Strategic

Clarity

Stronger

Leadership

About Aurora

Are you leading through times of complexity? Are you stepping into a new role or need clarity on your leadership journey? Are you building a business or leading your organisation through a strategy reset, growth, merger or change of ownership?

Aurora Coaching offers strategic insight, hands-on support and a calm space to reflect on challenges and opportunities, enabling you and your business to move forward with purpose and clarity.

Through meaningful conversations and constructive challenge, I provide coaching to senior leaders and executives as they navigate leadership challenges and career journeys. I also provide strategic advice to leaders, organisations, and teams as they navigate significant business changes and opportunities.


What we offer?

Business growth rarely follows a straight line. Acting as a strategic thinking partner, I bring an independent perspective, strategic insight, thoughtful challenge and practical experience when you need to clarify strategic direction, navigate change or work through a significant business challenge or opportunity.

Every business is different, which is why my approach is tailored to your needs. Support may include:

  • Business strategy development and strategic planning
  • Organisational change and transformation support
  • Sounding board and advice for business challenges and opportunities
  • Planning and execution for mergers, acquisitions and integrations
  • Succession planning and ownership transition support
  • Decision-making support during periods of uncertainty or complexity

Who it’s for: 

Boards, executives, founders, organisations and teams involved in resetting strategy and leading through periods of strategic growth and change.

You’ll gain:

  • Clarity and hands-on support for successful strategy development and implementation
  • Operational advice and implementation support for M&A integration, investment or change of ownership transition
  • Transformation and change project management
  • Aligned and supported senior leaders and teams, confident to manage through uncertainty and complexity
  • Clear strategic priorities, roles, ways of working and decision pathways

Lead with clarity, authenticity, and courage. This coaching builds awareness of your leadership style, strengthens confidence and values-based decision-making, communication, and presence. It allows you to step into your next leadership challenge with certainty and guide others through change with integrity. It can also help you build resilience during periods of pressure and change, including life events that require a reset at work.

Who it’s for:

Founders, CEOs, senior executives and new leaders taking on expanded responsibility or navigating complex organisational challenges, including strategic projects, organisational changes and change of ownership. 

You’ll gain:

  • Insight on your behavioural and communication style and strengths through an Extended DISC® assessment
  • Strengthened confidence, impact and presence
  • Assurance on your unique values- and strengths-based leadership approach
  • Clarity for leading through complexity
  • Confidence to inspire, influence, and deliver
  • Tools to manage pressures, protect boundaries and build resilience

Prepare for partner promotions and senior advisory roles with clarity and confidence. This tailored programme supports professionals in consulting, legal, accounting and advisory firms navigating leadership progression and partner processes.

Be clear on how to navigate the transition from technical expert to organisational leader, manage senior stakeholder dynamics, develop a strong personal and business case for partnership and prepare for panel interviews.

This programme also supports newly appointed or direct admit partners in the first 6-12 months of their partnership journey, helping to settle into the new role with confidence and impact.

Who it’s for:

Aspiring partners, directors and principals, senior associates and newly promoted partners.

You’ll gain:

  • Clarity on who you want to be and how you want to lead as a partner 
  • A confident path to partner plan
  • Clarity on navigating partner process dynamics and practical preparation support
  • Objective and independent advice for your partnership journey

Strengthen trust, alignment, and collective leadership. This work supports teams and boards to build effective collaboration and strong governance. Through facilitated conversations and practical frameworks, it helps groups navigate differing perspectives, improve decision-making, and align around shared priorities.

Who it’s for:
Leadership or project teams and boards seeking stronger alignment, clearer decision-making and more effective ways of working. Particularly valuable for organisations navigating growth, strategic change, governance challenges or leadership and ownership transitions.

You’ll gain:

  • Greater trust and openness within the team or board
  • Clearer roles, responsibilities and decision-making practices
  • Alignment on strategic priorities and ways of working
  • Improved ability to navigate conflict and differing perspectives constructively
  • Stronger collective accountability and ownership of outcomes
  • Practical tools and frameworks to sustain effective collaboration

meet Verena.

I understand that regardless of the challenge that lies in front of you as a leader, it is the right kind of support that can make all the difference during these times of transition. I started Aurora Coaching to create exactly that support. My strategy advice is grounded in experience and focuses on practical, hands-on support for the successful execution of your strategic priorities. My coaching practice creates a safe space where leaders can pause, reflect, and see their business and leadership challenges in a new light. Just as the Aurora signals a fresh dawn, my goal is to help you find clarity and confidence in the moments that matter most.

After more than 25 years in senior leadership roles, including as a Big 4 Partner and General Manager of an NZX-listed organisation, I know first-hand the pressures and complexities leaders face. Originally from Germany, my career has taken me across the UK, Europe and New Zealand which has given me a deep appreciation for the strength that lies in diverse views and backgrounds.

Clients and teams I work with value my unique blend of strategic insight, consulting, general management and governance experience and my strong, empathetic coaching approach. I have led and coached teams and advised C-suite clients through complex challenges ranging from strategy development and implementation, to merger integration planning and execution, carveouts and divestments and transformation.

I am experienced in coaching and advising seasoned senior executives and boards as well as new leaders and teams. Through calm, focused conversations, I’ll ask the questions that spark insight and that challenge with empathy, so that you can move forward with clarity, purpose and enhanced performance. These principles also guide my approach when supporting businesses navigate their strategic challenges.

Like many people, I wear and juggle a lot of hats every day. Outside of my client work, I love spending family time with my husband and our two teenage kids, exploring the great Kiwi outdoors, mountain biking, walks by the beach, hiking and camping. I am a proud soccer mum, and an eternal optimist.


Qualifications & Memberships

– Master of Business Administration (MBA)

– Diploma in Business Studies (Finance & Marketing)

– Chartered Member of the NZ Institute of Directors

– International Coach Federation (ICF) certified Organisational & Executive Coach

– Certified Resilience Coach

As a small business owner, it’s easy to become so immersed in the day to day running of your business that you rarely take the time to step back and look at the bigger picture…

Maree

a month ago

Verena is a brilliant coach. She challenged my perceptions and enabled me to think about some work related development areas in a completely different way than I had been. Couldn’t recommend Verena’s coaching enough!

Alf Fry

8 months ago

I had the privilege of working with Verena over six executive coaching sessions, and she has been nothing short of outstanding. She guided me through a pivotal stage in my career, helping me gain clarity on my values, my “why,” and the best next step forward…

Sabine Roberts, Director Global FP&A, Les Mills

10 months ago

Thank you for your support. I appreciate being able to be open and honest with you in our clarity session. I’m feeling in a better space today as you’ve helped shift my mindset.

RG, Senior Tax Director

Professional Services

Thank you so much for the career coaching and mentoring. I have so much more clarity on my next steps now.

Dress for Success

Career Mentee

As a small business owner, it’s easy to become so immersed in the day to day running of your business that you rarely take the time to step back and look at the bigger picture…

Maree

a month ago

Verena is a brilliant coach. She challenged my perceptions and enabled me to think about some work related development areas in a completely different way than I had been. Couldn’t recommend Verena’s coaching enough!

Alf Fry

8 months ago

I had the privilege of working with Verena over six executive coaching sessions, and she has been nothing short of outstanding. She guided me through a pivotal stage in my career, helping me gain clarity on my values, my “why,” and the best next step forward…

Sabine Roberts, Director Global FP&A, Les Mills

10 months ago

Thank you for your support. I appreciate being able to be open and honest with you in our clarity session. I’m feeling in a better space today as you’ve helped shift my mindset.

RG, Senior Tax Director

Professional Services

Thank you so much for the career coaching and mentoring. I have so much more clarity on my next steps now.

Dress for Success

Career Mentee