I’m Jenni, the founder of Climb Up.
Before coaching, I spent 17 years building and leading teams in commercially demanding environments - including over a decade in AI and data talent markets where expectations were high, change was constant, and leadership quality directly influenced performance, retention, and growth.
These were environments where results mattered, pressure was visible, and leadership capability wasn’t theoretical, it showed up in outcomes.
Recognizing the Leadership Capability Gap
Across those years, I began to notice a consistent pattern.
Capable, high-performing professionals were promoted because they delivered. But once in leadership roles, they were expected to navigate complexity, uncertainty, and people dynamics without structured preparation for what the role now required.
The shift from execution to judgment, direction, and accountability was rarely acknowledged - and the pressure that followed often went unsupported.
What appeared to be disengagement or performance issues was frequently something else: a capability gap that hadn’t been named.
Perspective Shaped by Experience
Growing up in a low-income area, surrounded by underfunded schools and limited expectations, I learned early what it feels like to be underestimated.
That experience shaped how I approached my career. I was driven to grow, to lead, and to build something meaningful, but also to question the systems that limit people’s potential.
As I moved into senior leadership roles, I became increasingly interested not just in performance, but in sustainability.
What actually enables leaders to perform well over time - especially in environments that demand more, faster?
From Performance to Capability
The answer wasn’t motivation alone and it wasn’t confidence in isolation.
It was capability.
Decision quality under pressure.
Clear communication in complex situations.
The ability to lead people through uncertainty without eroding trust or engagement.
As AI now reshapes how work gets done - accelerating information flow, compressing timelines, and shifting decision boundaries - the demands placed on leaders are intensifying. Roles are evolving faster than preparation frameworks, and expectations are rising without a corresponding reset in how leaders are supported.
In that environment, capability becomes the differentiator.
That insight led me to formalize the work I was already doing - strengthening leadership capability where expectations have outpaced preparation, and where performance now depends less on technical expertise and more on judgment, clarity, and the ability to lead through complexity.
Today
Through Climb Up, we work with organizations and individual leaders navigating AI-driven and accelerated change.
Our focus is practical and grounded:
Strengthening decision-making under uncertainty
Improving communication in fast-moving environments
Reinforcing accountability at management level
Building leadership behaviors that sustain performance and engagement
Because leadership today isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about exercising sound judgment, guiding others through complexity, and building environments where people can perform without burning out.
Get to know me some more…
Where it all started
Born and raised in the North-West of England where it’s mostly raining, but always beautiful. I’m fueled by northern grit, strong tea and a deep love for rolling hills and dry humor. I’ve spent the last 10+ years living in New York City.
What lights me up
Coffee, culture and family (both chosen and blood-related). I’ve been to over 50 countries (so far), and usually pick the next destination based on the quality of their coffee, or the chance to geek out over some local history
What backs me up
Before becoming a certified coach, I earned my undergrad in History and built a career spanning over a decade in business development and sales training. Along the way, I’ve had the privilege of speaking at multiple conferences on the evolving Data & AI job market and recently wrapped up seven rewarding years serving on the Board of Advisors for a New York-based university, helping students launch their careers.
My Coaching Accreditations….
