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ICP 291 Sue Stockdale on Taking Risks and Being The First British Woman To Ski To The Magnetic North Pole

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In this episode you’ll learn:

  • What Sue had to do reach the magnetic North Pole
  • How small steps can lead to progress
  • How Sue sold her own business
Sue Stockdale profile picture smiling blue top

Sue Stockdale is the first British woman to have skied to the magnetic North Pole.

Having been introduced to the world of coaching working with pioneers such as Sir John Whitmore, Sue brings executive coaching and new leadership thinking to charities and nonprofit organisations amongst many; with the aim of addressing some of the greatest humanitarian and environmental challenges of our time.

As well as carrying out a number of pro-bono activities as a coach, co-founder and podcast host for Access to Inspiration, She has a successful corporate career behind her, working with British Gas and also having worked with the United Nations.

More recently, I’ve had the pleasure to work with Sue on a number of projects including the Coaching in The Workplace virtual conference podcast, earlier this year, for the Association for Coaching.

Hear how Sue raised money and qualified to be the first British woman to reach the magnetic North Pole and what her that experience, and her life experience, has taught he so far.

Items mentioned in this episode (quick access):

[01:14] Introducing Sue Stockdale.

[02:30] Sue shares her philosophy 

[03:26] What inspires Sue’s sense of curiosity.

[05:45] How Sue got into athletics.

[08:05] Where Sue’s stamina comes from.

[08:45] What Sue learned from athletics.

[09:18] Being relentless.

[10:30] Sue reveals what she is not so strong at.

[14:46] How Sue found her expedition to the North Pole.

[16:49] Finding funding for her expedition.

[18:05] What Sue’s artic expedition taught her.

[21:54] What happened next. David Templeman-Adams.

[24:01] Public speaking.

[24:17] Crevasses in Greenland and cravasse zones in business.

[25:41] How small steps can lead to progress and motivate more progress.

[26:27] Managing risk and risk taking.

[27:54] Interviewing a professional poker player.

[30:05] Mission Possible: the business for women, which Sue sold.

[32:30] How Sue sold her own business.

[35:08] The moment when Sue knew she was to sell her business.

[36:26] What Sue did once she had sold the business.

[38:38] How Sue discovered coaching.

[40:24] Sir John Whitmore and the GROW model.

[42:01] The benefits of coaching; from Sue’s perspective.

[44:49] Making a difference with coaching.

[46:00] The lack of attention in the world these days.

[48:16] What’s inspired Sue recently.

[49:17] What Sue is grateful for today.

[50:16] What’s next for Sue.

[51:17] Download your free chapter here.

[52:05] Where you can connect with Sue.

Links and Resources:

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Quotes from this episode:

  • “For me, it’s about how you choose to use your time to pursue something that might mean you have to say no to some other things”
  • “When I start something I want to make sure it’s finished”
  • “We aren’t all things to all people…we do all have strengths in different ways”
  • “Look for people to work with you to fill in those gaps”
  • “No one else is going to do the work for us…we’ve just got to keep going”
  • “There will always be successes and failures…that’s the nature of life”
  • “If I can do good, the universe will supply me with some interesting opportunities in return”
  • “He was facilitating my thinking…that’s what I think a coach is…the skill of asking better questions”

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