Thoughtful support for complex leadership
Coaching and Trusted Counsel
with Tania Rhodes-Taylor
An Introduction to Otus Advisory
As a senior leader in higher education with more than thirty years’ experience across industry, government and the not-for-profit sector, I understand leadership from the inside. Many of the challenges my clients bring to coaching and advisory conversations are ones I navigate in my own professional life.
Alongside executive coaching, I provide trusted reputation and strategic leadership advice to both institutions and individuals working in complex, mission-led and highly visible environments. This integrated approach allows me to support organisations in stewarding their long-term reputation, while also helping leaders think clearly about their own credibility, visibility and impact.
Having lived and worked internationally — in Europe, Hong Kong, the USA and Australia — this experience brings strong cultural awareness and empathy, enabling rapport to be built quickly across different contexts. Empathy and kindness sit alongside clarity, challenge and professionalism.
I am accredited by the Institute of Leadership and hold an Advanced Certificate in Executive Coaching. This professional foundation underpins my work as both an executive coach and trusted adviser, bringing rigour, ethics and sound judgement to complex leadership and reputation challenges.
My clients include senior executives, CEOs, COOs, C-suite leaders and emerging leaders across higher education and allied mission-led sectors in the UK, Europe, Canada, Australia and Asia.
At the heart of this work is a commitment to thoughtful, values-led leadership — not only for individual success, but for its ability to shape organisational culture, reputation and trust over time.
To find out more about how I work, please get in touch.
Why choose Otus Advisory?
The Otus is a small European owl – elegant and wise. My coaching ethos is much the same, aiming to guide you in making wise and informed choices in an elegant and personalised way.
Every client/coaching assignment is different and every approach is bespoke. There isn’t a pre-conceived tool-kit of techniques that we need to choose from. We will work together to tailor your sessions to your needs and always start from where you are.
I would have really benefited from a coach at a number of times throughout my career, but didn’t have one. I think everyone in leadership or aspiring to leadership can benefit from working with a coach for their own wellbeing.
I don’t believe in the myth of the work/life balance - in reality there’s no imaginary barrier between the two.
Having sat on the senior leadership teams of a range of successful, complex, and deeply engaged organisations, I understand first-hand the challenges you might be dealing with. I’m not afraid to ask awkward questions and, if it is appropriate, take my clients outside of their comfort zone.
As a qualified yoga teacher, I also bring a holistic approach to my coaching, helping you to understand the connection between your physical and emotional reactions to problems and how that might be impacting on your life more broadly.
It’s important for us to work out how to bring the best of yourself to all parts of your life, which is why I coach all my clients as a whole person.
At the heart of my practice are techniques that can make a real impact on your personal and professional development. By helping you to order your thoughts more effectively we can work together to give you the confidence to present the best version of yourself.
Coaching is very much about partnership; you will own and lead your sessions, deciding where to focus, and we will work on those issues together.
I don’t have the answers for you, but I can help you to find them for yourself, supporting you to take the next step on your personal and professional journey, wherever that may be.
How I can help you
Executive coaching can be beneficial for a wide variety of reasons. Many of my clients struggle with imposter syndrome and a lack of confidence. They sometimes feel stuck and unable to move forward with their goals.
Even the most successful of leaders can go through difficult periods at work, and we can work together to help manage your logistical and emotional workload more effectively.
People often need support through times of change, even if that is a change that they are actively seeking, or managing.
Coaching can help those who feel stuck and limited in their choices, as well as those who have so many ideas and options they don’t know where to start.
Who is coaching for?
Coaching can help with all these things, and more.
- Is there a personal or professional goal you would like to achieve?
- Are you looking to develop or improve your role at work?
- Is there a change at work that you would like to master?
- Do you want to secure a promotion or consider a career change?
- Would you like to adapt to changes in your work or home life?
- Are there barriers at work that you would like to overcome?
- Are you an entrepreneur with ideas you need to focus?
- Could your work responsibilities have less of an impact on your life at home?
- Would you like to overcome imposter syndrome and build your confidence?
- Could your leadership style be more confident, poised and assured?
- Would you like to be more organised and effective?
- Are you seeking the resilience and determination needed to navigate change?
- Would you like to realise the opportunities open to you in a time of change?
- Do you want to create opportunities to accomplish your life/career goals?
- Do you have the tenacity you need to navigate a new role, team or work environment?
- Do you lack confidence as a leader, or worry about your leadership style?
- Are you finding it hard to adjust to a new role, team, or work environment?
- Are you supporting a team through a period of change? Do you need support to communicate difficult decisions?
What are the benefits of coaching?
Leadership can be a very lonely place; the higher you rise in an organisation, the fewer people you will have to talk to.
You may find yourself without a sounding board, someone to challenge you, or anyone to share or express your vulnerabilities with.
You will likely struggle to discuss decisions with anyone who doesn’t have a vested interest.
We can build the neutral space you need to think about the sort of leader you want to be; to identify where your strengths are, and where they might need improving.
Confidentiality is key – I believe having the room to drop your guard and be yourself is essential for any leader.