Welcome to
Somerville Powell
Please note, that due to confidentiality we can't always disclose who we work with.
Where necessary, identifying features in the testimonials have been removed
I sought aid after my over reactive responses to critical jobs. I was put in touch with Grainne who was able to provide me with direct, simple and effective tools to adjust my response to these critical jobs... As a result, I have been able to turn my stress response around substantially. I am able to deal with stressful events and scenarios in a calm manner with a level head, allowing myself to increase my response in an appropriate way when the situation demands it. This change has been recognised by (my supervisors).
These results have given me the confidence to realise that I can deal with stressful situations in the best way possible.
I am extremely grateful for the assistance Grainne has provided me and believe this is a critical turning point in my career moving forward.
Law Enforcement / Tactical operator
I came into contact with Grainne in her capacity as a national lead for the Police High Performance Framework. The framework provides NZ Police with strategic insight across strategy, culture, leadership, capability and performance management. Grainne’s in-depth understanding of this framework, coupled with her ability to convey critically important information meant that my team of around 250 staff were able to grasp the framework and apply it effectively at the strategic, tactical and operational levels.
Grainne has natural leadership qualities that blend well with her fantastic people skills. She has a proven ability to comprehend complex concepts and deliver them in a digestible way to her audience. I have always been highly impressed as to Grainne’s work ethic and her values set. I would work with her again in an instant.
Superintendent Steve Greally
Director: National Road Policing Centre, NZ Police
For many years, Grainne and I worked together in youth high performance sport, coaching young women beyond just the sport itself. I have always deeply admired her unique ability to connect with people in a genuine and special way. Her talent for blending professionalism with warmth and approachability is truly rare.
Grainne commands respect without ever acting superior to anyone, and her coaching style is a breath of fresh air to both the players fortunate enough to have worked with her and to me personally as I developed as a coach. I owe a great deal to Grainne for the person and coach that I am today, and I would wholeheartedly recommend her to any organisation seeking someone who is truly grounded and comes with an exceptional track record of success in challenging situations.
Marina Samountry
High Performance Coaching / Coach development
From my point of view Grainne’s input was invaluable. She did not know me at all so there was no preconceived negative judgment and she listened well to find out what was going on for me and used this to come up with a plan to help me to improve in certain areas. I felt my self-confidence was completely knocked and Grainne was able to help me build this up again.
I am very appreciative of the time she took to listen to me in the one on one, and from that the plan she helped put in place for me .. Her knowledge of psychology and having both life and policing experience made it an invaluable experience and I feel honoured that she seemed truely invested in me and my journey.
Individual Performance Improvement
Grainne's natural ability and passion in high performance coaching is what drew my attention. I valued her collective approach and the way she was able to find the intersection of human and team focus. Through understanding self awareness and recognising strengths and weaknesses, she is so productive within a competitive environment. She finds a common ground in stressful situations then switches to practical solutions which is why I would never hesitate to reach out. It is so hard to find someone whose passion can equate to success in individuals but also team based performances. I have been very fortunate to have Grainne work closely with the NZWLA (New Zealand Women's Lacrosse Association) as a coach, but also speaking as a past player, I personally benefited from her leadership style which gave me the tools to take my performance to the next level.
Catherine Do
NZ Women's Lacrosse President (Previous)
From my perspective the understanding that Grainne was able to provide me after she had one on ones with each of (the members) was huge. I was able to share this insight with their (supervisors), we knew what we had to look for, why they reacted the way they did and how they went through their decision making processes.
From all three of them, their feedback was the same in that they would have gained a lot from having the one on one feedback session with Grainne earlier.
From an instructor perspective, the team observed a positive change to the members’ confidence issues and gained a better understanding of why they were having these issues which meant that we could be more proactive with their learning.
Training Supervisor
I just wanted to thank you for all of your help. You were outstanding in the facilitators role and the group were very much appreciative of your ability to open up honest conversations about issues that have been affecting us.
I was impressed that you were able to make them focus on moving forward and to be positive rather than dwell on the negative. The day would not have been a success without you.
Thank you so much.
Leadership facilitation
I have known Grainne for a few years now. Since her arrival into my world, my life has taken a far richer clearer path. As an avid trail runner and single mother, G’s knowledge of performance psychology and human behaviour has enabled me to view situations from different perspectives and utilise other techniques into my running. When my world gets insular and very small, G is able to open my viewpoint so that I am able to breath and see clearly again.
With running her advice of the basic fundamental needs of the human body that I overlooked daily, is now the pinnacle I live each day by. Her help in keeping my perspective and emotional turmoil in check when training for Ultras or just getting through training programmes has seen my physical ability improve over time and keep an upward trajectory. Her patience is unending. I have needed these reminders often when my body tires and my mind tires and I get buried under the self-imposed pressure of training and life.
Outside of running her insight into people’s psyche is mind blowing. Understanding why people react or respond in a particular way has helped me work through very tough personal times. She is not an enabler. She calls it like it is. She challenges me and helps me conduct myself to the best I can be with people and situations life throws at me. Her support and wisdom has enriched my life in EVERY facet possible.
Grainne is an amazing woman who leads by example. Her patience and knowledge are her superpowers. I am a far better runner and mother because of her in my life. Forever grateful to have met and know this amazing human.
Ultra Runner & Business Executive
One on one sessions with Grainne were arranged with (officers) who required further training. The sessions gave (them) the opportunity to have a two way conversation with an objective member highly skilled on how to coach and develop performance. The sessions were key to identifying barriers to learning and development which were integrated in to the design of individual training programmes. As the lead, I have experienced first-hand the difference this session made to the ability of the training team to better support the growth and development of (the officers) .. I saw a huge shift in mindset .., they were able to unlock their own potential and had a new found confidence, the mana they felt they had lost during the training process was restored.
From a personal opinion, I honestly think we would have been totally stuck in supporting (officer X) if G hadn’t identified (the issues). What came across to our staff as a lack of assertiveness was actually something totally different. Our staff were going down the track of teaching them how to get hard and escalate when they needed to be shown how to put the puzzle pieces together to find their own voice. Grainne identified this and proposed a training structure to enable this to happen.
The opportunity to have this support for our (officers) is a “must-have” not a “nice to have”.
Training Lead, Law Enforcement