My Story | Anna Wilk, Executive Coach for Women

Women have inspired me since I started working with them over 20 years ago. As a young Polish immigrant in the UK, one of my first jobs was in childcare.

At the beginning, I provided practical support to mothers caring for their babies. But I quickly realised I could offer much more than hands-on support. I was able to form close, trusting relationships with the women I worked with and became a source of emotional support and encouragement as they navigated the profound changes that came with becoming a mother.

What started as practical support became something much deeper: a fascination with women’s experiences, their resilience, their ambitions and the different transitions they navigate throughout their lives. Over the years, that has evolved into the work I do today: supporting women through career and life transitions, helping them build confidence, gain clarity and make choices that feel right for the next chapter of their lives.

Time and time again, I’ve seen women navigate difficult periods and significant life changes when they have the right support around them. I’m incredibly proud to have been part of those journeys and to have witnessed the difference that support can make.

These women also inspired me to take on and overcome my own challenges. Their stories encouraged me to continue investing in my own growth, completing an MBA, starting my own business, and continually exploring new pathways for personal development.

Over the years, my work with women evolved beyond the practical support I initially provided. I became increasingly interested in the wider transitions women navigate, not only becoming a mother, but returning to work, progressing in their careers, taking on leadership roles, changing direction and rebuilding their lives when their circumstances change.

That experience led me towards coaching and a deeper understanding of how powerful the right support can be during periods of change. Today, I bring together my professional experience, coaching practice and understanding of women’s lives to support women through career and life transitions.

I also work with organisations that want to attract, retain and develop female talent, bringing a perspective that considers the woman as a whole person as well as the professional in front of you.

My commitment to supporting women has also extended beyond my professional work. Over the years, I’ve been involved in women’s communities and volunteering, including leadership and mentoring roles with St Albans Red Tent, Women in Power and BLOOM UK.

One of these experiences was serving as a delegate for UN Women UK at the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), where I had the opportunity to listen to and learn from conversations about the experiences and challenges women face around the world. These experiences have continued to shape my understanding of the importance of connection, community and having the right support around you.

Clarity

To understand what you really want and what needs to change.

Strategy 

To turn that clarity into practical choices and meaningful action.

Confidence

To trust yourself, navigate uncertainty and move forward with intention.

A holistic approach to coaching

I believe career decisions don’t happen in isolation, and I approach executive coaching that way. Confidence, identity, relationships, wellbeing and major life transitions can all influence how we experience work and the choices we make.

I create space to look at the bigger picture, helping women understand what is really going on beneath a decision, clarify what matters to them, and move forward with greater confidence and intention.

Alongside my coaching practice, my training as a Reiki Master and Meditation Teacher has shaped how I work with presence, self-awareness and the whole person. It allows me to bring a holistic perspective to my coaching, while keeping the focus on what matters to each woman and the choices she wants to make.

For organisations, I work with HR, Talent, Diversity & Inclusion and People teams to support female talent through career transitions, leadership development and maternity-related transitions.

My mission is to support women so that the next generation grows into compassionate, educated and confident adults.

I believe that when women feel supported, confident and empowered in their own lives, careers and relationships, that impact reaches far beyond the individual. It creates a ripple effect through families, communities and, ultimately, the next generation.

I’ve seen this firsthand through my work with women, both professionally and through volunteering in communities. Supporting women can have an impact that goes well beyond the individual woman, influencing the people around her and the environment in which she lives and works.

How we support women today helps shape the environment the next generation grows up in, helping shape how they see themselves, how they relate to others, and what they believe is possible for their own lives.

How we support women today helps shape the environment the next generation grows up in and the way they come to see themselves, relate to others, and understand what is possible for their own lives.