About Me
Hi, I’m Sue Stones — an operational ninja, empathetic leader, and culture empowerment advocate.
I specialise in helping growing organisations turn strategic ambition into operational reality. With a sharp eye for systems and a deep understanding of people, I unlock the hidden potential within teams and processes to drive meaningful, measurable impact.
Whether I’m streamlining operations, embedding strategy into culture, or empowering teams to deliver with confidence, my approach is always grounded in clarity, collaboration, and purpose.
My Journey
It all started by accident….
I trained in fashion and marketing, and after completing my degree, I moved to Edinburgh when my husband landed a job there. I joined Jenners of Edinburgh, the iconic independent department store, first as a management trainee and then as a buyer. It was there I honed my skills in income generation, financial management, and leadership—learning the ins and outs of margins, P&L accounts, and leading a team of sales professionals.
When Harvey Nichols opened its first store in Edinburgh, I knew I had to be part of it. I joined as a Sales Manager and later became Finance and Operations Manager. Over time, I led all operational functions for the £30m+ flagship store, managing large teams and complex systems. That experience opened the door to running my own stores—first launching a new site in Bristol, then moving to Leeds to transform its culture and operations. I even had the opportunity to support the international opening of a franchise store in Kuwait.
After 13 fulfilling years at Harvey Nichols, I made a bold shift into the third sector, taking on a CEO role at Bramley Baths—a community interest charity housed in a historic building. There, I worked alongside a passionate team to secure £500,000 of investment, improve operational processes, and strengthen both staff and community engagement. Working in a small charity sharpened my focus on efficiency, capacity, and impact. It taught me how to drive meaningful improvements without increasing costs—and how to listen deeply to the people delivering the service.
I learned that lasting change doesn’t come from the top down. It stems from empowering teams to lead their own transformation. Supporting staff to become change ambassadors has become a hallmark of my leadership style—whether in retail, charity, or any organisation ready to grow with purpose.
Facing new challenges….
Following my time at Bramley Baths, I became Chief Operating Officer at Leeds University Union (LUU)—one of the largest student unions in the UK, with over 40,000 members and a staff team of more than 250. My role spanned four directorates—Income, Digital & Data, Marketing & Communications, and Operations—with responsibility for an £8m P&L.
My time at LUU, though disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, became a powerful test of my agility in operational transformation. I led significant improvements focused on membership engagement, organisational resilience, and strategic implementation—ensuring the union could adapt quickly while staying true to its purpose.
LUU is one of those rare places where passionate people come together to create meaningful impact. But like many values-driven organisations, it was often held back by well-intentioned processes and a culture that leaned heavily on compliance over innovation.
I worked to dissolve that reliance—streamlining operations and aligning them with interdependent functions like HR, IT, and Marketing. This created space for strategic projects to flourish and unlocked new opportunities for impact. I also introduced new digital tools and data systems that enhanced decision-making and freed up teams to focus on what mattered most: delivering value to members.
This role deepened my belief that operational excellence isn’t just about systems—it’s about enabling people to do their best work, removing friction, and making strategy feel real at every level.
A New Chapter
Now, I’ve started a new journey—supporting companies and charities that are ready to grow, evolve, and make their strategy count.
After more than 20 years leading operational transformation across sectors, it feels like the right time to build my own practice. I want to reach more organisations, share what I’ve learned, and help others unlock their potential.
My way of working is personal—shaped by the challenges I’ve faced, the lessons I’ve learned, and, most importantly, the people I’ve worked alongside. It hasn’t always been plain sailing. I’ve made mistakes, faced tough moments, and come out with a deeper understanding of what works, what doesn’t, and why.
That experience has taught me to trust the experts within organisations—the people closest to the work. I support them in designing and implementing solutions with clarity and confidence.
Research shows that 70% of organisational change initiatives fail. That’s why I focus on creating environments where innovation can thrive, and where staff and stakeholders are empowered as change ambassadors. My role is to make operational evolution not just possible—but sustainable.
I help organisations maximise efficiency and impact using the resources they already have.
This is more than consultancy. It’s a partnership—a transformation—and a belief that strategy should live in every corner of your organisation.
My approach….
Working with me is hands-on, honest, and all about making things better. I get stuck into the detail, ask the right questions, and work alongside your team to find practical solutions that actually fit your organisation. I’ll challenge where needed, support where it counts, and always keep people at the heart of the process.
Disruptive—with Purpose
I’m not afraid to challenge the status quo. I ask the tough questions, respectfully challenge assumptions, and dig deep into your organisation’s culture, systems, and people. I believe the answers already exist within your teams—they just need the space and support to surface. By unlocking that potential, we co-create solutions that are tailored, impactful, and sustainable.
Trend Setter, Not a Trend Follower
There’s no shortage of models, theories, and so-called ‘silver bullet’ solutions out there—but what works for one organisation won’t necessarily work for yours. I don’t do off-the-shelf fixes. Instead, I work with your teams to co-create bespoke solutions that fit your culture, your goals, and your reality. Yes, it takes a little more effort—but the result is a tailored approach that delivers real, lasting impact while saving time and money in the long run.
Unlocking Potential
Whether through mentoring, coaching or operational transformation, I help organisations uncover and activate their potential.
In times of financial challenge, this becomes even more critical - making the most of your resources, your people and culture is not just smart, it’s essential.
Your people are your competitive advantage. I create environments where they have the time, space, and support to grow, innovate and perform at their best. My experience in both operational and people management allows me to connect strategy with delivery - unlocking efficiency, creativity and impact from within.