Owner-Founders

Evolve your leadership

Leading a start-up requires grit, vision, and the ability to break down barriers. But, as your business grows, the leadership style that drove early success can begin to work against you. Leading a more established business requires new skills, different thinking, and the ability to build sustainable systems—all while staying true to the entrepreneurial energy that got you here.

I help owner-founders navigate this critical transition, supporting them in evolving their leadership to meet the changing demands of a growing business. Together, we ensure that your leadership grows in step with your company’s success.

Adaptive Leadership

Co-Founder Partnership

Founder:Board Relationship

Founder:Management Team Alignment

Working with Kevin has been an absolute game-changer for me as a Founder and CEO. He has a remarkable ability to quickly get to the heart of challenges - both within the business and within myself. Kevin creates a space that feels safe and constructive, allowing for the difficult conversations that ultimately lead to real breakthroughs. Through his guidance, I learned to balance innovation with process, to embrace healthy conflict, and to realize that I have what it takes to lead effectively. Kevin’s support extended beyond just strategy or organisational advice; he helped me uncover my own limiting beliefs and fears. As a result, I’m now more confident in my role and more energized to lead my team and board with clarity and purpose. I can’t thank him enough for lifting the ‘cloud’ that was holding me back, and for showing me how to bring out the best in myself and in those around me. Simply put, Kevin’s insight, empathy, and practical advice have been invaluable to my development.

Nicola Mitchell

Founder & CEO, Life Scientific; 2020 EY Entrepreneur of the Year

Why work with me?

I understand the unique pressures and challenges owner-founders face because I’ve worked with leaders at every stage of business growth.

  • Experience in Founder-Management Dynamics: I’ve worked with multiple founder-led businesses to balance entrepreneurial energy with professional management practices, ensuring sustainable growth.
  • Tailored, Strategic Support: My approach is direct, practical and personal—designed to help founders step into the leadership their business needs without losing what makes them successful.
  • Trusted Facilitator in High-Stakes Conversations: I help Boards, Founders and Management Teams navigate difficult transitions, clarify roles, and align around business priorities. I’m direct and pragmatic.

The leadership instincts that fueled your start-up won’t automatically translate to leading a larger, more complex organisation. Through tailored coaching, I help you:

  • Grow your leadership capacity: Develop the skills required for leading at scale while staying connected to your vision.
  • Navigate the shift: Recognise when it’s time to move from hands-on problem-solving to empowering others and building systems.
  • Build long-term resilience: Strengthen your ability to handle growth, uncertainty, and the evolving needs of your business.
  • Avoid micromanagement: Focus on leading the business forward instead of staying stuck in daily operations.

Founding a business with others brings both energy and tension. I support co-founders in extending their productive partnership by helping you:

  • Focus on What the Business Needs: Shift from instinct-driven decisions to thoughtful, strategic choices.
  • Clarify Roles and Responsibilities: Define clear boundaries and decision-making authority.
  • Strengthen Communication: Develop tools to handle disagreements productively and maintain trust.

A strong, strategic board can be a powerful asset—but only when the relationship is built on trust and healthy boundaries.

  • Get a good Board: Determine what your business needs from the Board and select NED’s with those competencies.
  • Foster trust and respect: Create open, productive communication and appropriate boundaries.
  • Develop Board engagement strategies: Learn how to work with your board as a partner in strategic growth.
  • Embrace challenge & accountability: Use your board to stretch your thinking and drive business performance.

The relationship between the owner and the professional management team is critical in founder-led businesses.

  • Align your efforts - Harness the creative tension between entrepreneurial and organisational energies.
  • Balance Vision with Execution - Ensure the founder’s vision is translated into practical strategies while being informed by what the resources can sustainably achieve.
  • Clarify Roles & Boundaries - Develop ways of working, making decisions and establishing priorities that actually work.
  • Strengthening Trust and Collaboration: Build healthy, productive relationships between founders and senior leaders.