- Therese Phipps

A story of resilience, reinvention and leadership

I’ve spent over 20 years helping people grow as a leader, a trainer, a coach and an entrepreneur. But the foundation of Stone by Stone Leadership didn’t begin in a classroom or a boardroom.

It began on a beach.

Before this chapter of my life, I built and ran successful businesses in the wellness and retail industries. I’ve always been drawn to people, performance and what allows individuals and teams to truly thrive. Then in 2014, everything changed. I suffered a brain haemorrhage.

In a single moment, the life I had built disappeared. I lost my businesses. I lost my independence. And as a mother of three, I faced a future that felt uncertain, frightening and completely out of my control.

Recovery became my full-time job. I had to relearn my strength; physically, mentally, psychologically, and emotionally.

Every day I walked the beach to rebuild my body. When I couldn’t go any further, I stopped and picked up a small white stone. It became the marker of that day’s effort. The next day, if I made it further, I picked up another stone. If I didn’t, I didn’t. No judgement. No pressure. Just honesty and progress. Over time, bowls of white stones filled my home. Each one a quiet victory. A reminder that real growth doesn’t happen in dramatic breakthroughs; it happens through consistency, patience and showing up when it’s hard.

Rebuilding my life and my work

As my health returned, I knew I had to rebuild more than my body. I needed to rebuild my career, my confidence, and my sense of purpose. So I returned to what I had always loved: helping people grow. I retrained as a professional coach. I became a certified trainer. I stepped back into leadership roles where I could guide, support and develop others. And something remarkable happened. My confidence returned. Opportunities expanded. My impact deepened.

What surprised me most was this: the exact principles that rebuilt my life were the same principles that create powerful, effective leaders.

What became my mission

When I reflected on my journey, the pattern was clear. I knew my why. I protected my non-negotiables. I strengthened my personal effectiveness. I stayed committed to the smallest steps, even on the hardest days. I refused to give up when progress felt slow. And when I looked at the leadership development space, I saw a gap; for something practical, human, emotionally intelligent and grounded in real resilience.

That was the moment Stone by Stone Leadership was born.

Why “Stone by Stone”?

Growth happens one step at a time. Strength is built through consistency, not perfection. And real transformation begins with small actions repeated with intention. Today, the principles that rebuilt my life are the foundation of everything we teach:

• Resilience

• Emotional intelligence

• Personal effectiveness

• Clarity of purpose

• Courageous communication

• Accountability

• Sustainable performance

I built this company to help leaders rise — with compassion, discipline, trust and clarity. And to remind them that wherever they are right now, they can go further.

Not all at once. But stone by stone.