ABOUT ME

I'm Sam... here's a little bit of my story.

 My career & coaching journey

I'm British and spent the first 30 years of my life living in England. I graduated from university with a BA Honours Degree, specialising in international marketing and international human resource management. I then had a sometimes crazy, but often rewarding career in international business development, marketing & communications - working at places with different company cultures. I had some truly amazing experiences.

Along the way, I've had moments of absolute delight - from attending the London Lord of the Rings film premiere and partying with Hollywood glitterati, to going to the official farewell dinner on the pitch at Twickenham for the England World Cup winning rugby team. This has been balanced with moments of career hell - swamped by unreasonable workloads, signing off multi-million dollar deals at 7pm at night (petrified that I might make a mistake); at other times having to manage relationships with power hungry people and bullies in the workforce. I really have seen all sides of the spectrum!

If you ask me what has always got me through everything in life - it's my love of people and my sense of humour. I've been lucky to work with some amazing people and they have become lifetime friends. I also have the motto: Never Give Up!

Outside of work, it hasn't always been a smooth ride either! I've had lots to deal with over the years with more character building than I care to mention! When I look back, it's all part of my story. It's built up my resilience, given me a limitless store of empathy for other people - and often some of my most embarrassing moments have caused tears of laughter for friends who have needed cheering up.

At age 30, I'd had enough of the London rat race, was single, and renting in a room in somebody else's flat. My friends were all buying houses, getting married and having children. I was stuck in a rut! So, I bought myself a round-the-world ticket, got myself a working visa for New Zealand... and never looked back! I was only supposed to come to NZ for 4 months... 20 years, one mister and two gorgeous children later - I am still here! It's not easy being the other side of the world - the challenges are amplified when you're a million miles from home, but I choose to be grateful every day, and try to focus on all the positives of an amazing lifestyle.

I took a career break to raise my children, and during that time, I realised that what I love most is helping people. That led me on my journey to becoming a certified transformative life and business coach. A few people told me that conversations they had with me had literally changed their life for the better... and they didn't realise how easy it could be.

Career Portfolio - I'm a bit of a star ★ shaped  peg...

I get up to all sorts on the work front. Other than coaching, I'm an author, humbled award winning photographer, and a communications consultant. I love helping people, being creative, and using my corporate experience. Doing this combination gives me the choice to dip in and out depending on what the work environment is looking like.

Last year, I finally fulfilled my lifetime dream to write and publish a book. I also taught myself to draw, so that I could illustrate it myself. It was a mission, but I am so thrilled that I finished it – proving that you are never too old to fulfil your dreams.

Photography has always been my passion – capturing moments creatively. My friends encouraged me to enter a competition last year – never in a million years did I think I would end up with the trophy prize, let alone be a finalist in three categories, with my prints exhibited for two months in one of New Zealand’s best art galleries! And to see my framed prints on the walls in people's homes and offices has been a real honour.

Life isn't always easy, perfect or fair. Bad things unfortunately happen to good people & we can't always change that. We can only learn how to deal with each situation and move forward bravely, pick ourselves up, and strive to make the best of what we have, focus on the positive, and try being the best we can each day.

Don't try to be someone you're not. Be true to yourself. Be the STAR of your story!

★★★★

COMPANIES I HAVE WORKED FOR

★ Air New Zealand ★ Virgin Atlantic ★ The Arcadia Group (Top Shop, Dorothy Perkins etc.) ★ Marketing agencies ★ ANZ and The National Bank ★ FMG (rural insurance) ★ Fidelity Investments International ★ Contact Energy ★ BRANZ ★ The Department of Internal Affairs ★ NZ Police ★ The Reserve Bank of New Zealand ★ The Cancer Society ★