Hi, I’m Jen Walker - founder of The Opal Lens
One of the greatest passions of my career has always been the people I work with - supporting someone in realising what they were truly capable of; helping build confidence where there was self-doubt; working with teams to navigate the pressure that defines agency life.
Having risen to Managing Director, I’ve lived first-hand the pressure and pace at every level that define agency life and how easily workloads, deadlines and client demands can make us lose sight of who we are and what we’re capable of. As a leader, I believe that the most powerful investment any organisation can make is not in technology or training, but the long-term soft skill development of its people.
That’s what led me into coaching. I believe that real, transformative, one-to-one coaching shouldn’t only be given to senior leaders. It is something that can help everyone, regardless of job title or area of responsibility. From Account Executive to Director and Founder, everyone in the workplace deserves access to it. The Opal Lens exists to deliver that.
My experience stretches almost 20 years, leading teams and agencies across the PR and communications industry in London. I’ve run the full gamut - at Frank, The Academy, MHP, Golin, MSL (Publicis) and Porter Novelli (Omnicom), and working with brands from P&G and Kimberly-Clark to Amazon and Hewlett-Packard, Bacardi Martini Limited and Peroni Nastro Azzurro to Mondelēz and Nestlé; Hammerson Shopping Centres to The Mexico Tourism Board.
Did you know opals and people have a lot in common?
Both are unique - no two on this planet are the same. They are a mix of order and disorder. A product of their environment, shaped by rainy days and high pressure. They appear strong on the surface, yet are fragile and require gentle handling.
All are complex, beautiful and valuable.
Opals can also look different depending on how you view them - and so do we.
Consider how we view ourselves; how we view and are viewed by those around us – loved ones, employers, peers and our communities. The lens through which we see ourselves and the world around us shapes who we are and how we react, behave and perform in different situations.
Coaching is a process that brings that into focus and empowers us to make the necessary adjustments or perhaps find a new lens altogether.
Is coaching the right approach for you?
If you are looking for someone to give answers, tools and instruction, coaching isn’t what you need. At least, not right now.
If you’re looking for a partner to help you, or someone on your team, take ownership, think more deeply about themselves and what they have control over in order to find solutions that actually fit - coaching can do exactly that.