Student Interview: Neel

Neel Parti shares his experiences of studying on our Executive Coaching Programme, and advice for prospective applicants.

An experienced trainer, facilitator and leadership development consultant, Neel Parti will shortly graduate from our Executive Coaching Programme. We asked him to share his reflections on the course and advice for prospective applicants. If you’d like to connect with Neel, you can find him on LinkedIn.

Why did you choose our Executive Coaching Programme?

“I chose to undertake the Executive Coaching Programme at the Tavistock because I was looking for depth, rigour and a genuine development experience – not simply a coaching qualification. I had been coaching (with a small ‘c’), in different ways, for many years and wanted to formalise that experience. But more than that, I wanted to deepen my practice and develop a more robust understanding of what sits beneath effective coaching work. What drew me to the Tavistock was its distinctive systems psychodynamic approach. Although I didn’t fully understand what that meant at the point of applying, from speaking to course graduates, I had a strong sense that the programme would offer something deeper than a set of coaching tools or techniques. I wanted a programme that would stretch me, challenge my assumptions and help me think more deeply about individuals, relationships, roles and organisations. For me, it felt like a real investment in myself and in the kind of practitioner I wanted to become. I didn’t want simply to reinforce what I already knew; I wanted to be challenged to go further.”

How has the programme impacted your practice?

“The programme has had a significant impact on the way I work as a coach, facilitator and leadership development practitioner. Two core frameworks from the programme have become central to my practice: the systems psychodynamic model and the Person-Role-Organisation framework. Together, they have given me a much richer way of understanding clients, the roles they occupy and the organisational systems in which they work. The ‘systems’ part of the approach has helped me pay closer attention to the different systems that shape us: our organisations, teams, communities, relationships and, importantly, the very first system we belong to – our family of origin. It has deepened my understanding of how those systems influence who we are, how we relate to others and how we show up in the world, and in our working lives. The ’psychodynamic’ part of the approach has deepened my understanding – and helped me make greater use – of the coaching relationship itself. I try to pay close attention to what happens between myself as coach and my client: the feelings that emerge, the patterns of relating that show up, and the ways in which these may reflect wider dynamics in the client’s working life, in particular. This has enabled me to work at greater depth with clients, to explore not only what is happening on the surface, but also some of the underlying dynamics that may be shaping their experience. The Person-Role-Organisation framework has also been transformative. It has helped me understand role as much more than a job description. I have come to appreciate that one’s ‘role’ sits at the intersection between the person and the organisation – between who someone is and what they bring, what the organisation needs from them and the wider dynamics of the different personal and professional systems they are part of. Having these frameworks has given me more confidence and clarity in my practice. They help me feel more grounded as a coach and give me permission to work with greater depth. They also help me explain my approach clearly to clients, which I have found creates trust and opens up richer conversations. Beyond one-to-one coaching, the programme has influenced my wider organisational and leadership development work. I regularly draw on the theory, reading and ideas from the programme when facilitating groups, working with leadership teams and helping people make sense of complex team and organisational dynamics.”

What have you enjoyed most about the programme?

“There were many things I valued about the programme, but three things stand out. The first was that the programme was in person. Coaching is fundamentally relational, and being in the room with others felt incredibly important. Learning together face-to-face created a different quality of connection, trust and challenge. It allowed for conversations, reflections and relationships that I don’t think would have developed in quite the same way online. The second was the diversity of the cohort. People came to the programme from different backgrounds, sectors and levels of experience. Some were already experienced in coaching or in organisational development work, while others were much newer to the field. That range of perspectives enriched the learning and created a stimulating, thoughtful and challenging environment. The third was the experiential nature of the programme. The learning was not simply theoretical or academic. We were invited to practise, reflect, experiment and experience the work in an embodied way. The practice coaching, group exercises, discussions and reflective spaces all helped bring the theory to life. I also found the supervision spaces particularly powerful. Both group supervision and one-to-one supervision were incredibly valuable, but the group supervision had a particular depth and richness. It was often revealing, challenging and deeply supportive. It created a space where we could think carefully about our practice, our clients and ourselves as coaches.”

Has there been anything that has surprised you?

“What surprised me most was the level of personal depth the programme required. I expected to develop as a coach, but I hadn’t fully appreciated how much the programme would invite me to reflect on myself: who I am, where I come from, how I relate to others and what I bring into my work. Some of that reflection was (and continues to be) searching, challenging and uncomfortable, but it became one of the most important parts of the learning. The programme helped me see that personal and professional development are deeply connected. Becoming a more thoughtful and effective coach was not simply about learning models or techniques; it also required me to understand myself more fully. That depth of introspection has had a lasting impact. It has shaped how I work with coaching clients, but also how I approach wider organisational work. The theory, practice, reading and experiential elements of the programme have all informed the way I think about leadership, relationships, group dynamics and organisational life.”

What advice would you give to others considering an application?

“I would encourage anyone considering the programme to be ready to invest in it fully. The course requires time, work and commitment. The reflective pieces, written assignments, supervision and coaching hours all require real thought and effort. The assignments are not academic in the traditional sense; they are practical, reflective and closely connected to your coaching practice. But they do take time, focus and willingness to think deeply. I would also say that the programme asks you to step into discomfort. At times it can, unsurprisingly, feel challenging, but I came to understand discomfort as a signal that I was at the edge of something important. Some of the most valuable learning came from staying with that discomfort long enough to understand what it had to teach me – this will stay with me as a lifelong lesson. The programme also requires you to build your coaching practice while you are studying. Completing the required coaching hours is a significant part of the journey, and it is important to trust the process and take that seriously. My advice would be to lean in fully. Engage with the reading, the supervision, the cohort, the practice and the reflective process. If you are looking for a programme that will simply give you a toolkit, this may not be the right course. But if you are looking for a programme that will deepen your practice, challenge your thinking and support your development as both a coach and a person, then it is an incredibly rich and worthwhile experience.”