I help capable Women Who built Successful Businesses – but no longer feel connected with their own lives.
Not because they failed.
Not because they lack ambition.
But because the life they built no longer fits who they are now.
But over 17 years of coaching, I kept seeing the same pattern: Brilliant, capable women who'd built thriving businesses... and then felt stuck in them.
They'd achieved what they set out to achieve. Revenue was good. The business was running. But somewhere between "This is exciting!" and now, it became "This is draining."
And nobody talks about this phase.
Everyone celebrates the launch. The first client. The revenue milestones. The growth.
Nobody prepares you for the moment when you realise you've outgrown the business you built. When success starts to feel like a trap. When you're fantasising about burning it all down but terrified of walking away.
That's the work I do.
Why This Matters
I studied Sociology and Psychology to understand why high-achieving women get stuck in lives they built — but no longer want.
I became a certified life coach in 2008 so I could help women do something about it — not just talk about it.
I’ve spent 17 years coaching women to reconnect with what they actually want — and help them move into the next chapter without self-judgement.
Why I Understand This Work
I've run businesses myself.
Not massive ventures. Not seven-figure exits. But enough to know what it's like to have your income tied to your decisions. To be responsible for everything. To not be able to just "clock out" at 5pm and leave work behind.
I know what it's like to build something, pour yourself into it, and then one day realise it doesn't fit you anymore.
But here's what I really understand: The psychology of achievement. Identity. Life transitions. Why successful people get stuck. The guilt of wanting something different when you "should" be grateful. The fear of making the "wrong" decision. The "what will people think?" paralysis.
That's what my M.A. taught me. That's what 17 years of coaching has shown me. And that's what makes this work possible.
How I Work
My approach isn't about giving you more strategies or frameworks.
You've had enough of those. You're exhausted from living in your head — strategising, planning, deciding, executing. That got you here. It built your business. But it won't get you where you need to go next.
Because this isn't a strategy problem. It's a reconnection problem.
You've lost touch with yourself. With what you actually want. With who you are beneath the "business owner" identity you've been performing.
The work we do together is explorative, not prescriptive.
I don't have a rigid curriculum or predetermined milestones. I don't have a 12-step framework you have to follow. The work goes where YOU need it to go.
Some sessions we'll map out possibilities. Some sessions we'll sit with feelings you've been avoiding. Some sessions we'll challenge beliefs that are keeping you stuck.
I'll ask the questions you're not asking yourself. I'll challenge the stories you're telling. I'll hold space for you to not know. I'll help you see what you can't see when you're inside your own life.
The work is always responsive to where YOU are, not where some framework says you should be.
What Makes This Work Different
This isn't business coaching. I won't teach you how to scale, optimise, or exit. You can hire consultants for that. My expertise is helping you figure out what you WANT — which is a completely different skill set.
This isn't therapy. We're not rehashing your childhood or diagnosing anything. We're designing forward. We're figuring out what comes next and helping you feel confident in that choice.
This isn't about fixing you. You're not broken. You've just outgrown something. And that's what transformation looks like — outgrowing versions of yourself that once fit but don't anymore.
This IS about reconnection. To yourself. To what you actually want. To who you are when you're not performing the "successful entrepreneur" role.
The shifts are often subtle on the outside but seismic on the inside.
You might stay in your business. You might leave. You might completely redesign your role. The goal isn't to push you in any direction — it's to help you discover YOUR answer and feel confident in it.
My Qualifications
Certified Professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC) — Co-Active Training Institute Associate Certified Coach (ACC) — International Coaching Federation (ICF) M.A. in Sociology & Psychology — Focus on identity, achievement, and life transitions
17 years of coaching experience helping high-achievers design lives that actually fit who they are.
Who This Is For
I work with women entrepreneurs who've built a successful business — and now feel trapped by it.
You might be a fit if:
You’ve built a successful business, but feel tired, disconnected or unfulfilled
You struggle to make decisions because fear and doubt have taken over
You feel guilty for wanting something different
You’ve tried figuring this out alone, and you’re still stuck
You’re probably not a fit if:
Your business is actually failing (this isn’t tactical business coaching)
You want someone to tell you what to do
You’re looking for a quick fix
What Clients Say
“For me, life coaching with Carola has been life-changing! I now understand me! Life coaching has empowered me to take control of my life and its direction. I know what I want and how to get there. Every aspect of my life has been positively impacted and I feel more confident than ever before.”
“Working with you over the last year has done wonders in getting me to focus on what I really want in life and giving me the tools to get me there. What Carola has shown me is that by using these tools, I have already achieved so much and know I can basically achieve whatever I want.”
“Carola encourages you to look at things from different perspectives and helps you to see the wood for the trees! It has been most enlightening working with Carola and I have learnt a lot about myself! Now pushing on to do yet more with greater clarity and determination.”
How We Can Work Together
Redesign Programme — 6-month coaching journey for entrepreneurs ready to figure out what comes next (£3,600)
Reset Session — Single 90-minute session when you need a perspective shift, not a full transformation (£295)
Free Clarity Call — 50-minute conversation to see if working together makes sense (Free)
Beyond Coaching
When I'm not coaching, I'm usually:
Speaking at events and podcasts for women entrepreneurs and professional networks
Writing about achievement, identity, and life transitions
Walking in the Oxfordshire countryside with my dog Red or knit cotton dishcloths
I'm based in Oxfordshire, UK, and work with clients throughout the UK and internationally via Zoom.
If this feels like you – but the solution is still foggy right now…
Book a free clarity call. We'll talk honestly about where you are, what's not working, and whether coaching is the right next step.
No obligation. No pressure. Just clarity.
“I worked with Carola for a year and found her coaching expertise invaluable in my transition from a permanent employee to a self-employed professional. During that year working with Carola, I’ve grown in confidence and self-assuredness in my professional life, and I enjoy the positive knock-on effects on my personal life. I consider my year of work with Carola to have been extremely beneficial and would whole-heartedly recommend her to others.”
Ready to Figure Out What's Next?
Start by downloading my free guide: "What Kind of Trapped Are You?"
You'll discover which of the 3 success traps you're in — and what you actually need to break free.