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30+ Years Guiding Leaders Through Growth, Mergers & Transitions

From Chartered Accountant to Leadership Coach, Liz Whitfield blends financial expertise and people development to strengthen leadership teams, reduce risk, and prepare businesses for their next chapter.

Why Work With Liz

Every business faces pivotal moments — growth, succession, merger, acquisition, or sale. The difference between success and struggle often lies in leadership strength.

Liz began her career as a Chartered Accountant, advising on disposals, mergers, acquisitions and management buy-outs. Over three decades, she has seen deals succeed or falter depending not just on the numbers, but on the leaders steering the business.

Today, she brings that unique perspective to her work as a trusted adviser, consultant and coach, helping directors and teams build confidence, sharpen focus and thrive through change.

Talk to Liz About Your Leadership Challenge

How Liz Works

Liz’s approach is not “one size fits all.” She blends the roles of adviser, consultant and coach, providing the right support at the right time.

Her work focuses on four core solutions:
  • Intensive Leadership Development Coaching
    One : One coaching designed to accelerate personal growth, build confidence, and prepare leaders for bigger roles.
  • Board and Team Dynamics
    Facilitating stronger collaboration, alignment and decision-making at the senior level to drive business performance.
  • Personality Profiling
    Using tools such as Insights Discovery to increase self-awareness, improve communication, and unlock leadership potential.
  • Leadership Boards®
    Exclusive peer groups for business leaders, offering challenge, accountability and fresh perspectives in a trusted environment.
Think of it as a leadership toolkit: Liz combines these solutions to match your business needs, whether that’s preparing for succession, strengthening a board, or scaling through change.

Discover the Power of Leadership Boards®

Leadership can be challenging — especially when making big decisions without external perspectives.

Leadership Boards® connect Directors from successful West Midlands companies in a confidential, peer-driven forum. Members share insights, tackle real-time challenges, and gain the confidence to lead with clarity.

Hosted by Growth Plans®, these sessions provide fresh ideas on motivating teams, boosting efficiency and strengthening reputation — all while maintaining confidentiality.

Who Liz Works With

  • Business owners and Directors preparing for succession or sale
  • Leadership teams navigating growth, change or integration
  • Directors ready to strengthen their leadership impact

Typically working with companies of 50 – 1,000 employees, Liz also facilitates Leadership Boards® for directors who want challenge, support and perspective from their peers.

harris lamb
Argus Fire part of mitie
Deeley logo
canonbury logo

Trusted by Leading Businesses

Growth Plans® is proud to have supported leadership teams across a wide range of industries.

Over the last 5 years Growth Plans® has...

Supported

organisations through leadership change
Coached

senior leaders stepping into bigger roles
Reached

employees directly through team development programmes
Enabled

directors to grow as members of Leadership Boards®
The result? Stronger leaders, more resilient teams, and businesses better prepared for growth, succession or sale.

What Clients Say

Success Story

Simon Woodings, Former Chairman,
Argus Fire Protection Ltd (a Mitie Company)
“Liz’s tailored coaching transformed technically skilled managers into confident, strategic leaders — giving us the internal strength to grow sustainably and preparing the business for a successful sale.”
Argus Fire part of mitie
Simon Woodings

Success Story

Gareth Owen, Managing Director,
Arden Fine Foods (UK) Ltd
“The insights, accountability and support Liz provided were essential in helping me step into a Managing Director role with clarity and confidence, shifting from operational to strategic leadership.”
Ardens Fine Foods logo
Gareth Owen

Success Story

Matthew Brown, Managing Director,
Uzin Utz UK Ltd
“This whole process has helped the leadership team work together more closely, with greater empathy for each other’s working styles — and that unity has benefited the wider business.”

Success Story

Gemma Whitehouse, Finance Business Partner,
Correla
“Because of her background, Liz has a deep understanding of the pressures in finance and in mergers and acquisitions – exactly the challenges I was facing.”
Explore more client experiences in the full Success Stories library.

From Liz’s Desk

Leadership isn’t static — it’s about continually learning, reflecting, and challenging assumptions.

Liz regularly shares her insights on LinkedIn, drawing on over 30 years of experience in finance, M&A and leadership development. Her posts explore the blend of numbers and behaviours, the ROI of investing in people, and the power of peer accountability through Leadership Boards®.
Liz Whitfield
Executive Coach / Leadership trainer / Board facilitator / Director / Inspirer
What Gets Measured Gets Done
Liz Whitfield
Executive Coach / Leadership trainer / Board facilitator / Director / Inspirer
ROI on People Assets
Liz Whitfield
Executive Coach / Leadership trainer / Board facilitator / Director / Inspirer
The Power of Leadership Boards®
Follow Liz on LinkedIn for practical perspectives and real-world lessons to strengthen your leadership.
For more in-depth thought leadership, visit the News & Views section of the Growth Plans® website, where Liz explores case studies, leadership transitions, and the challenges of preparing businesses for growth, succession and sale.

It’s never too early — or too late — to invest in leadership strength.