Ascent
Ascent: A Strengths-Led Career Programme for Your First Months in Leadership
You know what you're capable of. Let's make sure the people around you see it too, from your team to the senior leaders you now report to. You have the experience and the track record that earned you this role. What you need now is clarity, a plan and steady support to settle into leadership, build on the strengths that got you here, and lead with confidence from the start.
A four-month, one-to-one strengths-led career programme for professionals across the UK, Ireland and further afield who have recently stepped into a leadership role. Combining practical advice, insight into your strengths and support between sessions, Ascent helps you grow into leadership with greater confidence and clarity.
Investment from £675 a month, or £2,500 paid in full.
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About This Strengths-Led Career Programme
I built Ascent because I kept seeing the same thing. Experienced professionals with the capability to lead well, but without the clarity, positioning or support to step into leadership confidently. Some had just been promoted. Others had joined a new organisation in a leadership role. What they shared wasn't a lack of ability. It was the challenge of translating years of experience into leadership with confidence and intention.
That transition matters more than people realise. Once you step into leadership, expectations change. You're expected to think more strategically, communicate with greater influence, make decisions with confidence and build credibility quickly. Very few new leaders are given the opportunity to develop those capabilities deliberately.
Ascent begins by creating that foundation. Before we do anything else, you'll complete the StrengthscopeLeader™ assessment, which identifies your strengths, leadership risks and performance patterns. It provides the evidence base for every conversation throughout the programme, helping you build your leadership capability, position yourself with confidence and lead in a way that is authentic to you.
Is Ascent for you?
Ascent is for experienced professionals who have recently stepped into a leadership role, whether that is your first management position, a step up to head of department or a senior leadership appointment. You already have the track record and capability that have brought you this far. What you need now is a clear strategy to establish yourself as a leader, strengthen your leadership capability and grow into the role with confidence.
You might have just been promoted and now be leading people who were recently your peers. You might have joined a new organisation in a leadership role and want to make the transition with greater confidence. You might be a few months in and want to develop the skills, visibility and strategic thinking the role expects before old habits set in. Ascent suits people who are ready to take a deliberate approach to their leadership rather than relying on experience alone.
Ascent is not for people looking for generic career coaching or someone to make decisions on their behalf. It is a structured, strengths-led programme for new leaders who are prepared to think differently, challenge themselves and do the work.
Pre-Programme Diagnostic
Before your first session, you will complete the StrengthscopeLeader™ assessment online. Validated by the British Psychological Society, this research-backed diagnostic gives you a clear picture of how you lead at your best and where you may be at risk under pressure.
Your results are explored together in a two-hour, one-to-one debrief, so you understand what they mean in practice rather than simply reading a report. From there, they shape every conversation, recommendation and development activity throughout the programme, so the support you receive is tailored to your strengths, your goals and the role you are growing into.
Your Four-Month Ascent
Ascent runs over four months, with two 60-minute consultancy sessions and one Ascent Briefing Call each month. The programme is designed to provide structured support, practical guidance and accountability as you prepare for, or establish yourself in, executive leadership.
Month 1
Diagnostic & Direction
Session 1: StrengthscopeLeader™ debrief. A two-hour session exploring your strengths, leadership risks and what they mean for you as a new leader.
Session 2:
Context and direction. Understanding the organisation you've stepped into and where your strengths will create the most value within it.
Month 2
Strategy & Positioning
Session 3:
Leadership strategy. Defining how you intend to lead here, on your terms, and the boundaries that protect that.
Session 4:
Stakeholder communication. Communicating your leadership strengths clearly to your team, your manager and senior stakeholders.
Month 3
Execution & Preparation
Session 5:
Visibility strategy. Who needs to see how you lead, what they need to see, and how you build your presence as a leader with purpose rather than performance.
Session 6:
High-stakes conversations. Senior reporting, presenting to leadership teams and difficult conversations, prepared around your strengths and your leadership story.
Month 4
Consolidation & Forward Plan
Session 7:
Results review. What's working, what's not, and what needs to change before old patterns set in..
Session 8:
Forward plan. Bringing everything together into a clear plan for your next twelve months as a leader, so your progress continues after Ascent ends.
Specialist Support Built In
Your Consultancy Includes
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Eight one-to-one consultancy sessions – personalised support over four months.
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Between-session support – voice notes, quick calls and written feedback when you need it.
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StrengthscopeLeader™ assessment – full diagnostic and personalised debrief.
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Executive Career Roadmap – your personalised strategy for executive career progression.
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Six-month follow-up session – review your progress and refine your strategy where needed.
StrengthscopeLeader™
A British Psychological Society validated assessment, with a personalised debrief to identify your unique strengths, leadership risks and performance patterns.
Stakeholder Positioning
Shape how you're perceived by your team and senior stakeholders by ensuring your leadership strengths are recognised from the beginning.
High Stakes Conversations
Focused preparation for executive presentations, senior reporting and the conversations that matter most.
Format
Online/ Agreed Times
Ascent is delivered entirely online, so you can take part wherever you are based, whether that is Belfast, elsewhere in the UK and Ireland, or further afield.
Not sure if Ascent is the right fit? Book a short discovery call
Duration
4 months / 8 engagements
Model
1-to-1 consultancy
Investment
Ascent is a premium, all-inclusive programme. There are no add-ons or hidden costs.
Everything is included in your fee. There are no hidden costs.
If your organisation is funding your development, I can invoice them directly.
The Work That I Do
I'm a Career Consultant who helps experienced professionals see their strengths clearly and use them well, including when they step into leadership. My role is to help you make confident decisions, understand what you bring as a leader and build credibility with the people around you.
With fifteen years' experience in career development, I have worked with people at every stage of their working lives, including managers and directors facing a change in role or responsibility. I work with professionals across the UK, Ireland and further afield.
As an accredited Strengthscope® Leader Practitioner, I bring a strengths-led approach and a practical focus on the role in front of you. I help clients communicate their value with confidence and build a leadership approach that reflects who they are, not who they think they should be. That combination of strengths-led insight and practical guidance is what Ascent is built on.
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What People Say
"After moving to Northern Ireland, I began seeking a new job in the IT field. Since I wasn't familiar with the job market, I asked Paula to guide me through the process.
She helped me improve my CV, enhance my LinkedIn profile, and gave me invaluable advice on how to strengthen my job search.
Paula is a great specialist, detail-oriented, and always seeks a personalised approach to her clients. I highly recommend her as a career development mentor and consultant, with creative ideas and insights for navigating the tough process of job searching or career change."
— Lusine P
These reflect earlier work with Paula, before Ascent. Ascent client feedback will be added here as the programme builds its own track record.
"I had the privilege of working with Paula as my career coach, and I cannot recommend her services highly enough. She played a pivotal role in transforming my job search, helping me refine my CV, master interview techniques, and even connect with key recruiters and companies in my field.
What impressed me most was her genuine commitment to my success. Paula didn't just offer advice; she followed up regularly to ensure I stayed on track and provided tailored guidance every step of the way.
Thanks to her expertise and relentless support, I secured a role that perfectly aligns with my career goals."
— Thuvarakan M
You already have the experience that has brought you this far. Ascent gives you the clarity, strategy and strengths-led insight to take the next step in your executive career with confidence.
Four months. One-to-one. Built around your transition into executive leadership.
If you're ready for your next executive move, let's talk.