I’ve had a rather unconventional career path. I started acting at 16, and much to my parents’ dismay, left school to join a theatre company. I spent the next nine months touring the country, and from that moment on, I never really looked back. Over the past 35 years, I’ve built an exciting career in acting, with roles across theatre, film, and television.

In 2008, my journey took an unexpected turn when I was approached by the TAI Group, a New York-based company, who uses the skillset of the world of Performing Arts, to help their corporate clients perform at their peak through leadership and communication. As their international expansion grew, they sought to train a select group of actors in London, and I was invited to join them.

A few years later, inspired by the coaching he’d received through the TAI Group when he was a management consultant, Nick Viner invited the group to offer a similar coaching experience to members, approaching retirement. Pathfinder™, as it is known, is at the heart of the Planning Your Next Chapter programme, and is a form of coaching that leads clients to find their “magnetic north”, guided by myself and other expert coaches.

It’s no surprise to me that acting and coaching are so closely linked. Acting is about understanding what’s beneath the surface—what drives a character to make certain decisions. Similarly, as a coach, I help my clients uncover what drives them. Since I’m still a working actor myself, I understand firsthand what I’m asking my clients to do, and that creates a deep connection between us.

The Pathfinder™ sessions, which typically span one to three meetings, offer clients the chance to reflect on who they are and what truly motivates them, especially as they approach the end of a long career. I often find that many clients are so accustomed to focusing on others that they haven’t spent much time reflecting on their own motivations. But everyone has a story to tell, and underneath each story are the qualities that drive us.

My job is to peel back the layers — the external factors like family, career achievements, hobbies, and titles — to uncover the qualities that truly define who we are. These are the qualities we’ll carry with us as we move into the next chapter of our lives. The exciting part of the Pathfinder™ process is that it helps reframe what might initially feel like a daunting transition. When clients leave a role they feel defines them, they feel lost. But actually, it’s the qualities that helped them succeed in that role that define them. This is what I help them to see, and how those qualities will stay with them, empowering and energising them as they move forward.

What amazes me, through my work with Pathfinder™ clients, is how much people take on throughout their lives. Many have managed enormous responsibilities — running businesses, leading large teams under immense pressure — while also caring for children, elderly relatives, and managing personal challenges. When I help them unpack the various parts of their lives they’ve held together, people start to realise how strong and remarkable they are.

Taking the time to reflect on ourselves before starting something new is incredibly valuable. When I observe people reflecting on their past experiences, what drives them, and what might motivate them in the future, it feels like watching pieces of a puzzle come together. That’s a deeply fulfilling experience.

Circle Square Q&A

What 3 words best describe you? Curious, present and hopeful.

If you could offer your younger self one piece of advice, what would that be? Don’t wait for someone else to give you permission to do the things that make your heart glad.

What do you consider to be your greatest achievement? The strength of my connections with loved ones and the combination of a long-term acting and coaching career.

Which person (dead or alive) would you most like to invite to dinner? Stan Laurel.

How has age strengthened your advantage? Knowing that you have less time ahead of you, increases your appetite for life and your desire to just go for it.