From humble beginnings, I've been fortunate enough to grow to a point where I achieved consistently outstanding results in my career, predominantly as a senior executive and leader in the world of Advertising & Marketing Services, which spanned 20+ years working with brand name advertisers and their advertising & marketing services agencies.

During this time, I was able to gain the respect and trust of the people who worked for and alongside me, which earned us a collection of 'Distinguished Achievement' and ‘Outstanding Business Contribution’ awards from CEOs in both FTSE 100 & Fortune 500 media owners.

This sounds wonderful doesn't it and isn't this how many people tell their story, it's all about the highlight reel and they conveniently leave out the lowlights.

I say this because when I look back on my career, I realise that I succeeded as a top performing leader in spite of some deficiencies. Namely; areas that I was unaware of at the time but which, through deep and extensive self-assessments, and working with clients since, I have come to understand the positive difference it would have made if I'd had someone to show me what I couldn't see for myself, and how to plug these important gaps.

What separates a great leader from a merely good one has alway fascinated me. I wondered if there was a common set of character traits and skills that could account for this?

And there are, although different leaders will have different gaps and this is what I set to find out, ways whereby we plug those gaps, build on strengths, and make smart leaders even smarter.

As I now steer towards the twighlight years of my career, this is what I share with smart leaders, whether they be newly promoted or experienced veterans.

I do this through my unique assessment facilitation and where necessary, subsequent coaching 'one powerful conversation at a time' because leadership development is as unique as each individual I work with, and drawing out unseen potential and greater talent is after all, a fluid process and not prescriptive.

My approach to how I do this is therefore, rather unique and one whereby, the people who get to work with me know the passion that drives me comes from the most humane place and I'll move mountains to support them in their endeavours.

During my last 10 years in management consulting and coaching, I can honestly say I have searched for, sourced, studied, tested and tried the best of the best in leadership like no other person I've met. These unique resources add power to our 'leadership coaching conversations' like no other, and I happily share these with my clients.

My approach may be somewhat unconventional but then so are the results I and my clients achieve together.