My Story
I have been lucky enough to have worked in and around leadership throughout my career. I spent the first 17 years of my career as an officer in the British Army, which was an amazing experience.
Sometimes when I tell people that I have a military background, they think that all I did was shout at people to get things done. In reality, this could not be further from the truth! You cannot just shout at a government minister, civil servant, or someone from a totally different cultural background to yourself. I learned that I needed a wide variety of skills to communicate, influence, and work with diversity.
My time in the army was formative. It allowed me to see leadership in all its different forms and, critically, the effect it has on individuals and teams. It provided me with opportunities to work with a wide variety of people in some exceptional situations. It also gave me an understanding of what it was like to have people working with me, for me, and sometimes against me!
I loved my time in the army. It taught me the value of relationships and showed me that trust is fundamental in leadership. It allowed me to work in multicultural environments where I had to influence people from a hugely different culture to my own. Most importantly, it taught me that leadership is a privilege.
Following on from my military career, I moved to consulting. I spent seven years with PwC and then four years with the William J Clinton Leadership Institute. This work was totally focused on leadership development.
This experience was invaluable as it allowed me to translate my military leadership experience into the commercial world. It opened my eyes to what it was like working and leading in the ‘outside world’, which was a revelation to me. It made me stop and reassess myself, my experiences, and how I worked with others.
It also made me realise how much support and development there had been for leaders in the army, something I found severely lacking in many businesses and organisations. I saw so many shocking examples of poor leadership, mainly because leaders at every level were not being developed and supported sufficiently.
I knew I had the skills and experience to provide this missing support, so in 2018 I set up Pendry Leadership. I did this so that I could engage with my clients in a more genuine and authentic way, using my own ‘conscious leadership’ approach.
I do not pretend to be a leadership guru. What I offer is my own authentic voice and over 35 years’ experience of working with people and delivering positive, practical outcomes for my clients.
I am accredited by the International Coaching Federation (ICF), one of the largest global coaching bodies. This means that I have been assessed as a coach and can be relied upon. I abide by the ICF code of ethics, and always uphold the highest standards of trust and confidentiality.
MY CLIENTS
Shaun challenged my way of thinking and the impact was such that I have engaged him to coach the rest of my leadership team.
MD of a Global electronics company
I have found my work with Shaun to be a fantastic opportunity to step out of the business and take a more strategic view of my work
MD of a UK Steel Business
Shaun has made me stop and really think about what needs to be different as I prepare for the next stage.
CIO of a Global pharmaceuticals company
My time with Shaun has allowed me to really take stock of where I am and where I want to take my team. I have a new perspective and motivation as a result of our work.
Director of a Pan-European body
Our work together was not always easy or comfortable. I had to confront some key challenges. Shaun supported me throughout this. As a result I have grown as a person, implemented change and have been able to increase the results and outputs of my team.
HR Business Partner Director