From Military to Civilian Success: Lessons in Leadership, Resilience, and Purpose
Transitioning from military to civilian life is one of the toughest challenges a veteran can face. For me, it wasn’t just about changing careers — it was about carrying forward the lessons, values, and resilience forged in uniform.
Lessons from Service
My 13 years Regular and 5 years Reserves service took me to Northern Ireland, Berlin, Bosnia, Uzbekistan, and Malawi. Each chapter demanded resilience and adaptability, and each one left lessons that remain central to my work today:
Leadership under pressure – staying calm, decisive, and ethical when it matters most.
Team cohesion – building trust, empathy, and connection across diverse teams.
Mission focus – keeping the bigger purpose front and centre, even in adversity.
From Army to Entrepreneur
Leaving the Army meant losing the structure, camaraderie, and mission that had been a constant. But those same principles shaped the next stage of my journey.
I founded the Motivational Preparation College for Training (MPCT), with a vision of helping young people unlock their potential. Over two decades, we:
Supported 35,000+ learners,
Built a team of 200+ colleagues,
Achieved Ofsted Grade 1, and
Earned recognition as one of the UK’s best workplaces.
Later, I launched Black Mountain Clothing, an award-winning, purpose-led brand rooted in resilience, trust, and community. Both ventures were built on the same foundations I learned in service: clarity, standards, and belief in people.
Why Coaching
Today, my mission is coaching. I work with executives, founders, and professionals navigating transition, challenge, and growth. The ability to lead under pressure, act with integrity, and inspire others doesn’t belong only to the battlefield — it’s transferable everywhere.
Resilience is moving forward with purpose.
Leadership is service, clarity, and courage.
Success is belief in people.
My journey has always been about helping others realise potential in moments that matter — whether troops on operations, young people building futures, or leaders navigating change. The context shifts, but the mission remains.
One Message for Fellow Leaders
If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this:
Your skills are valuable. Your leadership is transferable. And your impact can reach far beyond where it began.