"Learn to lead with impact
in the moments that count"
You were promoted because you're brilliant at what you do.
But being great at delivery doesn't automatically make you
a great leader. I help senior leaders in creative agencies make
their next big leap from good to exceptional, from doing to
leading without burning out.
"Learn to lead with impact in the moments that count"
You were promoted because you're brilliant at what you do.
But being great at delivery doesn't automatically make you
a great leader. I help senior leaders in creative agencies make
their next big leap from good to exceptional, from doing to
leading without burning out.
COaching for leaders in creative agencies
At a certain point in a creative agency, leadership stops being about doing great work and starts being about how your decisions land across the whole ecosystem: the client, the team and the business all at once.
That transition is rarely named.
You're promoted because you're a strong operator, good with clients, well regarded. Then responsibility widens. Decisions carry more weight. How you show up starts shaping delivery, culture and outcomes.
I work with senior leaders who are stepping into bigger responsibility and need a leadership confidant, someone who will sharpen your vision, challenge your thinking and help you work out how to lead in a way that's grounded and effective
.
My coaching is strategic brainstorming, not reflective therapy. Together we reframe situations, clarify what the role requires and build sustainable, high-impact leadership practices.
Clients tell me the value comes from having a safe space to think clearly with someone who understands the personalities, pressures and realities of agency life.
That transition is rarely named.
You're promoted because you're a strong operator, good with clients, well regarded. Then responsibility widens. Decisions carry more weight. How you show up starts shaping delivery, culture and outcomes.
I work with senior leaders who are stepping into bigger responsibility and need a leadership confidant, someone who will sharpen your vision, challenge your thinking and help you work out how to lead in a way that's grounded and effective
.
My coaching is strategic brainstorming, not reflective therapy. Together we reframe situations, clarify what the role requires and build sustainable, high-impact leadership practices.
Clients tell me the value comes from having a safe space to think clearly with someone who understands the personalities, pressures and realities of agency life.
When you are operating above the line,
you stop firefighting and start leading.
When you are operating above the line, you stop firefighting and start leading.
You're not second-guessing every decision.
You're not working evenings to keep up.
You're not the bottleneck your team needs for everything.
You're leading. And it shows.
Your Time Back
You stop working evenings and weekends just to stay on top.
• You delegate without taking work back
• You say no without guilt or over explaining
• Your team solves problems without needing you
• You protect your focus time and it actually holds
• You're not the bottleneck anymore
You get your time back to focus on what matters without sacrificing standards.
Your Credibility Secured
You stop second-guessing yourself at every conversation.
• You hold boundaries with clients without apologising
• You give feedback clearly without worrying if you are too 'harsh'
• You trust your decision and move on
• You stop replaying meetings in your head at 10pm
• Senior leaders trust you to handle it
You lead with clarity and purpose, not constant self-doubt.
Your Team Performs
Your team doesn't need constant clarification or hand-holding
• They know what's expected (you don't repeat yourself)
• They come with solutions, not problems
• They respect your boundaries and time
• They feel safe to make decisions without you
• They dont leave for 'better culture' elsewhere.
You build a high-performing team without micromanaging.
"I have grown to be a good leader, fair to the team and have created a safe space for my team.
They respect me and my time."
Jess, Head of Events
Above the Line will help you with
Promotion to senior roles you thought out of reach
Secure significant pay increases through stronger presence
Reduce working hours whilst still improving team performance
Build confidence to manage conflict without avoiding it
Reclaim your time without sacrificing standards
Promotion to senior roles you thought out of reach
Secure significant pay increases through stronger presence
Reduce working hours whilst still improving team performance
Build confidence to manage conflict without avoiding it
Reclaim your time without sacrificing standards
"I have grown to be a good leader, fair to the team and have created a safe space for my team.
They respect me and my time."
Jess, Head of Events
The Leadership Line
How We Work
The Leadership Line is a simple framework that helps you see when you're leading and when you're firefighting.
Above the line: You're coaching your team, making strategic decisions, holding boundaries. You're clear, calm, intentional.
Below the line: You're taking work back, saying yes when you mean no, replaying conversations. You're reactive, overwhelmed, doing instead of leading.
You don't stay above the line all the time. That's not realistic in agency life. But the best leaders recognise when they're dropping below the line and catch themselves before they spiral.
These are the leadership skills I will teach you.
The leaders I work with are capable, respected and brilliant at what they do. They come to me because the role changed, responsibility widened, and nobody taught them how to lead at this level.
That's where the Leadership Line helps.
Ready to Step Above The Line?
Whether you need intensive 1:1 support or want to work alongside
other senior leaders, there's a pathway that fits where you are right now.
Above the Line
Programme
6-month group coaching for female leaders & managers.
A small cohort of senior leaders in creative agencies working together to strengthen leadership capability, stay above the line consistently, and support each other through the transition from doing to leading.
Limited to 8 participants
Next Cohorts starts March 2026
Leadership
Partnership
1:1 coaching & mentoring tailored to your role.
Strategic work for senior leaders navigating complex transitions, building teams, or stepping into bigger responsibility. We work on what's happening right now in your specific context.
Your leadership confident for 6-12 months.
Currently accepting new clients.
Team
Workshops
Embed the Leadership Line
across your business.
Bring the Leadership Line framework to your leadership team. Together we create shared language, strengthen decision-making under pressure, and build consistency across the business. Workshops designed to your team needs.
MEET SUZY
I spent nearly 30 years at 4D Design, responsible for global brand's exhibition and event design projects.
I led teams, managed clients, protected delivery standards and made the leadership decisions that sit alongside performance and margin.
I know what it's like to be promoted for delivery and then figure out how to lead as you go. Nobody taught me how to make that shift. I just kept working harder, getting pulled into delivery, saying yes when I meant no. I was operating below the line without knowing there was a line.
After closing the business in 2020, I trained as a coach.
Now I work exclusively with senior leaders in creative agencies making the same transition I had to figure out on my own.
I give you what I never had: clear frameworks, strategic support, and a trusted thinking partner who understands creative agency life.
That's why I created the Leadership Line.
The Leadership Line Index
A five minute snapshot of how you lead when it counts.
The Leadership Line Index is a 5 minute quiz that shows you where you're operating: above the line, on it, or below it.
It's not a test. There are no right or wrong answers. It simply shows you the patterns you might recognise and a few you haven't noticed yet.
Most leaders use it as a starting point. A way to see where they're dropping into firefighting instead of leading. And to work out what would shift.
Take the Index. See where you are sitting on the line.
Let's Connect
Executive and Leadership Coaching for Creative Agencies
The Leadership Line helps senior leaders in creative, experiential and events agencies make their next big leap from good to exceptional, from doing to leading.
Founded by Suzy Malhotra, coaching focuses on staying above the line: making strategic decisions, holding boundaries, and leading teams without burning out.
Based in Henley-on-Thames | Working with agencies across the UK and globally
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