Carolyn Parry

About Me

Career & Executive Coach for Achievers | Sustainable Career Success (UK & Online)

 

Burnout-aware coaching for high achievers — from unhappy high-achieving grads to leaders — to find purpose, clarity and momentum (UK & online).

 

I am a multi-award-winning career and life coach, TEDx speaker, and author who helps achievers — and the professionals who support them — unlock purpose, resilience and sustainable career success.

 

After a successful but soul-eroding 17-year management career working in both start-ups through to a FTSE 250 company in property/tech publishing/software, burnout became my turning point. I retrained and spent almost 15 years at Aberystwyth University, progressing from trainee careers consultant to Director of Student Development & Employability. In 2015, I founded Career Alchemy, my award-winning career and life coaching practice.

 

I created the INSPIRED Career Coaching Framework & Toolkit, research-validated by the University of Derby’s ICeGS with funding from the UK Cabinet Office/No.10. That work became my first book, Change Your Story: Escape From A Job You Hate and Create A Career You Love - On Purpose (2023).

 

My new book, Supporting Achievers to Create Sustainable Career Success (Trotman, December 2025), introduces the Seven Career Thieves and the Seven Protection Principles (the “Guardians” in client tools).

 

The book pairs the Seven Career Thieves with their matching Protection Principles (the “Guardians”): Perfectionism with Self-Compassionate Mastery; Comparison with Unique Contribution; Approval-Seeking with Authentic Self-Direction; Overwhelm with Clarity of Focus; Depletion with Aligned Energy; Disconnection with Purpose & Belonging; Burnout with Sustainable Self-Care.

 

Who I help

 

• * Unhappy high-achieving graduates and early-career professionals seeking direction and confidence.


• * Mid-career leaders and executives wanting more meaning, impact and joy — without burnout.


• * Organisations & practitioners (HR, L&D, careers services, educators) seeking evidence-informed tools to support achievers at scale.



 
•  

 

How I work

 

I coach both 1-to-1 and in groups using INSPIRED, the Seven Career Thieves, and the Protection Principles/“Guardians” online for individuals and sometimes face-to-face for organisations.

 

I am known for listening deeply, joining the dots, and helping clients reframe unhelpful patterns so their strengths work for them again — with clarity and confidence - whether climbing the ladder or becoming their own boss.

 

Selected clients & credibility

 

Clients: UK & Welsh Governments; Unilever; EY; Lambeth Council; Nesta; AGCAS; and universities/colleges across the UK.

 

Awards & leadership:

 

• * UK Careers Adviser/Career Coach of the Year (CDI, 2017)


• * Two Aberystwyth University Learning & Teaching Awards


• * Two business awards from King Charles (2016, 2019)


• * Past President & Chair of the CDI (2021–2023)


• * CDI Fellow (2024)



 
•  

 

Directorships:

 

• * 20+ years as a company director


• * Non-Executive/Trustee roles with Antur Cymru


• * Previously Ceredigion Citizens Advice



 
•  

 

Media:

• * Frequently quoted e. g. BBC; The Guardian; The Telegraph.

 

 

Credentials (selected)

 

• * RCDP


• * Master Coach


• * Belbin & Emotional Intelligence profiling


• * Former AGCAS National Trainer (Career Coaching)


• * Fellow of the HEA


• * Fellow of the RSA


• * Member, Society of Authors & Careers Writers Association



 
•  

 

Connect with me

 

Join my Substack community exploring achiever psychology: https://carolynparry.substack.com/

 

Book a free 30-minute discovery call to explore how I can help you become a more fulfilled achiever — with greater clarity and purpose, and without burnout: www.careeralchemy.co.uk/book-a-call.html

 

I look forward to talking with you soon.