GETTING TO KNOW FLEXCOACH MILENA MCKENZIE

FlexCareers is passionate about supporting our employer partners and our community to be the best that they can be.  We offer a range of training and coaching services in areas such as career transition and outplacement, parental leave, return to work, managing flexibility, interview skills, leadership and management, positive psychology, and diversity & inclusion – to name a few.

In this series, we introduce you to our panel of FlexCoaches, each who offer a complimen30-minute chemistry session to our community.

1.Milena, tell us about your career history?

I have worked in corporate roles for the last 20years. These roles have largely been in a leadership capacity for either Operations or Human Resources, and range from Line Management to   Organisational Development roles focusing on Leadership, Culture, Talent, Learning and diversity. Industries range from Airlines, FMCG, Telecommunications and Mutuals. My most recent corporate role was at the NRMA as their Head of Talent & Capability. Almost 2 years ago, I decided to make a change aligned with my passion and a desire to create more flexibility and launched my own HR and Executive Coaching consulting practice. I now partner with over 10 organisations and get to help individuals and organisation maximise their potential.

2.What was your motivation to become a coach?

I have a natural desire for leading others and noticed at an early age the impact of coaching for optimising performance. 10 years ago, I started researching how to build my expertise, began studying to gain formal acknowledgement and started coaching externally 5 years ago while I was juggling a corporate role with a view to transitioning into my own business at some point. With an intrinsic driver for helping others make a difference to their lives, I began my journey.

I have since found my alignment with Neuroscience and base my coaching practice around the wiring of the brain; why it responds the way it does and how through practical applied strategies, you can change thinking and behaviours for achieving sustained change and results.

3.Do you have any particular areas of coaching expertise? 

The area of coaching I gravitate towards is enabling individuals and organisations to stretch themselves to optimise potential. This can take effect either personally or professionally. Typical assignments include; performance coaching, transitional coaching for re-entry, promotion, seeking a change and/or retirement.

4.What do you love most about coaching? 

The opportunity to partner with someone who has a desire and the courage to make a change for themselves. The process of creating personal insights, which translates into action and ultimately delivers to them what they want to achieve, with tools for sustaining this change is my greatest reward.

5.How do you define success?

Success for me is defined by our chosen paths and how they lead to our achievements. I have always been inspired by the work of Paulo Coelho. He writes many stories of self-discovery, self-love, life and fulfilment.

“If you’re brave enough to say goodbye, life will reward you with a new hello.” Paulo Coelho

Nothing speaks more true to me than the times in my life when I have acknowledged and accepted that something was no longer fulfilling me the way I wanted. Success to me has always been when I took a deep breath and chose a path which my heart truly desired. The laser-sharp focus became my motivation and with that, I manifested the success I was after. And it has never failed me.

6.What is your vision for women in the workplace?

That all women can take on any role at any level and in whatever shape they may desire. To feel strong, confident in their abilities and valued for their thinking, experience and contribution.

About Milena

Milena is an experienced Business Coach, Facilitator and Consultant, Milena has a wealth of business experience working for the past 15 years in strategic business partnering and senior HR/ organisational development roles, across numerous industries, to develop leaders and transform organisational cultures. Activate Executive Coaching provides strategic HR consulting, bespoke individual and group coaching, the design and delivery of organisational programs including facilitation to realise organisational potential in the areas of growing high potential talent, leadership capability and cultural effectiveness.

Milena adopts a hands-on authentic approach to the identification, development and implementation of solutions, to achieve maximum impact and lasting change. Her approach seeks to align organisational goals and business context with individual drivers and personal development outcomes. Passionate about helping business leaders and organisations challenge their limits to exceed their potential. Her areas of specialisation include HR Strategic Consulting, High-Performance Coaching, Designing and building a highly engaged workforce, Design and delivery of Leadership Development (specialising in neuroscience) among others.

You can connect with Milena for a FREE 30min chemistry session to discuss your coaching needs here.

To connect with a FlexCoach and book a free chemistry session visit www.flexcareers.com.au/flexcoach.