Find Out Who You Could Be

Remember that childhood wonder?

I’m Cate Gunn.

Helping you discover what brings out the best in you — and where it could take you.

Strengths-based coaching for people doing meaningful work in complex systems.

Reconnect with yourself — Shift your perspective

Recognise your strengths — Find your bearings

Live and lead with confidence

Book a free 30 minute conversation

Lost your spark?
Wondering what’s next?
Ready to step up?
Curious about what else might be possible?

Whether you're looking for more joy in what you do, considering a career change, stepping into leadership or simply curious about your untapped strengths, coaching gives you space to investigate what brings out your best.

From policing and public services to education, charities and purpose-driven organisations.

With over 800 hours coaching diverse detectives in complex environments, I've seen the evidence: people often have far more potential within them than they realise.

There are whole industries competing for your attention, telling you how you should live, work and lead. Thousands of books promise a path through the complexity of modern life.

But what if you already have more of the tools than you realise?

What if the way forward starts not by becoming someone new, but by reconnecting with who you already are — your natural strengths, what energises you and that everyday sense of curiosity and wonder?

Explore my programmes

I help you discover, explore and apply strengths you didn't know you had, and see what becomes possible when you use them.

A Different Approach?

Experience in uncharted territory where the stakes are high

My approach was shaped by over 800 hours coaching detectives to grow, perform and find their way in complex, high-pressure environments.

Strengths, not shortcomings

I don't believe you need fixing. I help you understand what already makes you thrive — and use it more deliberately.

Curiosity, not a coaching template

Using a strengths-based approach, we'll get curious about what drives you, what energises you and the strengths that make you uniquely you — then turn those insights into practical action.

Client Reviews

LEADERSHIP IN COMPLEX ENVIRONMENTS

“My coaching sessions with Cate have fostered career growth and personal fulfilment for me. Whether I am preparing for a leadership role, or enhancing my life-work balance, Cate’s coaching has helped me set and achieve meaningful goals.”

— J, Fast Track Counter Terrorism Detective, Metropolitan Police, SO15

CONFIDENCE

“Cate helped me to overcome a sense of imposter syndrome by drawing on my strengths to develop strategies to feel empowered. Since my sessions with Cate I have felt able to support and develop my team with new tools to both bring the team together and promote confidence within the team.”

— Melanie, NHS Team Supervisor

CLARITY

“Cate Gunn is really good, never believed in coaching, she’s actually great, brought a lot of clarity to me and helped me re-contextualise my thoughts.”

— Hannan, former client

Sabalenka doesn't try to become another player. She understands her own game.

Top performers don't try to become somebody else. They understand what makes them effective and learn how to use those strengths deliberately.

You don’t need someone else’s game plan. You need to understand your own.

Book a free conversation

Insights from a Detective Coach

Free monthly intelligence.

What coaching detectives taught me about strengths, potential and being human in a complex world.

One short insight each month, drawn from coaching, Character Strengths and a world of complexity.

What you'll get:

  • one idea worth thinking about

  • one question to consider

  • one practical way to apply it

  • "Coaching was a huge benefit to me in adapting my skills from my professional sport background to fast track into the Detective Constable role within two years. I do not believe this transition would have been possible without coaching with Cate."

    Amy - Detective Constable

  • "Coaching with Cate has made me reflect more on what is important to me, both in work and my wider life outside of work, considering what motivates me and why I am motivated in the specific ways I am, for the specific objectives I am. Since our sessions I have internally reflected more on what drives me and what I want from life outside of work which is a particularly important skill given the high intensity and stress levels of the job that I do."

    — Trainee Counter Terrorism Detective Client

  • “The sessions with Cate helped me to feel confident in tacking my new leadership role. I was very keen to support my new team and talking through that process with Cate really helped me to understand this new role and dynamic that I would now be in with my colleagues.”

    — Mel, NHS Team Superviror

  • "Cate Gunn is really good, never believed in coaching, she’s actually great, brought a lot of clarity to me and helped me recontextualise my thoughts."

    Hanan, former Detective Client

  • “Cate is a great listener, enabling you to understand your strengths when most people focus on weaknesses. Cate has kept me on track with my goals and helps me consider how I have progressed.”

    Flo - former Detective Client

  • “Fantastic inputs on Values In Action (VIA) utilisation for both team & Frontline Leadership participants. 'Genius overlay' with CVF wheel & VIA symbols; really resonated & demystified the relevance. Thank you so much!”

    — Steve Jackson, Frontline Leadership Coach

  • “Cate is like a ray of sunshine, I can really rely on Cate to be there to help me think positively about how to improve my outlook and perspectives.”

    — Former Detective Client

  • “Cate helped me work through my Character Strengths and which parts of my character I might not use as often and how I can develop these parts of my character and try to use them to elicit different responses. Allowing me to rely less on humour often used to deflect or hide from emotions. Cate coached me through different ways to approach difficult conversations and gave me confidence in my own strengths.”

    — Megan, former Detective Constable client

  • “Thank you for the input you delivered and the great way you delivered it. I found it personally really beneficial, and you completely engaged the group. It really linked nicely to an earlier session where we had asked participants to consider their leadership styles and helped to set up some really good conversations in 121s. You will definitely have some people seeking out further sessions and it’s also raised some discussions around culture and awareness in policing around coaching which will feature as a further discussion.”

    - Denise Booth, Training Manager

  • “Obsessed with your session today. Thank you so much, l am absolutely using this with my participants and private clients.”

    Shirin Diaz, Freelance Coach

  • “Thank you so much for that workshop, was incredibly insightful! One of the best sessions I have had in a long time.  I think all our teams could really gain something from that session. It's made me reflect a lot on understanding people a bit more and not take things too personally”

    Beth, HR Team Member

  • “Thank you so much for coming to our department meeting yesterday, I (and others) took a lot from it. Your delivery style was engaging, informative and easy to understand. I heard people talking the rest of the day about their colour profiles – it was lovely to see the interaction across people who don’t necessarily work together in their day-to-day.”

    – Cat Moughton, HR Manager

  • “Cate is a very energetic and engaging speaker with fantastic knowledge in colour profiling and how that translates into the workplace. After the session my delegates gave immediate positive praise for the session and commented Cate was the best speaker of the course. I would not hesitate to recommend Cate’s services.”

    – Richard Bazley, Manager for National Graduate Leadership Programme