About me

I’ve coached and consulted across sectors from C-suite to frontline in NHS hospitals and forensic inpatient services, financial services, charities, universities and international institutions. I am currently directing the 2024-26 cohort of Tavistock’s Executive Coaching Programme and for over a decade I have supervised, tutored and lectured on the Tavistock and Portman’s international Masters programme for senior leaders and consultants.

Background

Since the mid-90s I have worked within high impact systems. I led pioneering services which redesigned community drug and alcohol provision and piloting dual diagnosis and assertive outreach services.

At the core was designing for and with the people who use services, for outcomes and impact that are meaningful and sustained. For corporate sector colleagues and clients, it’s the equivalent of customer centred design.

As chief executive of a national charity I worked across the intersection of political, community and business systems. I’ve led strategic pivots and financial remodelling. I’ve experienced the tension of precarity and uncertainty.

As a coach, consultant and facilitator I bring a deep interest in and commitment to what supports organisations or networks to enhance capability and creativity, collaboration and cohesion and I can work with the most protracted and difficult contexts to support leaders and teams find a way through.

executive education and coaching & consultation supervision

Director

Executive Coaching ProgrammeTavistock Education and Training 

2026-2028 Co-Director

2024-26 Director

2021-23 Director

2019-21 Co-Director

2017-19 Supervisor

Faculty

Tavistock & Portman MA ‘Consulting and leading in organisations: Systemic and Psychodynamic Approaches’ (Lecturer, Tutor, Supervisor)

Birkbeck University and Tavistock & Portman Group Relations Conferences (Staff member, Ass.Dir of Adm)

Leadership Centre’sLeading the Impossible‘ Programme  (Facilitator)

Workshops

Clore Social Leadership Programme ‘Systems Thinking, An approach to working with complexity’ 

Hyper Island Marketing Masters

Conferences, Papers & Publications

ISPSO 2021 An exploration of how using a ‘relational stance’ as part of a whole system approach helped dismantle structural, social and personal defensive systems and improve nurse retention on an Acute Assessment Unit in a London hospital (McShannon & Trainor)

ISPSO 2022 The Role of the Functioning Consultant Couple in Consulting to a Traumatised Paediatric Unit (McShannon & Williams)

NIODA, 2024 The Systems Psychodynamics of Decolonising Minds, Workplaces & Curricula for a better future (Nestor, McShannon, & Trainor)

International Journal of Nursing, vol 132 Aug 2022  “Enhancing the well-being of front-line healthcare professionals in high pressure clinical environments: A mixed-methods evaluative research project” (Ooms et al)

Training and accreditation

  • EMCC Accredited Coach (Senior Practitioner Level)
  • EMCC Accredited Coach Supervisor ESIA20250149
  • MA (Dist), Consulting and Leading in Organisations; Systemic and Psychodynamic Approaches
  • Diploma in Systems Practice OU
  • Foundation in Groups IGA
  • Certificate in counselling skills
  • BA (Hons) Politics

©Jennie McShannon 2025