She’s the proud mum of a now adult child, whose humour and AI skills she appreciates, and the devoted caretaker to Vlod the rabbit. She is grateful for her partner, family, friends and wider community for helping her lead such a fulfilling life.
A PPE graduate from Oxford, Trudie founded her first company aged just 21, producing a play at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and then initially pursuing a career in arts marketing. From there she moved into the higher education sector, which took her around the world recruiting international students. Trudie progressed into senior management in further education, where her passion for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults was ignited. Her work for over fifteen years as a Designated Safeguarding Lead led Trudie to found The Essential Safeguarding Company, which helps DSLs and their teams to navigate both the practical and emotional load of the vital work they do to protect the vulnerable.
One of Trudie’s great joys has been supporting individuals for many years with both their personal and professional development. This, as well as working with her own first Executive Coach, inspired Trudie to train as a coach. Now as a certified coach and trainer, she is working towards ICF PCC accreditation and has trained in Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), and an embodiment facilitator with the Embodiment Coaching Academy.
For over thirty years Trudie has been a political activist, serving as a local councillor for several years. She has fought and campaigned in many elections, including at parliamentary level. Until 2029 she will represent the West Midlands on the National Policy Forum, serving on the Policy Commission led by the Secretary of State for Education.
Trudie uses her enjoyment of and experience of debate and political engagement to encourage others, especially women, to develop their confidence in public speaking and presenting. She herself is a Fellow of the Guild of Professional Toastmasters, becoming only the second female fellow in the organisation’s history, and the first to serve as a committee member.
Although she loves being an entrepreneur, Trudie delights in working with others. She works in collaboration with several people, bringing together their respective skills, experience and passions to create something greater than the sum of the parts. Find out more about her Collaborations with Others.
Hello!
I’m Trudie. I’m glad you landed here.
Where are you at in life? How’s your personal development journey going?
I’ve been on my own personal development journey for a very long time. Long enough to now realise that the work never stops. There are so many layers to our lives, our identities, how we behave, who we think we are and who we would like to be. How we would like to be.
At this point in my life I am more aware of how am being and not just what I am doing. I’ve done a lot of doing in life. So many roles, so many projects, so many tasks, and seeking to achieve. But sometimes, in amongst the busyness, I lost sight of who I really am. Getting a little lost sometimes impacted on health, my family, my work and my joy for life. Sound familiar?
I’ve come a long way in understanding what does and does not work for me in life. But I still keep watch that I am being true to myself.
How about you?
I’m now dedicated to supporting others on their life and leadership journeys. I’ve learned a lot and it’s time for me to share the wisdom. Why? I’m on a mission to change the world – it starts with empowering you to change yours.
I have been the beneficiary of the love and support if many people in my life, some of whom knew me personally, some of whom didn’t.
It’s my belief that our wellbeing and the wellbeing of our planet is all interconnected. I don’t only care about my own family, home and community, but about the wider world too.
In 2001 I seized a work opportunity to visit Ukraine, where I supported a conference for women in business. Months later I went back, this time representing my organisation on a trade delegation. On that visit, two pivotal relationships blossomed. One was with a fellow delegate who would become my husband; the other with our interpreter Valeriy, who has become a lifelong friend.
In March 2022, when Ukraine was invaded, I reached out to friends, including Valeriy. Five months later Valeriy’s wife and daughter took refuge in the Uk and came to stay with me for nine months to get respite from the war. From the outside, it may have looked like I was helping them; in truth, in what was one of the darkest periods in my own life following my mum’s stroke and dementia diagnosis, their love and friendship carried me.
The story of Ukraine is woven into my life. Back when I first visited the country, what I could offer was modest. Now, as a coach, trainer, entrepreneur, speaker and more seasoned campaigner, I know there’s more I can give. Starting from 2025, I shall be giving 10% of all profits from Trudie McGuinness Coaching & Training Limited to help support women in Ukraine to heal and to develop their leadership, with the strong Mytsenko women as my guides.
Do you feel called to support this in any way? Let me know.