James Leeper

When I first started the mentorship process with James, I was working with multiple types of insurance programs (e.g. Property, STP, D&O, BBB, Film Package, Credit, Cyber, CPI, Hull, E&O) across a variety of industries (e.g. education, energy, mining, finance, fishing, agroindustry, healthcare, film), which often made it difficult to focus and correctly balance my responsibilities. Handling complex clients, communicating issues to both my boss and clients, and finding the right work-life balance were rather big challenges for me. Throughout the process, James dedicated much time to listening to my concerns and providing practical advice on managing these challenges, it always felt that the time spent was precise and enough. His guidance helped me become a better professional, improve my client management skills, and communicate with both colleagues and clients more confidently. For example, when I had to present results to a board of directors—where directors often want to make themselves heard or push their ideas—James gave me insights and feedback on how to handle the situation effectively. On the other hand, I experienced significant professional growth because over the course of a single year, I received two salary increases and my company gave me the responsibility to manage clients independently—including a major client from the film industry. Additionally, his advice on career development motivated me to start taking courses from the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) and provided clarity on how to shape my long-term career goals. James is a great mentor. I highly recommend him to anyone looking to develop their professional skills, navigate workplace challenges, and achieve meaningful career growth.

I came across James on Bark. I’d been in the financial services industry for 12 years and within marketing for the last 6 years. I hadn’t felt inspired by my choice of industry and wanted to understand how and why I had taken the route I had and whether this route was right for me in the future. James and I explored my PRISM Professional report containing my PRISM Map, which really helped deepen my understanding of how I work and connect with people. It allowed me to understand my strengths and what I should focus on, as well as, showing my weaknesses, to be accepting of them as well as how avoid them being put into play! The career map showed that my underlying preferences align well to the job and industry which I’m in. The sessions really helped boost my confidence. During the coaching sessions I was made redundant but quickly found a new job and used James’ distinctively unique NERDs exercise to ensure alignment. With James’ help I negotiated a far greater salary (an increase of 46%). A massive thank you James. It has been an incredible experience and I look forward to working with you [as my coach] on the Positive Intelligence® Foundation programme.

Before working with James, I was struggling with a lack of clarity in my career and feeling insecure about my professional value. My job no longer felt like the right fit, and it was affecting both my work and personal life. Through the Prism Brain Mapping assessment, James helped me gaining a clear understanding of my strengths and areas for development. This clarity was crucial in identifying what I should look for in a new role. He also guided me through the interview process and provided support during my probation period in the new job. Thanks to James, I not only landed a job that aligns with my skills and values but also regained my confidence in my professional journey. I highly recommend James to anyone looking for a coach who can provide genuine insight and support.

I contacted James after experiencing an unexpectedly difficult and tumultuous time at work. My boss had quit very suddenly, and my role was suddenly surrounded by uncertainty and politics in a way that I hadn’t experienced before. This obviously posed some challenges and knocked my confidence. I hadn’t ever had any career coaching before but felt that I needed some perspective and wisdom so I could process what had happened. James provided me with coaching using the PRISM brain mapping tool. This coaching provided me with the framework to understand my underlying strengths and weaknesses, as well as facilitating some objective analysis and explanation as to why I experienced that difficult period how I had. The coaching helped me to rationalise what I had been through at work. This meant I could draw the lessons from that experience that I needed to learn, as well as put it in the past and move forward. I have recently changed roles and now I have the tools to understand how to shape my job so that I can play more to my strengths at work. James is a generous and wise person which are two characteristics I really appreciated in our coaching relationship. I also greatly enjoyed talking to him more generally about life and cricket! Thank you James.

I connected with James for mentoring through the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) Connect Mentoring Platform. My goal was to find an experienced Insurance Professional to guide me to better understand the global insurance industry as a small yet growing insurance broker in Cyprus. James listened carefully to understand my questions and was very helpful by providing valuable guidance based on his experience. He encouraged me to set clear objectives with high goals and boosted me to work towards them. Setting up my objectives enabled me to attend an international conference and meet with key industry professionals, which later opened new doors and created useful connections for my business that has led me already to achieving my goals. I definitely recommend James as a Mentor and Executive Coach. Andreas H. Managing Director.

I have had the pleasure of having James as a Career management coach over an extended period and I cannot recommend him enough. I have been particularly impressed not just with his approach towards 1-1 sessions but to the tools that he has at his disposal (e.g PRISM Brain Mapping). I have no reservations in recommending him as an Executive/ Career Management coach! Mathew S.

James is unique. He makes change happen - fast. I had been job-hunting for a long time, due significantly to my late-in-life diagnosis of Autism. But before this, the painful awareness that interviewer body language would change suddenly and you couldn't win them over. Purely by asking the questions, and listening intently. James had an understanding that no-one else has of me. He made a number of recommendations, which I put into practise immediately - one being to work so hard on listening skills. First company I met, I made it to a final stage interview. The second company, I secured my new role within 10 days of first meeting them. To me, this is transformational after years. James, you unlocked my potential & "superpowers" in interviews. Casper G.