Empowering mid & senior professionals to reimagine their careers

About Career Breakthrough

career advice coaching

Helen Slingsby, MSc

Before I became a coach, I was a business correspondent at the Evening Standard and The Guardian. Reporting on industries like retail, marketing, media, and consumer culture taught me how to see inside organisations, understand strategy, and read between the lines of success. But what I really learned was the power of narrative — and that led me to a career pivot of my own, from journalist to coach.

I have an MSc in Career Management and Counselling from Birkbeck College, London University; and a PGCert in Executive Coaching from Henley Centre for Coaching, which is accredited by the International Coaching Federation.

Why work with me? Credentials & expertise you can trust

My approach

My coaching is rooted in empathy, sharp clarity, and a sense of humour. I challenge, support and hold accountable to push toward results. As a top career and executive coach I can help you with a broad range of work and career-related issues.

I support professionals at key inflection points — whether you’re seeking a career pivot, aiming for promotion, returning to work, preparing for retirement, or navigating redundancy.

In our initial 60-minute breakthrough session, we’ll uncover your core strengths, clarify your goals, and map your next steps action plan. After that, we’ll build momentum with monthly coaching blocks.

How I help

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Career Change Coaching

Feeling stuck or ready to change direction? My career change coaching helps professionals map transferable skills, find clarity, and take confident action toward meaningful new roles.

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Executive Coaching

Transform your leadership presence and impact with Helen Slingsby’s executive coaching. Ideal for mid to senior professionals seeking clarity, confidence, and next-level performance.

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Career Pivot Coaching

Ready for change but not sure where to start? Helen Slingsby helps professionals pivot strategically into roles that align with strengths, purpose, and balance.

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Redundancy Coaching

Turn redundancy into opportunity. Personalised coaching helps you regain confidence, rebuild your professional identity, and move forward with clarity and purpose. Professional outplacement support.

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Pre-retirement Coaching

Design a fulfilling next chapter before retirement during this “third stage”. Coaching with Helen Slingsby helps you explore new possibilities, redefine purpose, and plan your post-career transition.

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Return to Work Coaching

Expert coaching to help you re-enter the workplace with purpose and confidence. Update your personal brand, refresh your CV, and rebuild momentum after time away.

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Our sessions

 

Coaching in person or by video call

Based in Pangbourne near Reading in Berkshire, I offer personally tailored coaching sessions at my rural office which is easily accessible by train or by car. You can also book sessions as a convenient video call or telephone call.

Please contact me to enquire about rates and for more information.

Contact me

  • A big thank you for all your help this year. I would definitely not be in the good place that I am if it wasn’t for all your guidance and input

    Managing director, Real Estate Investment

  • "I got the job, and was offered two other roles as well, so your interview coaching made a real difference!"

    David, Risk Manager, October 2025

  • “Helen is a fantastic leadership coach who has helped my transition to a portfolio NED. She is a sounding board, supporter, mentor, coach, and truth teller.”

    Tina, NED and Strategic COO Advisor

  • “Helen asks all the right probing questions, provides great resources, and has my best interests in mind.”

    Anastasia, ex-schoolteacher, landed a job in the Ed-Tech sector

  • “ I needed a career change after twenty years in the Civil service. Helen worked with me to identify my transferable skills, and believe in my abilities. I successfully move into a new field, within a few months.”

    Charlotte, Deloitte consultant

  • “After a spell of unsuccessful job hunting I found a role quickly. This was undoubtedly down to my increased confidence and better job seeking skills resulting from our sessions.”

    IT Specialist

  • “I was at a career crossroads and needed to find my vocational passion. I found Helen's encouraging manner, broad business experience and practical insights extremely valuable in helping me to refocus and achieve my goals.”

    Director of Government Affairs, pharma sector

  • “Helen’s individualised approach boosted my confidence and helped me to completely re-evaluate my achievements and to see my potential in a much more positive light, so that I was able to reposition myself and secure my ideal job.”

    Cindy, Reading, Berkshire

  • “The subtle changes you made to my CV and Linkedin profile made a big difference - with me no longer chasing jobs, but agents chasing me.”

    Jeremy, Goring-on-Thames, Oxfordshire

  • “ I’ve just been promoted to a Business Critical Account Manager responsible for building and maintaining relationships with customers, and I couldn’t be happier.”

    Wassim, Maidenhead, Berkshire

  • “At times I felt a bit lost, and a little despondent – Helen was a really great coach in keeping my spirits up.”

    Andrew, Oxford

  • “I start on Monday as Chief Product Marketing Officer. Visualising walking into the new office and using a structured approach to answering questions kept me going.”

    Steven, Reading, Berkshire

  • “Your guidance landed me a very competitive first move into industry from a Big Four accountancy firm.”

    James, London

  • “I have worked with Helen for six years. She has been very effective in helping me through a change in career, and through ensuing regular executive coaching sessions that keep me on track.”

    Ross, Reading, Berkshire

  • “From the start I was impressed with Helen’s energy, professionalism and the way that she dealt with me as an individual, this support has been invaluable, thank you.”

    Liam, Marlborough, Wiltshire

  • “I was facing an important life transition after 35 years in the corporate world so finding renewed purpose and re-inventing my identity was essential.”

    Gill, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire

  • “I am finally out the other side and feel like a new person. I have accepted a finance role, which will free up time to explore my love of interior design. Couldn’t have got there without you!”

    Amanda, Hook, Hampshire

  • “I was made redundant from a senior executive role in a global publishing company. I have now landed a job that really excites me, and I am extremely grateful to Helen for her support and expertise.”

    Andrew, Oxford

Front page of a newspaper titled 'Business daily' from April 6, 2006, featuring headlines about Shoosmiths lawyers participating in a relay race, top 10 ways to change careers successfully, and a report on illegal penalties hitting cardholders, with an image of five young women at a race event.
The cover of GQ Sport magazine featuring a man in a black suit sitting on red stadium seats with empty rows behind him. Text on the cover mentions topics related to sports, drugs, sports science, motorsport, golf, and celebrating football cheers.
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Media coverage

Over the years, Helen Slingsby and Career Breakthrough have been featured in national and local press, and broadcast media.

Get started with your own career breakthrough, today.

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