People are just people.
We all want to be seen, heard and valued for who we are.
Hi, I'm Susan
I’ve worked across continents, cultures and contexts — from minefields to managing multi-million-dollar contracts, to leading multicultural teams across multiple locations.
And what I’ve seen, again and again, is this:
People are just people.
Even under pressure.
Even inside complex systems.
When people are given space to be themselves at work, it changes how decisions are made, how teams relate, and how work actually gets done.
This isn’t theory for me.
It’s lived experience.
From over 20 years in leadership — across accounting, operations and cross-sector work — to coaching, facilitation and consulting, I’ve worked where complexity, uncertainty and responsibility are part of daily life.
I’ve made difficult decisions.
Managed conflict.
Led change.
And supported others to do the same — in ways that are true to who they are.
What I do
My first summer job was working for my dad in his framing business.
Now, I’m reframing.
I don’t (re)frame pictures — I help people reframe how they see themselves, their work and the situations they’re navigating. Sometimes this work finds its way into short reflections and poems — another way of noticing what’s often lived but not quite said.
My work is about voice and individual expression.
Creating space for people to say what’s been hard to say.
To hear themselves think.
To reconnect with who they are beneath the noise — so they can lead from there.
We often talk about performance as if it’s separate from people. But how we feel at work — about ourselves, our contribution, and our relationships — shapes every outcome.
Book
I wrote Leading Beyond the Numbers to give voice to what so often goes unspoken at work.
The book explores what really drives results: emotional intelligence, relational strength, and cultures that recognise our shared humanity — not as a “nice to have”, but as central to how organisations function.
Podcast
I host Life Beyond the Numbers to have real conversations about work, leadership and what it means to create a fulfilling work-life.
These are real conversations.
People reflecting on their own journeys.
And often, when someone speaks what’s true for them, it unlocks something in others too.
Speaking
Whether it’s on stage or in a smaller room, I speak to open space for reflection.
To voice what’s often felt but not always said.
And to invite people to see - and hear - perspectives beyond their own.
And I'm still learning. Always
From the people I meet and work with.
From asking better questions.
From books, conversations, courses and lived experience. I share some of these explorations on Substack.
Because leadership - and life - isn’t about having all the answers.
It’s about moving through uncertainty with curiosity and care for what matters most.