About us


Castalia Coaching & Training was founded in February 2005 by Susie Barron-Stubley to provide relevant coaching and training opportunities for senior level Assistants, borne out of experience, passion and a genuine desire to support senior PAs to develop and grow in their roles.  Our hand picked team of consultants at Castalia have coached and trained some of the most senior level corporate PAs from the UK, China, Dubai, South Africa, India, Holland, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Spain, Russia, Nigeria, Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia Australia and New Zealand.

We run our PA training programmes globally in order to take our experience to PAs all over the world.    We actively support and build strong links with other organisations who are dedicated to the professional development of Executive Assistants and PAs.  





Susie Barron-Stubley, Managing Director

Susie is a highly experienced and sought after international Executive Coach, Trainer and Motivational Speaker, she specialises in developing senior level Executive PAs and EAs, and has changed the working practices of thousands of PAs around the world. She has a passion matched by few for the professional and personal development of PAs.  She is a regular traveller and delivers Advanced Executive PA Training in Australia, China, South Africa, Dubai, India and South East Asia, giving her a comprehensive global perspective on the role of Senior Assistants. In the UK she continues to research, develop and deliver innovative and challenging development programmes to support Assistants in rapidly changing business environments to meet the increasing skill sets required of Senior PAs. She is a prolific writer on the development needs of Assistants and sits on the judging panel of The Times/Hays PA of the Year Awards.

Susie herself spent 10 years as a PA and Executive Assistant before re-training as an Executive Coach in order to use her extensive experience to support others to reach their highest potential in this challenging and complex role. She has supported high profile public figures and corporate leaders and has liaised with institutions from British Royal Households to global business executives. Her unique insight into the world of the Executive PA brings a distinct quality and depth to her specialist development programmes.


Laura Belgrado, Senior Associate Trainer


Laura has over 20 years experience of working in an international corporate environment, starting off in the Events & Conference Industry, and over the past 8 years, as EA to the Global Managing Director of a global information technology corporation. She has extensive experience in managing, organising and operating across a complex business matrix. During the past two years Laura has been a regular speaker at different International PA Conferences and has led several workshops.
It is her dedication and passion to develop, motivate, coach and train the PA community that has made her realise her own goal and aspiration by joining Castalia Coaching & Training as a Senior Associate Trainer.

Laura delivers our one day training programme for Managers and Executives Connecting Managers with their PAs for Ultimate Business Success and her insight into working for a top Executive is key for this workshop enabling Managers to go back to their PAs and restructure the way they are working, communicating and how to become even more successful as a team.

Gerry Hyde, Executive Assistant to Susie Barron-Stubley

Gerry is, without doubt, the most important person on the Castalia team!!  Whist trying to keep a sometimes over enthusiastic Susie on the straight and narrow and in the right place at the right time, she charms clients, consultants and suppliers and ensures the smooth day-to-day running of Castalia and ensures everybody has the right information at the right time and is in the right place!

Gerry has over twenty years experience working in corporate and with SMEs in the capacity of Office Manager and Executive Personal Assistant.  Her background includes industries from retail, facilities management and the training arena.  Prior to joining Castalia Gerry worked for ten years for a Sales and Management Development organisation and this has given her a vast knowledge of the training industry and complements her creative and organisational skills.  Gerry is always keen to help others, is extremely reliable and enjoys being involved in new projects.  Her organisation skills are captured in the seamless day-to-day running of Castalia.

Lucy Blenkinsopp

Having enjoyed a successful career in the fashion industry and as a model, Lucy is using her considerable talents to the benefit of Senior PAs and now works as a qualified Image Consultant. Lucy specialises in supporting senior PAs and EAs to present themselves appropriately to operate with impact and flair at Executive level. Lucy's ethos is based on the proposition ‘Be the Best you Can’ and understands that it is, at times, a challenge for senior PAs to demonstrate the authority and responsibility they hold within the organisation. Presenting yourself in the appropriate style and business dress to fit your own personality and organisation will take you a long way in achieving that goal.