Kelly Harborne

My speciality is in using a combination of big picture thinking and detail oriented approaches to accelerate the performance of people and businesses. I’m known for getting things done. Collaborative and curious, with 17 years experience navigating the cultural complexities of working in a global matrixed organisation with clients across markets and industries.

I understand the importance of clear communication, building relationships based on trust and leading change as a necessary driver for growth.

Postgraduate Leadership Coach at Corndel Ltd (2025-06 – 2026-12)

Coaching 47 senior leaders from across industries in the completion of their Postgraduate Apprenticeship in Leadership and Management and Chartered Management Institute Award in Leading Strategic Change. Responsible for programme management across multiple cohorts and the facilitation of executive coaching and tailored online workshops. Themes included (but were not limited to): Building executive presence, change management, effective communication and leading with emotional intelligence.

• 100% Distinction rate (Corndel distinction rate: 88.5%)
• 93.75% Qualification Achievement Rate (Corndel QAR: 78.3%)
• Coachee testimonials available on request

Leadership Coach & Facilitator at Self-employed (2024-03 – Present)

Designing and facilitating executive coaching and development workshops for multiple clients on a self-employed basis. Testimonial available on request.

Global Head of Operations at The Gap Partnership (2021-10 – 2024-02)

Reporting to the COO, I led a global team of 30 Operations Executives. This role required extensive relationship building across a matrixed organisation where I:

• Built and executed a full talent strategy including workforce planning, role design, competency framework development, recruitment, performance management and skills development. Building a team that hit or exceeded all KPIs in FY24.
• Harmonized global processes and lead a digital transformation workstream resulting in zero service failures.
• Introduced data driven decision making, designing and building performance reports tracking global resource utilization rates, productivity, service execution and venue contracting processes.
• Built a culture of continuous improvement which lead to benefits across the operation, including venue contract management where we reduced impact on cash flow by 59%.

Head of Practice: UK & The Nordics at The Gap Partnership (2017-03 – 2021-10)

Leading a team of Consultants, in this role I to grew annual revenues by 44% by:

• Creating cross-functional alignment to translate organisational strategy and industry insight into effective business and talent plans for Consumer Goods clients.
• Partnering with clients to launch, scale and where approrpaite faciliate negotiation capability programmes.
• Coaching, mentoring and leading new business pitches and deepening client relationships across Consumer Goods industry.
• This role includes maternity leave February 2020 to January 2021

Consultant, Retail & Consumer Goods at The Gap Partnership (2013-03 – 2017-03)

• Partnered with national retailers and international clients on the scoping, roll-out and delivery of behavioural change programmes in negotiation.
• Lead the client success team in successfully onboarding new clients.
• Created and delivered tailored capability sessions on a range of negotiation subjects both virtually and in person.
• Consistently hit six figure personal sales targets.
• This role included maternity leave March 2016 - January 2017

Operational Marketing Manager at The Gap Partnership (2011-03 – 2013-03)

• Line Management of 3 Business Development Executives.
• Co-ordination of EMEA marketing activity including:
• Collaborating with department heads and central marketing teams in the co-creation of annual marketing plans, project management of events and creation of promotional assets.
• Contribution to year on year revenue growth in the region.

Client Relationship Manager (Retail) at The Gap Partnership (2009-03 – 2011-03)

• Onboarding new client and programmes of work with national retailers.
• Execution of business development plans, meetings, pitches and proposals.

Client Service Team Lead at The Gap Partnership (2007-04 – 2009-03)

• Leading a customer success team in the execution of workshop logistics.

Recruitment Consultant at The Job Shop (2004-09 – 2007-03)

• Recruitment of permanent and temporary staff across industries.
• End to end management of hiring process, including partnering with clients and candidates.

LEVEL 3 AWARD IN EDUCATION & TRAINING – NCFE (2026)

POST GRADUATE CERTIFICATE: BUSINESS & PERSONAL COACHING – Barefoot Ltd & Chester University (2024)

LEAN SIX SIGMA: GREEN BELT – The Knowledge Academy (2024)

PRINCE2 PROJECT MANAGEMENT: PRACTITIONER – ILX (2015)

THE COMPLETE SKILLED NEGOTIATOR – The Gap Partnership (2007)

CERT. IN PERSONNEL PRACTICE – CIPD (2006)

CERT. HIGHER EDUCATION – University of Portsmouth (2004)