iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Caitlin @cmcd-phd.caitlinmcdonald.com · 04/10/2026

And if they're not in the mood to talk about it? That's part of their recovery, too.

Caitlin @cmcd-phd.caitlinmcdonald.com · 04/10/2026

If you know someone who's been through cancer, as a patient themselves or as a. carer, you probably don't need to make them more *aware.* But, with humanity, you might acknowledge how much more aware YOU'VE become through time. Try asking how they're doing.

100

Caitlin @cmcd-phd.caitlinmcdonald.com · 04/10/2026

I often bow out a little from 'cancer stuff' during October - and I don't even feel guilty about it! Yes, cancer is a big part of my identity - but it's not everything. And October is often the time where I need to rebel a little.

100

Caitlin @cmcd-phd.caitlinmcdonald.com · 04/10/2026

What I don't need, as someone living with a cancer history? The reminder emails, the "brave survivor" language nobody asked for, random pink ribbons sprouting all over billboards, packaging, and TV adverts when I'm just trying to buy a bar of chocolate and chill out in front of Taskmaster.

100

Caitlin @cmcd-phd.caitlinmcdonald.com · 04/10/2026

Whenever I have a fear of recurrence, I think of that: that someday there will be another drug which will work even better than the one I was given, and if (heaven forbid) I were to have a recurrence, the science will have advanced even further.

100

Caitlin @cmcd-phd.caitlinmcdonald.com · 04/10/2026

Many people experiencing recurrences for the kind of breast cancer that I had are now being treated using this drug for the first time, dramatically increasing their chances of survival.

100

Caitlin @cmcd-phd.caitlinmcdonald.com · 04/10/2026

I'm amazingly glad for the research funding: the drug which made the biggest difference to my treatment had only just been released when I was diagnosed. I was the first person on my chemotherapy ward to have it as part of a standard course of treatment instead of in a clinical trial.

100

Caitlin @cmcd-phd.caitlinmcdonald.com · 04/10/2026

I'm glad that there's a growing awareness of cancer diagnoses rising for people of working age, and consequently the growing need for employers to understand how best to support staff to return to work.

100

Caitlin @cmcd-phd.caitlinmcdonald.com · 04/10/2026

during your systemic anti-cancer treatment period and often long afterwards from preventative medications. I'm glad that people at risk of developing breast cancer (which is everyone, including men) are being made more aware of the symptoms to look out for.

100

Caitlin @cmcd-phd.caitlinmcdonald.com · 04/10/2026

Honestly, I think most people are pretty *aware* of breast cancer. What they may not be aware of is its subtle varieties, the differences in how it manifests and how it's treated; or how those treatments make you feel - physically, cognitively, and emotionally -

100

Caitlin @cmcd-phd.caitlinmcdonald.com · 04/10/2026

I volunteer for @breastcancernow.bsky.social. I donate to @maggiescentres.bsky.social . And, on a personal level, my annual breast cancer screening is in October. This will be my third screening since I finished treatment for my own primary breast cancer.

100

Caitlin @cmcd-phd.caitlinmcdonald.com · 04/10/2026

It's #BreastCancerAwarenessMonth, and I have to say, I'm probably more *aware* of breast cancer than most people. At @workingwithcancer.bsky.social , I help people return to work after a cancer diagnosis - many of them breast cancer patients, given the high prevalence of this form of cancer.

120

Caitlin @cmcd-phd.caitlinmcdonald.com · 03/10/2026

What's been a little too much on your plate lately? How can you make time for better balance?

000

Caitlin @cmcd-phd.caitlinmcdonald.com · 03/10/2026

...we systematically cut things out until all we know is work. How do we make time for a more well-balanced life? Check out my self-paced 'Unwinding the Burnout Spiral' workbook to find out: caitlinmcdonald.com/coaching/cur...

caitlinmcdonald.com

Curious Catalysts

Curious catalysts accelerate the process of identifying where we want to go and how to get there. These self-guided exercises are shaped through my coaching work with clients and by powerful, resea…

100

Caitlin @cmcd-phd.caitlinmcdonald.com · 03/10/2026

It's been a busy autumn so far and it's not letting up now...so it's time for me to take my own advice and consider how I'm going to avoid drifting into the burnout spiral! In a well-balanced life we make time for work, chores, rest, and play. When we start spiralling into burnout...

Workbook cover titled "Unwinding the Burnout Spiral" featuring a close-up green tendril curling into a spiral with dew drops, a blue band labeled "CURIOUS Catalysts," and the author name Catlin McDonald.

100

Caitlin @cmcd-phd.caitlinmcdonald.com · 02/10/2026

If you're looking to devise a vision board of your very own, feel free to sign up for my guided vision board session (including a template with reflection prompts!) here: cal.com/caitlin-mcdo...

cal.com

Get clear: vision board a current challenge | Caitlin McDonald | Cal.com

Get clear: vision board a current challenge

000

Caitlin @cmcd-phd.caitlinmcdonald.com · 02/10/2026

I'd forgotten them, but they were waiting there to be rediscovered. And there are still three months left to bring this vision into action! What wonderful things about yourself have you forgotten, or laid down for a little while, that are now waiting to bear fruit? 🌱

100

Caitlin @cmcd-phd.caitlinmcdonald.com · 02/10/2026

Cutting out all the corporate word-speak, I found all these core values and beliefs about myself which are still important to me now. The best part? All these things were already positive beliefs I held about myself and the way I contribute value.

100

Caitlin @cmcd-phd.caitlinmcdonald.com · 02/10/2026

I knew the concept of text was important to my vision for the year ("flourishing through words" is part of my inner encouragement for this year), but what to replace it with? Riffling through some old scrap paper, I found an old cover letter for a job I'd applied for.

100

Caitlin @cmcd-phd.caitlinmcdonald.com · 02/10/2026

Zooming in a little on my vision for this year: I created a digital vision board back in January as part of Mel Larsen's Future Seed programme. When I printed it out to put on my bulletin board, part of the image didn't render properly - little snippets of text came out as plain yellow boxes.

100

Caitlin @cmcd-phd.caitlinmcdonald.com · 01/10/2026

New initiative, new bulletin board! I'm joining a year-long programme for entrepreneurs, so I decided I needed a visual reminder of my business goals. Of course I could track my progress on the computer but there's something about having these physically in front of you that makes it more real.

Teal felt bulletin board showing vision-board collages, handwritten notes and a printed checklist, framed by a multicolored felt-flower garland with a couple of dried roses hanging above.

000

Caitlin @cmcd-phd.caitlinmcdonald.com · 01/10/2026

The two most prevalent in the UK where I work are the International Coaching Federation (@icfheadquarters.bsky.social) and the European Mentoring and Coaching Council (EMCC) both of which have robust competency and ethical requirements for their members - and clear accountability procedures!

110

Caitlin @cmcd-phd.caitlinmcdonald.com · 01/10/2026

I hope you were able to get the help you needed in the wake of such a distressing experience.

110

Caitlin @cmcd-phd.caitlinmcdonald.com · 01/10/2026

But a confidentiality question isn't one to take lightly: it's one to take to your coaching supervisor (unless there's an imminent risk of harm, then it's a matter for an appropriate intervention service.) This is why accreditation and professional practice is so important: to protect the client.

210

Caitlin @cmcd-phd.caitlinmcdonald.com · 01/10/2026

I'm so sorry you had that experience, Joyce. And absolutely: any terms of service between coach and client should clearly outline confidentiality within the relationship - and the conditions under which it doesn't apply (I legally have to if I believe a client is at risk of harm, for example.)

110

Caitlin @cmcd-phd.caitlinmcdonald.com · 30/09/2026

I have an idea in mind that should help us get to know each other better while also bringing us together as an organisation (no spoilers in case my colleagues are reading this!) But I'll also have my values cards on hand, just in case...

000

Caitlin @cmcd-phd.caitlinmcdonald.com · 30/09/2026

Today I'm gathering with my Working with Cancer colleagues in London to compare notes, cheer each other on, and prepare for the rest of the year. I'm in charge of the icebreaker activity this time!

100

Caitlin @cmcd-phd.caitlinmcdonald.com · 29/09/2026

When someone asks me for help finding a good coach, the first thing I always recommend they check is their potential coach's credentials. Make sure they're part of a reputable accreditation body, so you'll know you're in good hands. Photo by Pamela Cook.

100

Caitlin @cmcd-phd.caitlinmcdonald.com · 29/09/2026

That's not what coaching should be, and it's why I'm so proud of my accreditation through @icfheadquarters.bsky.social : when one of us messes up, there are multiple procedures in place to protect the integrity of the profession - and to ensure we don't mess up that badly in the first place!

100

Caitlin @cmcd-phd.caitlinmcdonald.com · 29/09/2026

The worst part? Because the person calling themselves a coach wasn't a member of any accreditation bodies, there was no way for me to raise an ethical conduct review. The coach had all the power in the relationship and there was no accountability mechanism.

100

Caitlin @cmcd-phd.caitlinmcdonald.com · 29/09/2026

Once upon a time I had a bad experience with an uncredentialled 'coach'. It was so bad I had to seek repair for the damage from a therapist I had already worked with and trusted.

Caitlin in an orange jacket sits at a table scattered with word cards and holds a small card labeled "POWER" toward the viewer, emphasizing selection or focus on personal power.

110

Caitlin @cmcd-phd.caitlinmcdonald.com · 28/09/2026

Did you ever need a buddy to help you get something done? To stay accountable? An accountabilibuddy, if you will? Join us at @corvidaeumcreative.bsky.social every Tuesday for goal-setting, cheering each other on, and gentle check-ins throughout the morning! corvidaeumcreative.co.uk

corvidaeumcreative.co.uk

Corvidaeum Creative - A co-working space that's as diverse as you are

A co-working space that's as diverse as you are

000

Caitlin @cmcd-phd.caitlinmcdonald.com · 27/09/2026

Supported by data from Ashurst Perkins Coie's economics team, this report comes at a time when cancer diagnoses are increasing among people of working age: highly relevant for employers as they face a growing proportion of the work force for whom cancer will be a part of their working experience.

docs.google.com

"What Cancer costs Employers" Report Launch - Working With Cancer & Ashurst Perkins Coie

Thank you for your interest in the launch of "What Cancer Costs Employers " a report by Working With Cancer in collaboration with the Economics Team at Ashurst Perkins Coie please share your contact…

100

Caitlin @cmcd-phd.caitlinmcdonald.com · 26/09/2026

If you're in need of a little nourishment for your courage, why not check out my current coaching offers? caitlinmcdonald.com/coaching/ I'd love to hear from you.

caitlinmcdonald.com

Coaching

Certified resilience coach helping high-performing individuals and teams find courage in the complicated: learn how to approach every challenge with fortitude and joy!

000

Caitlin @cmcd-phd.caitlinmcdonald.com · 26/09/2026

But resilience doesn't just have to be about gritting one's teeth and getting through it - real resilience is about taking a smile when we need one, and giving one to others when we're feeling abundant.

100

Caitlin @cmcd-phd.caitlinmcdonald.com · 26/09/2026

It was especially heartening through 2020 when we were going through lockdown, and I found it a real source of strength when I was going through cancer treatment a few years later. The Persevere spirit of Leith is one of the reasons I focus my coaching practice on resilience.

100

Caitlin @cmcd-phd.caitlinmcdonald.com · 26/09/2026

One of the things I love best about Edinburgh is the little acts of public art everywhere: I live in Leith, whose motto 'Persevere' goes back to the 12th century. You can see it on buildings, lampposts, etched into sidewalks - and even in graffiti around the neighbourhood.

Handwritten TAKE A SMILE note taped to a Lothian bus stop, flanked by two red hearts and a torn tear-off tab hanging below with a simple hand-drawn smiley face.

100

Caitlin @cmcd-phd.caitlinmcdonald.com · 25/09/2026

Yes, they have more unexpected disruptions than other people. But they're also some of the most determined and commited folks I work with. And I'm always really happy to hear from them again after that missed session!

100

Caitlin @cmcd-phd.caitlinmcdonald.com · 25/09/2026

But many people with stage 4 cancer feel that work is a valuable part of their life: a way that they contribute, find meaning, important part of their social support, and of course, the financial impacts of working. They often want to lead the most normal lives they can for as long as they are able.

100

Caitlin @cmcd-phd.caitlinmcdonald.com · 25/09/2026

People without cancer often assume that folks with stage 4 cancer won't want to work, that once you've got metastatic cancer you're either in treatment all the time, too ill to work, or you just want to take it easy.

100

Caitlin @cmcd-phd.caitlinmcdonald.com · 25/09/2026

It's almost always because, just like all my other clients, they've had a busy day, or something's come up, and they just forgot our appointment. But I'm always holding my breath a little when I send the "Hey, hope you're on the way" email.

100

Caitlin @cmcd-phd.caitlinmcdonald.com · 25/09/2026

I always get nervous when a client doesn't show up for a session - particularly my clients with stage 4 cancer.

Caitlin in an orange jacket concentrates while arranging small word magnets on a table in a collaborative brainstorming or therapy session with another person across from her.

100

Caitlin @cmcd-phd.caitlinmcdonald.com · 24/09/2026

Here's a paper sharing thinking at the time: papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.... and a more recent digital ethics concern for me: AI in the coaching industry: criticalai.org/2026/08/03/c...

000

Caitlin @cmcd-phd.caitlinmcdonald.com · 24/09/2026

The Leading Edge Forum has, alas, scattered to the winds, but I know my former colleagues are still out there doing great work analysing the technology industry and all its many challenges and opportunities.

100

Caitlin @cmcd-phd.caitlinmcdonald.com · 24/09/2026

Throwback Thursday: me looking as excited as I feel, & a much more professional image, taken while preparing for the dinner I hosted about digital ethics at the House of Lords in 2018 for our Leading Edge Forum clients. I still use the backpack slumped in the corner of the first photo, btw!

Caitlin taking a close selfie with a playful surprised expression, standing in a formal dining room with tables set for a meal and a staff member arranging drinks at a wooden counter in the background.

Caitlin taking a selfie in front of a long, formally set dining table with white tablecloth, folded napkins, crystal glasses and candlesticks in an elegant wood-paneled dining room.

100

Caitlin @cmcd-phd.caitlinmcdonald.com · 23/09/2026

You can read some of our recommendations from the research in our response to the EU's call for evidence about its forthcoming AI strategy for the cultural and creative sectors: ec.europa.eu/info/law/bet...

ec.europa.eu

European Commission - Have your say

000

Caitlin @cmcd-phd.caitlinmcdonald.com · 23/09/2026

Preview featuring a snippet of my very own collage about future visions of digital commons for the creative industries - an exercise we ran in a series of co-creative workshops with people directly impacted by AI scraping. encatc.org/en/events/en...

Presentation slide titled "Digital Commons in Cultural and Creative Industries: Governance, Sustainability and Democratic Access," featuring a central collage of a colorful brain and illustrations, presenter Caitlin McDonald with contact lines, and ENCATC and European Union co-funding logos.

100