Toni Carroll – Executive Leadership Coach and Facilitator

Executive Leadership Coach and Facilitator at Toni S Carroll Consulting

Community and Background

Can you tell us a bit about your journey to the Berry community? How did you end up here and what attracted you to this community?

In 2015, while we were living in Singapore, we came to Berry to visit family and instantly fell in love. The green rolling hills, the fresh country air, and the easy proximity to the sea made it feel like the kind of place we could call home. When we returned to Singapore, we began searching in earnest for a little piece of this magic, which soon led us to Good Dog Hill on Berry Mountain.

It would take another ten years of work, life, and family adventures before we could make the move for good, but in October 2024 we finally settled here and it truly feels like our forever home.

Business and Entrepreneurship

Tell us about your work. How and when did you decide to start it, and what motivated you to take the plunge into entrepreneurship or remote work?

I’ve spent almost 30 years working in people and culture roles across Australia, London and Singapore. Most of my career has been in large, complex global organisations, supporting leaders to lead well and helping managers step into their own leadership with confidence and clarity.

When we moved back to Berry, it felt like the right moment to step out of corporate life and build a practice around the work I care most about. My motivations were simple but important: I wanted to steer my own ship, be more available for my family, and create a local presence that would eventually allow me to contribute meaningfully to the community around me.

Making this shift has allowed me to combine decades of experience with the freedom to work in a way that feels aligned with my values and the life we’re building here.

What does work-life balance look like for you? How do you manage the demands of work while ensuring time for family and personal life?

Work–life balance has meant different things at different stages of my life. In my corporate years, it often centred around finding the formula for progressing a demanding career while nurturing a young family and trying not to lose myself in the process. That’s still true in many ways, but when you steer your own ship you gain more agency to shape the balance you want. At least in theory.

Anyone who has stepped into entrepreneurship will know that passion and purpose can blur the boundaries. We do this work because we care deeply about it, which means the part of the balance that often gets squeezed is ourselves. Balance isn’t elusive, but it is a constant cycle of experience, impact, reflection and learning.

The nature of my work helps. I spend my days focused on human connection, emotional intelligence and helping others uncover their potential. These skills keep me honest with myself and more present with my family.

At its heart, balance for me is about staying grounded in what matters most, listening to the rhythms of family life and giving myself permission to rest. It’s imperfect, always evolving and something I’m learning my way through every day.

In your industry, what recent disruptions or transitions have had the most significant impact on your business?

AI is creating one of the biggest shifts in my industry. For years, emotional intelligence in leadership was inconsistent and often overlooked, and leaders continued to progress without it. Now, as AI takes over more technical and transactional work, emotional intelligence is becoming essential. It is quickly turning into the entry ticket for effective leadership.

This shift is a positive one for my work. The ability to lead with connection, empathy and awareness grows when people understand their proximity to these capabilities and take ownership of how they build them. That is exactly the space I work in. As disruption continues, these human strengths will matter more than ever, and I love helping leaders tap into them.

Personal Life

Outside of work, what are your hobbies and passions? How do you like to spend your time when you’re not focused on business or family?

With a growing family, time for hobbies can be limited, but I always prioritise being together and enjoying the simple moments. I also make space to look after my health and fitness, which keeps me grounded and energised. And one day soon, I can see myself joining a walking group, a choir or even a local music group. It feels like the next chapter waiting in the wings.

Are there any books or podcasts you’ve found particularly inspiring or informative recently? Any recommendations for the WorkLife community?

I just finished listening Brene Brown’s Strong Ground and would highly recommend to anyone looking to gain insight into how to lead with empathy and vulnerability. The Audio book was fabulous because true to Brene’s style you get regular ‘off-book’ insights because ‘Y’all just know this is what we need!’ :). 

I am also an avid listener of The Imperfects podcast and think the work that team does to progress an open discussion on mental health and resilience is so critical right now, particularly the work they do for youth. Its hard to recommend just one episode so I will give you two: Ep 23 Feb 26 with Maggie Dent ‘Good Enough’ Parenting is Good Enough; and Ep 16 Mar 26 with Ben Crowe ‘Play School’! So good!!

How do you maintain boundaries between work and personal life? Any top tips?

Compartmentalise…..mentally switch off in that commute from the ‘home office’ to the ‘kitchen’ because it will all be there when you come back. I help myself by writing down ‘to do’ or ‘don’t forget’ lists. 

Home and Lifestyle

What is your taste like? Do you have a favourite item of furniture or object in your home? Anything that has special significance or tells a story about you?

My home is a place to live and be together, and so has always been a place where possessions mean less than having an environment to relax in! Perhaps the most treasured place is our dinner table because its where we come together as a family for all our meals and check in on each others day (except the occasional tv dinner to watch a special event on TV).

If you were to showcase the best of the local lifestyle to visiting friends, where would you take them and why?

So many places….love that we are spoilt for choice on good coffee (Iv, Milkwood and Il Locale…); love that we have a travelling pizza van outside a beautiful relaxed restaurant on a Wednesday night; love the ‘out of the way’ feel on The General Store; And love the curated experience of dinner at Pickled Ink. I would recommend all to everyone. We also love nearby places such as Mountain Ridge, Crooked River and The Hill in Gerringong, Hungry Monkey in Kiama (please come back to Berry) just to name a few. 

Productivity and Time Management

What’s your go-to productivity hack? How do you stay organised and efficient, especially with multiple responsibilities?

I never do the same thing the same way twice so perhaps not the best person to learn from in this instance 🙂 But I do love a list particularly to help me compartmentalise and switch off when I start my daily commute 🙂

Benefits of WorkLife Membership

Lastly, what’s been the most valuable aspect of being a member at WorkLife for you and your work?

I love that whether you show up in Berry or Coledale the feeling is the same and you always feel welcome. I love having Coledale as an option for when I need to juggle the school and work activities with the kids being at TIGS. 

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A customised professional development package for members who want targeted support—whether that’s unlocking personal clarity, aligning their team, or elevating strategy. Worklife members receive exclusive pricing with discounts up to 60% off, flexible bundling options, and added pro‑bono support to extend the value.	A complete team uplift package designed for small businesses who want a more aligned, collaborative and resilient team. This special offer combines team development, strategic planning and 1:1 leadership coaching at a significantly reduced Worklife member rate—with bonus consulting hours to ensure changes stick.
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	Leader Coaching Package with 3 x 1:1 Coaching [$1,350]
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WorkLife members who are interested can either email Toni directly HERE or book in a time for a discovery call using this link -> Discovery Call