The power of leadership coaching: transforming a healthcare executive’s journey

As a business coach specialising in leadership development, I’ve had the privilege of guiding numerous professionals through transformative journeys. Today, I want to share a case study from my experience with a senior executive who faced significant challenges transitioning into a major leadership role.

Jarrett Palmer is now head of global operations procurement at AstraZeneca, but I met him back in 2011, when he had recently been promoted within Piramal Healthcare.

Despite his understanding of the industry and his technical skills, he found himself grappling with the complexities of leading a team that had once regarded him as a peer.

Jarrett said: “I had recently just taken a big step in my career, and I was finding some challenges in going from being part of a leadership team to stepping up and becoming a leader. I already had a business coach, and I wasn’t quite connecting with him, but I hadn’t really realised that until I met Ian Kinnery.”

One of the first steps in our journey together was to clarify Jarrett’s vision for his role and the direction of the company he was leading.

Drawing parallels from sports, we focused on the importance of having a clear game plan and how to execute it effectively with the right team dynamics.

A pivotal moment in our sessions involved addressing delegation and team empowerment. It became clear that he was taking on too much by himself.

Jarrett said: “I remember vividly during one session, Ian pointed out that none of the tasks on my whiteboard included my team members’ names. Ian encouraged me to start leveraging my leadership team more effectively, distributing responsibilities, and fostering a culture of accountability and support.”

Another essential component of our work together focused on Jarrett’s personal development and wellbeing.

Jarrett said: “If you had asked me when I started working with Ian what my goals were from his coaching, I instantly would have said it was to be a better leader. However, over time, my ambition changed. I have gone from having a solid work schedule and having a goal to one day becoming a CEO – which always took time from my personal life, to having a clear focus on my work-life balance and personal well-being.”

“Ian’s coaching helped me understand the importance of making time for personal development and not letting work consume my life.”

Jarrett learned to balance the demands of his role with his personal life, leading to improved job satisfaction and in turn, more effective leadership.

Under Jarrett’s leadership, Piramal not only enhanced its operational efficiency but also expanded its client base significantly, moving from a single-customer focus to a diversified portfolio, and drastically increasing revenue.

Jarrett said: “Ian is very persistent, and his lack of a predefined agenda during coaching sessions I initially found challenging. However, I found Ian’s ability to tell me what I might not want to hear improved me as a leader. He got me through a difficult career transition and made me a stronger leader.”

After Piramal, Jarrett moved to Aesica Pharmaceuticals, achieving impressive financial results for the company. From 2011 to 2013, Aesica saw a revenue increase from £154 million to £179 million, marking a 16% growth and led to a successful divestment of the business in 2014.

Jarrett’s story exemplifies the transformative power of tailored business coaching. The right guidance not only addresses immediate challenges but also equips leaders with the skills and insights needed for long-term success and personal fulfilment.