Nicola Woodward

Nicola Woodward

Coach/Facilitator/Consultant, Canterbury

With nearly three decades of senior management and leadership experience in the UK and Aotearoa New Zealand, Nicola is passionate about harnessing the power of positive influence to co-design and enable purpose-driven, vibrant organisations.

Nicola has led multiple transformations in the for-purpose and public service sectors, bringing innovative solutions to new and embedded problems. As CEO, Nicola’s brought her strengths as an innovative leader to the post-quake transformation of Christchurch Women’s Refuge to Aviva. She shared the story behind this transformation in her 2017 TEDx talk. Simultaneously, Nicola led the development of Ki Te Tihi The Loft, a unique one-stop-shop for vulnerable families in east Christchurch.

Nicola’s whole-system, inclusive approach as a coach, facilitator and consultant actively engages the strengths and perspectives of all stakeholders to assure collective buy-in and sustainable impactful results. To enable this, Nicola has created a range of innovative tools. She pioneered Emotional Design in the UK NHS by introducing Emotion Mapping to Lean process improvement. Recognising influence as a natural human behaviour that is not limited to formal leaders, Nicola created also ‘Influence Matters’. This unique approach is designed to build positive influencing capability at all organisational levels to co-create purposeful, psychologically safe and mutually accountable environments where self-leadership thrives.

Whilst Nicola’s coaching style is personalised and adaptive, she always brings a forward-thinking, action-based, growth mindset. Drawing on her personal insights and experiences, Nicola’s coaching for managers and leaders strengthens and complements active change initiatives and cultural transformations.

Qualifications and Accreditations 

  • Master of Social Policy (Health Policy Option) with Distinction
  • NLI Brain-Based Coaching Conversations Certificate
  • Pro Emotional Culture Deck Certified Consultant
  • Post graduate Certificate in Nursing Research
  • Post graduate Certificate in Drug and Alcohol Dependency Nursing
  • Registered General Nurse

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It was very easy to build rapport and trust with Nicola. She really listened and focused on me. As we explored how I, as a leader, could inspire and stretch my staff, Nicola inspired and stretched me.

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