I am changing lives and on a mission to "Protect the Protectors".
Have you lost your joy and focus at work? Are you depressed or even considering quitting your long-trained-for profession?
DON'T - before speaking to me!
I offer a unique blend of service sector expertise, lived experience, and psychologically informed coaching tools and training resources to help individuals beat burnout, manage stress, restore wellbeing and improve performance and relationships.
I also work with companies to build cultures people want to stay in, so their people thrive and performance follows.
What makes my approach different is the integration of broad public sector experience with business mastery, psychotherapeutic insight, lived experience and coaching skills. I blend strategic thinking and business insights with deep empathy to create psychologically safe, high-impact spaces where individuals, teams and organisations can reflect, reset and grow.
Whether I’m supporting a leader facing burnout, guiding a team through cultural change, or helping an organisation realign with its purpose, my goal is always the same: to create congruence between people and the work they do — so they can thrive, not just survive.
My credentials include:
- Doctor of Business Administration (in progress)
- Master of Business Administration
- PG Diploma in Public Sector Management
- Agile Project Management Practitioner
- Accredited Life Coach
- Certified Grief & Ikigai Coach
- Core Renewal Therapist (inc. CBT, NLP, Hypnotherapy)
- University Lecturer
- Marketing & Communications Specialist
- 20+ years of CPD in business and management
- Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute
- PTSD, Burnout and Redundancy Survivor
"Vicky helped me find my purpose when I'd completely lost my way." Sarah, London
I have short haul and long haul coaching to suit all budgets - or vouchers for the ultimate gift!
Click to to find out more. Whichever ticket you choose we will find and get you to your destination.
Life Changing Gift Vouchers are also available!
"Thank you Vicky for helping me turn my life around" , Lucien, Suffolk
SHORT HAUL COACHING
"Everyone deserves a coach like Vicky" Tom, London
Long haul coaching
I'll help to find your destination - you choose how you to get there
ECONOMY £500
Affordable and Effective
Affordable ticket that still gets you to your destination: 6 weeks of coaching. Including 3 x 30 minute 121 coaching sessions, email support (weekdays reply within 5 days), Ikigai assessment, downloadable workbook and planner.
PREMIUM ECONOMY £600
Economy with Extra
Excellent value for money. 6 weeks of direct coaching support; 3 x 45min 121 coaching sessions; email support throughout (weekdays 3 day reply). Economy services plus access to lounge and online resources for 6 months. One speedy check-in (15mins) to be used during the 6 weeks.
BUSINESS CLASS £900
If you really mean business
8 weeks of personal coaching support: 5 x 60 mins 121 coaching sessions; 12 months access to lounge and resources; Priority Boarding (start within 14 days); 2 optional speedy check-ins (20 mins each) 4 workbooks; WhatsApp support weekdays 2 day reply).
FIRST CLASS £1500
The Ultimate Way to Travel
12 weeks of coaching includes 6 x 90 mins 121 sessions; 18 month access to lounge and resources; Super priority boarding (start within 7 days) 6+ workbooks inc. premium onboard pack. 4x 20min turbulence sessions if required. WhatsApp support (24hr reply, 6 days).
Testimonials
Lisa DymondModern Matron & Approved MH Professional
During the time I have known and worked with Vicky, she has brought strong, kind and compassionate support. She brings strategic focus when it is greatly needed and has the ability to translate this into practical plans and goal setting. I have learned so much from Vicky during the time we have worked together including how to be a more effective leader and manager whilst looking after and protecting my needs and those of my family. Vicky is an expert executive coach who will work with you to define and achieve your personal goals whist improving and preserving your career in the service of others.
Lucien EdwardsSenior Project Manager
Vicky supported me through a very tough time, I was working extremely long hours, travelling the country for my work on top, not sleeping and permanently exhausted. I was not fully productive at work and my performance started to slip despite putting in more than enough hours! I had no time for my relationships and when I did I was too tired and preoccupied to enjoy them. I gained weight and my health and fitness fell away to a routine of driving, working, driving, drinking, bath and bed - only to sleep 4-5 hours before starting all over again. Vicky helped me prioritise and be kind to myself, reversing the spiral I had found myself in, to one that built my life rather than eroded it. With my balance restored I was able to spend quality time with my loved ones, get out on my bike once again and had time to plan my meals and eat healthily. My sleep then improved (surprise - turns out what they say is true!) and I felt on top of my game at work. I am now enjoying a happy and balanced life with an employer that appreciates me and won't take advantage (partly because I know my worth and won't let it happen again). Thank you Vicky for helping me turn my life around!
Maybe they’ve spoken about wanting change, needing a new direction, less stress, improved balance or a fresh start, but never found the time or courage to make it happen.
A VR Coaching Gift Voucher gives them that permission.
It’s a gentle nudge that says, “You deserve this.” Whether they’re rebuilding after change, stepping into a new chapter, or ready to discover their life's purpose, this gift opens the door to transformation and could be life-changing!
🎁 Choose your voucher amount in multiples of £50
🕊️ Redeemable against any VR Coaching course or session and valid for 12 months.
📩 Instant digital delivery, ready to send with love.
Give the gift that changes more than a moment - it could change their life!
These powerful, self-guided wellbeing workbooks are designed to help you get unstuck, build resilience, take back control and achieve success - one page at a time.
Whether you're navigating burnout, struggling with low confidence, or just need to reflect and reset, these workbooks walk you step-by-step through proven tools to help you feel better, think clearer, and move forward with purpose.
All for the cost of a coffee - only £3.99 each!
How to Put your Mask on First - A Burnout Survival Guide for Public Sector Altruists.
Identify your root causes of burnout and how to deal with them so you don't burnout again!
Your First Week Back - Returning to work after extended leave, on your terms.
Benefit from Vicky's coaching book (a supporting online course is also available) for a successful re-integration to work following absence (maternity, sickness, bereavement, redundancy).
Scroll down to explore Vicky's Blogs, Articles and Podcasts....
Articles
Use this questionnaire to find your Ikigai
Read More
How to get the most from your coaching course and ensure that the learning and development continues beyond your sessions.
Read More
An article that asks you to contemplate the paradoxical human desire to belong whilst also wanting to be different.
Read More
Read about the importance of identifying and developing your strengths to achieve a fulfilling and successful career. Includes Vicky's personal recommendations for further research and tools.
Read More
Find out why it's important to develop your own personal brand from a better understanding of yourself and your strengths. This article also maps out the steps you can take to develop and maintain your personal brand as you progress through your career(s).
Read More
Read about Burn-out - how to recognise it and what to do to beat it!
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Money is a tool and if it is in short supply it can lead to acute depression and stress. This article considers the key to financial freedom being multiple sources of income. It provides some ideas for creating new sources to find financial freedom.
Read MoreBlog
Discussing with friends in the US, the impact of public sector culture on career congruence, workforce wellbeing and work-life balance.
Read More
Search for the positive choice, it's the last of human freedoms.
Read More
A burnout survival guide for public sector altruists
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This blog considers why having a Life Coach is a sound investment.
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Uncovering the potential drawbacks and benefits of adopting the devil's advocate approach in discussions.
Read More
Find out how a life coach can support you as a public sector professional to find and maintain a healthy and happy life balance.
Read More
Are you living a balanced life? Assess for yourself here.
Read MoreCorporate Coaching
Corporate Training for Compassionate Cultures
For Individuals who are:
* Experiencing burnout, overwhelmed, or have lost direction and love for their job. * Returning to work after illness, leave, or bereavement * Seeking clarity, confidence and renewed purpose in their role * Committed to personal growth, wellbeing and sustainable leadership
For Teams that want to:
* Work more effectively together through strengths-based development * Build psychological safety, trust, and open communication * Navigate change, loss, or restructuring with compassion and resilience * Align around shared values and collective goals
For Organisations that need to:
* Reduce absenteeism and presenteeism * Improve retention and morale across departments * Create cultures that prioritise people without sacrificing performance * Enhance leadership capability, innovation, and emotional intelligence * Align strategy with values to achieve long-term, sustainable success.
- Public-sector absence is at 2.9% (vs. 1.8% in private sector in 2024) — consistently higher than private sector since 2019
- Civil-Service days lost jumped to an average of 8.1 days in 2023–24, the highest in 10 years, with nearly half of long-term absence due to mental illness
- Long-term absence rose post-pandemic: 3.51 days for civil servants in 2022–23 (vs. 2.86 days in 2020–21), among a record 2.8 million people on long-term sick leave across the UK
- Almost 12% of civil servants changed role or left by March 2023 — highest churn since 2010 — with 9% leaving altogether, citing pay, low morale, and process inefficiencies
- 73% of NHS workers experience burnout or emotional exhaustion at work at least some of the time.
- One in eight NHS staff intend to leave in the next year, with many airing fears about burnout and worker shortages.
- On average senior public sector managers work between 40 and 60 hours per week (despite being contracted to 37) with serious consequences.
- Burn-out is particularly prevalent in high-stress professions like healthcare, education and social services.
If this continues we won't have any professionals left to deliver our vital public services!
Why this matters
Escalating Costs
Sickness absence, unnecessary redundancies, burnout and early exits or retirement drive recruitment spend, agency cover and degrade institutional knowledge.
Service Vulnerability
High absence and staff churn undermine continuity in vital public services. Without appropriately trained, qualified and experienced people our public services simply can't operate.
Workforce Sustainability
Public services are under immense pressure. Rising long-term sickness, low return-to-work rates, and a lack of bursaries or support for those in training are fuelling a critical workforce crisis. Staff shortages are pushing remaining teams to breaking point — driving burnout, early exits, and a shift toward agency work. In some professions, the pipeline is drying up altogether. We urgently need to protect the people we have — and invest in training the next generation by creating compassionate and loyal cultures that people want to stay in.
Courses for Staff Wellbeing
From Burnout to Balance
An interactive, evidence-based programme to reduce burnout risk through improved identification and intervention, increasing retention across leadership teams.
Learn MoreThe First Week Back
Designed to support staff returning from long term sick leave, maternity leave or career breaks; this self-paced course helps professionals rebuild confidence and pace themselves for return and sustainable success.
Learn MoreGrief Coaching
These grief coaching courses provide compassionate, expert support for employees navigating bereavement or significant loss. this service helps individuals feel seen, supported, and empowered to rebuild confidence and purpose at work — enhancing their wellbeing, supporting return to work, staff retention and expediting their recovery from grief or significant loss.
Learn MoreThe 4Ps Level Up Programme
A premium 8-week 121 coaching experience for senior leaders struggling at work who may feel overwhelmed, stuck, or at risk of burnout.
Learn MoreCourses for Cultural Development
Curious Leadership - Developing a Learning Environment for Improved Performance
This full-day, in-person course is designed for leaders and managers who want to create psychologically safe, high-performing teams where curiosity, creativity and continuous learning and innovation thrive.
Learn MoreStrengths Based Leadership
This full-day, in-person course is designed for leaders and managers who want to build collegial teams and unlock their full potential by understanding individual strengths, embracing diversity, and cultivating psychologically safe, learning oriented cultures.
Learn MoreIkigai in the Workplace
This immersive training course introduces leaders and teams to the concept of Ikigai— a Japanese framework for meaning and purpose — and shows how it can be practically applied in the workplace to build stronger alignment, improve performance, and foster a values-driven organisational culture.
Learn MoreThe Ultimate Comprehensive Cultural Audit and Transformation Consultancy Programme
This high-level, premium consultancy programme is designed for organisations seeking to deeply understand, align and transform their organisational culture to enhance engagement, performance, purpose and outcomes across all levels. Over a 6-month engagement, VR Coaching will assess, interpret, and co-design cultural change with your Board, directorates, teams and customers, uniquely combining globally recognised frameworks and theory-driven insights to reveal the true complexities of your organisational, directorate and team cultures.
Learn MoreBook a Corporate Enquiry
This call is for Public Sector leaders, HR and OD managers to discuss their needs and whether my coaching offer can meet them. I will meet with you personally to discuss your ambitions and if I believe I can help you I will walk you through the next steps.Read More
- Category: Corporate Coaching Discussion
- Service Length: 30 Minutes
- Location:Online Link
- Price:Free
Contact
- Norwich, England, United Kingdom
- I offer world-wide online coaching services to English speakers.
- +44-7941 391601
- info@vickyrusslifecoach.com
- Monday to Saturday Within the hours of 8am to 8pm GMT
Have a question, want more info or to book some coaching? Contact me via telephone above (please leave a message), email, social media or submit the form below. Alternatively book a 30min call into my diary via the Calendly link.