Anne O Leary

Anne is founder and owner of the Parent Nest. With 4 young children, she absolutely understand the rollercoaster for parent’s. As Anne began her own parenting journey, she experienced first-hand just how hard and challenging the transition to parenthood can be, and quickly realised that it is an area that many don’t speak openly about for many reasons, and the importance of meaningful supports.

Anne’s career has spanned Finance, Operations, Business Development and Sales, before setting up her own business to Nurturing, Empowering and Supporting parents after a new bundle(s) arrives into their lives, helping them to navigate all the Transitions that this time can bring.

As an executive coach, Anne empowers parents and the organisations that employ them, with the tools and strategies to support a smoother return to work. The focus is to empower the parent, making sure they feel confident and in control, supporting them to identify and reduce guilt and anxieties, practical planning, setting boundaries, improving work-life balance, all focusing on setting the parent up for a smooth transition back to the workplace after leave.

At The Parent NEST, Anne works with organisations and their people managers to better support employees during the transition back, through training and guidelines, helping promote consistency for employees and improving attraction and development of key talent.

Anne is also a Postpartum Doula and a Certified Infant Massage Instructor (CIMI) with the International Association of Infant Massage.  Through her baby massage and mum and baby classes, she support parents in many aspects of life after baby. Empowering and supporting parents through meeting other parents at a similar stage with their babies. These classes help create a village/support network for parents to lean on as they are navigating their parenting journey.

Anne’s experience in transition coaching:

‘My coaching focus and specialism is in transition coaching. This is the area of coaching I work in daily with my clients. I predominantly coach parents
(mothers) who are on leave from work and finding the transition into parenthood difficult, and coach them navigating the transition back to the workplace after leave. Each coachee that I work with, has their own unique set of circumstances, history, goals, objectives, focus. Some examples, not an exhaustive list of areas I have supported clients through:
– Increasing confidence
– Identifying and reducing overwhelm
– Identifying core values
– Identifying and overcoming guilt
– Setting Boundaries
– Time Management
– Improving communication
– Identifying Strengths and Skills
– Understanding their ideal Scenario
– Workplace Challenges
– Home Challenges
– Childcare Challenges
– Practical preparation through transitions
– Imposter Syndrome
– Setting goals and objectives
– Career direction
This is where my passions lie, supporting those navigating the challenges and opportunities that arise through transitions. Particularly when the change is
impacting both their personal and professional lives. For many, they can be taken by surprise at how challenging they are finding the transition. And perhaps at a point they didn’t think it would be hard. For example, many transitioning back to the workplace can feel overwhelmed and struggle 3 months after being back. I firmly believe ensuring supports are available during any transition, at this unique time in a persons life can have positive implications for their professional and personal lives for years to come. Alongside working 1:1 in person and online with my private clients, who are at various stages of their transition journey, I also currently work with a number of companies as their external coach, coaching their returners: Willis Tower Watson, IRFU, County Wexford Chamber Skillnet  (L5 Bus Admin participants) and Dogpatch Labs.’

Anne is equipped to facilitate and coach in all 6 stages.  However, her top 3 are:

1. Parents Returning to Work
2. Executive Coaching
3. Redundancy Support