A former travel industry CEO has launched a coaching practice to help senior business leaders cope with the loneliness and pressure of working at the top.
Former CEO of Focus Travel Partnership and European leisure deals operator Connections.BE Abby Penston has set up a mentoring and coaching practice called Myexec, to support executives of small and medium-sized companies.
It comes as research recently published in the Harvard Business Review showed 61% of executives feel lonely in their roles.
Abby said: “Being a leader or senior manager in an SME travel business can often feel a lonely role and can seem overwhelming at times. A report by Deloitte indicates that leaders who feel isolated are at a greater risk of burnout, with 77% of executives citing the need for better support systems to manage stress and isolation.
“This loneliness and pressure at the top can lead to disillusionment, burnout and high levels of stress and that is where we can bring specific expertise and experience to show to manage this area.
“If you look to most successful business organisations around the world, and at the most powerful, innovative and influential business leaders, the vast majority have benefitted from senior level coaching and mentoring.
“As a former CEO myself I am well familiar with the challenges and pressures that SME business leaders face today. I have discovered the techniques and strategies for dealing with those pressures and I’m passionate about passing that knowledge and advice on.”
The Myexec website is live now and the company officially launches in November. Other areas covered by Myexec include coaching around conflict resolution, strategic thinking, and overall business management.