About

As a retirement career, I have retrained as a Coach, and work in the Corporate/Career Coaching space. I use my coach training, career experience and life wisdom to help professionals overcome a challenge which is holding them back at work. I help them explore their situation through different lenses so they can resolve their challenge and show up at work as the best version of themselves. When my clients feel heard, understood and believed in, then magic happens.

Previously, I worked in the Payment Card industry for several decades, operating as a Technical Business Analyst and Subject Matter Expert, and latterly as a Product Owner. I worked freelance for leading organisations such as Visa Europe, Barclaycard, HSBC, MBNA and First Data, specialising in particular on Visa Authorisations and payment networks, plus Acquiring and Issuing banks. 

Outside of work I am a husband and parent of adult children, a former distance runner, and for the past fifteen years have (and still do) volunteer as an Athletics Coach, coaching children aged 8 to 18 in athletics. In the process, I'm shaping the emerging adult as well as the athlete, and I feel it's such a privilege. Here my purpose is to empower children to flourish in sport and grow in self-confidence as young adults.

It was coaching athletics which drew me into Corporate coaching. The new soft skills which I had gained whilst coaching children in sport I also found myself using in the office, improving both my professional relationships and effectiveness. I already mentored and guided graduates at work, and increasingly provided a safe conversational space for peers and managers. Once I heard about Corporate coaching, I became curious, researched, took courses, and unleashed a new passion. It has felt a very natural progression, as I have always thrived on helping others grow and learn.

As a surprize bonus, my new Corporate coaching skill has made me even better as an Athletics Coach. Corporate coaching of adults, athletics coaching of children, two roles and activities which fit amazingly well together.

Thanks for reading, and if any of this resonates with you, I'd love to hear from you.

Patrick Read.

I trained as a Transformative Coach with the Animas School of Coaching, and qualified in September 2024. 

My Diploma from Animas is accredited by the International Coach Federation (ICF), and was one of the building blocks for me to gain the experience and skill to become an ICF Associated Certified Coach. 

Assigned by the International Coach Federation, I gained my Associate Certified Coach certification in October 2025.

My ICF-ACC was awarded after gaining my Diploma, accruing over 100 hours coaching experience, and passing a rigorous exam.