Meet Caroline Hughes: Executive Coach, Mentor, Leadership Consigliere
Caroline works with leaders to achieve success without burning themselves—or their teams—out in the process. As CEO of Conscious Leadership Development Ltd, she partners with executives and organizations to build strong, sustainable leadership cultures that create real impact.
She’s spent over 20 years in senior leadership, including Head of Change at the Irish Central Bank during the Irish Economic Bailout (Troika) Programme and Global Director of Leadership development at CRH plc, a Fortune 500 company.
Sustainable Leadership: Thriving Without Sacrifice
Caroline knows what it takes to lead in high-pressure environments—and she’s seen how leaders often sacrifice their health and that of their teams to succeed. She experienced this first-hand when she became ill at 44 and had to step back from her corporate career at the height of her success.
That experience shaped her core belief: Leadership isn’t just about strategy or results—it’s an inside-out job. You simply cannot be a great leader without the inner story or belief that allows you to succeed. That means, unless you can see yourself achieving your definition of success - you probably won't.
Challenging Leaders to Think Differently
Caroline is known for cutting through the noise, creating clarity, and challenging leaders to think differently. She’s often called "the ultimate bridge-builder" because she enables leaders to see beyond their immediate challenges and step into their full potential.
She has worked with some of the best leaders, thought leaders and mentors in the world. She offers a space of deep listening and non-judgement where you can explore your deepest concerns, create workable solutions and celebrate your triumphs.
According to her, the real work begins when we dig deep to answer the questions "Who are you?" and “Why should anyone be led by you?” because the answer to this tells you exactly who you need to become to be successful.
Leadership Lessons from the World’s Highest Peaks
When Caroline’s not coaching, you’ll find her hiking some of the world’s most breathtaking mountains. She has successfully summitted Everest Base Camp, Kilimanjaro, and the Annapurna Circuit—a reminder that leadership, like any great climb, is about resilience, vision, and taking the next step, even when the path isn’t clear.
For leaders ready to create lasting success—without losing themselves along the way—Caroline is the coach and mentor who is in your corner.