Chris Pearse -Executive Coach

Think Better, Feel Better, Lead Better

By challenging the limiting mindsets and blind-spots of successful, senior leaders, I help resolve the stress and isolation of leadership, to inspire and boost the performance of you, your team and your organisation.

The way you lead yourself and others comes down to the way you feel - and the way you feel depends wholly on your thinking.

It’s as simple as that - no exceptions.

So if you’re not feeling great about you and your leadership - whether it’s imposter syndrome, isolation, conflict, culture, career prospects, lack of purpose, burnout, poor performance or a lack of fulfilment - the solutions lie within you. It’s an inside job.

I help senior leaders transform their experience of leadership from struggle and adversity, to ease and flow, unlocking new levels of clarity, creativity and inspiration.

I show you how to master your inner world, in order to successfully navigate your outer world.

This is leadership inside out.

My clients include IPG, Rolls-Royce, BT, BAE, Pernod Ricard, NHS, HM Treasury, Aramco, Local Government, Academia and SMEs.

My Approach

Many of us blame other people and situations for how we feel. This is a common mistake that leaves us victims of circumstance.

The truth is that we create our own feelings through the way we think and the beliefs that we invest in. When you take responsibility for your inner world of thinking and feeling, not only do you feel better, you’ll have the clarity and focus to deal with whatever challenges you encounter.

Most of the problems we face as leaders have nothing to do with the outside world of people and things. They have everything to do with how we manage our inner mental and emotional worlds. This is leadership inside out.

​I work with you to master this - the key to successful leadership. We do this through hybrid programs comprising my own material - developed over many years of research and practice - and focused, 1-on-1 sessions.

Click below to arrange a discovery meeting.

Happy People

  • Jo Read - CEO Lamda

    “Chris is an excellent coach. He employs the right balance of listening and challenging in his sessions and is very focused on focusing the client to make progress. He understands the complex issues CEOs have to contend with and is adept at enabling individuals to find balance, objectivity and success in their working lives.

  • Mel Murphy - CMO RAD

    “Chris is an excellent coach, leader and strategist. His methods are creative and challenging and ultimately effective. He has an ability to pinpoint the difficult questions that must be asked in order to make change or move forward.”

  • Nick Foster - HRD DCC Technology

    “I've had exposure to many coaches & programs in my role as HRD but found that Chris' business exposure and intellectual challenge moved me well out of my comfort zone and continues to be of use. I would absolutely recommend the programs and Chris.”

  • Jed Mole - CMO Acxiom

    "Chris's program opens you up to things about how we live, work and interact that are so very under-appreciated and underused. It's relatively easy to get training for all kinds of things but not so the fundamentals of how we think and interact, especially getting to know ourselves. I wish I'd done this years ago."

  • Chris Lamb - FD Fastnet Intl

    "It’s given me a new found confidence in who I am and what I do. I feel stronger and more focused, clearer and generally better armed to deal with situations in and out of the business."

  • Mark Crowne - CEO SAS

    “Chris is an absolute delight to work with. He combines a boldness in approaching the core issues in situations with tact and diplomacy. His wide range of experience means that he always has much to add personally, and his character and approach help draw the best out of others too.”

  • Simon Childs - MD O360

    ”Chris is an exceptional Business Leader, Board Advisor, and Executive Coach. I have had the privilege of working with him through several sessions that have helped me immensely. Chris’s leadership insights and experience are phenomenal and I have no hesitation in offering him my highest recommendation.”

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Six Pillars of Leadership Inside Out

  • VISION

    Knowing Where You're Going

    Vision is so central to leadership that it's safe to say you can't be a leader without one. Your vision is the inspiration behind everything your people do.
    Just how effective is your vision and its impact on your team or organisation?

  • DELEGATION

    Empowering Others

    Delegation requires far more than just handing out tasks. Real delegation liberates your people to grow, your team to develop and your organisation to scale.
    Does your delegation restrict your people, or empower and liberate them?

  • CULTURE

    Organisational Behaviour

    Culture, as the collective behaviour of your team or organisation, is felt and experienced, not defined or designed. Understanding culture is critical to your leadership.
    Are you maximising your influence on the culture?

  • PURPOSE

    Why You Do What You Do

    We all have a desire to achieve and to be the best we can be. Having purpose creates meaning and generates energy.
    But just how clearly do you feel this sense of purpose and which areas of your life and work does it truly inspire?

  • INTEGRITY

    Personal Wholeness

    True Integrity goes much deeper than just telling the truth. It's about being true to yourself. When you reference yourself in this way, everything else falls into place.
    Can you honestly say that all your actions are driven by your inner compass?

  • RESILIENCE

    Restoring Equilibrium

    We all get knocked off-balance on occasion, physically, mentally and emotionally. The key is realising that you alone are responsible for how you feel - and how you respond.
    How quickly do you bounce back from adversity?

About Me

I’m an executive coach and leadership development specialist with nearly two decades of experience guiding CEOs, directors, and senior managers across sectors including FTSE 100 companies, government, academia, SMEs, and non-profits.

Originally qualifying as a chartered engineer, I began my career designing digital control systems for film and TV. I later transitioned into international management roles, founding and running businesses in the UK and abroad.

My work is dedicated to helping leaders evolve through self-awareness and self-leadership. My signature approach, "Leadership ]Inside Out[," emphasises mastering one's inner world—thoughts, feelings, and perceptions—to enhance outer leadership effectiveness.

I’m the author of The Broken CEO: How To Be The Leader You Always Wanted To Be, a guide that redefines leadership by focusing on inner dynamics rather than external metrics. The book has been praised for its practical insights and personal anecdotes that resonate with leaders seeking fulfilment and effectiveness.

In 2024 I wrote The Struggling Entrepreneur: Less Push, More Flow - a candid, insightful guide for founders facing the emotional and mental challenges of building a business. It offers practical wisdom and compassionate guidance to help entrepreneurs move from overwhelm and isolation to clarity, confidence, and authentic leadership.

In addition to coaching and writing, I’ve contributed articles to Forbes, People Management, Management Today, and the Institute of Directors, sharing insights on leadership and personal development.

Outside of my professional endeavours, I have diverse interests including designing astronomical telescopes, playing the piano, and studying physics, yoga, metaphysics, philosophy, and psychology.

Get in Touch!

Get in touch to:

  • Request more information

  • Ask questions

  • Schedule a pitch-free, complimentary 1:1 meeting, with Chris, to discuss your leadership development and executive coaching needs.

FAQ

  • We'll start with a free consultation to determine your needs and clarify the outcomes you want.

    If there’s a good fit, we’ll agree terms and a start date.

  • Once registered, you’ll receive a questionnaire which, when compiled, will steer our first session.

    We’ll also explore the learning platform and give you access to the first unit of material.

  • We design the program to suit you, but most programs run over 6, 8 and 24 weeks.

  • We meet either weekly or twice monthly, according to your preference.

    Each session is typically 60-90 minutes long. Sometimes longer depending on your need.

  • Fully flexible.

    The programs accommodate leave, sickness and re-scheduling at short notice.

    Extra sessions to cover urgent support are all included in the programs

  • We won’t.

    Although the online material is structured and takes you on a journey of discovery, the coaching sessions are not.

    I prefer a spontaneous enquiry steered by non-judgemental curiosity which, over decades of coaching, I have found to be many times more efficient and effective than any coaching methodology or framework.

    Neither I nor you will know where the coaching is going - and this is how it should be, though I will usually be one step ahead!