Host Matt Crabtree speaks with Paul Goundry, Partner at Positive Momentum with 20 years' experience helping businesses and leadership teams grow; having traded a senior corporate career for independent consulting five years ago, he hasn't looked back since.

From commercial radio to Cambridge, Dr Mark Bloomfield charts a shift from leading transformation at Global to a portfolio career spanning consulting, board work and teaching at Cambridge Judge Business School. A COVID reset clarified priorities and sparked small, deliberate steps that built momentum, including a simple energy filter for choosing projects.

Mark's 100 people in 100 days practice - meeting with curiosity and no agenda - unlocked opportunities and reinforced that relationships beat credentials. He shares practical ways to track AI for commercial impact without the noise, and the everyday benefits of independence, from school pick ups to greater presence. If you are weighing a move from full time leadership to an independent path, this episode offers clear tactics, realistic expectations and a humane lens on success.

From leading banks to leading conversations in coaching, Andrew D'Arcy shares how he shifted from a high-profile corporate career - including CEO roles at Wesleyan Bank and senior leadership positions at RBS - to building a practice centred on curiosity, leadership, and helping others realise their potential.

Andrew reflects on stepping away from the corporate treadmill, why non-executive roles weren't the right fit, and how he chose to invest in becoming a professionally qualified coach. He talks candidly about the challenges of starting out, the importance of networking with intent, and the surprising lessons he's learned from clients along the way. With honesty and practical insight, Andrew reveals what fulfilment looks like for him today - flexibility, purpose, and the joy of seeing others thrive.