Paula Smith

Transformational Coach | EMF Facilitator | Guide to Midlife Reinvention

Hi, I’m Paula Smith, a transformational coach, specialising in helping people overcome low self esteem, social anxiety and self-doubt to create a life filled with confidence, purpose, vitality, and joy.

My Journey

After 35 years leading in education as a headteacher and executive head, I took a leap most only dream of—I chose me. I left behind the familiar structure of school leadership to follow a calling that had whispered to me for years: to help others reclaim their power, rewrite their story, and live a life by design, not default.

I thrived in a demanding career as a school leader, balancing immense professional responsibility while raising two daughters as a single mother. It was fair to say I was a real 'achiever'. But as so often the case for so many high achieving women, I forget to look after myself. I experienced burnout and it wasn't much fun! My health, my relationships and my self-esteem paid a huge price for my superwoman persona and I just kept pushing throught until I hit rock bottom and I was forced to press the reset button. I learned the hard way the importance of fixing your own oxygen mask first and slowly returned to myself. As time went by and life moved on, I found myself thinking, "who am I beyond the roles I have played, and where do I go from here?'

My Mission

Now, as a transformational coach, founder of Life By Design and licensed facilitator of Peter Sage’s Elite Mentorship Forum, I support the growth and development of successful midlife women who’ve spent years striving, achieving, and supporting others—yet now find themselves quietly wondering, “Is this all there is?”

My mission is to support you in rewriting the next chapter of your life with courage, clarity, and deep self-trust—so you can move from stuck and second-guessing to purposeful, energised, and fully expressed.

My Promise

This isn’t about starting over.
It’s about evolving into the woman you were always meant to be.

Whether you’re ready to explore what’s next, ditch burnout for balance, or finally give yourself permission to dream bigger, I’m here to guide you every step of the way—with compassion, challenge, and a proven path to transformation.

Because your best chapter isn’t behind you.
It’s waiting to be written.