Partner Story: Simone Ey

Where were you born?

I was born in Perth, Western Australia. I then grew up in Canberra and after some travel I find myself back living in Canberra again.

What did you do before becoming a coach?

Before stepping into this work, I spent over a decade in roles that spanned human resources, organisational development, and education. I’ve worked with government departments under pressure, defence leaders navigating reform, and corporate teams chasing performance (sometimes at the cost of wellbeing).   I’ve sat in rooms where people whispered about burnout like it was a dirty word—and others where no one dared speak at all. Those experiences taught me how systems can unintentionally harm, and how powerful it is when someone names what’s really going on.

What causes are you passionate about?

I’m passionate about creating organisations that don’t make people sick. It sounds stark—but I’ve seen too many brilliant people shrink under anxious systems. I believe in psychosocial safety, ethical leadership, and helping people find their voice inside complexity. I also care deeply about inclusion—not as a checkbox, but as a lived practice of making space for real differences. I have also recently become an accredited mediator and enjoy bringing behavioural change to really resolve disputes.

Origin Story: What inspired you to become a coach and facilitator?

There was a moment, years ago, in a government agency where I was called in after a restructure. The team was technically high-performing, but they were fractured. At one point, a team member looked at me and said, “We don’t trust anyone anymore—not even each other.” That moment was a turning point—I realised that my work wasn’t about performance metrics. It was about helping people feel safe enough to lead again.

Personal Approach to Leadership Development/Facilitation:

I combine behavioural science, leadership principles, and systems thinking. My approach is rigorous, adaptive, and human. I ask questions others won’t. I’ll challenge thinking patterns with warmth and directness. I believe change doesn’t stick unless we go beyond the cognitive and reach the emotional and relational layers of leadership.

Superpower: What makes you unique in your profession?

My superpower is decoding organisational anxiety. I can walk into a room and pick up on the emotional under currents others are trying to push down or walk around. Whether it's through schema coaching, cognitive behavioural coaching, or mapping anxious leadership loops—I help make the invisible visible. And from there, I help people shift it, slowly but powerfully.

Your Style (Metaphor):

If my coaching style were a metaphor, I’d say I’m like a bushfire backburn. It’s intentional, contained, and a little uncomfortable—but it prevents bigger damage. I help people confront the hard stuff in safe ways, so they can emerge clearer, stronger, and more aligned. I don’t do quick fixes. I do brave clarity.

Tailored Approaches:

Every individual and team carry their own emotional tone. Some walk into the room with armour. Others come in already unravelled. I adapt by reading the room—not just the words, but the nervous systems, the silence, the pacing. Sometimes that means slowing things down. Other times, it’s about breaking through avoidance with a well-timed story or metaphor. I don’t script sessions—I shape them responsively.

Learning & Growth:

I stay inspired by staying close to both research and real people. I read widely—psychology, organisational theory, complex systems—but I also spend time after every major workshop to reflect, iterate, and get honest feedback from peers I trust. And I constantly test ideas with my clients—because theory means little if it doesn’t resonate in practice.

Love: What do you love about your career or this industry?

I love watching people remember who they are beneath the performance mask. I love the moment when a leader says, “I’ve been holding this in for months or years,” or when a team starts laughing again after months of tension. It’s deeply human work. It’s also incredibly strategic. And that intersection lights me up.

Unique Insights on Leadership Development:

Leadership isn’t just about competence. It’s about emotional contagion. An anxious leader, even unintentionally, can create ripples of fear across a system. But when you teach leaders how to regulate, reflect, and relate differently—you don’t just shift them. You shift the culture around them.

HR Perspectives: What’s one misconception you often encounter?

That you can 'train' your way out of cultural problems. HR teams often look for content-heavy programs. But what most organisations need is a mirror—not a manual. They need safe, skilled spaces to unpack the emotional reality of leadership. That’s where real change starts.

Myth Busting:

I love debunking the myth that strong leaders don’t show vulnerability. In fact, the strongest leaders I’ve worked with know how to say “I don’t know,” or “That was hard,” without losing authority. Vulnerability, when grounded in purpose, builds credibility—not weakness.

Hidden Habits: 

One underrated habit is naming what's going unsaid in meetings. I’ve worked with teams where months of conflict disappeared because someone finally said, “We’re all walking on eggshells, aren’t we?” That kind of honest naming—when done respectfully—is a game-changer.

Bad Habits:

Passive avoidance is a big one. When leaders avoid giving feedback, avoid naming dysfunction, or avoid uncertainty—it doesn’t disappear. It just leaks out elsewhere. My advice? Address the hard stuff early, kindly, and clearly. Build the muscle of discomfort tolerance.

Icebreaker Magic:

I often ask: What was your first CD or the first concert you went to? I love that question because it disarms people instantly. My first CD was MC Hammer’s “You Can’t Touch This”—a pop culture moment that still makes me smile. And my first concert was Noiseworks at Bruce Stadium with a group of teenage friends. Asking this kind of question brings out stories, music memories, and shared laughter. It reminds everyone that before we were leaders, we were just teenagers with posters on our walls and singing into hairbrushes or playing air guitar.

Hobbies & Passions:

Outside of work, my greatest passion is my family. As a single mum, every moment I spend supporting my kids is a grounding force in my life. My daughter is currently representing Australia in the Dragon Boating World Championships in Berlin this July—and we’re counting down the days with excitement and pride. I’ll be there on the sidelines, cheering her on with everything I’ve got. I’m also a committed sports mum to my teenage son, who plays both AFL and basketball— my weekends are filled with driving to training sessions, watching games, and sideline chats. These moments—of grit, teamwork, and joy—remind me why I care so deeply about resilience, belonging, and how people grow in supportive environments. My family is my anchor and my inspiration.