About us

Pepperdown coaching & consultancy

SHORT STORY

Louise Norton is the founding member of Pepperdown. She has extensive business experience, primarily working as a Procurement Director in global organisations, such as Cable & Wireless, Alcatel-Lucent and Thales. Her career has led her to manage large global teams often going through major change and transformation programmes.

Louise’s leadership style has always focused on people first. If the people culture is not right, then performance will be affected, and company objectives will not be achieved. Therefore, her approach has been to build trust and openness with those around her. This style naturally led to a coaching approach with her team members and peers, leading to great success and a desire to develop her skills further.

Louise has a MBA in Supply Chain Management from Arizona State University and  is a member of the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (MCIPS). Louise trained as a Coach with TPC Leadership and the EMCC (European Mentoring and Coaching Council) and subsequently attained Global Individual Accreditation (EIA) as a Coach Practioner with the EMCC. After successfully coaching peers, executives, and others she decided to set up Pepperdown Coaching & Consultancy

After attending numerous leadership programmes throughout her career which included coaching programmes. Louise did not feel of any of these programmes supported her needs as a procurement leader and the complex issues she faced. Therefore, Louise decided that Pepperdown would meet this challenge and focus coaching and consultancy on the needs and issues that procurement leaders, other leaders and their teams face.

Pepperdown supports clients across many sectors, including infrastructure, technology and retail. Louise’s background of business including procurement, strategy development, leadership and organisational transformation means Louise understands the issues and challenges that many  leaders face.

Louise enjoys working at senior levels and collaborating with other professionals. She has strong network of procurement professionals, consultants and coaches which she can call upon if specialist support is required. 

Peter Mills is a a Principle Consultant specialising in supporting procurement organisations. He has extensive procurement experienced gained over 30 years  and has held executive procurement positions in technology companies such as BT, Telenor, Nokia and Lucent Technologies as well as public sector bodies. His expertise includes procurement, commercial contracts, bid management, organisational transformation, sourcing and supplier management, contracts and category management. 

Peter has initiated and managed procurement transformation programmes, setting procurement policy for the future. He is a highly respected in the industries he has worked within  and has achieved multi-million savings  contributions, directly impacting profitability – while also improving operational and financial efficiencies.

Peter is a proven leader and organisational change maker, having led and delivered sustainable change and business transformation in demanding commercial and operational positions. 

Peter recognises that for a relationship to be sustainable and flourish there must be wins for both sides. Procurement is much more than one transaction, its about multiple relationships, including healthy dialogue and inclusion. 

Peter is a member of the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (MCIPS) and also passes on his knowledge, insight and experience as an active member of Dorset Business Mentors.

Sally Chesman is a Coach & Consultant. Her background as a change specialist and procurement consultant has led her to transition into the dedicated delivery of Team and 1-2-1 Coaching supporting large scale organisational change.

Sally is an experienced coach of individuals and teams who are looking to improve their performance through increased collaboration and connection.  She supports her clients with career progression, navigating change, building confidence, and improving collaboration.  A strong believer that showing up as yourself and using your strengths and natural talents will get you what you want. Sally works with her clients to recognise the power of those strengths and put them to work.  A friendly and caring coach, with a natural conversational style, Sally will put you at ease and support you to uncover those hidden blockers that can get in the way and then move them aside.

Sally trained as a coach in 2016 with TPC Leadership and attained Global Individual (EIA) accredited status as Coach Practitioner with the European Mentoring and Coaching Council in 2020.  She also qualified as a Team Coach in 2020 with TPC Leadership.  

Sally specialises in working with teams to improve collaborative working, build trusted relationships and embed change through encouraging honest dialogue, developing alignment around purpose and developing winning mindsets.  She has a huge variety of tools and techniques at her disposal to ensure her sessions engage participants and deliver tangible results whether delivered virtually or in person.

six reasons why you need a coach

The top performing, best athletes in the world whether in individual or team sports all have coaches. If world class athletes need coaches, maybe you need one or more as well. Unsure? Here are six reasons you need a coach.

Improve Performance

The primary reason why people get coaches is to improve their performance. Usually, there is a specific area in mind. Where do you want to improve? Do you want to be a better communicator? Manager? Leader?

A coach can help, but not necessarily in all areas. This is why professional sports teams employ multiple coaches. The different coaches each specialise on a particular position. As a manager or organisation leader, you play multiple roles. Therefore, you may need multiple coaches. The same coach who helps you work on management or leadership may not be who you select to improve your speaking or writing.

Of course, it’s not feasible to have lots of coaches, so pick the area where you can benefit the most from coaching and find one that understands your business and requirements. Focus on that area until you are satisfied.

Receive Objective Feedback

If you are a manager or leader, you are the boss. As the boss, you have power over your team. No matter how honest you think your team is, you will always wonder if they are telling you what you want to hear, not what you need to hear.

Remember the emperor with no clothes? No one wanted to be real with the emperor. A coach is real with you. Coaches give you honest feedback and honest evaluations. They give you feedback you need without fearing how you will take it.

Gain Knowledge

Coaches may have experience that you can benefit from. A coach can help you avoid paying tuition to the school of hard knocks. Moreover, a coach will know techniques and tricks that can up your game. Why learn things the hard way if you can learn another way?

Be Accountable

Coaches hold you accountable. They give you someone to answer to. When you are accountable to someone, you get more done. You complete the hard tasks that are necessary, but unpleasant. It becomes more difficult to procrastinate.

Get a Sounding Board

It is hard to be a leader. You are on your own. You are the king of the island and expected to have all of the answers. You do not want to show uncertainty even when you are unsure of your direction. A coach gives you someone to bounce ideas off of, someone to offer guidance in turbulent times.

Gain Positive Reinforcement

Another function for coaches is giving positive reinforcement when you are on the right track. When you are doing the right thing, but the results are slow to arrive, a coach will keep you focused and steady.