What inspired you to become an entrepreneur and establish your own business?
Initially I felt the need and had a desire to break out of my full-time job (in the tech sector) to explore and create a business (with other founders) that would leverage what the internet was promising to do for business back in 1998 (connecting business people).
I was inspired to use technology and the internet to bring people together, both online and offline, and scale. I liked the idea we were creating new models using new technologies, believing at first I was “more in control” as it was my own business, and one day we would be across everything. This of course was an illusion, as I learnt to accept it’s never done and we never catch-up! It’s about priority and building the right team.
I have since started another business focused on “Progressive Leadership” where I am applying the experiences from my previous business, the NLP coaching and facilitation skills learnt through the Academy for Chief Executives and experts, combined with ongoing learning through the workshops, peer groups, retreats and one-to-one work I do with senior leaders and their teams.
I made a conscious decision with this business to be a “lifestyle” business, working with CEOs, MDs, and Senior Leaders, accelerating learning and growth to achieve sustainable business transformation and live more fulfilled lives.
I plan to continue for many years to come (I don’t believe in “retirement”) as it’s the most rewarding work I’ve ever done!
How would you define Progressive Leadership, and why do you feel its essential in today’s business environment?
Progressive leadership is a forward-thinking approach guiding individuals and businesses through learning, growth, and transformation.
Progressive leaders champion a culture of learning, encouraging curiosity, innovation, and lifelong education.
Progressive leaders emphasise personal and team development and growth, nurturing individual strengths, promoting teamwork, and acting as coaches and mentors.
Progressive leaders drive business transformation, anticipating change and steering businesses toward new opportunities. They leverage technology, innovation, and strategic foresight to adapt and excel.
In essence, progressive leadership embodies and fosters an open, inclusive culture, where learning, growth, and business transformation converge to drive sustainable success.
What significant challenges have you encountered since starting your business, and how did you overcome them?
The main challenge for my current business is a consistent pipeline of new members to my Progressive Leadership groups as all my members and clients come via referrals, which is fantastic, though not something I can always switch on / leverage if needed. So I focus on providing world-class leadership peer group and one-to-one sessions that consistently deliver experiential learning and development for each person, thereby providing sustainable, profitable, strategic growth for their business, and a truly fulfilled life for them and their family.
This means people work with me often for many years, as they scale and grow their business and refer people (often their team members) to me, it works effectively for them.
What advice would you offer to individuals considering starting their own business?
It depends on circumstances of course, though if you are in full-time employment and have existing commitments, work on your business on the side until you are ready to make the jump (it took me 2 years to leave my FTE to do the first business full time).
Get involved in conversations with people who are outside of your world – conversations create transactions whether in the form of ideas, referrals, connections, financial opportunities.
Look and ask for help, and if need be, join an entrepreneurial team to get experience, not everyone needs to be the founder!
In my experience, successful entrepreneurs and business owners need to act in order to know. You can research, talk, listen and learn from others but ultimately do something to make a start and learn as you progress.
Every successful person never stops learning or growing, put yourself in uncomfortable environments, situations from time to time as that’s when we really learn and grow.
Surround yourself with other successful business leaders to learn from their experience and different perspectives.
