Who are we?
We are a team of experienced, professional coaches on a mission to change who is successful in academia. Between us, we have many years’ experience supporting academics to do things differently at every career stage. We are all accredited members of the European Mentoring and Coaching Council (EMCC) or equivalent.
kate tapper
I founded Your Research Matters after 20 years in researcher development. I’ve led national programmes and been a Vitae coach for international research leaders. I now specialise in working with researchers who care deeply about making a difference. I help you get clearer, calmer and more strategic about where you put your energy so you can enjoy sustainable success in academia and beyond.
areas of expertise
Getting unstuck – move past paralysing overwhelm and gain traction on the projects that will move your career on.
Overcoming self-doubt - find your voice, your vision and the courage to take the next step.
Raising your visibility – feel good about sharing who you are and what you do – while avoiding awkward self-promotion.
how i work
I believe your most powerful coach is your own inner voice and that it’s my job to help you hear it. Working with me you can expect insightful challenge, intuitive wisdom, creative inspiration, and compassionate support. You will experience deep acceptance that allows you to reimagine success, reimagine leadership and find ways to let things be easier.
IN A CLIENT’S OWN WORDS
“Kate's coaching sessions have been transformative for me - I could not be more grateful for her help. I contacted Kate after three failed job interviews, when my confidence was at an all-time low and a fourth interview (for a much-coveted promotion) was only two weeks away. Even the initial consultation with Kate helped me to get back into the right mindset and, over the course of three coaching sessions, Kate guided me through quite a journey. Kate has an amazing ability to get to the root of the problem quickly, no matter how confused I feel things are. She has an infectious positivity throughout the session, but is able to summarise exactly why things may feel overwhelming or challenging - which provides some much needed validity. After just three sessions, Kate has been able to share some key tools with me which I use on a daily (if not hourly) basis. Everything Kate suggested was relevant to my situation, grounded in common sense and always effective. I feel very grateful to Kate for where I am today, and have recommended her coaching to numerous colleagues.”
Background
Over the years I have worked with thousands of academics and higher education leaders on national career development programmes as well as team and individual coaching. I am a European Mentoring and Coaching Council (EMCC) Senior Practitioner, a Vitae coach and a researcher development partner at UCL, Kings College London, University of Oxford, University of Bristol and the GW4 Alliance. I worked in teaching and higher education before starting my own consultancy in 2008.
abi boughton thomas
I work with academics who are balancing work with family life. I create space for you to think and find ways to get your own work done alongside your caring responsibilities. I also specialise in working with neurodivergent clients and those who have experienced trauma.
areas of expertise
Family resilience – work with your current reality and find stability and calm.
Creating healthy habits – to achieve work, home, health and wellbeing goals.
Restoring focus – find ways to focus on deep work and minimise distractions.
how i work
What we create together is calm, and choice – choice to decide on new directions, to change habits, to enjoy the journey. I can show you a range of straightforward, researched techniques for reducing anxiety to free up your best thinking. I support you to think creatively and kindly about your challenges, what you want from your life and how you are going to get there.
IN A CLIENT’S OWN WORDS
“I was feeling thoroughly overwhelmed when I started working with Abi. Life was busy, work was busy, I was running around all the time but getting nowhere! Abi helped me to stop and breathe; to focus on what is really important and to set new priorities and boundaries. I now have a plan and the confidence to stick to it… and to say ‘no’ when something doesn’t fit. Life is still hectic, but Abi has helped me to develop the skills and confidence to deal with it more calmly and with good humour. It sounds trite but she has honestly changed my life.”
Background
I am an EMCC senior coaching practitioner with extensive coaching experience, supporting diverse people with issues ranging from career progression to coping with mental wellbeing challenges. I have a background in speech and language therapy and providing evidence-based wellbeing programmes in primary care settings for people experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties. I am a solution-focused coaching supervisor and a coach on community coaching programmes for academics and doctoral students.
gary reed
I work with academics who want to find their own authentic leadership style. This includes emerging leaders and established organisational leaders. I help you to uncover the values and strengths that will define your leadership approach and to talk about them with confidence.
areas of expertise
Clarifying goals and direction – where do you want your academic career to go?
Leading as yourself – understand your values and strengths and how to use them.
Maintaining integrity – get past political manoeuvring and progress with honesty.
how i work
I offer a blend of coaching and mentoring to best suit your needs. My own career history includes working as a management academic and as a Director of Research and Innovation and I am always happy to share insights from my own experience. I listen deeply to you and offer feedback and observations to help you think more deeply and makes choices about your own way forwards.
IN A CLIENT’S OWN WORDS
“First of all, Gary is a fantastic career coach! I found interaction and engagement with Gary really insightful and tremendously helpful. Gary provides useful, practical, strategic advice and most importantly inspiring mentoring. He is knowledgeable, helpful, supportive and clear on not only providing but also elaborating and digging deep into all the up-to-date information on various aspects of the career journey. He is really gifted in identifying the issues that might be troubling us at the specific point in our career and can forge a strong connection by employing what I would characterise as a novel Socratic method building trust and fostering critical thinking on the multiple fronts of your career path and journey as well as your personality. I am so happy to share that after having these sessions with Gary I managed to secure a permanent post in my field within less than a year. I can still recall how better I performed in interviews following the sessions with Gary!”
Background
I am an EMCC senior coaching practitioner with a background in academia (as a management academic) and higher education leadership (as Director of Research and Innovation at Aberystwyth University). I have been a lecturer and programme leader for postgraduate programmes and an external examiner at Loughborough University and Limerick Institute of Technology. More recently I have worked with Welsh Government, HEFCW, Universities Wales, and higher education institutions supporting Leadership, Management, Governance, Learning & Teaching, and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Kemi oladapo
I work with academics who are committed to being person-centered, purposeful and inspiring in their leadership approach – whatever their level of seniority. I also specialise in supporting academics from a global majority background to thrive in their career.
areas of expertise
Life transitions – navigate life and work transitions and setbacks.
Developing a track record – demonstrate delivery and ripple effect change.
Self-protection – find ways to look after yourself when creating change.
how i work
I work collaboratively with you whether the starting point is working through obstacles like confusion, exhaustion and uncertainty or towards your development goals. Together, we improve your clarity, purpose, confidence and optimism and connect with your own resourcefulness so you can make the progress you desire.
IN A CLIENT’S OWN WORDS
“Working with Kemi was phenomenal and impactful from the very beginning. Her human centred approach is delivered with professionalism, expertise, and care. Working with Kemi has helped me become better equipped with the tools needed to practice meaningful leadership, enhancing both my personal and professional environment, for myself and the communities around me.”
Background
I am an ILM level 7 executive mentoring and coaching practitioner with a background in people and organisational development. I hold a masters in organisational behaviour from Birbeck college, London. I have held senior leadership positions to Associate Director level within Health and Higher education and my own team won a regional award in 2019. I now facilitate national leadership programmes for global majority academics and coach one-to-one and on community programmes for academics.
Find out more about coaching.
Contact us at hello@yourresearchmatters.com