Curious who I am and how I got here?
This is my story... from feeling different as a kid, to navigating the corporate world, to finding my voice and making an impact.
My Journey So Far
It took years to be comfortable with who I am... and why. This isn’t a CV. It’s the real stuff that shaped me. If any of it hits home, maybe it’s shaping you too.
Scroll down to see the lessons, challenges, and moments that shaped me.
I grew up in a small northern town call Grimsby... one of the few Black families in a place where being different wasn’t dangerous, but it was always obvious.
I had role models, but not like me.
No mirrors. Just vibes and questions.
But I was lucky.
Amidst all that difference, I found a group of friends who’ve been my foundation and sounding board for over 30 years.
They saw me... and stayed.
I learned early how to blend in without belonging and how real friendship can anchor you when identity feels adrift.
My parents were brilliant... academic, accomplished, and brave enough to leave everything behind in Zambia to give us more.
Their story is one of astronomic upward mobility.
They showed me what excellence looked like and made me believe I had to earn my place everywhere I went.
Now, I’m part of a generation navigating a different reality. Despite all the education, ambition, and work ethic… upward mobility feels harder than ever in today’s economic climate.
When you’re raised by people who sacrificed everything, failure feels like betrayal. But I’ve come to see that progress, not perfection, is the goal.
Growing up as a third-culture* kid meant constantly translating between my parents’ values, British norms, and my own identity.
The pressure wasn’t dramatic, but it was constant. Always code-switching. Always adapting.
Straddling two cultures can split you or sharpen you.
Realising this was a late but crucial step in my growth.
It taught me to read the room, hear what’s not said, and earn trust fast... skills you don’t find in a textbook.
What sets you apart can move you forward... if you know how to use it.
* Google this
Potential without discipline is just regret waiting to happen.
I came out the womb carrying family expectations.
Medicine was their plan. Leeds Met was the reality.
Clearing. Business computing. No real passion.
I loved Uni... made lifelong friends, lived for the nights out.
But I barely showed up for the degree.
Didn’t even attend graduation.
Assimilation often hides in plain sight. I looked cool AF... straightened hair, coloured contacts, wild clothes. But what looked like standing out was really my way of blending in.
It followed me into the workplace: Always dressed to impress. Always smelt like success. Never wanted good times to stop. Always cared way too much about what people thought.
It worked. People liked me.
But behind the image? Thousands in debt.
All to impress people who weren’t even watching.
When your focus is on who you think you should be, you lose sight of who you are... And who you are is your superpower.
I took on every job I could... working nightclub doors, pouring pints behind bars, and coaching youth football.
None of it paid well.
But the education was world-class.
On the doors, I learned to read fear and ego in seconds.
Behind the bar, I mastered small talk that made strangers feel seen. On the pitch, I learned patience... how to earn trust, give direction, and build belief in young minds.
Survival taught me communication, leadership, and emotional intelligence in a way no classroom ever could... and no boardroom would.
I landed my first “proper” job full of hope but clueless about the real rules.
I thought I was getting support to improve, but I was actually being performance managed.
That shift happened quietly and I didn’t notice.
When HR showed up in the meeting, I didn’t even know what that meant or that I could bring someone with me.
Pride, ego, and lack of self-awareness stopped me from asking for help or speaking up.
Yes, I could’ve done better.
But was I treated fairly? I’m still not sure.
Later, I learned I wasn’t alone.
I didn’t fail for lack of ability. I failed by not seeing I was being edged out… and being too proud to ask for help.
MSD became more than a job... it was where I proved myself.
I learned the language of business, built a reputation, and found my feet
But I was lucky.
Lucky to have managers who believed in me who invested in my growth and guided my early steps.
Lucky to cross paths with brilliant people who became friends, mentors, and sounding boards.
Not everyone gets that kind of support early on, but everyone can choose to learn, to listen, and to build relationships that help them grow.
I didn’t get the first national training role I went for but a breakdance demo mid-interview got me a part-time gig and a mentor who’s had my back ever since.
When I finally secured a full-time training role, my first big challenge was helping our primary care team adopt OG iPads. I knew traditional training wouldn’t cut it. So I went rogue: filmed videos inside the Manchester Apple Store (without asking) to capture the experience I wanted to create.
The security guards weren’t thrilled... but Apple’s business team were. They supported the training plan once I shared what I was building.
I’ve always believed learning should be practical, fun, and real. Most loved it... even when “practice” meant selling to actual customers.
Memorable learning beats perfect delivery. Stay creative. Stay human.
There’s something powerful about the kind of leadership that takes the time to recognise others with a personal note. It says, "I saw you. You mattered." That stuck with me... and it’s a standard I’ve tried to carry forward ever since.
I married the woman who makes me better every day.
Our union is a story of different upbringings, shared values, and mutual growth. Then came our children... the best part of my legacy
As life got richer at home, I started thinking differently about what I wanted from my career.
How far did I really want to go? Did my face fit the places I aspired to reach? And what would I need to do differently to get there... without losing myself in the process?
Love and legacy aren’t found in titles. They’re built in quiet reflection, consistent presence... and the courage to redefine success on your own terms.
I was in a high-stakes role, pushing hard to impress through innovation, capacity, and hustle right as I was about to become a dad.
I pulled off things I’m still proud of… but I also dropped the ball on things that mattered to others. That didn’t need to happen and I’m not proud of it.
I was juggling too much, not delegating enough, and trying to be everything to everyone. I didn’t raise my hand or flag the strain.
One manager gave it to me straight: “The business can’t support you if it doesn’t know you need support.”
That line stuck. Because when you're used to being one of the only ones, when proving you belong becomes the norm, vulnerability starts to feel like a luxury you can’t afford.
But sometimes, you’ve got to let the system break a bit… instead of breaking yourself trying to hold it up.
Real leadership isn’t about doing it all. It’s about knowing when to ask for help and creating spaces where others can too.
MSD let me stay up North while working in London... hotel life 3–4 nights a week felt like a badge of honour. My wife and I briefly considered moving. She said no. That was that.
Then COVID hit.
Her maternity leave was stolen. My commute disappeared. L&D work exploded. And just like that, I saw everything I’d been missing at home... and the quiet sacrifices she’d made.
It forced a reset. I slowed down. Started playing to my strengths. Got clear on the value I brought to the business. Set boundaries.
Aligned my effort with where the company was heading... not just where I’d been.
I delivered better than ever.
Crisis doesn’t build character... it reveals it.
I found strength I’d forgotten I had.
You don’t need to tick every box.You just need one shot... and the courage to prove you’re worth betting on.
I went for a Chief of Staff role I wasn’t expected to get.
The screening call didn’t start well, “You don’t have the credentials or experience to match the pool.”
I paused... then asked, “Credentials aside, do you think I have the capability?”
When they said yes, I spent the next ~27 minutes making the case for potential over pedigree.
I didn’t get the job.
But I got into the process, down to the final two... and gained advocates who helped me pivot into commercial strategy.
It changed the trajectory of my career.
The interviews were virtual, but I still wore cologne.
Because sometimes, you’ve got to show up for yourself... even if no one else can smell it.
I joined the leadership team of MSD’s Black employee resource group, LEAD, leading the career pillar. After George Floyd’s murder, our urgency intensified. We led with strategy, care, and determination.
I came to understand that, while organisations often have good intentions, execution and follow-through can fall short.
Equality and equity are ideals... helpful frameworks that guide most people to do the right thing most of the time but they may never be fully achieved.
It’s natural to favour those like us. What’s powerful is choosing to lead beyond that...to build fairness into the system, not just our intentions. That’s the kind of leadership I’m here for.
AGAIN... Progress, not perfection. Change happens when we recognise our instincts and choose to do better anyway.
If your story feels heavy, share it.
It might just set you free.
After working with the ABPI on their DEI conference, I realised my voice mattered beyond my company.
I wanted to test if I could make a bigger impact, grow my network, and build my personal brand.
So, I launched The Black Sherpa Podcast, part platform, part therapy, part rebellion.
Thousands of downloads later, it’s helped others and helped me find my voice.
Thank you to everyone who has been part of this journey... your support, stories, and encouragement mean the world.
When we launched Lead Your Career, it wasn’t just another development programme... it was built on real data, deep insight, and a clear purpose: to help under-represented professionals break through invisible barriers.
We saw 80% of participants achieve career progression within a year... proof that small shifts can spark big change. By unlocking the power of tools already inside the company, we created something both effective and scalable.
Winning the Excellence in Education Award was incredible validation... not just of the programme, but of a belief: that when you build something with evidence and heart, it grows beyond you.
Impact lasts when your work is grounded in what truly works and built to grow.
After nearly two decades, my journey at MSD came to an unexpected end due to a restructure. Despite options to stay, I chose to leave, seeing it as a rare opportunity to pursue something with potential industry-wide impact. Even if it doesn’t work out, I know the skills and experiences I gain will set me apart... whether I return to the industry or forge a new path.
Restructures can make you feel like just another number, but I’m deeply grateful for the thoughtful support, considerate counsel, and encouragement I received throughout. MSD was more than a workplace... it was a community that shaped me.
Sometimes endings are just new beginnings... With courage, change becomes opportunity.
I left corporate to build something bold... a business that helps under-represented professionals succeed, not by just working harder, but by navigating smarter
It’s for my kids. For my past self. For everyone who’s climbing unseen mountains.
If any part of this story reflects your own, the silent sacrifices, the invisible barriers, the fight to belong…