Strong thinking that does not land in the room. The coaching sharpens Investment Committee, board, ExCo and investor communication, and improves your impact.
A first MD, Partner, CEO, CFO, COO or board role, with scrutiny rising faster than confidence. The coaching builds the leadership, judgement and confidence to succeed in the role.
Relationships and pitches not as effective as you need them to be. The coaching brings discipline to relationship-building: sharper conversations, better use of time, more commercially impactful activity.
Friction between leaders, inside a team, between board and management, or between sponsor and management, with feedback indirect and decisions stuck. The coaching builds relationships, makes feedback more direct, decisions faster and key relationships steadier.
Performing, but at a visible cost, with recovery gone and burnout that others see first. The coaching rebuilds sustainable performance: real recovery, clearer boundaries, lower stress levels.
High performing, retail leader. Stepping up to senior leadership. Inner confidence, impact, and prioritisation needed work. Hesitation on difficult people decisions and accountability. Six sessions over five months.
Outcome: Adapted to a new global operating model with clearer roles and faster decision-making. Promoted. Now recognised internally as one of the strongest leaders on the executive team.
Performing on the outside; suffering on the inside. Stress and anxiety leaking into conflict situations. Working harder to keep up, creating further stress. Burnout signs visible socially, outside work. 9 sessions over 8 months.
Outcome: Pattern recognised and named. Workload and recovery habits rebuilt. Internal standard reset: effort driven by choice, not fear of falling behind. Calmer in conflict, including outside work.
Identified as a future fund leader. Strong technically; origination discipline inconsistent, IC communication too technical. Six sessions over six months.
Outcome: More focused origination. Shorter, sharper Investment Committee contributions. Greater authority in Board discussions, noted by senior Partners.
Highly regarded externally. Conflict-avoidant, priorities drifting, key relationships strained. Twelve sessions over nine months.
Outcome: A key leader retained. Direct in conflict. Clearer use of authority. Stakeholders reported visible behavioural change.
Introductory conversation: 30 minutes, no charge.
Confidentiality: session content stays private. The commissioning organisation receives agreed progress themes only.
Measurement: baseline against 54 behavioural and performance indicators. Midpoint review. End-of-engagement comparison. Optional 360.
Format: six to twelve sessions over six to nine months. Sessions are 60 to 90 minutes, in person in London or virtual. Access between sessions is included.
Funding: paid by the organisation, sponsor or individual. Usually commissioned by Managing Partner, Chair, CEO, Talent or HR, or directly by the individual.
I have built, scaled and led businesses serving private equity, large companies and senior leadership teams. I work from direct operating experience, not theory.
If you have read this far through the site, here are a few personal facts that may help you get a clearer picture of who I am.
I am married to Corinne, a magistrate, and we have 4 grown-up children. I was born in Johannesburg, South Africa. I emigrated with my parents, brother, and sister at the age of 10 to London. I love sports; I swam nationally, and played county squash and club football and cricket. I still try to make sure I train at least 5 times a week.
I didn’t make my Cambridge offer! I studied Economics at LSE and qualified as an ACA at PwC. I made it up to Partner quickly … and four years into a commercially successful start to partnership, I suffered from a painful burnout. Sometimes, life’s most painful moments deliver the biggest transformation. And this is certainly true for me.
My psychological development, my deep meditation practice, and my curiosity about the human mind and body have opened up many new dimensions to my life. I have (begun to) understand compassion, creativity, and inner calm. I better understand how to deal with a noisy mind or with fear when it arises.
My business career has been varied. I was a partner at PwC for sixteen years, where I founded the firm’s tech-enabled CFO Office and Insight & Analytics business. I subsequently held several senior roles in the UK firm including Head of Commercial, Chief People Officer for Transaction Services, and Chief Operating Officer for Forensics. I advised private equity investors and their portfolio companies for twenty years. I left PwC in 2024, and I co-founded Unity Advisory, an Ai-first CFO advisory firm, backed by Warburg Pincus. Today, alongside my continuing coaching work, I am a private equity senior advisor and non-exec.
I am at my happiest when I am coaching people: helping them grapple with complex problems, understand themselves better, and grow. I coach with structure, candour and care. The work is practical, but it also asks people to look honestly at how they operate under pressure.
If you think I might be the right person to help you, please get in touch directly at david@dtadvisory.co. I look forward to meeting you.
