Siobhán Dempsey Executive and Career Coach

24/06/2026

I was genuinely honoured to be invited to join the Centre of Learning - an integral part of Women in Business NI, as a mentor in their Mentoring Programme.

Being recognised by an organisation that champions and develops women in business is something I'm incredibly grateful for, and I'm excited to contribute to a programme that makes such a meaningful difference.

When Maria reached out, she said she felt I was "exactly the kind of woman we look for when recruiting mentors." Reading those words meant a great deal to me. It's always incredibly humbling when someone recognises not just your experience, but the difference they believe you can make in someone else's journey.

Throughout my career I've been fortunate to work across corporate, the public sector, training, coaching and leadership development. One thing has remained constant: I love helping people recognise their strengths, build confidence, navigate challenges and take meaningful steps towards the career and life they want.

That's why I was delighted to accept the invitation.

Over the next nine months, I'll be working alongside my mentee as she explores her goals and navigates her professional journey. While I'll no doubt be sharing my experience, I know from coaching that these relationships are never one-way. Every conversation is an opportunity to learn, grow and be inspired.

I'm passionate about helping people and organisations unlock potential - whether through mentoring, executive coaching, career coaching or leadership development. It's a privilege to play even a small part in someone's growth.

Here's to empowering more women to back themselves and thrive. 💙

18/05/2026

28/04/2026

I’m really pleased to share that I’ve recently started working with a number of women from the Euronext (𝘐𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘩 𝘚𝘵𝘰𝘤𝘬 𝘌𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦) Dublin Women’s Network (DWN), following a successful coaching pilot in 2025.

This collaboration was announced at their International Women’s Day event last month - a meaningful milestone for an initiative that is genuinely focused on supporting women’s growth and progression.

The DWN is an internal network dedicated to empowering, connecting, and advancing women across Euronext Dublin. It creates space for professional development, mentorship, and community - all with the aim of strengthening confidence, supporting career progression, and building a strong pipeline of female leaders.

As part of this work, I’m now partnering with a number of women across the Network, supporting them to build clarity in their careers, strengthen confidence, and navigate their next steps with intention.

I’m really looking forward to continuing this work over the coming months and connecting with more of the incredibly talented women within the network.

24/03/2026

Avoiding difficult conversations at work doesn’t make you a bad manager.
But it will hold you back.

Most of the women I work with aren’t struggling because they don’t care -
it’s the opposite.

They care so much that they:
→ overthink how to say things
→ worry about how they’ll be perceived
→ soften feedback to avoid upsetting someone
→ or avoid the conversation altogether

And then what happens?
Nothing changes.
Frustration builds.
Confidence takes a hit.

That’s exactly what we worked on over the last 4 weeks, in my 𝘎𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘋𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘵 𝘍𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘪𝘯 𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘍𝘦𝘢𝘳 programme.

Not scripts. Not corporate jargon.
But how to:
→ say what needs to be said clearly
→ handle reactions without taking it personally
→ set expectations and boundaries
→ and walk away without replaying the conversation for hours

Because this is what strong leadership actually looks like.
Calm. Clear. Direct.
Without losing yourself in the process.

Tomorrow is our celebration call - and the difference in these women is incredible.
If you know there’s a conversation you’ve been putting off…
this is your sign.

💬 DM me “CONVERSATIONS” and I’ll tell you what your next step could look like.

20/03/2026

One of the most common challenges clients bring to coaching is workplace conflict.

Not necessarily dramatic arguments. More often it is situations like avoiding a difficult conversation, managing tension with a colleague, or worrying about how feedback will be received.

These moments can quietly affect confidence, performance and career progression.

When they are handled well though, they often become turning points in someone’s leadership development.

A few practical approaches that help immediately:
• Pause before responding when emotions are high
• Focus on the issue rather than the person
• Ask questions before making assumptions
• Aim for resolution rather than being right

Strong leaders are rarely the loudest people in the room. They are often the ones who stay calm when conversations become uncomfortable.

If conflict situations at work are something you would like to handle with more clarity and confidence, my CLEAR Coaching Programme supports professionals to build those skills in a practical and structured way. Feel free to message me if you’d like to learn more. 😊

19/03/2026

Many professionals believe confidence means always feeling comfortable.

In reality, confidence often shows up as calm action in uncomfortable situations.

Handling conflict is one of those moments. When someone can stay composed, communicate clearly and focus on solutions, their leadership presence immediately grows. 💡

This skill does not appear overnight. It develops through awareness, practice and sometimes a bit of coaching support.

If you want to strengthen your confidence in these moments, you are not alone. Many professionals are working on this right now. 😊

Follow for practical leadership and career coaching insights.

18/03/2026

Workplace conflict is something many professionals struggle with, even highly capable leaders.

In this week’s LinkedIn 𝗘𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲 newsletter, I explore why conflict can feel so uncomfortable at work and how confident leaders learn to navigate difficult conversations with clarity and self-control.

Conflict handled well can actually strengthen trust, relationships and leadership presence.

If this is an area you would like to feel more confident in, the full article is available via the Elevate newsletter link in my bio.

17/03/2026

Conflict at work is uncomfortable for most people.

So they avoid it, overthink it, or rehearse the conversation in their head about 47 times before it happens. Sound familiar? 😅

In reality, conflict management is one of the most important leadership skills. When handled well it builds respect, clarity and stronger working relationships.

When handled poorly it drains energy, damages trust and can quietly stall someone’s career progression.

This week I’m sharing practical ways to navigate workplace conflict with more confidence and self-control. Follow along if this is an area you’d like to get stronger in. 💡

Follow for leadership and career coaching insights.

16/03/2026

Still thinking about Friday night’s event.

I was invited to speak at a beautiful style and makeup evening about something that sits underneath it all - confidence.

Because it's important to feel good on the outside, and this can definitely boost confidence, but the real transformation happens when someone starts to believe in themselves.

Standing on stage, I was reminded of something I often say in my coaching work:
Confidence isn’t something you have - it’s something you do.

Even as someone who speaks and coaches regularly, I still felt those nerves before stepping up. But confidence isn’t about waiting until the nerves disappear. It’s about showing up anyway - and this was a strong theme of my talk - just being willing to try...even if the nerves do show up.

Confidence grows through practice.

And what a room to show up for. The atmosphere was warm, supportive and full of women cheering each other on.

A huge thank you to the organisers for inviting me and to everyone who came along and shared such kind feedback afterwards. Hearing that the talk resonated with so many of you meant a lot.

Moments like these remind me why I do this work - helping women reconnect with their confidence and step more fully into who they are.

Thank you for having me.

Karen Murphy Speech, Drama & Communications
Suzanne Robinson Style
Dollypondmakeup

16/03/2026

Conflict at work is normal.
Avoiding it is also common…

Most professionals are comfortable with targets, deadlines and strategy. Conflict though? That’s where confidence suddenly goes quiet.

Avoiding conflict can feel easier in the moment. Many people were never taught how to handle disagreement calmly and professionally - especially in the workplace.

And yet conflict is a normal part of working with humans. Different perspectives, priorities and personalities will always exist. The real skill is learning how to respond to it without letting it escalate. 💡

This week we’re exploring conflict management and how strong leaders approach difficult situations with clarity and self-control.

What do you do when conflict appears at work?
1. Avoid it and hope it disappears
2. Address it quickly
3. Think about it for ages first
4. Wish someone else would deal with it

Vote in the poll or in the comments and tell me honestly which option sounds most like you. 😊

Follow for practical leadership and career coaching insights.