Intentional Generations

09/09/2025

It's September, which means Spring is in the air in the Southern hemisphere. With the change of season and energy I've been noticing an increase in leaders reaching out for leadership and wellbeing coaching/support. That, and people wanting to make a change before the end of the year.

I've also felt similarly - after what felt like a long Winter, over the last fortnight I'd challenged myself to doing a 'Fortnight of Firsts'.

Over the last fortnight I challenged myself to doing a 'first' / something I'd not done before every 2 days (every day wouldn't have been energetically sustainable).

The 'firsts' included:
- doing a new dance class
- changing up my strength training routine
- going to 'Sprint' cycling class for the first time
- trying new foods
- asserting boundaries with a friend
- competing for the first time in dance (!) at the Auckland Ceroc Dance Championships (which ended up in a positive surprise of 2 x third place trophies in both of the categories I entered into)

If you've been feeling 'stuck' or like life has been stagnant in Winter, doing a week or a 'fortnight of firsts' is something I 100% recommend.

Sometimes it doesn't have to be the big changes we make in life that give us a sense of progress, satisfaction and energy.

It can be the small moments.

The little wins.

For my fellow high-achievers who often forget to celebrate our little bits of progress, this is a game changer.

If you were to do a similar idea, what 'firsts' would you challenge yourself to do? Let me know :)

20/08/2025

One of my beliefs is: you never know where a conversation, meeting/event, idea or connection may go, so always come into it from a place of high service and low attachment to the outcome.

There is always a 'Ripple of Impact' with our actions.

The good news?

We can often start this from an intentional place.

I also apply this to how I show up online and believe in the importance of lifting other people up, cheerleading/supporting others and sharing resources.

Especially in our digital age, we sometimes don't know how wide our 'ripple of impact' is.

So, when people share the impact that we've had on them or where a connection or idea has led them, goodness it's beautiful!!

In this last week 2 people have shared how different actions I did/things I shared over the last 8 years have changed the course of their lives and careers.

🥰 One friend shared how the personal challenge I set myself in 2017 called '40 Days of Facing Fear' has stayed with her and she's copied this challenge for herself twice since. It's led to her changing careers, getting intentional about the life she wants to live and has got her doing things she kept putting off for "some day". See image below of the small yet personal 'facing fear' steps she's taking before Christmas :)

✨ At the Facilitation Matters festival another connection shared last week that a post I shared in 2019 about The Emotional Culture Deck introduced her to the tool and has since changed the course of her life and career. It was such a beautiful moment as I've personally seen online how many lives she's positively impacted over the last 5+ years :)

😊 Is there someone who has positively impacted your life that you could reach out to and thank today?

Again, you never know where a conversation, idea, event/meeting or a connection will go.

Keep going and trust the process :)

28/07/2025

It was a joy to celebrate friend, inspiring human and fellow coach Jodie Shelley's book launch of her THIRD book yesterday :)
Jodie's author profile: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61551414352876

Well done Jodie Shelley Writes!! In her speech she shared that when she talked about first writing a book that an agent gave her the advice "not to do it as the market is oversaturated". Yet, she did because (a) she's a great writer and (b) there's joy found in creative pursuits and seeing a goal through from ideation to ex*****on.

Imagine if we all listened to that type of advice that the agent gave Jodie?
..To not change careers because "that career is already oversaturated"..To not create a new product to solve a problem because "there's already a similar product in the marketplace"..To not start a new group because "there's already a group like that out there"

The world would surely be a less inspiring, less connected and less innovative place.

Here's to the people that show us what's possible and remind us of what we're capable of! Thank you Jodie for being one of these inspiring people :)

Jodie's website to learn more about her writing and her books is in the comments below x

25/07/2025

The quality of our conversations is important now, and will become even more important with the growing reliance on AI as our 'thinking partner'. I'm excited to share 4 updates/offerings for (1) supporting people to have more impactful coaching conversations and (2), (3) + (4) supporting people in different contexts. All relevant links in the comments below.

Four updates/offerings:
[1] I'm facilitating an 'Intro to Professional Coaching' online workshop on Saturday 9th August 1pm - 2pm NZST / 11am-12noon Sydney time as part of the lead up to our 2025 RYLA Oceania Elevate programme (everyone is welcome to attend this online workshop). Link to register in the comments below :)

[2] I'm delighted to share I'm now a delivery partner for Ignite Aotearoa Wellbeing for workplaces and individuals

[3] You can also find my leadership & career coaching services approved on the BOLDLY - Get A Coach application

[4] I'm still actively looking for a 'dream role' 4 days per week in a corporate organisation as a Culture and Workplace Wellbeing specialist/lead/senior advisor supporting the creation and role out of a strategy, programme and coaching interventions. This role would positively impact the performance and wellbeing of teams, increase leadership capability to support their teams and integrate wellbeing into the DNA of the workplace :)
p.s. Reason for 4 days: so that studying towards a Masters in Organisational Psychology is energetically sustainable :)

Thanks to everyone who has recommended roles my way, sung my praises or sent through recommendations to different employers. I appreciate each of you very much! x

14/07/2025

Today I start the Masters of Organisational Psychology programme with the University of Canterbury, part time and online for the next 3 years (eep!). [plus, an update below]

The last time I did university study was 11 years ago! It's been a big decision - I've been thinking of going back to study to further my understanding about creating thriving and psychologically safe workplaces for 2 years now! This week is about adjusting to part-time study, supporting 1:1 coaching clients & continuing to explore opportunities with different organisations :)

p.s. As I'll likely be going back into corporate/contracting within the next 1-2 months, I'm offering my coaching services in July and August at 50% off to support as many people as I can before my availability goes away.. Feel free to DM me for the discount code, or book a free 20minute call at the link in the comments below to see if we'd be a good fit to work together :)

12/06/2025

I did an intro post on LinkedIn after reaching over 3000+ followers there, so I thought I'd share it here :)

"Reaching over 3000 followers on LinkedIn feels like a milestone (and there's been an influx of connection requests since achieving my International Coaching Federation PCC accreditation). So, I think it's about time I re-introduce myself 🙂 Here are 8 things that people may not know about me:

[1] My original training was in law and I did get admitted as barrister and solicitor! BUT I never officially ‘practised’ law (although I did voluntary work in community law). 3 weeks before finishing the ‘legal professional skills course’ (final step to being admitted to the bar in NZ) I was granted a scholarship to attend an Outward Bound New Zealand 21 day programme. It was the first time I experienced the power of coaching & experiential leadership development. As soon as I finished the course I applied for jobs in HR and leadership development alongside law jobs. Thankfully I got my first job in leadership development!

[2] I moved away from Auckland in 2009 and returned 14 years later in 2023 to be closer to ageing family members. During those 14 years I lived/studied/worked in: Dunedin, Wellington, England, Italy, Queenstown & Tauranga.

[3] I’ve been practising mindfulness & meditation since 2014. Initially I learned to meditate via listening to a podcast called ‘Learn to Meditate’. Since then I’ve been to Fiji to be taught by Thai Buddhist monks and stayed in an ashram in Bali where I was mentored by a spiritual master.

[4] The inspiration for doing impactful work came from the momentum gained by a personal 40 day challenge I created called '40 Days of Facing Fear' in 2017. I published this daily to my Facebook friends. Then it became a blog and I was even invited to speak about my learnings at a women's empowerment conference!

[5] My first foray into self-employment was in 2017 with coaching 1:1 clients and facilitating mindfulness courses for community and corporate groups. I will forever be grateful to Ovio Mindful Solutions for providing this training and opportunities.

[6] Volunteering and service have been integral parts of my life since I was 5. Our family had a lot of help with looking after my older brother who was disabled and terminally ill with brain cancer. This profoundly influenced my desire to give back. Since 2014 some causes I support include: The Cancer Society, Camp Quality New Zealand, One Percent Collective & RYLA - Rotary Youth Leadership Awards.

[7] Career highlights include Intentional Generations being awarded a fellowship by The Women's Impact Alliance for the online & community support we provided during the Covid-19 lockdowns, facilitating workshops for Google Cloud conferences & training new NeuroLeadership Institute coaches.

[8] A resource I created about my experiences with 'Reintegration Anxiety' after the Covid-19 lockdowns went viral online and international organisations found my work and asked me to consult for them and speak at their online conferences.

Nice to e-meet you!
Jen

08/06/2025

Exciting news! 🎉
I'm proud to support the upcoming edition of Startup Weekend Auckland as a mentor & coach, happening this Friday after work 13th June - Sunday 15th June at GridAKL :)

There are only 4 tickets remaining and the team are looking for developers / coders. Check out the link in the comments below to learn more and to get your ticket.

Join us for a weekend of innovation, collaboration, and entrepreneurship. Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting out, Startup Weekend is the perfect opportunity to turn your ideas into reality. Get your ticket now! x

03/06/2025

Humbled to be featured in the series 'Alumnae Thriving on the Road Less Travelled' by my high school Diocesan School for Girls. I was invited to share my experiences of overcoming challenges & setbacks, my career experiences, the achievements that I'm most proud of and what my advice would be for current students at Dio.

𝐀𝐥𝐮𝐦𝐧𝐚𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐨𝐚𝐝 𝐋𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 #𝟒
𝐉𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐟𝐞𝐫 (𝐉𝐞𝐧) 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠 (𝐏𝐘 𝟐𝟎𝟎𝟖)

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐃𝐢𝐨 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐮𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐝𝐞𝐭𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐩𝐬?
Dio taught me that unexpected detours and taking courageous leaps are supported by not only the resilience, adaptability we have within us but also by those who surround us. There's a lot that we personally can do and learn. However, with the support of others we are so much more resilient and can achieve so much more. I love the African proverb: "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together".

𝐇𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐨𝐫 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐞𝐭𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐬? 𝐈𝐟 𝐬𝐨, 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭?
Yes, absolutely! I initially thought I was either going to become a teacher/counsellor or lawyer, so I studied law and then got admitted to the bar. However, attending an Outward Bound course in 2014 showed me there were so many other more values-aligned paths outside of law. Within 6 months I transitioned from law into working in leadership development (specialist HR). The first few working experiences involved some rather toxic workplace cultures, so I also became fascinated about mental health, organisational psychology, coaching and neuroscience. Thanks to a redundancy I was able to fund myself on a well-regarded coaching course, and I've not looked back! I've learned a lot over the last 10+ years... especially, when one door closes another opens; make the most of opportunities; you are the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with (or, these days, view online) and always be learning.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐩𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐮𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐃𝐢𝐨?
Initially law. Then, leadership development, workplace wellbeing, youth development, entrepreneurship and learning & development (including setting up my own Leadership Development & Workplace Wellbeing consultancy in 2017). I've been fortunate to build an amazing network who saw my potential early in my career and they've been so generous with the mentoring and opportunities they've provided. I've also intentionally researched and/or been sponsored on to different life-changing opportunities, such as Spirit of New Zealand, Outward Bound and Rotary Youth Leadership Awards programme. Taking part in these programmes has broadened my perspective and often led to experiences in different industries.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭/𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐲?
I felt incredibly proud to be awarded a fellowship by The Women's Impact Alliance (previously called 'The Coaching Fellowship'). This award acknowledged the positive impact on peoples' wellbeing and organisational cultures that myself and my team of contractors had achieved since 2017 via Intentional Generations. Doing this work during Covid-19 was especially difficult - I ended up working pro bono for 3 months and then on reduced rates for the majority of the lockdowns to support many clients and essential service clients who were overwhelmed and burning out during this time period.

Another accomplishment was delivering a keynote talk at a conference in 2022 where Hilary Barry was the conference MC. After so many years of watching her on TV it was amazing to meet her in-person and to have a brief chat about different generations in the workplace and mental health. It was a bit of a fan-girl moment!

I'm also sincerely proud of the work/life/service balance I've managed to create over the last 8 years. I spend at least 2 weeks a year volunteering with different charities or facilitating youth leadership development programmes - often a highlight of the year. Service is one of my key values, which I believe was installed partly by my mum, as well as by Dio.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮?
Continuing to balance work, volunteering, part-time study and home life. After 14 years living away from Auckland, I'm now re-establishing my life here and am actively taking part in the local communities, different networking groups and meeting old and new friends.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐃𝐢𝐨?
Make the most of the opportunities that come your way - you never know where a conversation, connection or opportunity may lead you. That, and learn how to be kind to your mind and your health early on (these skill sets will stand you in good stead in life and career).

𝗕𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝘆𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗳𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆.

02/06/2025

Grateful to have attended Friday's M2woman Magazine Journey to Excellence event. Thanks Keri Little for putting the invite out to attend this as a group :)

Great line up of speakers talking about their journeys of resilience, leadership and tools to continue growing and thriving in challenging times:
👏 Melanie Homer (great MC),
👏 Mariele Klering (inspiring story about overcoming grief & finding strength through jiu-jitsu),
👏 Cynthia Hunefeld (I encourage everyone to look into her game-changing health product),
👏 Dr. Alexandrina (Alia) Bojilova (look up her incredible story & experiences ASAP),
👏 Danushka Abeysuriya (hilarious speaker & great educator on AI)
👏 & Naomi Ballantyne (one of the most grounded speakers I've heard giving advice on leadership & career progression).

Key takeaways:
- All speakers re-emphasised the importance of movement & its correlation with mental wellbeing (see photos of slides for studies mentioned)
- We don't become more resilient by thinking our way through it. We become more resilient through action.
- Social connection and community are key
- Let's rebrand 'imposter syndrome' (also let's stop asking it to women at conferences). Sometimes the fear or nerves is a sign of either newness or that we really care about something. We build confidence and resilience by doing the thing.
- Curiosity, open mindedness & willingness to learn are superpowers and essential for the present climate and future of work
- It's not about your title. It's about your values and the way you impact others.

Lovely also to reconnect & connect with inspiring leaders across Auckland :)

21/05/2025

SUPER excited to share that I'll be involved again as one of the facilitators of the amazing RYLA Oceania Elevate programme in Sydney (27th - 30th November). This is an amazing leadership retreat which provides space for participants to reflect on who they are, where they're at in life, where they want to be and how to get there (supported by the cohort & 3 amazing facilitators who have decades of experience in leadership development & coaching between them).

Super excited about supporting more inspiring community leaders to have time for them & to grow Rebecca Fry & team 🥰💜

🌟 Ready to take your leadership to the next level?

ELEVATE 2025 is a 4-day immersive retreat designed for RYLA Alumni and emerging leaders across Oceania. Think practical workshops, reflection time, social connection—and a whole lot of growth.

📍Blue Gum Lodge, Blue Mountains
📅 27–30 November 2025
🎟️ Tickets go live 1st June

Spots are limited, and they’ll go fast. Be the first to know when ticket sales open!

👉 Join our email list today—find it on our website.

19/05/2025

🎉 Celebrating today: THREE of my 1:1 career & leadership coaching clients have received amazing job offers after working together for only a short period of time (fortnightly sessions over 2-3 months!)

We started working together by:
✅ doing a free 30 minute 'strategy' session to assess what their goals were, where they were at in their life/career & if I was the right coach for them
✅ in the first 1-2 sessions we got crystal clear on what their top 3 goals were in their career & life over the next 6 months (one of the goals was typically to get clear on what they wanted in their next career move & either find new job opportunities or receive job offers in their next dream career move)
✅ then in sessions 2-6*, aligned with their life circumstances & capacity, co-created : customised roadmaps, steps/personalised strategies & figured out what resources & support they may need over the next 6 months
✅ *caveat: for one of my clients we paused our 6 session engagement at session 4 as she'd just been offered a job in her dream organisation and wanted to focus on adjusting to her new role 🙂

These are some of the wins that make being a coach 100% worthwhile 🙂

The flip side is that I now have 3 spots available for new coaching clients 😅

Know that you're not alone with where you're at in your career or life. If you're in a position or place in life where you're feeling stuck, unfulfilled or getting close to burnout and wanting to work in more intentional ways - please reach out for a confidential and no-obligation 30minute call to see if there's ways I can support 🙂. Link to my online scheduling assistant in the comments below

13/05/2025

Sharing a happy-cry moment: today, after 8 years & taking a 3 hours ethics exam (!) this morning, I can now share that I've achieved the 2nd highest global level of International Coaching Federation accreditation - Professional Certified Coach (PCC).

This milestone isn't just a certificate - it's a reflection of hours of learning & growth, a commitment to high standards of ethical practice, and most importantly, the incredible people who've trusted me to be part of their stories.

It's been a long journey to get to this point -
125+ hours of coach training
800+ hours of coaching clients 1:1 or in small groups
15+ hours of coach mentoring
Completing & submitting coaching recordings to be reviewed
Then, the final step today: a 3 hours online ethics exam

To every client I've worked with: THANK YOU. Every coaching conversation is a privilege and a pleasure to hold space for. It's been a highlight of my career over the last 10 years to coach and support all of you (not tagging names to respect privacy)🙂

Becoming a leadership, career & life coach over the last 8+ years has taught me a huge amount - not only about myself but also about how our brains impact us, about human behaviour, habit formation, goal setting & achievement, how to navigate change, how to design work & life intentionally and so much more.

Thank you to my coaches, coach mentors (including Kendra Strudwick, Tammy Turner & more) and supervisors. A special thanks and gratitude to Kendra Strudwick at the NeuroLeadership Institute for running the life-changing Brain Based Coaching Certificate in 2016, seeing my potential & bringing me on to the NLI faculty as a facilitator and coach a few years ago.

If you're currently experiencing or have an impending change in your career or life I'd love to connect. It turns out I'm really good at supporting people to figure out their next steps and design intentional careers & lives. Let's see how coaching might support your next step 🙂