Carolyn Parry

About Me

I’m a multi-award-winning career and life coach, TEDx speaker, author of Change Your Story, and the immediate past President and Chair of the Career Development Institute.

My journey into this profession began after a successful but soul-eroding 17-year career in property, tech publishing, and software. Burnout prompted a complete re-evaluation, leading me to discover my authentic purpose – supporting others to navigate their own career crossroads with clarity and confidence.

Now with approaching 25 years of experience in career development and coaching, I specialise in helping unfulfilled achievers – particularly mid-career professionals and executives – transition into work that brings them greater meaning, impact, and joy, without burning out in the process.

Through my award-winning practice, Career Alchemy, I offer one-to-one coaching and group programmes, including my research-proven INSPiRED career change methodology, which has helped hundreds of professionals transform uncertainty into purposeful action and create careers they love.

I support clients who are:

• Experiencing burnout, redundancy, or career dissatisfaction
• Seeking more fulfilment, impact, or alignment mid-career
• Rebuilding confidence after workplace trauma, bullying, or ill-health
• Ready to reconnect with who they are and the difference they want to make

My work with individuals is complemented by consultancy and coaching for organisations, including HM Government, Unilever, EY, Lambeth Council, Nesta, AGCAS, and several leading universities and colleges.

In addition to coaching, I am a Non-Executive Director and Trustee at Antur Cymru, a £4M social enterprise supporting Welsh businesses, and formerly served on the board of Ceredigion Citizens Advice. This wider engagement helps me stay in touch with evolving trends in the labour market, the economy, and the changing world of work.

I’m also a frequent media contributor (BBC, The Guardian, The Telegraph, etc.) and have had the privilege of delivering a careers-related TEDx talk (see below).

Credentials & Expertise

• Professional Member (RCDP), Past President of the Career Development Institute and CDI Fellow
• Master coach certified and qualified in Belbin Team Roles, Emotional Intelligence Profiling and a range of therapeutic and stress management related coaching techniques
• UK Careers Adviser/Career Coach of the Year (2017)
• Former AGCAS National Trainer for Career Coaching
• Fellow, Higher Education Academy
• Fellow, International Enterprise Educators Programme (NCEE)
• Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts
• Member of the Society of Authors and the Careers Writers Association
• Disability and Equality Specialist
• Business startup specialist
• 40+ years of diverse experience across corporates, SMEs, higher education, and the third sector

Want to find out more?

Why not sign up for Career Alchemy with Carolyn Parry, my Substack newsletter:
https://carolynparry.substack.com/

To explore how we could work together to help you create a fulfilling, purpose-led career – either directly or via your employer – why not book your free discovery call today:

👉 www.careeralchemy.co.uk/book-a-call.html

I look forward to connecting and helping you change your story.