Colúm’s story: The shifts that transformed a leader

When Colúm Connolly stepped into leadership coaching, he was carrying a bold ambition he hadn’t shared widely – a private stretch goal to double his company’s revenue in a single year.

It felt, even to him, like a long shot.

But coaching helped him turn that ambition into a real outcome by creating clarity, discipline and accountability around every step.

“I don’t think I would have reached the goals had I not had a coach to walk me through them,” says Colúm, co-founder and co-CEO of Bloom Funding, a firm that supports innovators and community organizations by helping them secure funding and grow their impact.

What surprised him, though, was that the most transformative part of coaching wasn’t about numbers. It was about how he showed up as a leader, how it helped grow his business and shape a more client-forward culture.

Through one-to-one coaching with Vision’s Peter Stoddart, Colúm gained the clarity and confidence to grow his team – hiring new staff and expanding roles as the business evolved.

He began to see that Bloom, and the people within it, needed him to be more visible, more grounded and more authentically himself. That insight shifted how he led and how he represented the company’s work.

“I realized through working with Pete that I needed to show up more authentically,” he says. “And I’ve worked really hard at that.”

As Colúm leaned into authentic leadership, he began modelling many of the qualities he experienced through coaching – including Pete’s strong “overdeliver” mindset and his emphasis on genuine care. 

That approach soon influenced his growing team, helping shape a culture where team members showed up with more curiosity, generosity and partnership. It also strengthened how they engaged with clients, bringing greater intention, responsiveness and a deeper sense of investment in client success.

Coaching also helped Colúm amplify visibility in the community – not just for himself, but for his whole team. Wins were celebrated openly. People were encouraged to bring their personalities to work. 

“The level of care Pete and Vision have shown is massive,” he says. “They just want us to do better as an organization.”

Working with Pete also reinforced the value of steady, purposeful progress – the same discipline that helped Bloom achieve B Corp certification.

Bloom’s growing profile was recognized again this year when the company earned the Inclusivity and Empowerment Award at the InnovateNB Awards – a meaningful acknowledgment of Bloom’s commitment to strengthening Atlantic Canada’s innovation landscape.

For Colúm, the leadership growth mattered most. 

“The level of care Pete and Vision have shown is massive,” he says. “They just want us to do better as an organization.”

Curious what coaching could do for you or your organization? Contact us today.

Best,

Dave Veale