Starting Work

Looking back at my childhood, growing up in the midst of my parents running the UK’s leading independent diamond jewellery manufacturing, wholesaling and retail business. While the returns were lucrative, like most owner manged businesses, it relied heavily on my parents on a daily basis to make decisions, solve problems and drive growth. This was tiring and sometimes stressful for them and when I look back with what I know today, I realise just how hard it was for them running the business and balancing family life. So this is a part of what drives my passion for coaching today. After leaving school, I was encouraged to join the business myself. While jewellery had never been a passion of mine, I was grateful for the opportunity and grabbed it with both hands. For the first 20 years, I worked my way through every department from finance, sales and marketing to manufacturing, import and retail.

Changing Roles

Come 2002, my sister and I bought the business and I became Managing Director. However, it had never really been what I wanted to do. Jewellery was my father’s passion, not mine – I didn’t have the same enthusiasm he did, so finding a clear vision for where the business was going difficult for me. When it came to our team, they were my Dad’s team, not mine, so despite their commitment to the business, I was not giving them the direction and leadership they were looking for.

Taking Responsibility

Fast forward to 2005, I was approached by a business coach. Admittedly, I wasn’t sure what I was getting myself into, but I’d landed this new leadership position, so I decided to take a leap of faith and jump right in. It turns out I’d made the right decision – working with a coach was a life-changing experience for me. I became a better leader, helped the team thrive and make decisions for themselves. I felt more focus and energy in myself and my team as we pushed towards our goals and targets.

However, being coached also made me realise how massively I’d underperformed for the first 25 years of my career and how much of my potential I’d left unfulfilled. So much so, I gained the confidence to make a significant change and decided to become a coach myself. It turned out to be the best professional decision ever made and today, coaching is so much more than a profession for me – it’s definitely a vocation.

For my first seven years in coaching, I was part of global franchise ActionCOACH, where I fast became one of their leading performers winning many national and global awards. In 2011, my work was also recognised when I was awarded the IOD Business Advisor of the Year.

Growing and scaling a business is difficult, which is why I get enormous pleasure out of working with my amazing clients and helping them on their journey of continued success. Passionate about coaching them to be resilient and resourceful leaders so they can handle the stress running a business can bring. I regularly study with some of the greatest thought leaders in business today, keeping me interested and growing as well as ensuring I stay relevant and future thinking.

Today, I’m more passionate than ever about helping others play their best game in life and business. I’m fortunate enough to get to work with some amazing people who have huge aspirations. Over the last 13 years, I’ve honed my skills to become one of the most successful independent business coaches in the UK, and I’m always challenging myself to be better than who I was the day before.

My Love of Horses and Life

When I’m not helping businesses scale and grow, I’m a competitive horse rider and have my own small team of show horses. We travel the UK Country Show Circuit, and I’ve won many prizes at the Horse of the Year Show, the Royal International Horse Show and the National Championships.

A Life Changer

My family are wonderful, loving and supportive and, while my life is far from perfect, I am incredibly grateful for everything I’ve learnt over the years, and I embrace every challenge life throws my way.