Lead with Connection.
Grow with Purpose.
Create Impact that Lasts.
Empowering leaders and teams to thrive through self-awareness, authentic connection, and courageous growth.
The Reality We’re Facing
Everyone in Brisbane — and beyond — has been through a great deal over the past two years, living and working through a global pandemic. None of us is quite the same; we’ve all changed in some way, which means that continuing to do what we’ve always done may no longer deliver the results it once did.
Feeling Stuck?
Taking one step forward and two steps back — the cycle feels endless and exhausting.
Going It Alone?
It can be a lonely place to be, and asking for help doesn't always come naturally.
Same Patterns?
Simply hoping things will improve rarely creates the change we truly need.
“Insanity is doing the same thing, over and over again, and expecting different results.”
— Albert Einstein
Approaching life and leadership with a growth mindset means choosing to
keep learning, evolving, and striving to do better.
Your expertise lies in what you do best.
Ours lies in helping you be your best.
What do we really want?
Meaningful Work
To do meaningful work across all the roles we hold, feeling both capable and supported, moving with awareness, adaptability, and a genuine sense of ease and confidence.
Belonging & Safety
To be part of an environment where we feel seen, heard, and valued — where collaboration happens without judgment, and where we have the space to try, learn, and grow.
Shared Purpose
To feel connected to a shared purpose, understanding how what we do truly makes a difference, and knowing that our contribution is recognised and matters.
Sustained Wellbeing
To deepen our awareness of our own wellbeing and that of our teams, and to trust that real, consistent action is taken to support and sustain it for everyone.
3-Pillar Framework
Clarity (Self-Awareness)
You can’t lead others well if you don’t understand yourself first. Recognize your patterns, triggers, strengths, and blind spots, so your decisions come from intention, not autopilot.
Connection (Communication & Relationships)
Leadership lives in how you relate, listen, communicate, and create psychological safety, so people feel seen, valued, and willing to contribute.
Courage (Growth & Action)
Awareness and connection mean little without action. This is about stepping into discomfort, making bold decisions, and leading through uncertainty even when it’s hard.
“Lead with Clarity. Build through Connection. Grow with Courage.”
How Gillian Can Help
Gillian Smith partners with leaders and organisations to navigate complexity, elevate leadership capability, and strengthen the way people work together.
Her approach sits at the intersection of leadership, behavior, and connection, bringing clarity to challenges that are often nuanced, human, and difficult to resolve.
Working with executives, leadership teams, and emerging leaders, she offers both a strategic perspective and practical application to support meaningful, sustained change.
Based in Brisbane, she brings over 20 years of experience across HR, coaching, and leadership development, with a track record of working across all organisational levels.
Engagements are tailored, ranging from focused advisory through to fully bespoke programs, each designed to deliver tangible impact aligned to your priorities.
Her work is underpinned by a clear philosophy: that effective leadership is both rigorous and human, and that strong, connected workplaces are built with intention.
Services
Coaching
Embark on a journey of professional & personal growth by creating space for reflection, embracing practical tools & techniques, and striving towards what you want.
Facilitating
Delivering a purposeful and engaging event requires preparation, variety, energy and delivering value for all involved.
Speaking
Dynamic, engaging key notes tailored to your needs and audience, with a focus on the complexities of being human and working with other humans.
about gillian smith
Gillian is an experienced HR professional based in Brisbane with over 20 years of global experience, working within FTSE 100 & ASX listed companies across UK, Ireland, Europe, US, Australia and New Zealand, including HAYS, Shepherd Group, Ventyx, and ABB.
She has contributed, led & managed Recruitment, Learning & Development, HR Business Partnering & HR teams, and relished every opportunity, approaching each with focus, determination and heart.
After 2 episodes of corporate burnout, in 2021 Gillian embraced the opportunity to take her experience and use it to inspire, grow & support employees & leaders of now, emerging & future as a Leadership Coach, Facilitator and Speaker with Connect Lead Coach
Ready to Start?
Book a free 30-minute discovery call and take the first step toward meaningful change.
Empowering leaders and teams to thrive through
self-awareness, authentic connection, and courageous growth.
quick links
- About Gillian
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Get in touch
- Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- hello@connectleadcoach.com
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