Jude Kempton hasn’t always been an accredited coach. After nearly 20 years in digital marketing working on big brands in publishing, Jude returned from maternity leave in the middle of the pandemic to a world of crippling sleep deprivation and an impossible job role. After months of burnout Jude decided enough was enough and she plucked up the courage to quit her job of nearly a decade – with nothing to go to.
It was then she decided to reinvent herself. Jude began retraining as a Leadership Coach, and Jude Kempton Coaching was born. Now, Jude is an accredited coach supporting a wide range of people to be at their best across all areas of their lives. She predominantly supports women to step into their full potential as authentic leaders without compromising their wider selves, helps working mums to find balance and reclaim their identity after maternity leave, and coaches clients with ADHD and Dyslexia to be at their best in the workplace.
Thank you for interviewing with us today, can you introduce yourself to us?
Hi, I’m Jude Kempton, a female Leadership Coach and Marketing Mentor from Surrey. I’m constantly kept on my toes by my two small boys, and I’m passionate about helping women to be the best they can be without burning out.
Can you take us through your journey to where you are now?
When I graduated, I fell into my first marketing job and didn’t come up for air until I had children. By this point I had worked my way up to a senior role in digital marketing. I was on maternity leave when the pandemic hit in 2020. Returning to work mid-pandemic was the breaking and then the making of me. So much had changed, and I found myself juggling it alongside two small children at home, with all the strains that lockdown had to bring. I burnt out, and after a lot of thought, quit without anything lined up. It wasn’t an easy decision, but suddenly I felt free. Through coaching, I found ways to get the balance right and be successful in my next senior role. But I knew it wasn’t what I wanted any more. I took the bold leap to retrain, and set up Jude Kempton Coaching. Now I support female leaders to step into their authentic leadership style and confidence, as well as helping women successfully return to work from maternity leave, and supporting clients with ADHD and Dyslexia to make the most of their unique strengths. I didn’t want to let my experience go to waste, so I also support businesses as a marketing mentor.
Since starting, have you made any changes to your business model?
Yes, I’m constantly looking for ways to evolve and grow.
Have you ever had a mentor? If so how has this benefitted you either personally or professionally?
I have had different mentors at various points in my career. Most recently mentoring has helped me to focus on building a business that works for me – rather than me being a slave to the business.
What outlets do use for marketing?
Primarily LinkedIn, Instagram, networking
What or Who has inspired you most recently?
I trained with Ruth Kudzi and have been incredibly inspired by her drive and the values she extols through her coach training business.
What is the best piece of business advice you have received to date?
Build a business that works for the life you want to lead.
How do you create an evenly balanced work and personal life?
It can be hard at times! Personally I have looked closely at the boundaries I want to set and worked on sticking to them. My children are still young and it’s important to me to be present with them, so I want them to know when mummy is working and that they have my full attention when I’m not working.
Name a seminal point in your career so far?
It might sound counterintuitive, but quitting a job that was no longer right for me gave me the time and space to figure out what I really wanted.
What gives you ultimate career satisfaction?
Right now, supporting other people to be their best. It is incredibly rewarding to walk alongside people as they grow and push their development through coaching.
Are there any leading entrepreneurs or SME leaders that you admire and if so, why?
I am an associate coach for Genius Within, headed up by Professor Nancy Doyle. The work she is doing for neurodiversity is incredible.
How do you define your own success?
Feeling fulfilled and able to live the life I want.
Finally, what can we expect from you next?
I’m growing my reputation as a female leadership coach who gets results and aiming to become more established. Alongside this, I’m a trained Team Coach and I’m developing some new services to reflect this.
