Zoe McAlpine Coaching & Consulting

10/03/2026

It was only today that I realised that earlier this year marked three years in business for myself.

When I started out, I had a clear belief about the work I wanted to do with leaders and organisations: strategy is only valuable when it actually becomes reality.

In the years since, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside executive teams, founders, and leaders who are navigating complex decisions including shaping strategy, building trust within teams, and turning big ambitions into practical action.

What I’ve learned (and continue to learn) is this:

Strategy rarely fails because of the plan.

More often, it struggles because of the human dynamics around it - resources, alignment, clarity, trust, and the courage to have the conversations that really matter.

The work I do now sits right at that intersection:

• helping leaders and owners think clearly about where they’re going
• creating space for honest, strategic conversations
• supporting teams to move from intention to aligned ex*****on

Some of the most rewarding moments over the past three years have been watching a team leave a strategy session not just with a document, but with genuine clarity, energy, and shared commitment about what happens next.

That’s where great results start to come alive.

I’m incredibly grateful to the leaders and organisations who have trusted me to work alongside them in that process. Your openness, curiosity and willingness to engage in the real work of leadership is what makes it meaningful.

Three years in, I’m more convinced than ever that thoughtful strategy combined with laser focus and strong leadership conversations is what turns plans into progress.

If you’re thinking about how to sharpen your strategy, align your leadership team, or turn plans into real momentum, I'd love to connect.

20/11/2025

What an incredible evening we had last night at the AIM WA Pinnacle Awards, a true celebration of business excellence across Western Australia.

From innovation and customer excellence to social impact and leadership, the calibre of finalists and winners was nothing short of inspiring. The Pinnacles shine a light on the talent, dedication, and values that WA businesses bring to their industries and communities, and it was a privilege to be in the room.

This is the second time Matt and I have sponsored an award through our business Structured Sales Consulting, and it was a huge privilege to be amongst such prestigious sponsors, each contributing in their own way to advancing excellence in WA.

My favourite thing about The Pinnacles is that it is a genuine platform to help our WA community. Each award winner is able to pick a chosen charity to receive $20,000 of AIM WA Training for their team - building better workplaces across the state and helping a sector that is hugely close to my heart, and that rarely has the resources to invest in training and development. Today, more than 10 WA charities are receiving such an impactful gift to help grow their people.

Congratulations Professor Gary Martin FAIM, Sandra Holloway, Alex Quinn FAIM Andrea Walters FAIM GAICD and the whole amazing AIM WA Team on an amazing achievement, and thank you for creating this platform to honour and elevate great leadership and business performance across our state.

Today I'm feeling proud to be part of such a vibrant and values-driven business community 🌟❤️🌟

06/11/2025

This is not the way I expected to start today ☺️🤷‍♀️

After a fantastic few days in Kalgoorlie for work, yesterday I was gearing up to spend my morning today working with one of my favourite clients on one of my favourite topics - leading people.

But our weather had other ideas, and my flight home last night was cancelled at the very last minute.

Yes, a bit of stress and quite a bit of anxiety crept in momentarily. I’m not in the business of disappointing people, and both my client and my family were occupying my mind … as was the prospect of my wonderful colleague and I spending the night at Kalgoorlie Airport, with not a room in town to be found.

And at the same time, this one was completely out of my control. My client understood with warmth and sympathy (thank you! 🙏) and whilst I was sad not to get home to my family, they were ok and this was temporary. Then, as luck would have it, we found a friend in town who had two very comfy couches and an abundance of blankets.

The lemons were turned into lemonade, and this morning I’m grateful to be on my way home.

We never know what curveball may come our way, and we can only control one thing: our response. Mindset is such a powerful tool, and we can use it to our own advantage both personally and professionally.

So right now I’m going to be grateful for that very powerful reminder … and to get on with rescheduling a few things ☺️

04/11/2025

How do you want to feel walking into 2026?

We all know we should take time to plan, but for all the (valid) reasons we know, we don't always make it happen.

That’s why I am again running my annual planning workshop - to help you set yourself and your business/work/organisation up for your best year yet in 2026.

Building Your Best 2026! is a structured, energising online workshop that makes planning simple, strategic, and grounded.

Here’s what last year’s participants shared:

❤️ “I finally connected my professional goals with what matters personally.”
❤️ “I am clear on where my business is going next year, and I’m already ahead.”
❤️ “Zoe’s approach was reflective, real and focused on action.”

In three hours, you’ll set focused goals across leadership, business and life — and turn them into a roadmap that actually sticks.

Sessions available:
• Tuesday 25 November | 9 am–12 pm AWST
• Thursday 4 December | 6 pm–9 pm AWST

If you'd like to join us, pop a thumbs up in the comments below or send me a message - we'd love to have you there 😊

02/11/2025

This past week I have had the privilege of co-facilitating the AIM WA programme Elevate: Women in Leadership in partnership with Akademi Kepimpinan Pendidikan Tinggi, and I’m still feeling the ripple effects.

A room full of curious, compassionate and genuinely fabulous women, each leading in complex environments, juggling demands, and showing up fully for themselves and others.

It was a privilege to hold space for such powerful conversations. We explored what it means to lead with clarity and courage. We challenged limiting beliefs. We laughed (a lot), cried (a little), and shared stories that connected us across cultures and contexts.

We also had the opportunity to hear stories and experiences from the most amazing senior women leaders, including Karlene Bylund, Valarie Ee, Michelle Reynolds and Maria Perez. Hearing that others have the same feelings and challenges we all experience, and continue to forge forward was a real goosebumps moment.

A heartfelt thank you to Dr Ummu for championing this programme and making it a reality. Her words will stay with me forever:
“When women lead, the whole ecosystem lifts.”

I’m also deeply grateful to have co-facilitated alongside the brilliant Dr Katy Tindall, a wise, generous and fiercely knowledgeable partner who is the epitome lifting others up.

Thank you Maria Perez for the honour of involving me in this incredibly special work, and Claire Drummond for your unflappable nature and amazing operational management of a very complex week! You are two incredible women 👏👏👏

There’s something uniquely transformative about women coming together in leadership, not to compete, but to elevate one another. It’s not about having all the answers. It’s about leading from the inside out. With purpose, empathy, and presence, and to holding each other up at all times.

Here’s to more rooms like this one.

09/10/2025

I’m in a sprint right now.

You know the feeling - energy is high, time is tight, and everything is moving fast.

Sprints can be incredibly energising, overwhelming and productive all at the same time. You feel focused, purposeful, in the zone. The momentum is incredibly motivating.

I often work with leaders and teams navigating these exact moments. And the challenge isn’t just managing the sprint: it’s knowing when to end it.

A sprint, by definition, isn’t sustainable. It’s meant to be a short burst, not a long-distance strategy. When a sprint turns into the norm, burnout isn’t far behind.

If you’re in a sprint, or leading a team through one, here are a few things that might be helpful:

1) Name it. Simply acknowledging “we’re in a sprint” helps set shared expectations.
2) Define the finish line. Be clear on what success looks like and when the sprint ends.
3) Create space after. Recovery is part of the process - not a luxury.
4) Communicate often. Check in on energy, focus, and bandwidth. People’s capacity isn’t fixed.
5) Take microbreaks that fill your cup. For me it's being outdoors and close to water (hence the pic).

I love working with teams to design ways of working that harness the hustle energy and also drive sustainability. Afterall, we deserve to enjoy the success that comes with the sprint too!

Are you in a sprint right now? How are you managing the tension between speed and what's manageable?

06/10/2025

2026 is coming. How are you feeling about it?

When you’re leading people or running a business, it’s easy to roll (read: sprint!) from one year into the next without pausing to reset.

That’s why I’m running my annual planning workshop — to help leaders and business owners get clear on what matters most, both professionally and personally.

Building Your Best 2026! is a 3-hour online workshop designed to help you step out of the day-to-day and think strategically (about yourself, for a change!) — about your career, your leadership, and what you would like to achieve in the next year.

Together we’ll reflect on 2025, reconnect with (or set) your long-term goals and professional direction, and design a practical roadmap for 2026 that aligns results with how you want your day-to-day to look.

Numbers are small so everyone gets space to think deeply and plan with purpose.

📅 Choose your session:

• Tuesday 25 November | 9 am – 12 pm AWST
• Thursday 4 December | 6 pm – 9 pm AWST

And I'm offering a special early-bird price of $295 + GST (regular $395 + GST) for those who register before the 24th of October.

If you’d like to hear more, comment below or message me for details.

Let’s make 2026 your best yet — clear, confident, and on purpose.

22/09/2025

Do your leaders have the skills?

It’s one thing to set clear expectations for the managers in our teams. And we absolutely should.

But expectations without skills? That’s setting them up for failure.

Giving feedback, managing performance and motivating people toward success aren’t things people “should” just know how to do.

They are skills. And they can be learnt.

If we want confident, capable managers who can foster performance, culture, and trust, then we need to invest in their development, and provide the tools and support for them to succeed as leaders.

And when we do?

The ripple effect across teams, culture and business performance is undeniable.

If you'd like to talk about equipping your team with the core skills to be great leaders, I'd love to hear from you 😊

03/09/2025

There’s a storm coming.

You wouldn’t know it from this morning’s photo (how beautiful is the water!), but we have the data that tells us otherwise. And so, we’re going about adjusting our plans for the next couple of days.

When I’m consulting with clients, this is often the work:
🌟 Using the facts to understand the challenges (or the aspirations, it's often not about 'fixing'!)
🌟 Map the pathway to change/success
🌟 Put the necessary things in place to get there (and monitor, measure, tweak along the way)

Sometimes there’s too much going on. Too many moving parts. Too many priorities. So we step back.
➡️ We triage.
➡️ We name what’s critical.
➡️ We get clear on what’s possible.

And then we chip away, with clarity and with purpose.

This kind of work requires both rigour and heart. It’s not just about navigating the storm. It’s about building the leadership and team culture to stay aligned if it hits.

I work with executive teams who are facing complexity and have big goals.

And while we can’t always predict the future, we can prepare for it - with strategy, with trust, and with the right conversations.

And the most important thing to know? You don’t have to do it alone.

P.S. The proportion of blue sky in my photo is intentional 😊

29/08/2025

"I'm not a procrastinator. I'm an incubator."

Someone I really value both professionally and personally said this the other day, and it really resonated with me. It's a great reframe, and after quite a lot of reflection I’ve decided that for me, it's true.

Sometimes the idea is there. The instinct. The concept. The seed of a project or solution.

But you can’t seem to get started, to or move it forward.

Not because you’re procrastinating, but because what you actually need is incubation, not just time, but headspace.

In my work with senior leaders and executive teams, I see this often.
A new strategy is forming, a project is on the table, or there is energy for change - but the 'how' isn't yet clear.

Coaching and leadership consulting can offer that crucial pause, a space to shape it with intention.

When the right questions get asked, and the mental clutter clears, ideas take root and the 'how' becomes clear.

And what was once stuck starts to move.

If you’ve got something percolating, maybe what it needs isn’t more pressure.

Maybe it needs incubation.

21/08/2025

I had a fabulous time sitting down to talk all things coaching with my amazing mentor and friend, and founder/owner of ProcessWorx Danielle McNamee.

We're both passionate about creating great workplaces by focusing on the people, and coaching is one of the tools that can be offered to support the growth and development of team members.

In this episode, we explored what coaching really is (and isn’t), how it can be a game-changer for leaders, and the ripple effects it can create across an organisation — from culture to performance to retention.

It was a joy to reflect on the work I do with executives and senior teams, and how powerful it is when leadership development is both strategic and deeply human.

Thanks Danielle for having me — I loved our conversation ❤️

Want employees and managers who perform at their best? Coaching could be the game changer.

In the latest episode of Let’s Chat HR & Safety, Danielle chats with leadership coach Zoe McAlpine about how coaching lifts confidence, improves leadership, and builds stronger workplace cultures. Plus tips on coaching different age groups!

Check out more about how Zoe can help you define and work towards your goals for yourself, your team, and your organisation: https://www.zoemcalpine.com.au/

🎧 Available on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, or use listen here: https://www.letschathrandsafety.au/2505201/episodes/17669483-let-s-chat-coaching