About Me

I’m Helen Tovey, a coach, facilitator, consultant and interim leader working with people and organisations across the arts, culture and charity sectors.

I help people and organisations navigate change, make thoughtful decisions and turn ideas into meaningful action.

With more than 20 years’ experience in the sector, including as a Marketing Director and CEO, I understand the opportunities and pressures.

If you’d like to stay in touch, follow me on LinkedIn, or feel free to book in a call to explore how I might be able to help.

How I help

I work with individuals, teams and organisations in three main ways:

Executive, leadership and team coaching: Confidential coaching to help leaders and teams build confidence, navigate complexity and increase their impact.

Strategy, facilitation and organisational development: Practical support with strategy, values and behaviours, organisational change, team development and complex conversations.

Interim leadership: Experienced interim CEO and Director-level leadership during periods of transition, change or increased organisational pressure.

What clients often look for

People often come to me when they want support with:

  • Becoming a more confident and effective leader.

  • Navigating a new role or increased responsibility.

  • Leading through uncertainty or change.

  • Improving relationships and communication.

  • Making difficult decisions.

  • Developing a strategy that people can understand and act on.

  • Creating greater alignment across a leadership team.

  • Clarifying organisational values and behaviours.

  • Preparing for a new phase of organisational development.

  • Finding an experienced interim CEO or Director.

Who I work with

I work primarily with:

  • Individuals looking for support outside of their organisation.

  • Freelancers and small companies.

  • CEOs, executive directors and senior leaders.

  • Emerging and established managers.

  • Boards and trustees.

  • Leadership teams navigating change.

  • Arts organisations.

  • Cultural organisations and institutions.

  • Charities and not-for-profit organisations.

My clients are often working in complex environments with ambitious missions, limited resources and multiple stakeholders. They may be facing growth, uncertainty, transition, organisational change or the need to rethink how they work.

Where I work

I’m based in London and support clients across the UK, remotely or in person, depending on the project and location. I work with organisations and leaders across the arts, culture and charity sectors.

  • Why work with me?

    I understand the world in which arts, culture and charity leaders operate and bring experience of working with these realities. I bring:

    - More than 20 years’ experience in the arts, culture and charity sectors including the Art Fund, Unicorn Theatre and the National Theatre and guest lecturing MA students at Mountview.

    - Experience as a CEO and senior leader.

    - A strong understanding of governance and stakeholder environments.

    - Experience supporting organisations through transition and change.

    - A practical, thoughtful and collaborative style.

    - The ability to create clarity without oversimplifying complexity.

  • My approach

    I combine strategic perspective, practical leadership experience and a coaching approach that enables people to think for themselves.

    I aim to create conversations that are:

    - Honest and constructive.

    - Warm but appropriately challenging.

    - Grounded in the realities of organisational life.

    - Focused on what matters most.

    - Connected to practical action.

    I do not arrive with a one-size-fits-all answer. Instead, I work with each person or organisation to understand the context, identify what is needed and develop an approach that is both realistic and useful.

  • Training & qualifications

    I continually invest in my personal and professional development as part of holding myself to high standards as a Coach and Facilitator. Here are some of my key qualifications:

    - Postgraduate Certificate in Coaching for Behavioural Change from Henley Business School

    - Professional Certificate in Executive Coaching from Henley

    - Leader as Coach training with Henley

    - Strategic Planning with Aspire Leadership

    - Mini MBA in Marketing with Mark Ritson

    - Clore Leadership Pulse

    - BA (Hons) Fine Art Painting, Brighton University - First Class

  • "Helen has a positive outlook and an ability to think cross organisationally at the same time as focusing on key priorities and delivery. She is an excellent listener who creates practical workable solutions to any challenge."

    —CEO, arts charity

  • "Helen helped me to feel at ease with my experience, my instinct and my expertise ... I am deeply grateful for Helen’s support, insight and steady presence during such an important life and career transition."

    —Artistic Director

  • "Coaching has given me valuable insights and tools I actually use. Six months on, I am more settled, more confident, and in a place I can build rather than react. I'd recommend Helen to any leader navigating restructure or upheaval, especially one whose confidence has taken a knock."

    —Senior communications leader in arts & culture

  • "I found our sessions to be very valuable. I highly recommend Helen to anyone looking to help free their thinking and continue moving forward."

    —COO in arts & culture

  • "Through warmth, kindness and acute, quiet scrutiny, Helen enabled me to feel enlightened, empowered and focused on the task ahead."

    —Steven Greenhalgh, Senior executive in theatrical rights & acquisitions

Services I offer

  • Executive, leadership & team coaching

    I partner with leaders, emerging leaders and teams, often at moments of transition and change. I support CEOs, executive directors, senior leaders, heads of department and leadership teams to build confidence, navigate complexity and increase their impact.

    Find Out More

  • Facilitation, consultancy & interim leadership

    I facilitate senior leadership team sessions, board and trustee away days, strategy days and workshops. I also provide training, group coaching and strategy development consultancy, and take on interim CEO and Director-level roles.

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  • Contact me

    If you are considering coaching, facilitation, consultancy or interim leadership support, I would be very happy to have an initial conversation.

    You may already have a clearly defined brief, or you may simply know that something needs attention and want to think it through with someone experienced and independent.

    Find Out More