Leadership, performance, mindset

A photo of Madeleine Shaw

Executive coach to C-suite, partners and senior public leaders

Former lawyer | Global scope | Clear thinking, grounded insight, discretion

About Madeleine

A photo of Madeleine Shaw wearing a suit, standing and smiling at the camera

Madeleine Shaw is a seasoned executive coach with almost 20 years experience coaching senior leaders globally. She has walked the challenging path of a high-stakes career herself: her background as a lawyer in prestigious top-tier firms both in Australia and the USA, coupled with her corporate experience at Vodafone (and a side-step into film production!), grounds her coaching in real-world experience. She understands the pressures that come with the mantle of leadership because she's been there.

Her clients are accomplished leaders from global top-tier accounting, law, consulting firms, major financial services, and educational institutions. They've discovered that having a sounding board who genuinely 'gets it' can make a world of difference in their professional journey. Some of her recent clients have included helping a CEO of a prominent funding body navigate some very challenging industry dynamics, working with the CFO of a listed financial services organisation through a role change, and working with several partners of leading law and professional services firms as they juggle driving growth with looking after their people - and themselves.

Madeleine has lived and worked around the world and her clients come from a wide range of cultures and industries globally. Her diversity of experience and interests means her coaching isn't about jargon or one-size-fits-all advice. It's about really listening to you and building a meaningful, one-on-one partnership that addresses what you're really facing – from navigating the complexities of C-suite dynamics to breaking through personal barriers that hold you back, like those nagging doubts or the quest to stay true to yourself amid a demanding role. Her qualifications (IECL, PCC, GAICD, GLWS, BA (Juris), LLB (Hons), Cert. Design Thinking & Innovation, Mental Health First Aid) means the rigour and frameworks are there, but she draws on them in a highly bespoke and fluid way depending on what is best for you and your needs.

If you're looking to refine your leadership style, increase your impact, or simply find a better balance, this is the place for powerful reflection and positive change. 

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Work with me

Senior executive coaching - for C-suite leaders and professional services firm partners wanting a trusted, confidential sounding board

Senior executive coaching - for C-suite leaders and professional services firm partners wanting a trusted, confidential sounding board

Executive and leadership coaching - for leaders and professionals seeking to elevate their impact and wellbeing

Executive and leadership coaching - for leaders and professionals seeking to elevate their impact and wellbeing

Keynotes, workshops, offsites - expert training and facilitation that lifts people across your organisation

Keynotes, workshops, offsites - expert training and facilitation that lifts people across your organisation

Looking for something else? Bespoke consulting and design to meet your needs

Looking for something else? Bespoke consulting and design to meet your needs

My clients are…

My coaching clients are typically senior leaders in complex and demanding roles across Australia, Asia-Pacific and globally.

Generally, that means:

  • C-suite and one or two reporting levels out - further in very large organisations

  • Professional services firm partners, and sometimes those nearing partnership

    They work with me on challenges and questions including:

  • Influence, impact and stakeholder engagement

  • Imposter syndrome and secret career fears and doubts

  • Wellbeing and authenticity

  • Difficult dynamics and challenges

  • Moving from functional to executive leadership

    I do work with others on a case by case basis. If you’re interested, drop me a note.

    I have a limited client list at any one time and run a waiting list when needed. To find out if I’m currently taking new clients, just ask.

As well as working in 1:1 coaching, I work with teams to design and facilitate their team days and offsites. To find out more, contact me.

I also work with organisations to support their people with group workshops on topics including:

  • Leading and navigating change

  • Influence and impact

  • Wellbeing and personal sustainability

  • Time management and prioritisation

  • Delegation skills

  • Leadership skills

  • Coaching as a leader

  • Difficult conversations

“Great session. Great speaker. Surpassed expectations. Thank you”
— Workshop participant, large government department
“I just wanted to send you a very big personal thanks for delivering such an amazing session. I will be working a lot with you, that I am certain of. Your style is incredible.”
— Senior leader, international law firm
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Recent posts
From patrolling to noticing
From patrolling to noticing

When your brain is wired to patrol for what might go wrong, it starts seeing danger everywhere - even in calm rooms.
Mature leadership isn’t about dulling awareness; it’s about widening it. Here’s how to shift from patrolling for threat to noticing what’s real

Your body is broadcasting – whether you mean it to or not
Your body is broadcasting – whether you mean it to or not

There’s no such thing as neutral leadership. Your nervous system is always broadcasting. A disconnect between your words and your body erodes trust. Here’s why, and what to do instead.

The problem with best practice
The problem with best practice

Best practice can be a useful yardstick, but it’s also yesterday’s answer. Stronger leaders ask what’s right for here and now.

Your calendar is your culture
Your calendar is your culture

If you want to know a leader’s real priorities, don’t read their strategy… look at their calendar. Your calendar is your culture

When to show your homework
When to show your homework

Brevity builds confidence, true… but sometimes the detail is the message. The real leadership skill is knowing which one the moment calls for…

Don’t show your homework
Don’t show your homework

At senior levels, over-explaining erodes confidence. Try this instead…

The courage to change your mind
The courage to change your mind

Consistency builds trust. But the bravest leaders know when to change their mind — and why it builds credibility, not weakness.

Here’s to the lazy ones
Here’s to the lazy ones

“Lazy” is often seen as a flaw. But what if a little laziness is actually the secret to effective leadership?

Proud to call yourself cynical? Here’s why that might be a mistake…
Proud to call yourself cynical? Here’s why that might be a mistake…

People often wear cynicism like a badge of honour. But true leadership calls for healthy scepticism instead. Here’s the difference, and why it matters as you become more senior.

From eye-roll to essential leadership skill
From eye-roll to essential leadership skill

When I first heard the phrase “holding space,” I thought it was woo-woo nonsense. Now I see it as one of the most practical disciplines a leader can have. Here’s why.

  • That was truly an amazing session. My daughter (23) who happened to be at home today listened in – as soon as session finished she called out (from couch) that session was awesome and presenter incredible!!! She was struck by real life experiences! So important and powerful!

    Organiser, corporate counsel national conference

  • Madeleine is an outstanding executive coach. As a General Manager striving to enhance my executive leadership skills, influence, and make informed career decisions, Madeleine’s guidance has been invaluable.

    Faculty general manager, major university

  • I have found working with Madeleine enormously beneficial. I have particularly appreciated her ability to listen with care, ask challenging and thought provoking questions to get to the heart of issues and offer practical solutions

    General manager, Australian big-4 bank

  • This was the most useful and practical session on change management I have ever attended. The speaker was excellent and covered so much content coherently in the short time we had.

    Corporate counsel keynote attendee

  • I have seen a complete transformation in my recognition, understanding and array of mechanisms at my disposal, allowing me to perform at a high level within a high stress and everchanging profession. This has enabled me to excel within our company and has allowed my career to develop in a way that, most importantly, works with my values and aspirations. Thankyou!

    Principal, international architecture practice

  • Madeleine was fantastic. She asked me the tough questions and pushed me to change my thinking and mindset. I believe that I have grown so much just having her there to talk through issues and her calm, measured approach and practical advice.

    Director, government department

  • Madeleine has been instrumental in my personal and professional growth. Her ability to build trust and rapport quickly added so much more to our coaching sessions than I had anticipated. What I have learnt has been invaluable and I encourage anyone looking for an executive coach and business partner to contact Madeleine, she will make a world of difference.

    Senior manager, large bank