The Apex

The Inner Circle and Soundboard for women leaders stepping into higher-stakes roles who want their credibility to shine and their impact to be felt without overworking, second-guessing decisions, contorting who they are, or doing it all alone

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**You’re stepping into a bigger role, broader scope, or higher visibility, and how you lead now matters more than ever, you care deeply about doing this well.**

You’re capable, experienced, and already trusted but now the stakes have shifted, you’re feeling the pressure to prove you’ve got what it takes.

You’re thinking more carefully about what you say, how you show up, and spending far too long on one email…(guilty!)
Not because you can’t do it, but because the margin for error feels smaller while the spotlight is brighter.

You Want This Chapter To Be About;

🔷 being challenged without it consuming you or eroding your enjoyment of the role

🔷 making confident decisions without overthinking, second-guessing, or running endless “what ifs” before you act

🔷addressing blind spots early before they slow you down or impact your credibility

🔷 leading in a way that feels natural to you, not performing or contorting yourself to fit a mold you think you ‘should be’

🔷 letting your impact be felt without overworking, overpromising, or trying to prove yourself

🔷recognising the value you bring, with perspective to spot what you can’t see alone and space to think clearly so you move with conviction

THE APEX IS MADE FOR YOU

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“I have been working with Laura over the past 12 months as I navigate the next steps in my career. Laura has been fantastic to work with and is flexible and generous with her time. One thing I have really enjoyed about working with Laura is her ability to listen, and I mean really listen to actually hear what I am saying. She is also fantastic and working through solutions with me. If you are looking for a coach to work with on moving through different stages of your career, I would thoroughly recommend Laura!''

Alyssia T, General Manager
''I recommend Laura for her personable and authentic approach which helps individuals recognise their patterns and develop more conscious behaviors and deliberate actions. She creates a safe space for reflection and helps you to apply your insights to take meaningful steps forward in your career. Thank you, Laura!''

Amy G, Manager Strategy
“I have had the pleasure of working with Laura Thain, and I cannot recommend her enough for anyone seeking transformational growth in their personal and professional life. Laura is an exceptional executive coach who combines deep insight with practical strategies. Her ability to ask thought-provoking questions, actively listen, and tailor her approach to individual needs sets her apart. What truly stands out about Laura is her authenticity and dedication. She creates a safe, judgment-free space that fosters trust and encourages growth. Her guidance is not just theoretical—it's actionable.”

Mark L, GM Finance

What Is The Apex?

The Apex is an Inner circle and Soundboard specifically for women leaders combining expert coaching with a trusted peer community across industries — all navigating this higher-stakes chapter with a focus on succeeding, sustainably.

A Circle Of Like Minded Peers Who Get It

Sense-check ideas, learn from what’s working for others, be inspired and make decisions faster without getting stuck in indecision or wondering if you’re the only one facing this challenge.

Executive Coaching & Mentorship

To surface blind spots, validate your thinking, and cut through second-guessing and overwhelm — so you make decisions with confidence before you step into the conversations that matter.

Dedicated Time for Strategic Perspective

Time away from the day-to-day noise to gain perspective, reflect on progress, and reconnect with what you’re doing this for — ensuring your next moves are aligned and meaningful.

It’s about strategic guidance, fresh perspective, shared wisdom, and camaraderie — so you walk into rooms clear-headed, grounded, and confident in how you’re leading, regardless of who’s in them

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A diagram titled 'Your Apex Leadership Evolution' with six steps, including applying to join, onboarding, leading with peer community, growing with coaching, embedding insights, and deciding next steps.

The pressure and doubt you’re feeling are rarely a sign that you’re out of your depth, more often, they’re a sign you’re losing sight of what you already bring to the table.

You don’t need big changes or to become something you’re not.

The real needle-mover for you here is perspective - the ability to see your capability clearly, sharpen it when needed, challenge unhelpful doubt, and back yourself when the dial turns up.

Over time, you feel the shift in how you think and show up, and it shows in your reputation, the outcomes you influence, and the steadiness you bring under pressure.

What Changes As A Result Of Being In The Apex?

Make Decisions You Stand By - Take Fast Action - Compound Your Self-Confidence - Pressure Test Ideas - Credibility With Stakeholders - Empowered Team Culture

🩵Speak openly in meetings, share your ideas without rehearsing and challenge the status quo without fear - earning respect for your authenticity and value-add

🩵Stay grounded under pressure, trust your judgment, and recover quickly from missteps - confident that your credibility is intact

🩵Leave work with energy to spare because priorities are clear, decisions land faster, and your time is spent where it makes the greatest difference, not lost to overthinking or unnecessary perfection

🩵Say what needs to be said in high-stakes conversations - no tiptoeing , just values-driven leadership that strengthens relationships, performance and makes you the voice others trust

🩵 Watch others step up around you - your team takes ownership, stakeholders take action with less explanation, and tensions and rework are reduced

🩵 Back yourself as a leader and free mental capacity as imposter thoughts and self-doubt no longer run the show because you’re anchored in the value you bring

These are the shifts The Apex creates for you

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''Working with Laura as my performance coach has been an incredibly valuable experience. Throughout our sessions, we explored a range of challenges, and she consistently guided me through the underlying thought processes with clarity, patience, and insight. Laura has a remarkable ability to ask the right questions, challenge assumptions, and help uncover practical, sustainable approaches to complex situations. What I appreciated most was how she equipped me with skills I can continue to apply long after our coaching sessions. Her support has strengthened my confidence in navigating similar scenarios in the future and has contributed meaningfully to the high‑performance culture we strive to uphold. I’m genuinely grateful for her guidance and would highly recommend her to anyone looking to grow both personally and professionally.''

Siobhan W, Head of Mortgages
'' I had the pleasure of working with Laura during a pivotal transition into a new role. Her coaching helped me clarify my strategic intent and gain a stronger sense of direction and confidence. Laura has a remarkable ability to ask the right questions, challenge assumptions, and guide thinking in a way that’s both supportive and thought-provoking. I’m incredibly grateful for her insight and would highly recommend her to anyone looking to grow in their leadership or navigate career shifts with purpose.''

Gemma K, Head Of Coles Local

Here’s What You Access Inside…

Executive Coaching & Peer Community at your fingertips...

SOUNDBOARD | Live Coaching & Mentoring

A monthly 60-minute Group Zoom call where you bring a leadership challenge, goal, or scenario and receive executive coaching from me to help you move forward with clarity and conviction.

This is where you are coached to lead yourself and others in the most effective way for you. Coaching goes beyond the immediate issue to identify where misalignment or blind spots may be limiting your effectiveness, so each conversation we have strengthens how you lead at this level.

You will also gain valuable perspective from listening to other capable leaders being coached through their challenges. Often the insight you did not know you needed comes from seeing familiar dynamics play out in others.

Sessions are recorded, and you can submit a scenario in advance if you cannot attend live or want deeper exploration than the Inner Circle space allows.

The Apex Inner Circle | Real-Time Perspective When It Matters

A private, members-only space to stay connected whenever you need perspective.

This is where you can drop in to sense-check decisions, pressure-test thinking, and share real moments in real time.

Whether you’re celebrating a bold action, preparing for a high-stakes conversation, or acknowledging a win, you benefit from shared experience with peers navigating similar paths, alongside coach support from me. This means you are not carrying leadership decisions alone or losing time second-guessing in your own head.

Expect grounded perspective, timely encouragement, and a sense of belonging that compounds confidence and sustains forward momentum as you lead.

Delivered via a private Facebook Group, engage as much or as little as you need. The value is knowing perspective and connection is there when it matters.

PRINT® Assessment + 1-1 Onboarding | Clarity on Your Unique Value & How You Lead Best

You’ll complete the PRINT® assessment (‘The Why of You’), revealing the deeper drivers behind how you think, decide, and respond when the stakes are high, and what enables you to perform at your best.

You’ll then have a private 1:1 Leadership Onboarding session with me to debrief your results and set clear direction for how you’ll use Soundboard and the Inner Circle moving forward.

This gives you:

🔹clarity on your natural leadership strengths and pressure points

🔹early awareness of blind spots before they show up as overthinking or self-doubt

🔹a personalised foundation for leading well at this level, without forcing yourself into styles that don’t fit

These insights inform your coaching inside The Apex, ensuring the guidance you receive is relevant, grounded, and aligned to how you lead best.

The Contagious Leader Notes | Leadership Guidance & Calibration

We can’t act on what we can’t see, including the habits and patterns that once served us well but may no longer be supporting how we want to lead at this level.

You’ll receive weekly leadership guidance shared as a short email or brief video note in the Inner Circle, drawn from the Contagious Leader Blueprint and shaped by the themes emerging across the group.

These insights help surface blind spots, sense check how you’re leading, and highlight subtle shifts that can make your leadership more effective, lighter, and better aligned.

This might include a framework for handling a difficult stakeholder conversation, new ways to think about influence and executive presence, guidance on strengthening key relationships, or perspective that helps you set clearer boundaries and back yourself with more certainty.

You can act on the insight immediately, or use it as a prompt to deepen and personalise your leadership through Soundboard or Inner Circle conversations.

Practical, optional, and easy to engage with. Read, watch, save, or delete. The value is timely perspective that sharpens how you lead without adding to your workload.

Join The Apex community today for just $800

Join Apex

6 Months Full Access

Pay In Full: 5,000

OR

Monthly: 6 x 990

Join Apex VIP

12 Months Full Access

Pay In Full: 9,000

OR

Monthly: 12 x 800

*pricing in AUD

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A smiling woman with shoulder-length blonde hair wearing a navy blue top and a silver necklace with a pendant.

Hi, I’m Laura Thain, Executive Coach & Facilitator

Everything I do is grounded in The Contagious Leader Effect — the belief that when leaders are fulfilled and aligned, their impact becomes contagious.

I help leaders and organisations step into their next fulfilling chapter — enjoying leadership and creating cultures people never want to leave.

After nearly two decades working with leaders globally, I’ve seen one thing hold true: the most effective leaders are those who know who they are — and lead from that place.

My work blends commercial understanding with deep human insight to help people lead from alignment, not exhaustion — building the clarity, confidence, capacity, and connection they need to thrive.

Learn more about my story, style and approach

The Apex Is For You If…

✔️ You’re stepping into higher-stakes responsibility — recently promoted, positioning for the next step, or already there — and the pressure, visibility, and expectations have shifted.

✔️ You care deeply about getting this next level right. Doing right by your team, protecting your reputation, and leading well at this level genuinely matter to you — so you can sleep easy and create the impact that’s important to you.

✔️ You know there are internal and external hurdles at play — not a lack of capability, but blind spots, second-guessing, and habits that trip you up unnecessarily when the stakes are high.

✔️ You’re ready to elevate how you lead with coaching, mentorship, and peer perspective — so you move forward with clarity instead of questioning yourself after the fact.

✔️ You want leadership to feel more sustainable, impactful, and enjoyable (and honestly, more you!) You know that being surrounded by women on the same path will expand what you see as possible, challenge you in the right ways, and make this next chapter feel lighter and more rewarding because you’re not doing it alone.

✔️You want your evolution to come from human connection, conversation, and coaching, not rely on DIY templates, or video trainings

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FAQ

The Apex is designed for experienced women leaders operating at — or stepping into — higher-stakes responsibility.
This includes Directors, General Managers, Heads of Department, senior leaders, and business owners who are navigating increased scope, visibility, or expectations and want to lead this next chapter well.
If you’re a leader who cares about credibility, impact, and sustainability — and value expert coaching, peer perspective, and a trusted soundboard as you lead at this level - this is for you.
Absolutely. Psychological safety and confidentiality are essential to The Apex experience. Every member signs a confidentiality agreement before joining, and membership is by application only to ensure a high-calibre, values-aligned group. This creates a trusted space where you can speak freely, be supported, and explore what really matters—without judgement or risk.

You’ll soon realise that you have many shared challenges among your peers that give you a strange sense of camaraderie and belonging.
Yes—because your leadership and life are deeply connected. The Apex is a safe, confidential space where you can bring all of you. Personal, professional, and everything in between—it’s not only all welcome here, it’s essential to your performance and fulfilment.
The Apex is designed to support your real life—not compete with it. You can engage as much or as little as you need, knowing there will be times when your schedule is stretched or you're on leave.
Instead of taking time, The Apex gives you time back—by reducing second-guessing, sleepless nights, and wasted energy. You’ll have:
- A monthly 60-minute Group Coaching & Mentoring call via Zoom (your dedicated soundboard)
- 24/7 access to the private Facebook Group community for quick questions, celebrations, support, or clarity on the fly
- Weekly micro Leadership Notes for your leadership development delivered as 5-15 min video live in the FB group or as a short email to absorb as you wish
You don’t need to show up to everything to get results—this is built to meet you where you are, and grow with you.
Yes—this is actually an ideal time to join. The Apex offers the support you need at every stage of your transition.
You’ll gain clarity on what’s truly right for you next—not just on paper, but in alignment with your values, energy, and aspirations. You’ll have guidance and strategy to help you secure the role you want, and once you're in, you'll be fully supported as you navigate the first 90 days and beyond.
From positioning yourself powerfully to managing early challenges and setting strong boundaries—this group gives you the coaching, structure, and peer insights to start strong and stay anchored in success that is fulfilling to you.
Confidence compounds with every action you take and new habits and behaviors can take time to engrain. This 6 months is about compounding your confidence; the more time, the more support and inspiration, the more action, the more innate natural confidence you gain.

Plus, when you have someone in your corner for 6 months plus you don’t need to ‘find the time for the program’, it becomes a part of your routine. From working with hundreds of leaders and my own personal experience, the RELIEF that comes from long term coaching & mentorship is something I don’t want you to miss out on.
Yes, so long as there is capacity in the program you can start your journey anytime. When you apply I will inform you whether there is a waitlist or if you can access immediately.

We manage numbers to ensure the community connection and personalised support is not lost.
All of the sessions are delivered online via Zoom so you can be anywhere, even running between meetings and not miss out because you got stuck in traffic or couldn’t get away. All recordings are available so even if you do miss it, it’s easy to catch up when you’re free.
The Facebook Group is where you will connect with your peers and me outside of the regular calls to listen to the Leadership Nudges and share your wins, questions, challenges, breakthroughs!
Over a 6 month or more period, its inevitable that holidays, sickness, or the juggle of daily life gets in the way. That’s one of the reasons the FB Group exists to ensure that you have access to support from me and your peers, anytime. Besides that, every call is recorded so you truly never miss a thing.

And you can submit a question ahead of time and catch the replay if you can’t make it live.

This mentorship program is about you knowing you have support at every turn, for whenever you need it. Sometimes that may be a lot, sometimes less, there’s no right or wrong.
Of course your colleagues are very welcome to submit an application and if you know they’re aligned with the culture of The Apex and what we’re all about then please do encourage them to do so. Make sure they let me know you sent them so I can acknowledge you!
At the end of your 6 months, we’ll reflect on how you’re leading now and what you want to continue embedding and evolving as your role and responsibility continue to evolve.
Many women choose to continue their Apex access because leadership doesn’t stand still - and having ongoing perspective, coaching, and the Inner Circle as new situations arise simply makes sense.
You’ll have the option to extend for another 6 months or continue month-to-month at a preferential alumni rate. There’s no pressure to stay - we’ll decide together what’s right for you at that point.
They sure can and in fact I encourage you to ask them to do so. Many companies support coaching for their employees and in particular those in leadership roles, this program is about you becoming the best leader you can be so it’s an investment for them as much as it is for you. If you’d like support in how to have that conversation, just let me know - influence is my strong suit!
In some circumstances this may be possible so it’s best to speak to your accountant or a tax professional - you never know. But don’t forget that your company may well be able and willing to fund the program for you - it’s in their interests to have the best leaders possible. Reach out to me if you’d like help with those conversations.
I love your curiosity! Book A Connection Call or DM me on Instagram or Linked-In and I’ll help you out.

Instagram: @coachlaurathain
Linked-in: Laura Thain

'' I had such a wonderful experience. I am so grateful I chose Laura to be my leadership coach. Laura was insightful, supportive, kind and gave me the right support and guidance I needed to evolve my leadership skills. She had a great set of leadership tools for me and articulated them in a way that was easy to understand and put into practice. I felt comfortable in Laura’s presence and I always looked forward to our sessions.''

Jasmin C, Marketing Manager
''Laura makes you feel comfortable from the beginning. Laura did a great job in helping me deep dive some areas I wanted to explore in my leadership and to build some suitable strategies to help improve the way I lead. Highly recommend if you want a coach who can really understand what you are needing and guiding you through the self-discovery process.''

Kass N, Group Manager
''I recently worked with Laura over a period of eight months and can highly recommend her as a coach who is personable and easy to talk to. She creates a safe space for sharing, actively listens and asks thought provoking questions. I’d recommend her to those seeking professional and personal growth and navigating career next steps. Working with Laura helped me to better understand my values and motivators, and implementing her practical actionable advice has been influential in helping me take the next step in my career.''

Joel M, Principal Mining

The Apex ensures your credibility shines and your impact is felt…

without overworking, second-guessing decisions, contorting who you are, or doing it all alone.

A circular diagram titled "The Contagious Leader Framework" with three main sections: Clarity, Capacity, and Connection, each with related keywords like Credibility, Validation, Work-life balance, Self-trust, and Influence. Arrows connect these sections, illustrating a continuous cycle of leadership qualities.

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