Mandy Deakin-Snell
Mandy Deakin-Snell is the Founder of MDS Alignment Ltd, a company that specialises in developing award winning teams and coaching executives to navigate change with a winning mindset.
She has a passion for bringing the best out in people and a desire to get more heart centred, compassionate leadership into the business world.
- Tell us a little bit about your business…
I specialise in a coaching method called multiple brain integration techniques (or mBIT for short) a unique technique based on practical coaching methods and neuroscience, helping people to align with the inner wisdom of their head, heart and gut (also known as our three brains). When our three brains are aligned, we’re able to make wiser decisions in our life, business or career.
- How did you get into the industry?
My background is in C-Suite roles within award winning companies. Over 10 years ago, whilst working, I qualified as a Master Coach in NLP (neuro linguistic programming) and it was through NLP that I was introduced to mBIT (multiple brain integration techniques). Throughout my corporate career I always made time to develop the people who worked for me and developed a Coaching and Mentoring programme that became the foundation for building successful teams from scratch.
- What are the biggest opportunities and challenges in your industry?
The biggest opportunity in the coaching industry is to utilise practices that help people to develop skills to manage their energy in a more resourceful way. The challenge is that many industries reward people for hitting targets without any consideration for the negative energy they bring into the workplace, and the impact this has on the wellbeing of others as well as the company culture.
- How would you describe your leadership style? (if not in a leadership role talk about your working style)
I’m a practical, authentic leader who gets results for clients. I care about people and connect well with those who want to better manage themselves and have a desire to help others. My style of leadership is to lead by example and I have never asked anyone to do anything I’m not prepared to do myself.
- How do you get the most out of the people who work for you? (or work with you)
People who have worked for me (or with me) have said I’m firm but fair. I’ve always got the best out of people by helping them to step outside their comfort zone and stretch to new limits with my unwavering support.
- What are the most crucial elements to your business running smoothly and being successful?
Putting systems in place to help me be more efficient so that I can dedicate more time to my clients. I’m also a strong believer in hiring experts who know more than I do to help me concentrate on what I do best.
- How has the past 12 months been for you?
My business is only 5 months old so it’s been a steep learning curve, especially after stepping outside the comfort zone of a corporate business with a guaranteed salary, but I’ve loved every minute of it!
- What will the next 12 months look like for you or your business?
The next 12 months are exciting as I continue to grow the number of clients I have and explore new ways to help them to achieve what they truly desire in their life, career or business.
I also have an upcoming Certified Coach course in mBIT where I will train people to become coaches themselves to help them in their leadership roles or to even start their own coaching business, like I did.
- What are the highlights of your career so far?
Gaining my first few 1-2-1 clients who are an absolute dream to work with!
Being invited to be a guest coach at the Richmond Finance Directors Forum where I spent two wonderful days at the Grove Hotel coaching some amazing senior leaders in the Finance industry.
I was also asked to be advisor to a new start-up in London and invited to join a prestigious group of supply chain advisors to help them with their training academy.
- What’s the biggest professional / business mistake that you’ve learnt from?
Don’t try to do it all yourself! There is no shame in asking for help or recruiting experts to do it for you…no-one is going to judge you for it.
- What’s the best piece of professional / business advice you’ve been given or would like to give?
I would like to share a quote that really resonated with me during my business journey so far: ‘In the midst of difficulty lies opportunity’ – Albert Einstein.
