We begin our coaching conversation with a single question…

What needs to shift in your work or life for you to feel truly happy?

Your answer might be a work promotion, a new role in your current career, or a completely fresh start. Maybe you’re looking to improve your wellbeing, reconnect with what motivates you, or you simply need support because you’re feeling stuck.

By asking powerful questions, challenging assumptions and, most importantly, giving you the space to explore your thoughts, we will help you move forward with clarity, confidence and purpose.

We structure our coaching conversation around four stages.

Where have you been?

We explore the highs and lows of your work and life to date.

Where are you now?

We examine your current situation and what needs to change.

Where are you going?

We work with you to develop an action plan to move forward.

Have you got there?

We ensure you are where you want to be.

We tailor our coaching conversation to fit your needs and goals. Some of our most popular programmes are:

Define Your Direction

If you’re in a rut, or in a period of transition, this programme helps you to reconnect with your values, rediscover your strengths, and explore new directions.

What you’ll experience:

  • 6 one-to-one coaching sessions across 12 weeks

  • Clarity on your values and strengths

  • Confidence and self-esteem building

  • Exploration of new work or life landscapes

  • Goal setting that feels achievable and motivating

  • Career and life experiments and identity exploration to test new possibilities

Nail Your Promotion

If you’re ready to move up in your current company, or stepping into a brand-new role, this programme helps you to navigate the transition with confidence and impact.

What you’ll experience:

  • 4 one-to-one coaching sessions across 8 weeks

  • Honest assessment of your role strengths and growth areas

  • Personal brand building

  • Confidence and imposter syndrome coaching

  • Support with impression management, boundaries, and emotional regulation

  • Tailored guidance for a successful transition into your new role

Ignite Your Idea

If you’ve got a business idea or side hustle that you are eager to bring to life, this programme gives you the structure, insight, and confidence to turn your vision into action.

What you’ll experience:

  • 8 one-to-one coaching sessions across 8 weeks

  • Exploration and development of your business idea

  • Identifying and understanding your target market

  • Competitor analysis and pricing strategy support

  • Guidance on branding, messaging, and marketing

  • A practical business launch toolkit to get you started

Client Feedback

"Darren is a super professional, fantastic coach. Darren has helped me navigate my day to day short term and long term goals in this difficult time with the job market. He helped me to see things differently and I always felt refreshed leaving the session with a new vision and clarity.” - Chiaki

“I came to see Darren when I was at a dead end with my career. He helped me to take a step back and work out what’s important to me, I guess what my strengths are and what my purpose is. His guidance helped me to work out what’s really important to me and has set me off in a new career direction. Highly recommended.” - Mel

“Darren helped me to see my way into the first couple of months in a new, high profile role. I was nervous before starting the job but working with Darren helped me to explore my management and leadership style for the first time, and helped me to articulate how I wanted to present myself in my new company.” - Peter

About Darren

Darren brings 30 years of experience that blends senior roles in consumer research with a long-standing passion for sports coaching.

Throughout his career he has been driven by a fascination with what motivates people: their goals and ambitions, and the obstacles that hold them back. He is especially interested in those pivotal moments when individuals feel ready to make a change - whether improving their fitness, learning a life skill, changing careers, or pursuing a long-held passion - but struggle to take the next step.

Darren’s professional journey has given him a 360-degree view of career life: the highs and lows, launching and growing businesses, and even resigning from a job without knowing what was next. He has had a boss, been a boss, and worked for himself, giving him first-hand insight into the rewards and challenges of leadership and management.

Today, this mix of curiosity and lived experience shapes his coaching practice. He combines his corporate background, sports coaching expertise, and academic training in coaching psychology to deliver evidence-based approaches grounded in real-world insight. His goal is to help people overcome barriers and define their own version of career and personal happiness.

Photo of a relaxed and happy looking Darren Hanley, coaching lead at Career Happy.

Darren’s style is warm, relaxed, and down-to-earth, but he’s not afraid to ask the tough questions when it matters. This balance of support and challenge has earned him the trust of clients from all walks of life.

He holds a Postgraduate Certificate in Career Coaching and Coaching Psychology from Birkbeck, University of London, and is currently completing his MSc. His Masters research is exploring how the outdoor environment, movement, and physical exercise can shape and support career coaching interventions.

Darren is a member of both the UK Register of Career Development Professionals and The Association for Coaching.

Alongside Work Life Happy, Darren is a facilitator, trainer, and runs the cycle coaching company Bike Happy.

Book a Free Chat

Pop your details in the form below to book a free 20-minute chat. We’ll have a conversation about what you’re looking for in a coach, how we might work together, and I’ll answer any questions you have.

There’s no strings attached. This is simply a chance for us both to see if it feels like a good fit. If it does, we can book your first coaching session and take it from there.