Client stories

Real names. Real faces. Real afters.

Every story here is shared with written consent, name and photo included — because “Sarah M., London” could be anyone, and you deserve to check.

Laura Pemberton outdoors at sunset — Laura Pemberton, 41 Bath

Before

Fifteen years teaching secondary English. Head of department, twice commended, completely hollow by October half-term every single year.

“I cried in the second session and laughed in the third. Maya never once told me to follow my passion — she made me prove to myself, with actual evidence, that I could afford two years of retraining. The spreadsheet was somehow the most emotional part.”

After

Now: a garden designer eighteen months into her own practice, with a waiting list and her Sunday evenings back.

Priya Shah smiling in natural light — Priya Shah, 34 Bristol

Before

Product manager at a fintech. Had planned a move to Lisbon for six years — saved for it, talked about it at every dinner party, never booked anything.

“The phrase that broke it open was ‘what does waiting buy you?’ I’d never costed the waiting. Six years of it. We worked through what I was actually scared of — it wasn’t the move, it was telling my mum — and rehearsed that conversation until it was boring.”

After

Now: writing this from Lisbon, where the conversation with her mum turned out to be ten minutes long.

Hannah Mercer smiling — Hannah Mercer, 38 Cardiff

Before

Two years out of the workforce caring for her dad. CV gap she described as ‘a crater’, confidence somewhere below sea level.

“I came in wanting help writing a CV and Maya gently pointed out I was actually negotiating with myself about whether I deserved to go back at all. We did the inner argument first, then the CV took a week. I asked for a four-day week in the interview — out loud, like a person who expected a yes.”

After

Now: people operations lead, four-day week, on the salary band she’d been told was ‘ambitious’.

Outcomes are theirs, not a promise — coaching gives structure and honesty; the work is always the client’s. Stories rotate with consent and are removed on request, no questions.

Real names. Real faces. Real afters.

One session. Seventy-five minutes. The thing you keep postponing.