Helping leaders navigate uncertainty through evidence-based coaching and training

Geopolitical instability. Climate change. Artificial intelligence.​ We live in an era of unprecedented uncertainty. But leadership development has not caught up. 

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I am a Professor of Innovation and Creativity at Kingston University.

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​I also keep a foot in industry as a freelance consultant and ​​​​as a non-executive director of the Featured Artists Coalition trade body. 

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Drawing on my book, Leading with Creativity (Cambridge University Press), I help leaders navigate uncertainty through evidence-based coaching and training.

 

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What's my story? ​​

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I spent my twenties in the music business, as a member of Passenger (ie: music) and as one half of Grasscut (Ninja Tune, Lo Recordings). I also managed Grasscut, organising European tours, including shows at the Pompidou Centre and Royal Albert Hall, and negotiating sync deals (Google, Mazda, K-mart, HSBC, Nespresso, Boots). 

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I also wrote Different Every Time (Serpent’s Tail 2014), a biography of the musician Robert Wyatt. It was a BBC Radio 4 book of the week and a book of the year in several national newspapers. 

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In my thirties, I went into academia to help ensure that graduates were better prepared for creative careers than I had been myself.​​​​​ I focused on entrepreneurship, later becoming a fellow and non-executive director of Enterprise Educators UK.

 

I also researched the impact of emerging technologies on the creative industries. In Distributed Creativity (Palgrave 2019), written as researcher in residence at Digital Catapult, I examined the impact of blockchains on the creative economy. 

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In my forties, I qualified as an executive and team coach. I also hold an MBA, a PhD in collaborative creativity, and LEGO Serious Play, Scrum and PRINCE2 certifications.

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I have coached leaders and managers at United Talent Agency and Arts Council England, as well as clients in sectors from healthcare to education to real estate. 

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I have also delivered training around the world from Accra to Amman, for instance supporting cultural leaders from Mexico, music industry managers from the Gulf and creative hub leaders from West Africa. 

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What do the music business, enterprise education and leadership development have in common? The need to generate ideas and test them through small experiments. I know of no better way to navigate uncertainty.

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Other stuff ​

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As well as giving keynotes at academic conferences, I have spoken to industry audiences from KPMG in London to Thomson Reuters in New York.

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I have written for the Guardian, the Independent, the Times and the Financial Times and appeared on the BBC and CNN.

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My work has been supported by Research England, Office for Students, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, UK Shared Prosperity Fund, Greater London Authority, British Council, Linux Foundation, Institute of Coding, Publicis Media and Blockchain Research Institute. 

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I live with my family in Brighton but also work in London and online. ​​​​​​​​​​

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Outside work, I spend my time climbing (competently) and surfing (incompetently). 

 

Want to chat? Drop me an email.