Our McCarthy Mentoring Principals bring extensive experience from our combined careers in research, communications, marketing, organisational development and human resources. We have worked in large complex organisations from top ASX listed companies to large government departments and national NFPs. We have consulted to global iconic businesses and served on multiple advisory boards.
Together and individually, we have led teams, sat at the executive table and implemented high-impact strategic initiatives. We bring real-life experience alongside extensive leadership development specialist expertise.
As certified facilitators, accredited organisational coaches, and Hogan coaches we love what we do, and we love seeing the difference it makes.
Sophie McCarthy
Chief Executive Officer
Sophie McCarthy is the owner and Chief Executive of McCarthy Mentoring, a Sydney based consulting group that works globally with organisations to inspire and develop their emerging and current leaders. Established in 1998, it offers a suite of mentoring, coaching and leadership programs for senior executives and high potential employees. Partnering with leading companies across the corporate, government and not for profit sectors, it designs programs that drive change, engage people and develop leaders. Success is measured in terms of retention, engagement and promotion.
As CEO since 2012, Sophie has overseen the company’s growth and expansion into regional markets to meet the needs of global clients. She works closely with CEOs and Chiefs of People and Culture in diverse industries including energy, infrastructure, performing arts and healthcare to plan and deliver mentoring and leadership programs for their executive teams and future leaders.
Sophie is a coach and mentor and has a strong commitment to diversity and the community. In addition, she has established partnerships with schools and community groups assisting them in a pro bono capacity to establish mentoring programs for their members, including students, surf life savers and refugees..
Prior to this Sophie worked for a decade in communications and project management roles with the NSW Ministry of Science and Medical Research, consulting firms and overseas aid & development agency, Plan International. In this role she worked and travelled across Asia. Her first career was in research and policy in public health.
Sophie is Chair of the Sydney Community Foundation, has a Bachelor of Arts from ANU, Master of Public Health, University of Sydney, and is a Fellow in the Vincent Fairfax Ethics in Leadership Program. She is an accredited Organisational Coach with the Institute of Executive Coaching & Leadership (IECL) and holds certification in the Hogan 360 & Leadership Forecast Assessment Tool.
Tessa Sexton
Director, Leadership & Coaching
Tessa Sexton has designed and delivered leadership development and executive programs that enable change and improve performance since 2012. She partners with clients across the corporate, government and not for profit sectors to develop and support executives, teams and talented staff to become agile, effective leaders. Tessa is an experienced leadership coach, mentor and skilled facilitator where she is able to motivate and engage stakeholders towards a common goal.
Prior to McCarthy Mentoring, Tessa has worked at the executive level within organisations and consulted across sectors. Tessa started her career in government communications at Tourism New South Wales in Sydney before moving to London to work across the UK and European markets. She became senior consultant and group lead at a global PR firm providing strategic advice on crisis communication, change strategies and stakeholder relations. Clients were prominent local and global companies including British Airways at which she was the media agency lead for the airline in this region.
Tessa was also General Manager, Marketing at the Leukaemia Foundation of Australia, leading the national marketing team reporting to the CEO. In this role she successfully rolled out the multi-stakeholder communication strategy on the federation restructure, developed a suite of new communication tools for national implementation and led the marketing that delivered the most successful fundraising campaign to date raising $10M+. Tessa’s most recent role within marketing and communications strategy was a senior public relations advisor to leading advertising and marketing firms with listed STW Group (now WPP Ltd).
Tessa holds a Bachelor of Arts (Tourism Marketing) from the University of Technology, Sydney, is an accredited Organisational Coach with the Institute of Executive Coaching & Leadership (IECL Level 2) and holds certification in the Hogan 360 & Leadership Forecast Assessment Tool. She also sits on the Surf Life Saving Australia National Diversity & Inclusion Committee.
