Lena Coates & Associates: Bespoke executive search and career coaching

Recognised as one of Australia’s most experienced consultants within the financial services sector, Coates decided to found her own boutique consultancy firm in 2018.

Lena Coates & Associates initially served as a bespoke executive search business, attracting highly skilled senior management talent to organisations.

“I only take on one client at a time and focus solely on that, so I form really strong relationships with them,” Coates explained.

“I found that clients kept coming back to me about career moves.”

Following feedback from her clients that there was a need for a more individualised and one-on-one approach to career coaching, Coates added personalised career coaching to her services.

Drawing on her extensive experience as an executive search consultant and career manager, Coates developed three unique programs tailored to clients’ individual needs: the 6MP, the 3MP and the 1HIT.

“With the 6MP, I go on a six-month journey with an individual to identify what their career or life goals are,” she said.

“The 3MP is a three-month program for people who are actively trying to get a role and have been unsuccessful.

“Over three months, we work through what I call their ‘tool box’: their resume, their elevator pitch, and how to actually answer the ‘tell me about yourself’ question.

“We look at all their tools then develop a three-phase strategy for going to market.

“After that it’s really coaching them through the interview journey.

“Lastly, the 1HIT program is a one-hour coaching session for those individuals who require specific coaching or guidance in a particular area or issue.”

Each of the programs requires clients to meet with Coates once a week, either in person or virtually.

The programs are delivered in a blended model, based on the specific context and the client’s needs.

“It’s very rewarding because I get to assist people in achieving important goals in their lives,” Coates said.

“I feel very privileged.”

While every program is personalised for the client in question, Coates explained that two of the most common areas of focus are clients’ resumes and interviewing skills.

“The hiring industry has changed so much because of technology; companies and recruiters are all using applicant tracking systems,” she said.

“People try to be creative and include as much information as they can in two or three pages of a resume, but what they don’t realise is that applicant tracking systems are designed with algorithms that pick up particular words or phrases.

“Resumes aren’t read until they’re shortlisted through this system.

“I help people with that in terms of the content and formatting of their resume, and how to extrapolate critical information for the role from the position description so that their resume has a better chance of getting through.

“When it comes to interviews, I help people to identify what makes them unique and what they can bring to that business.

“If you’re able to articulate your point of difference and negate any pre-conceived ideas to knock any potential concerns on the head at the beginning of the interview, the rest of it will flow beautifully.”

Eager to pursue professional development opportunities, Coates is currently engaged in getting accreditation with the International Coaching Federation (ICF), a leading global organisation dedicated to advancing the coaching profession by setting high standards, providing independent certification and building a worldwide network of trained coaching professionals.

“It’s quite a rigorous process to become a certified coach and it will help me to gain a number of new skills,” she said.

Coates is also looking to add transformational coaching to her programs in 2022.

Outside the office, Coates is involved in many community initiatives and organisations, among them the Italian-Australian Leaders of Tomorrow (ALTO).

With both sets of grandparents hailing from Stromboli, one of Italy’s eight Aeolian Islands, Coates discovered the organisation several years ago and was eager to become an ALTO member and support fellow Italo-Australians.

“I was invited along to an event by a committee member and I was blown away by the people there, the engagement and the quality of the guest speakers; the whole thing was fabulous,” she said.

 “ALTO is very successful at putting together events that are interesting and innovative, even during Melbourne’s lockdowns.”

Coates has participated in an ALTO event as a guest speaker herself, running a one-hour webinar on how to improve career opportunities and secure roles.

“My philosophy has always been that if you’re good at what you do and have genuine intentions, everything falls into place,” Coates concluded.