ALISON SMITH

Executive Coach & Consultant

Prior to joining Aesara, Alison was a Partner at Freshfields, a leading international law firm. During her 18 years as a corporate lawyer, Alison led global teams working on some of the most complex, high-profile M&A transactions, including advising AB InBev on its £78bn acquisition of SABMiller, and Comcast on its £30bn takeover of Sky. Alison also advised listed company boards on governance, culture and disclosure issues.​

Alison’s extensive legal career brings with it in-depth experience and understanding of the challenges senior executives face in, among other things, leading teams in demanding business environments, transitioning between roles and managing work/life balance. It was Alison’s interest in these challenges that led her to leave the legal industry to train as an Executive Coach and to undertake a Masters degree in Psychology at the University of Exeter. Alison is currently also completing a postgraduate certificate in Business Coaching with the University of Chester.​

Alison’s many years as a team leader, coach and mentor in the legal industry, juggled with being a parent to two children, have provided the foundations for her practical, action-orientated, commercial coaching style. Alison is a warm and energetic coach who uses a range of tools, together with appropriate challenge and reflection, to support clients in fulfilling their potential. Clients value Alison’s ability to relate to their experiences as a result of her business background.​

Alison has a particular focus on female leadership, stakeholder and team management, career progression, authentic leadership, diversity, self-confidence, resilience and work/life balance.​