Anne Wilson SFHEA

Career Change Coach for Higher Education Professionals | Reinvention, Identity and Career Confidence

Kenilworth, England, United Kingdom

About

How do you reinvent yourself without losing your identity? Career change is about more than finding a new job. It’s about rebuilding confidence, rediscovering purpose and redefining who you are professionally. I work with disillusioned Higher Education professionals navigating career change, redundancy, burnout and questions about what comes next. When you’ve spent years building a career, it can be hard to separate who you are from what you do. Clients often come to me saying: “I feel I’m at a crossroads in my professional life.” “I want to look forward, but I keep looking back.” “I’m in a bit of a muddle.” “I feel I’ve been kicked in the guts by a sector where I used to feel valued.” “Trying this new thing is an itch I need to scratch.” “I want to become more myself.” But identity is not fixed. How I can help: The 12- session Firework Career Change programme will enable you to: 1. Reflect Understand who you are and what's important to you: identify your values, strengths and motivations. 2. Dream Explore new possibilities. How can you harness what you already have to move forward and change direction? 3. Reinvent Test out your ideas to decide which will work for you before taking action to implement your plan. The goal isn’t simply to find another job — it’s to build a future that feels more fully aligned with who you're becoming. My background in Higher Education careers, leadership development, and strengths-based coaching allows me to support professionals not just practically but also psychologically through periods of transition and reinvention. Reinvention starts with a conversation.

Experience

  • Career Change Coach for Higher Education Professionals at Anne Wilson Career Change Coach
    Aug 2024 - Present · 2 yrs

    Career change can feel daunting. I've coached Higher Education staff navigating career change. By providing support and encouragement, I help to build confidence and agency. By exploring what’s important and building self-awareness, it becomes possible to explore alternative careers and then create a plan to move from thinking to action.

  • University of Warwick (18 yrs 6 mos)
    • Head of Careers
      Aug 2010 - Jul 2024 · 14 yrs

      •National management and leadership trainer for GFI, the professional body for Higher Education Careers Services •Licensed Springboard and Sprint trainer •Commissioned to deliver Strengths team training to both internal staff and external partners •Established 'Inspiring Women' a series of inspirational female senior speakers for staff at Warwick •Created extensive network of Inspiring Women within and beyond Warwick •Regular speaker at external and internal events •Secured £40,000 for a Learning Gain HEFCE Employability bid, leading a cross-institutional project on Strengths •Responsible for leading a team of Senior Careers Consultants working with 30+ Academic Departments, providing careers support to more than 26,000 students. •Consultant to other HE Careers Services

    • Warwick Advantage and Graduate Capabilities Manager
      Sep 2009 - Aug 2010 · 1 yr

      Designed, with the SU, the Warwick Advantage Award- the University's formal recognition for students' extra-curricular recognition. Secured HEFCE funding enabling all Careers staff to train in Realise 2 Strengths as part of a graduate employability project. Designed and delivered Strengths workshops to students in collaboration with cappeu.com and sponsored by EY.

    • Warwick Advantage Manager
      Nov 2006 - Sep 2009 · 2 yrs 11 mos

  • Operations Manager at Connexions
    Mar 1994 - Feb 2006 · 12 yrs

    Operational Manager West Staffordshire with a team of 50+ staff

  • Careers Adviser, Careers Management Roles at Hampshire County Council
    Aug 1985 - Aug 1994 · 9 yrs 1 mo