About Stephen
I work with founders who want more from their business and from their life. More clarity. More control. More enjoyment in what they’re building.
Because success doesn’t always feel how it should. The business is working but it can feel reactive, heavy, and overly dependent on you. Growth slows, decisions get harder, and the enjoyment fades. I’ve been there.
I built and ran my own business for over a decade before exiting in 2018. I now work with founders to help them step back, find clarity, and build businesses that create real value, commercially and personally.
My role is simple, to give you the perspective, structure, and support to move forward with confidence. So your business works for you, not the other way around.
My Story
I’ve spent over 25 years building and leading businesses. Most notably, I founded and grew my own business, eventually selling it to a global consultancy. Along the way I experienced the full journey, early momentum, scaling challenges, hiring pressures, the weight of leadership, and the reality of exit.
Some of it I got right. Some of it I got wrong. And a lot of it I learned the hard way.
What became clear is this. It’s very easy to build a business that looks successful from the outside but feels heavy, stressful, and overly dependent on you. One that grows but at a cost.
After exiting, I took time to reflect on what actually creates value not just in financial terms, but in how a business supports your life.
Since then, I’ve worked closely with founders of businesses from 5 to 50 people helping them step back, think clearly, and build assets that are not only successful, but sustainable, enjoyable, and aligned with what they truly want.
“A successful business should give you freedom, not quietly take it away.”
Why Work With Me?
Because I understand what it actually feels like, the pressure of leading from the front, the uncertainty around growth, and the constant tension between ambition and lifestyle. The question of “what am I really building here?” comes up more often than most founders admit.
I bring real-world experience, not theory. A balanced view of commercial and personal success. Structured thinking without rigid frameworks. And honest challenge when it’s needed.
This is about helping you build something that works for you.