From law to leadership

A woman with blonde wavy hair wearing a dark plaid blazer, white shirt, light-colored ripped jeans, and blue polka dot high heels, sitting on a black stool against a plain white background, smiling and looking to her left.

About

I began my career in law, where I learned to simplify complexity, communicate clearly and make sound decisions under pressure. That grounding has shaped everything that followed.

Over time, I moved from advising leaders to becoming one. First as General Counsel, then as COO and General Counsel leading a biotech company through a successful IPO, before stepping into the CEO role where I delivered a transformational rebrand, oversaw a successful Phase 1 clinical trial, won a Sunday Times Best Places to Work Award, navigated regulatory complexity, and fundraising in uncertain conditions.

Those roles taught me something fundamental: leadership isn’t about knowing more, it’s about holding responsibility well. For strategy, for people, and for decisions that ripple outward.

My experience spans law, regulation, telecoms, entertainment, fashion and biotech. Each environment sharpened a different dimension of my leadership. Whether shaping strategy, navigating complex governance, or translating between investors, boards and operators, I’ve developed a reputation for bringing clarity to complexity, turning challenge into momentum, and building trusted relationships in demanding environments.

What I do now

Today, I support organisations and leaders who want to operate with greater confidence and coherence.

  • Board & strategic advisory

    Helping boards and founders clarify direction, strengthen governance and move decisively through complexity.

  • Fractional executive leadership

    Stepping in during moments of transition to stabilise, prioritise and build momentum, without unnecessary noise.

  • Leadership coaching

    Working one-to-one with senior leaders to sharpen judgement, strengthen presence and build sustainable operating rhythm.

My style is direct, thoughtful and quietly rigorous, balancing strategy with empathy, results with relationships.

At heart, my work is about contribution: using experience, perspective and generosity of attention to help others succeed. Connection sits at the core of everything I do, and I hold space for both joy and challenge as essential parts of leadership. I believe real growth comes from curiosity, reflection and the willingness to adapt — and that progress, when grounded in integrity, can be both purposeful and joyful.

How I work

I work best with people who value clarity, accountability and thoughtful challenge. Each engagement is designed to create alignment between purpose and performance, people and plan and is shaped around what you actually need - it’s not a pre-packaged model.

Typical work includes

  • Supporting founders and CEOs through scale-up, investor engagement or role transition

  • Advising boards on strategy, governance and executive effectiveness

  • Acting as a fractional CEO or senior advisor during periods of change

  • Coaching senior leaders who want to lead with greater confidence and precision

I ask good questions. I name what’s being avoided. I help you move from carrying everything yourself to leading in a way that’s sustainable.

Let’s start with clarity

Interested in working together? It all begins with a conversation. Use the contact form, or drop an email to clarissa@clarissacoker.com.