PhD Candidate | MBA | PCC (ICF)
Heidi Poulton brings over 25 years of international experience at the intersection of business leadership, executive coaching, and transformational facilitation. A Professional Certified Coach (PCC) accredited by the International Coach Federation, she has logged more than 5,000 hours coaching C-Suite executives, senior leaders, and high-potential managers across sectors.
As an Executive Coach and Executive Fellow at Nova Business School Africa, Heidi is a trusted partner in developing high-performance leaders equipped for today’s complex, fast-evolving world. Her coaching draws on neuroscience, emotional intelligence, mindfulness, and evidence-based leadership practices to unlock self-mastery, enhance interpersonal effectiveness, and drive sustained impact.
A seasoned facilitator, Heidi has led leadership development experiences in both the public and private sectors across Africa and beyond. Her portfolio includes work on “Leader as Coach,” effective team building, personal brand and networking, resilience, diversity and inclusion, and change management. She designs and delivers programmes that challenge leaders to think strategically, lead authentically, and inspire purpose-driven teams.
Heidi’s corporate background includes executive leadership roles such as General Manager and Sales Manager at a leading insurance company, and for over two decades, she has run her own successful leadership development and coaching firm. This blend of real-world executive experience and deep coaching expertise enables her to bring empathy, business acumen, and rigour to every engagement.
A qualified trauma counsellor, Integrative Enneagram practitioner, Strengthscope practitioner, and accredited assessor, Heidi is also a professional member of the Professional Speakers Association of Southern Africa. She is a sought-after speaker, published writer, and frequent guest on television and radio.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Heidi is a passionate long-distance runner, with over 30 marathons—including several Comrades finishes—to her name. Her resilience and determination in sport mirror her coaching philosophy: to go deeper, discover new strengths, and embrace the journey of becoming.
Heidi is married and a proud mother of three sons who continue to be her greatest teachers.