Skip to content
A woman with straight brown hair, wearing a black shirt and blue jeans, sits on a white sofa, smiling and holding open magazines on her lap in a bright, minimalist room.

The Compass Journal: Navigating Careers & Leadership

Fresh thinking for forward-focused organisations

Explore practical insights, thought leadership, and real-world stories on career development, leadership, and the evolving world of work. Each article is designed to spark ideas and support you in creating a culture where people and performance thrive.

Get these insights delivered to your inbox by signing up for our newsletter.

Blog Archives

A man in a suit stands on a ladder in an empty, expansive landscape, looking into the distance through binoculars under a cloudy sky, symbolising a search for the future of work.

Career Development: What does the future of work look like?

We often talk about the future of work. But what actually is it? Well, the future of work is actually already here. The way we work is fundamentally different from how it was 50, 30 or even 10 years ago.  The world of work is more dynamic and chaotic than ever. In our parents’ or grandparents’

A man wearing glasses and a patterned shirt gestures while speaking to a woman with red hair during a conversation about their organisations mentoring programme in a bright, casual indoor setting.

A Year in the Life of an Organisation’s Mentoring Programme

Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of working in-house with a wide range of organisations, navigating the ever-changing world of work. I’ve seen first-hand how powerful the right training and development can be – not just in transforming individual careers, but in shaping the culture and capability of entire organisations. One area that continues

A word cloud with prominent words such as

How to Be a Brilliant Mentor: 7 Characteristics That Make the Difference

I still remember the first time I mentored someone formally. I wasn’t quite sure what was expected of me. Was I supposed to have all the answers? Was I there to fix things, or just to listen? The truth is, most great mentors start with similar questions. In today’s fast-paced, hybrid workplace, mentoring is more

A close-up of a compass with the needle pointing towards

25 Powerful Leadership Development Quotes to Grow Great Leaders

“The growth and development of people is the highest calling of leadership.” – Harvey S. Firestone In today’s fast-paced, hybrid, and often uncertain world of work, leadership development has never been more critical. HR and L&D leaders are grappling with new challenges – retention, burnout, multi-generational teams, and a growing skills gap. One thing remains

A black square with

The Business Awards Show Episode 15

Antoinette was interviewed by The Business Awards Show podcast, after being the 2019 winner of the Best Coach Award.

Two women smiling, one in a blue jacket and one in a patterned top, are pictured on a magenta background with the text

The LeaderX Podcast

In this episode of the LeaderX Podcast, the podcast host Lucy Barkas interviews Antoinette. They discuss why leaders should having all important career conversation for empowerment, engagement and trust.

An open book lies on a wooden jetty by a lake at sunset, with its pages transforming into water and a tree growing from the book, blending imagination and nature.

The Power of Storytelling in Mentoring and Career Conversations

Do you want your employees to really engage with what you are saying? Do you want to grab their emotions rather than just their logical brain? The secret is to use stories. Storytelling is the oldest and most powerful way to engage, excite and educate people. When people are inspired, they take action. That’s not

A group of people sit in a circle, discussing a large paper with the word

The Importance of Growth Mind-set for Career Development

Adaptability has always played a key role in workplace success. But it seems like now more than ever, our careers require us to be constantly evolving. The pace of change is accelerating.  To succeed in any industry, and to be ready to take part in the next evolution of it, professionals must grow and develop. 

A man in a suit leans over a reflective black table, looking intently at his own reflection.

Mirror Mirror. The importance of reflection in career conversations.

Academics have spent decades exploring the potential benefits of reflection.  It is through reflecting about our concrete experiences that we learn and develop new ways of thinking. It is not a new idea.  In fact, around 450 B.C. Confucius is reputed to have said: “Tell me, and I will forget.  Show me, and I may