"If you’re looking for someone who can support self-reflection, challenge your thinking, and help you turn insights into action, Susan is the person to turn to. I had the privilege of attending a personal development course for Women in Tech that Susan facilitated, and I can confidently say that her approach had a huge impact on my growth. Susan brings a great blend of being personable, inspiring, and incredibly encouraging. She skilfully facilitated discussions, making sure everyone’s voice was heard while gently steering the group back on track when the conversation veered off course. What truly sets Susan apart, however, is her genuine care for the people in her sessions. She invests in creating personal connections and ensures each individual feels welcomed and valued - both inside and outside of the training room. I would sign up for another course with Susan without hesitation. She’s a facilitator who truly makes a difference."

Lauren Corderoy

Software Engineering Manager at Dunelm

January 2025

I have had the pleasure of working with Susan O’Conor a number of times and I can confidently say she is an exceptional trainer, speaker, and presenter. Her ability to connect with people, articulate key messages, and guide individuals toward realigning their priorities is truly inspiring. Susan creates a space where personal growth and professional boundaries are both valued and supported. Through her insights and expertise, I have gained invaluable lessons that have helped me grow not just in my career, but as an individual. I highly recommend Susan’s programs to any business looking to invest in women. Her work has a meaningful impact, empowering individuals to take ownership of their development while fostering a supportive and balanced work environment.

Hinnah Shahzad

Engineering Manager at Dunelm

January 2025

I had the privilege to work with Susan as part of the Women In Tech 'Balance' program. In the 4 sessions we had, I have learnt so much about me; what I want; what I want to change and where I use more energy then I get back. You may think you can come to realizations on your own - but if you don't have Susan asking you questions and making you think about your 'normal' you wont :) Susan is very knowledgeable and shares her experiences to coach and give support to the next set of leaders being cheerleaders and support for each other. You really do need her in your life :) I've come away from the sessions feeling like a Queen with her crown on standing tall - and I'm standing and supporting with all the other Queens out there

Priti Dhorajia Verma

Senior Business Analyst at Dunelm

January 2025

“I was fortunate to be part of a 4 session women in tech balance cohort to be coached by Susan. Never having had any coaching before I wasn't sure what to expect but, Susan was brilliant. Susan created a safe environment and her coaching helped me to look at situations in a completely different and constructive way. During the course I was applying for a more senior leadership role and the input from both this course and Susan herself made a positive impact and helped me hugely in securing the role. I would 100% recommend Susan as a leadership coach and thankful for taking the course..”

Emma Emmerton

DET at Dunelm

January 2025

Working with Susan was the best investment I’ve ever made in my career. I loved her warm and friendly style of expertise which put me at ease from day 1. She enabled me to look at a situation from many angles and new perspectives, ultimately reaching conclusions that had seemed utterly impossible to resolve. I came away with tools and fresh understandings which I know I’ll use over and over. 10/10 for the whole process, definitely recommended.

Jen Bower

Head of Delivery

Persistant Systems

I connected with Susan a few months ago after resigning from my job. In the midst of widespread layoffs and a challenging job market in the UK, I felt lost and reached out to Susan for guidance. Susan's deep expertise in both Tech and Leadership, combined with her supportive approach, provided me with the reassurance I needed to embark on a new career path. She reinforced the idea that it's okay to leave a job that doesn't bring you joy and that it's never too late to start over and change careers-regardless of your age or identity. I wholeheartedly recommend Susan to anyone seeking career support or advice!

Alba C

Project Manager

I had the privilege of working with Susan during a particularly challenging period in my career. Her support and guidance were invaluable to me. Susan provided exceptional confidence-boosting tips that not only helped me navigate the difficulties I was facing but also empowered me to grow and excel in my role. Susan's ability to listen attentively and offer insightful advice made a significant difference in my professional journey. Her empathetic and supportive nature created a safe space for me to express my concerns and work through them constructively. I am immensely grateful for her unwavering support and the positive impact she has had on my confidence and overall outlook. I wholeheartedly recommend Susan to anyone seeking a dedicated and compassionate professional. Her expertise and genuine care make her an outstanding mentor and advisor.

Clare Coates

Senior Software Development Engineer

Susan recently presented to the Women in DSP group. Her experience , insight and enthusiasm meant the session was not only valuable but fun. I would recommend Susan to women in technology looking for leadership coaching

Joanne Wallbanks

Head of Customer Success at DSP

Susan delivered an inspiring and relatable talk on gaining influence in meetings for our online Women in Tech community. She used a mixture of storytelling and practical tips to help our female IT leaders with their confidence and communication techniques. I recommend Susan to any organisation seeking to engage with female tech leaders.

Holly Burnett

Marketing Executive at Crimson

I can thoroughly recommend Susan! My Shift Left Bespoke Coaching sessions with Susan were my first ever experience with leadership coaching and I couldn’t have been happier with the decision. Susan is incredibly skilled at helping you discover and believe in the strengths you may be overlooking or not tapping into. I found these coaching sessions incredibly useful as it provided an opportunity to work on my areas of improvement as a leader with someone who has a wealth of successful experience in the tech industry and, most importantly, similar values when it comes to being a leader. After every session, I found myself being able to be more confident in showing up authentically and having a vision for my career. As a result, I now feel I've gained a new level of resilience and drive as a product manager. I can completely recommend Susan as a leadership coach and I look forward to seeing the Shift Left community grow!

Emily Cook

Technical Product Manager at Signable

I had the pleasure of working with Susan on a piece of coaching. Susan is empathetic, a lovely person and was incredibly supportive. Experienced in industry - she understands the opportunities and challenges.

Mignon Mapplebeck

I did Susan's 12 week programme and I can honestly say it's been a game changer for me. Susan's approach is really empowering for women and gets under skin of some of those deep rooted limiting beliefs that were certainly holding me back. With Susan's help I've identified what enough looks like for me and devised a vision and plan for how to get it, supported by some of the techniques and tools Susan has equipped me with. Highly recommended.

Tracy Larner

Portfolio Manager

Thank you Susan (ShiftLeft) for an amazing balance workshop (4 sessions). The contents of the course resonate well with the modern working women. Furthermore, you take this opportunity to explore the deep-seated apprehensions that we might experience subconsciously, as we are outnumbered in many technical teams. Your passion to empower women and make them comfortable in their skin reflects throughout the sessions. Thank you for reminding me of so many basics of self-love and appreciation. I would highly recommend this workshop with Susan, if you believe you are being controlled by your schedule and are out of time for yourself.New List Item

Priyanka Shiravedekar

Enterprise Systems Architect

Cisco

I took Susan's 4-week Balance programme and it was a wonderful experience. Susan is passionate about helping women, and her positive energy is infectious. Each week's lessons were well structured, and it was nice to have the time dedicated to really think about improving my life. Susan and the other participants helped keep me accountable for achieving my goals, and I developed long-lasting habits that help me feel healthier, happier, calmer, and more confident. I can't imagine going back to how I used to think about my life before I got so many great insights

Olivia Zorn

Software Developer

I thoroughly recommend Susan's coaching skills - I was lucky enough to be coached by her during a difficult time for me. She is a very empathetic listener, and was skilled at listening and identifying the key issues that I needed to address. Additionally, she gave me some great techniques to help shift my thinking and my priorities, which enabled me to move forward successfully with a much improved work/life balance and outlook altogether. Susan's help made a massive difference to me, and I really can't thank her enough.New List Item

Jo Shepherd

Service Delivery Lead

I approached Susan to assist me through a transition I was making in my business. She carefully listened to the issues and challenged me with some thoughtful questions. This helped unblock me and got me back on track with the development work that was so desperately needed and which I had been procrastinating about for far too long. If you need help working through a challenge in your work, I can wholeheartedly recommend Susan as someone who will challenge you gently but firmly with purpose and direction. I promise you'll get the results you deserve

Nicola King

Governance Expert

I have had the pleasure of working with Susan for a few years and for 2 of those, she was my coach. Initially, I worked with Susan on my work/life balance and she has helped me enormously. Susan was an excellent listener and suggested many great techniques and strategies for me to try. She also provided guidance and support to help me reflect on my actions in difficult work situations, and how best to manage these. I am thankful to Susan and will always remember the impact she had on my career.New List Item

Amie Zhou

Management Consultant

Testimonials

Susan recently presented to the Women in DSP group. Her experience , insight and enthusiasm meant the session was not only valuable but fun. I would recommend Susan to women in technology looking for leadership coaching

I had the pleasure of working with Susan on a piece of coaching. Susan is empathetic, a lovely person and was incredibly supportive. Experienced in industry - she understands the opportunities and challenges.