We begin our coaching conversation with one question…

What needs to happen in your career to make you happy?

Your answer could be a promotion, a new role in your established career, or a completely fresh start. Maybe you have an idea for a side hustle? Or you just need support because you feel really stuck?

By asking powerful questions, challenging assumptions and, most importantly, giving you the space to explore your thoughts, we will help you to move forward in your career with clarity, confidence and purpose.

We structure our coaching conversation around four stages.

Where have you been?

We explore the highs and lows of your career to date.

Where are you now?

We examine your current situation and what needs to change.

Where are you going?

We work with you to develop an action plan to move forward.

Are you there yet?

We ensure you are where you want to be.

We tailor our coaching conversation to fit your needs and goals. Some of our most popular programmes are:

Find Your Purpose

If you’re in a career rut, or in a period of transition, this programme helps you to reconnect with your values, rediscover your strengths, and explore new directions.

What you’ll experience:

  • 6 one-to-one coaching sessions across 12 weeks

  • Clarity on your values and strengths

  • Confidence and self-esteem building

  • Exploration of new career landscapes

  • Goal setting that feels achievable and motivating

  • Career experiments and identity exploration to test new possibilities

Nail Your Promotion

If you’re ready to move up in your current company, or stepping into a brand-new role, this programme helps you to navigate the transition with confidence and impact.

What you’ll experience:

  • 4 one-to-one coaching sessions across 8 weeks

  • Honest assessment of your role strengths and growth areas

  • Personal brand building

  • Confidence and imposter syndrome coaching

  • Support with impression management, boundaries, and emotional regulation

  • Tailored guidance for a successful transition into your new role

Ignite Your Idea

If you’ve got a business idea or side hustle that you are eager to bring to life, this programme gives you the structure, insight, and confidence to turn your vision into action.

What you’ll experience:

  • 8 one-to-one coaching sessions across 8 weeks

  • Exploration and development of your business idea

  • Identifying and understanding your target market

  • Competitor analysis and pricing strategy support

  • Guidance on branding, messaging, and marketing

  • A practical business launch toolkit to get you started

Client Feedback

"Darren is a super professional, fantastic coach. Darren has helped me navigate my day to day short term and long term goals in this difficult time with the job market. He helped me to see things differently and I always felt refreshed leaving the session with a new vision and clarity.” - Chiaki

“I came to see Darren when I was at a dead end with my career. He helped me to take a step back and work out what’s important to me - what my strengths are, what my purpose is. His guidance helped me to work out what’s really important to me and has set me off in a new career direction. Highly recommended.” - Mel

“Darren helped me to see my way into the first couple of months in a new, high profile role. I was nervous before starting the job but working with Darren helped me to explore my management and leadership style for the first time, and helped me to articulate how I wanted to present myself in my new company.” - Peter

About Darren

With 30 years’ experience spanning consumer research and sports coaching, Darren has navigated career highs, lows, and everything in between. He’s launched, grown, and helped sell businesses, and he knows what it’s like to resign from a job with nothing certain on the horizon. He’s had a boss, he’s been a boss, and he’s been his own boss. He’s experienced the joys and challenges of leading teams and managing colleagues. Along the way he’s discovered what really motivates him: helping people overcome their blocks and barriers and find their own version of career happiness.

Photo of a relaxed and happy looking Darren Hanley, coaching lead at Career Happy.

As a coach, Darren brings together his corporate background, sports coaching experience, and academic training in coaching psychology. This means he blends evidence-based techniques with heaps of real-world insight. His style is warm, relaxed, and down-to-earth, but he’s not afraid to ask the tough questions when it matters. This mix of support and challenge has made him a trusted coach for clients from all kinds of career backgrounds.

He holds a Postgraduate Certificate in Career Coaching and Coaching Psychology from Birkbeck, University of London, and is currently working towards his MSc. Darren is also a member of the UK Register of Career Development Professionals and The Association for Coaching.

Alongside Career Happy, Darren runs the cycle coaching company Bike Happy.

Book a Free Chat

Pop your details in the form below to book a free 20-minute chat. We’ll have a conversation about what you’re looking for in a coach, how we might work together, and I’ll answer any questions you have.

There’s no strings attached. This is simply a chance for us both to see if it feels like a good fit. If it does, we can book your first coaching session and take it from there.