank you for bringing our agenda from strategy day back into sharp focus.  Speaking on behalf of the Executive Board, we found the techniques you employed on strategy highly effective. They have enabled the Executive Board to work in a more connected manner, be even more decisive in terms of prioritisation and confront issues that need to be addressed in a decisive manner. The result, the Executive Board has dealt with the most important matters in a quick and decisive manner.

“Obi was able to adapt quickly to any changes we required.”

Michelle P, SVP, Director of Human Resources, The Permal Group

I worked with Obi on a recent team building offsite. She was a pleasure to work with and was able to adapt quickly to any changes we required. She is knowledgeable and was able to hold the groups attention well and she helped make the event an enjoyable learning experience. I would have no hesitation in recommending her.

“Obi shaped our participants into open-hearted and open-minded individuals.”

Beata Rodzoch, Finance Director LDS Lazewski Depo & Partners

Obi’s first league facilitating skills shaped us, IQPC Finance Transformation Summit & Corporate Finance Executives 2016 participants into open-hearted and open-minded individuals straight in the very first 5 minutes of the event. The remaining 2 hours were run with the same constant level of energy, finely tuned to the mood of the audience, with Obi being always with us, encouraging and maneuvering with a natural grace and ease. Group dynamics, outputs of our discussions and her agenda created a monolithic structure, where the content simply slipped into our heads and remain there for good. I truly believe that Obi was prepared to present every single topic in a few possible ways and no distraction existed that could threaten her skills and objectives as workshop leader. These things contributed to my 100% satisfaction and I am positive they shall promise the same with regards to her any future projects.

“We walked away with a clear sense of purpose, enhanced creativity.”

Deputy Chief Pharmacist, National Health Service (NHS)

We decided to bring Obi in to help our team to prepare for some imminent changes after hearing about her ability to enhance team collaboration during times of change. We needed help to create a better way of supporting one another particularly as the planned changes would require doing more with less. Obi and her associate did more than strengthen our collaboration. We walked away with a clear sense of purpose, enhanced creativity, excellent ideas generated by us, a better understanding of our team dynamics and a collectively-designed agreement on how we would support one another whilst staying fully committed to our team goals. Their coaching approach coupled with their remarkable intuition and energy created a safe space for all participants, and the coaches did a great job of working with emerging themes throughout the session. I highly recommend OBJ Coaching to any team going through change.

“Ultimately results in solutions that are fit-for-purpose.”

Senior Vice President, Bank of America Merrill Lynch

I hired Obi to facilitate a half-day team-building workshop for my newly expanded team. The session was engaging, enlightening and well worth the hours spent out of the office focusing on team dynamics and what we stand for.  As facilitators, Obi was engaging and dynamic with a great conversational style of facilitating which doesn’t make participants feel like they’re being coached or trained. She clearly has a solid understanding of the Investment Banking business which lends itself to a level of awareness of the challenges and culture, and ultimately results in solutions that are fit-for-purpose.

“Obi proactively identified development programs for my team.”

Nick W, Managing Director, Barclays

Obi worked as a true partner to my team at NT. Both in her role as L&D business partner and later as L&D program manager, she proactively identified development programs for my team, focusing on key team dynamics and was always responsive to input and ideas.

“A massive thank you to Obi for the coaching. It has really made me rethink my attitude to external coaching given the value I have taken from everyone of our sessions.”

John Rankin, Director, Community Banking & Specialist Brands, Risk Division at Lloyds Banking Group

“A massive thank you to Obi for the coaching. It has really made me rethink my attitude to external coaching given the value I have taken from everyone of our sessions. I have really developed on a number of different fronts – from how I interact with senior/GEC level executives in my organisation to setting up and interacting with my team at a more practical level. I went into this experience slightly cynical but with Obi’s brilliant questioning/encouragement and explanation (the neuroscience concept really resonated with me) and have emerged completely converted.”.

“Obi James facilitated two strategy days for the Royal African Society, which really helped us to grow and reflect collectively as a team. Obi’s approach is very unique and holistic.”

Sheila Ruiz, Deputy Director at Royal African Society (RAS)

Obi James facilitated two strategy days for the Royal African Society, which really helped us to grow and reflect collectively as a team. Obi’s approach is very unique and holistic – she uses creative tools and exercises that promote team-building and help bring clarity of vision and purpose. Her team work has a transforming and lasting impact on both the individuals and the organisation as a whole. I also received some leadership development coaching from Obi when I first became a senior manager at the Royal African Society, which enabled me to really step into my new role. I would highly recommend her services and we shall continue to draw on her expertise in the future. In fact, we valued Obi’s contributions so much that we put her forward to be elected as a Council Member and Trustee of the Royal African Society in 2019, which means she is now an integral part of our charity’s strategic development and future direction.

“Obi’s comprehensive feedback and judgement was really valuable in helping us to identify the right candidate for our organisation, and we successfully completed the recruitment based on Obi’s advice.”

Dominic Bond, CEO, Sabre Education Charity

Obi recently supported us as an expert interviewer for the appointment of an Organisational Development Manager. Obi was able to bring her extensive experience of organisational development to bear in the interview process, and conducted a really thorough interview with each candidate. Obi’s comprehensive feedback and judgement was really valuable in helping us to identify the right candidate for our organisation, and we successfully completed the recruitment based on Obi’s advice. I would work with Obi again in a heartbeat and would not hesitate to recommend her services.

“Obi provides a great balance between encouragement and challenge.”

Kirsten Giles, CEO, MedicAlert

Obi provides a great balance between encouragement and challenge. She has been my valued companion during a testing period. Her approach ensures a clear perspective and continued progress but is also flexible enough to adapt to bumps in the road. I will be keeping in touch!

“I would highly recommend Obi to anyone who is looking to improve on their leadership skills.”

Emily Echessa, Deputy Head of Education & Senior Education Adviser, Save the Children

I have had two coaches before who had helped me achieve great goals, and I was thus hesitant of getting a third coach. However, when I started coaching sessions with Obi I begun to realise what an excellent coach she was. She is highly professional as evidenced by her well organised systematic approach to coaching. Every meeting with her has been objective and outcome based, building up my capacity to attain my goals and gradually strengthening my confidence as a leader. I am now more able to challenge processes and to assert myself in a positive way. Obi has been a pleasure to work with and has great interpersonal skills. I would highly recommend Obi to anyone who is looking to improve on their leadership skills.

“I found Obi to be an engaging and articulate person. She really helped me to get under the skin of my development objectives, to understand what was holding me back.”

Nick Smith, Head of Mortgages, TSB

I worked with Obi, who supported me on some specific Personal Development goals, for a little over a year, and was hugely impressed. I found Obi to be an engaging and articulate person. She really helped me to get under the skin of my development objectives, to understand what was holding me back, and to build strategies that help me to advance in areas where I had previously not progressed my development as much as I would have liked. Obi’s approach was a perfect balance between “supportive” and “challenging”, holding me accountable for my own development whilst helping to nudge me towards thinking about things that I otherwise wouldn’t have considered. I particularly liked the breadth of tools and techniques that Obi had a great understanding of, with her ability to explain the science / logic behind human behaviour really enlightening, and helpful in framing my understanding of behaviours that I personally exhibit. I wouldn’t hesitate to work with Obi again in the future, and would wholeheartedly recommend that anyone looking for support in their personal and professional development should have an initial conversation with her.

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