Coaching and consultancy for HE Professional Services managers and leaders who are ready to do things differently.

I work with individuals and teams/departments across Higher Education. I understand the sector; the eccentricities, the politics and power dynamics. I also know that sometimes you need support from someone outside of your institution who gets it.  

So tell me what you're looking for and I'll show you the options that are available. 

About me

I'm Fiona Bicket. Before becoming a coach, I worked in Higher Education, so I know the sector intimately. The culture, the language, the weird politics, the budget pressures, the tensions of different hierarchies.

For the last five years, I've been coaching thoughtful Professional Services managers and leaders through career transitions and leadership challenges, facilitated team development work and occasionally leading workplace mediations (but only occasionally because it's my my favourite).

In 2025 built the Hidden Curriculum of Career Progression for Professional Services in HE. It helps people understand what's actually being assessed when panels decide who's ready for promotion and who "needs more experience" and I offer various Progression Pathway programmes that support people to make the career transitions from team member to manager, manager to senior manager and then senior manager to leader.

You can download the Grade Guide for your level here. Or read more about it on my blog. I also host a fortnightly podcast called Walk Into Your Next Grade where I answer your questions about career progression in HE professional services.

Whether I'm coaching, consulting, facilitating or mediating, my approach is warm, direct, and occasionally provocative. I'm here to hold space for you so that you can figure out the moves for yourself and your team.

Why work with me

I know Higher Education. I've spent five years coaching HE professionals from team management through to institutional leadership across Russell Group and Post-92 institutions. I understand the culture, the politics, the budget pressures, the unspoken rules.

I've mapped the Hidden Curriculum. I've analysed what actually gets people promoted vs. what keeps them stuck. I know what "strategic thinking" and "institutional leadership" actually mean to panels and senior leaders... not the vague feedback, but the specific behaviours and mindsets they're assessing.

I'm outside your institution. You can be honest with me about what's really going on. Your manager doesn't have to know you're struggling with delegation. HR doesn't have to know you're planning to leave. You get objective, expert support without institutional politics.

I bring both coaching and facilitation expertise. Whether you need 1:1 support for your career, group coaching with peers facing similar transitions, or facilitation for your team, I can help.

What people say

"Fiona helped me completely reframe how I think about my career progression. The Hidden Curriculum framework finally made sense of why I'd been stuck and what to do about it."
— Professional Services Manager

"I used the approach Fiona taught me to prepare for an internal restructure interview. My Head of School told me afterwards that I was the standout candidate. My answers were 'so much more elevated than the others.' I got the role."
— Senior Manager

"Fiona holds space very sensitively."
— Away Day Participant

"This isn't fluffy career advice. It's practical, specific, and based on real patterns in how HE actually works. I wish I'd known this stuff 5 years ago."
— Head of Service

If you're not sure what you need:
Email me at [email protected] and let's have a conversation. I'm happy to help you work out what kind of support would be most useful.