About me
In an increasingly complicated world, it's easy to lose sight of what we really need as human beings.
I'm Katie Seaman, educator, facilitator and founder of Simply Present. I began this journey with a mission to help us to be more present, with ourselves, with others and with what truly matters.
I combine mindfulness, communication skills, corporate experience, neuroscience, psychology and creativity to help people cultivate meaningful connections, skilful communication and clarity of purpose - whether at work, school or in life.
My approach is rooted in mindful awareness and universal human needs and finding creative strategies that meet those needs through practical, engaging, and transformative experiences.
Before becoming self-employed, I worked for an international trade organisation, a Top Five management consultancy, Local Authorities and SMEs, mostly in communications.
After a significant career break to start and look after my family, I trained with The Mindfulness In Schools Project to teach mindfulness to primary and secondary school children, eventually expanding my training to include adult mindfulness. Through Mindfulness UK I gained my Level 4 Integrated Mindfulness & Compassion in Professional Practice qualification certified by the CPCAB. I also added foundational training in Non-Violent Communication to my portfolio of skills. Through Simply Present (initially Blackwater Coaching) I delivered mindfulness-based courses and programmes to children in schools, teachers, parents and 1-2-1 coaching to private individuals.
In 2023 I began working with Encompass Equality first as an associate and eventually part time as Strategic Learning and Coaching Lead working with corporate organisations across a broad range of industries including Wickes, Clifford Chance, Cynergy Bank, Grant Thornton, Nufarm, Dentsu and Stellantis Financial Services to name a few. After creating and delivering programmes and workshops to support teams' resilience and stress management there was increasing demand for inclusive leadership and people skills support for middle and senior management who found themselves struggling with professional relationships.
Having supported corporate employees to upgrade their connection, communication and people skills, it occurred to me that if young people could develop these skills while still in senior school or higher education, they could bring them with to the workplace from the outset of their careers.
Pulling together my experience of teaching children and young people, corporate employees, my knowledge of mindfulness, connective communication, compassion, neuroscience and psychology I now create and deliver unique programmes designed to up-skill both existing and future talent. My youth and adult programmes (Present & Connected: People Skills for Work & Life) have been developed collaboratively with young people and corporate employees to ensure they directly address the specific challenges and situations each group face. Partnering corporate employers with educational establishments creates a skilled and sustainable talent pipeline for the future, while matching available funding with where it's needed most.
When I'm not working, you'll probably find me taxiing around my two teenage boys, pottering in my garden, cycling around the local countryside, playing in my sketchbook or trying to knit something that is actually wearable.
My credentials
- Enhanced DBS check
- Public Liability and Professional Indemnity Insurance
- Level 4 Certificate in Mindfulness and Compassion in Professional Practice certified by the CPCAB
- Foundation Training Non-Violent Communication
- Certified Trained to Teach Paws B, .b and .breathe with the Mindfulness in Schools in Schools Project
