Testimonials

"The highest praise I can give Steve is to say that he has equipped me with the framework for a whole new set of skills to tackle work, rest & life in general. I have developed an acute awareness of the importance of sleep, exercise and developing goals outside work. Perhaps most impressively, these were skills that I would have not even considered  beforehand. 

I now work smarter and more effectively as my horizons have been hugely broadened. Equally importantly, Steve is an excellent sounding board, with the experience of an extensive business career which has helped me navigate the challenges of my day-to-day role."

"Steve deploys a multi-faceted and holistic approach to executive coaching, caring for mind and body alongside professional development & growth. Each of our sessions take place during a 10k run along the towpath of the local river. We cover strategic business issues, lifestyle and relationships during the run with some deeply reflective conversations. Steve subsequently provides a very helpful written summary of the issues we covered, prioritisation and assessment of objectives achieved. 

One of the most impactful outcomes from my sessions with him has been an honest recognition of how difficult it can be to change habits and how rewarding it is to strengthen good ones. Not only has my running improved significantly over the course of 2022, I am now doing regular Pilates sessions and have a much more balanced approach both in my working life and more broadly. 

Very few people can change ingrained habits without thoughtful & practical coaching and I would highly recommend working with Steve to any CEO".

"If my anxiety was an animal, it would be a crow - there are always a few perched somewhere. Sometimes they gather ominously. And sometimes, especially while building up my own company, I have just felt overwhelmed, like a scene from that Hitchcock movie, the Birds.

Over the last year, Steve has helped me to manage my work-related anxiety, while also becoming much more productive. Identifying triggers, and sooner. Strategies to dissipate anxiety and overwork. Ultimately, over 10 sessions, we have totally transformed the structure of my typical work day.

My business has grown by 25% this year; and dare I say it, recently there seem to be very few crows perched ominously around my office..."

“Coaching can be a very powerful tool for all portfolio managers, both professionally & personally. When done well, it helps to enhance your clarity of thought, maintain investment discipline, and draws out your strengths to enable you to be the best version of yourself. 

Steve not only excels at all three of these aspects, but displays utmost diligence in doing so and is always present when needed. The ability to discuss issues & thoughts with him as they arise is just as valuable as the coaching sessions themselves. 

Thanks also to his own professional experience, Steve is one of the rare coaches who has been through the emotional ups & downs of being a portfolio manager, which really augments the pertinence and relevance of all his advice. 

I really benefited from the fact that we did all our sessions walking around the green spaces of a park near my home - it allowed me to take a breath and step back from the busyness of my daily life to think clearly & very reflectively about the challenges I was facing, aided by Steve’s prompting. 

I would highly recommend Steve’s coaching programme to investors of all types and levels of seniority: he will help you to become better at your job but also develop some perspective on the other aspects of your life that matter just as much.”

"The past 12 months have been the most challenging of my professional career. As an experienced headteacher, the range of demands, complexity of issues and expectations of emotional resilience have always been significant. But lockdown and the implications this has had for students and staff at my school have only added to what is already a challenging leadership role. 

Since beginning work with Steve six months ago, I have been able to develop a range of additional habits, processes and routines that have been invaluable in supporting my own wellbeing and, in turn, helping me to be a better headmaster. Combining a practical, rigorous and easy-going and personal approach, Steve has helped me to improve my sleep patterns, fitness, eating habits and reduce my levels of stress and anxiety. 

His approach has reminded me that the "big jobs" should not automatically be draining and require 60 hours a week of self-sacrifice and martyrdom. Indeed, at this time of utmost complexity and challenge, when leaders of organisations need to be at their most balanced and resilient, his philosophy and advice could not be more relevant. Recently, the additional work with Caroline on nutrition is only improving how I think about self-care in all senses of the term. 

The combination of Steve's professional experiences to date, his personal and personable approach to all of our work and a deep commitment to helping the individual and the organisation they lead, means that I cannot recommend him highly enough to any leader whatever their context or circumstance. My ambition now is pass on what I am learning to my teaching staff and, ultimately, my students as part of their preparation for adult life." 

“Top executives, like their sporting peers, need to adapt, evolve and continuously improve - and be cognisant of this as something they may not be able to do alone. Working with Steve this year my eyes have been opened to how incredibly helpful it is having someone who is not my wife or colleague to talk to on a regular basis - a sounding board on everything from building a business and managing complex workflows, to dealing with ageing parents and teenage children, or simply getting a better night’s sleep. 

The result of my regular interactions with Steve have helped me set goals, work smarter, manage my time better, plan for the future and review my approach to certain non-work related initiatives. If I were to summarise in a sentence what my time with Steve has taught me it would be that “focused and constructive guidance (on a regular basis) from an executive coach can lead to more thoughtful processes and habits, robust future-proofing and better financial, social, wellbeing and other outcomes”. 

The best athletes are always looking at how they can improve and thereby improve their chances of winning and continuing to win. There is a view that executives improve their skills primarily by gaining more experience year on year. However, I have found that almost everyone has weaknesses or blind spots which are often exacerbated with busy work schedules and home lives. 

Once you know that your peers are benefitting from this kind of advice, maybe you should look into how you up your own game.”

"Excellent insights & objective advice. Steve's City background means that he really understands the cultures & types of personality that exist in the banking and corporate worlds, and this adds highly valuable context to our conversations.

He has helped me to set clear goals and plans around how to develop as a leader, and my ability to deal with specific situations & issues is greatly enhanced by being able to discuss and role-play them with Steve. 

Combining this with practical & knowledgeable advice to improve my sleep and exercise habits brings great value & variety to our coaching sessions. And walking round one of the green spaces near my home enables me to take a step back and think more deeply about both my professional world and the rest of my life. "

"I would highly recommend Steve as a business coach, having been working with him for the last year. His first hand experience in the business and financial world really sets him apart from other coaches and adds an indispensable perspective and empathy which provides for powerful input and feedback."