INDIVIDUAL CLARITY. COLLECTIVE MOMENTUM. ORGANISATIONAL RESILIENCE.
Change that holds.
Change can be difficult to navigate, whether you are making an important personal decision, leading others through uncertainty or helping an organisation move forward.
Axis of Action helps people find clarity, work through complexity and turn intention into meaningful action. Through coaching, transformation advice and governance support, we help create the conditions for change that lasts.
The founder and principal
With over 22 years’ experience across complex organisational transformation, governance, and executive advisory, Poly Barratt operates where strategy meets operational reality. This is the critical pivot point where ambitious plans either deliver or stall. Having worked extensively with business owners, executive boards, and leadership teams, Poly cuts through internal noise to realign priorities, fix broken execution, and build governance that accelerates growth. Her approach is direct, strategic, and practical. She meets leadership teams where they are, asks the high-stakes questions that bring immediate clarity, and introduces the structure needed to turn strategic intent into sustained operational performance. The result is organisational change and leadership execution that doesn't just launch, but holds.
Three starting points. One axis.
Professionals and executives
Strategic coaching and career positioning for professionals and leaders navigating transition, broader responsibilities or complex organisational environments. We help you build confidence, strengthen decision-making and turn leadership intent into meaningful career and organisational impact.
Business owners & growth leaders (SMBs)
Strategic advisory and leadership support for businesses facing growth, change or increasing complexity. Whether you are moving beyond founder-led control, strengthening operations or aligning your leadership team, we help you reduce friction, clarify accountability and turn strategy into action.
Boards and organisations
Governance advice and transformation support for organisations managing complex change or stalled initiatives. We provide independent perspective, constructive challenge and practical oversight to help boards, C-suite leaders and senior teams make sound decisions, manage risk and protect long-term value.
Whatever the starting point, our work is the same: helping you find your axis, hold it steady, and act from it with confidence.
Services that drive impact
Right-sized transformation, governance, and leadership solutions built for growth-stage businesses and rising executives.
Transformation
Organisations can lose momentum when programmes stall, priorities compete or the work becomes harder to coordinate. We provide independent transformation advice, programme leadership and reviews that bring clarity to complexity, strengthen delivery and help change hold.
Coaching
Coaching for professionals, leaders and business owners navigating change, greater responsibility or important decisions. We help you think clearly, recognise what is shaping your choices, and turn insight into practical action that supports your work and wider goals.
Governance & leadership
Good governance helps people make sound decisions, manage risk and stay focused on purpose. We support boards, programme governance groups and leadership teams with independent advice, constructive challenge and practical oversight across complex work and change.
What our clients say
Trusted by leaders who value integrity, depth and impact.
Poly's insights and guidance has prompted me to think differently, particularly around leadership and empowering my team.
Karen
Recruitment Manager, Government Department, Wellington
Ready to find your axis?
Whether it's navigating change, redefining a role or shifting perspective, Axis of Action provides the space to recalibrate and act with purpose.