Adrian O'Gara
Welcome.
I'm Adrian, the founder of GARA, a human-centred growth consultancy.
For over 25 years, I’ve helped leaders and teams navigate complexity, unlock human potential and build cultures where people and performance grow together.
I lead a collective of experienced consultants and coaches, all united by one belief — when people grow, business thrives.
And, I stay hands-on — whether I’m designing a transformation journey, facilitating a team workshop or coaching a leader one-to-one.
Read on to understand how I can personally support you.
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My Coaching Philosophy
Real growth doesn’t come from trying harder. It comes from being yourself, more. It's not about adding more — it’s about reconnecting with your authentic self. It's about really seeing your strengths and trusting your inner wisdom. Reconnecting with the latent potential that's always been waiting beneath the surface. My approach blends the results of commercial consulting, the depth of gestalt psychology and the impact of executive coaching. I help leaders notice what holds them back, understand the patterns beneath it and find new ways to act with purpose and presence. Clients describe my style as calm, intuitive and grounded — a space that feels safe, yet stretching. A place where insight meets action and reflection becomes growth. See below for client testimonials and FAQs about my coaching practice.
Programmes
No two people are the same. So, I’ll design a coaching journey tailored to your specific needs and outcomes. The focus always starts with you and expands from there. Here are some common themes.
Authentic Leadership
Discover and embody your genuine leadership style and presence. Explore your personal values, philosophy and leadership stance — building adaptability, confidence and impact that inspires true followership. Develop the self-awareness and gravitas to lead with purpose, clarity and calm under pressure.
Self Leadership
Strengthen your inner foundation — clarity, confidence and motivation — to realise your full potential. Build awareness of your values, patterns and strengths to enhance your personal impact and sense of purpose. Shift from self-doubt to self-trust, creating space for growth, balance and sustainable success.
Change Leadership
Go beyond managing change to leading it with vision and empathy. Develop a leadership mindset that balances tasks and relationships — inspiring trust, ownership and shared purpose. Align teams and stakeholders around a clear direction to create commitment and momentum for lasting transformation.
Relational Intelligence
Increase emotional agility and social awareness to manage pressure and maintain balance. Deepen empathy and understanding to build trust and navigate relationships with confidence and tact. Recognise triggers, manage your inner critic, and lead others through challenge and change with presence and integrity.
Navigating Transitions
Move confidently through career transitions, promotions or greater responsibilities. Envision and deliver your first 90 days with maximum impact. Strengthen your ability to influence, manage stakeholders and build credibility. Develop the visibility, strategic thinking and interpersonal skills needed to thrive in complex, high-stakes environments.
Mental Fitness
Achieve sustainable performance and emotional flexibility to reach goals without burnout. Address imposter syndrome, perfectionism and overextension — staying grounded, confident and energised under pressure. Build the habits, boundaries and self-compassion that support long-term wellbeing and resilience.
Ethical Influence
Communicate with confidence, authenticity and integrity. Build your ability to influence and persuade while staying true to your values. Strengthen your storytelling, clarity and presence in moments that matter — inspiring trust and followership through your words, tone and energy.
Team Growth
Align leadership teams around shared purpose, values and priorities. Build safety, trust and collaboration through open dialogue and collective accountability. Facilitate honest conversations about what helps and hinders performance — co-creating new ways of working that strengthen connection, creativity and results.
Group Growth
Curated groups of like-minded leaders to share insights, build awareness and accelerate learning. Create a confidential and developmental space where peers can explore real challenges, exchange perspectives and learn from each other’s experiences. Encourage reflection, experimentation and collective wisdom in action.
Client Testimonials
Benjamin P Taylor
CEO
RedQuadrant
I am still reflecting on your excellent coaching. A good, practical, deep yet gentle way to find out more about how one behaves and the underlying drivers. Working at this level creates a strong positive mindset shift.
Claire Briscoe Managing Director
The Floow
Adrian is extremely relatable and asks the right questions to get you thinking more deeply and clearly. I began to realise which behaviours were supporting me and which weren’t. I can now dial-up or down my behaviours to improve my leadership approach and stay true to my values.”
Josh King,
Head of Industry
Facebook (Meta)
I gained clarity on my goals, values and what truly drives me. It was a safe, reflective space where I could explore these insights fully. Going beyond surface-level goals and understand what really motivates me to succeed.
FAQs
What's your background?
After 20 years leading sales, marketing and customer experience teams, I realised the most powerful growth doesn’t start with strategy — it starts with people. For the past decade, I’ve helped leaders and teams unlock potential, build cultures of growth, and lead change that lasts.
What’s your coaching style?
Warm, perceptive and pragmatic. I bring both empathy and challenge — helping you see yourself and your world more clearly. Clients often describe our work as deep yet practical, with insights that shift how they think, feel and lead.
What do clients typically work on?
Leaders often come to work on presence, influence, resilience and confidence. Some are preparing for new roles or navigating transformation. Others want to strengthen relationships, build high-performing teams or find a calmer, clearer way to lead. The focus always starts with you — and expands from there.
What are your coaching credentials?
I’m an ICF accredited Professional Certified Coach (PCC) with advanced training diplomas in executive and team coaching — working systemically and relationally in Gestalt and Acceptance and Commitment Theory. I’m also a Mental Health First Aider and member of European Mentoring and Coaching Council. Before coaching, I spent two decades in commercial leadership roles at global organisations.
I have more questions
I'm more than happy to have a call or answer an email with your questions. You can find a convenient time in my calendar or drop me an email below.
What can I expect from your coaching?
Coaching is a partnership — a trusted space to pause, reflect and refocus. Together, we’ll explore what’s working, what’s holding you back, and what wants to emerge next. You’ll leave each conversation with greater clarity, calm and confidence to act with intention and impact.
What makes your approach different?
I bridge the worlds of business and human development. With over 25 years in commercial leadership and advanced training in executive, team and systemic coaching, I bring both evidence and experience. My work goes beyond behaviour change — it’s about awareness, adaptability and authentic leadership that lasts.
Do you work internationally?
Yes. I work virtually with clients across the globe and I coach in person across London and the South East of England, UK.
What results can I expect?
Clients describe lasting shifts in confidence, resilience and presence. They lead with more purpose, balance and authenticity — influencing others through who they are, not just what they do.
How do we begin?
It starts with a conversation — to explore your goals, your challenges and what really matters. From there, I’ll design a coaching journey tailored to your specific needs and outcomes. So, let's talk. You can find a convenient time in my calendar or drop me an email below.
