Meet Andrew

My name is Andrew Reed, I am currently employed as a strategic account director and was fortunate enough to be introduced to Phil, in early 2024. I met Phil – a coach my employer had introduced me to as part of a formal leadership development programme. At the time, I was juggling intense expectations at work alongside caring for a young family. I wasn’t entirely sure what I hoped to gain from coaching. Perhaps, I thought, there was a way to succeed simultaneously at home and work without letting either suffer.

The first thing I learned was: that’s not possible – not at the level I was aiming for. I had found myself in a relentless cycle of striving harder, burning out, and watching both roles suffer. I called it the “doom loop.” Phil helped me recognise that caring for myself wasn’t selfish – it was foundational. That realisation was the breakthrough that changed everything.

Phil encouraged me to build out a “fortress” early in our coaching journey – a model containing my values, strengths, weaknesses, and life achievements. Over a year later, the original paper remains tucked in his book near my desk. I still refer to it when I need to remind myself what truly matters.

The “life achievements” section of the fortress has had the biggest impact for me. I used to frame every commercial deal or personal milestone as life/career-defining success or failure. Now, I look back at:

• My family and their unwavering support
• Making Presidents Club
• Completing my MBA
• My time in the police, including the successful resolution of a highly complex historic abuse case—despite seasoned officers telling me it couldn’t be done. I’ll never forget the moment the guilty verdicts came in. The victims’ tears of joy, the feeling of shame lifted—it showed me what lasting impact really looks like.

Today, I know no single future event defines my success.

One of Phil’s greatest gifts was helping me understand the power of the growth mindset. Success is no longer binary. Challenges are now opportunities to learn. I’ve let go of rigid outcomes and found immense value in celebrating others and myself—not just for results, but for resilience.

Before coaching, my default in tough situations was always to push harder. Now, I pause, rest, and reflect. I journal. I meditate—something I once dismissed as “woo-woo.” These habits have become central to how I lead and live. My energy input now equals my output.

Working with Phil has been a revelation. His genuine commitment to my growth—personal and professional—never wavered. The impact has been nothing short of transformative, and I look forward to continuing our journey together. Our work together has redefined how I lead, how I think, and how I live. Self-care fuels clarity. Growth emerges from adversity, leadership, at its best, begins with self-awareness.