I became an overnight millionaire for the first time at the age of 21, whilst living in South Africa in 1994 — just as Mandela was bringing hope to a nation — and I quickly spent most of it on fast American, German and Italian sportscars. I’m an awful driver.

By my early 20s, I was riding the wave of the dot-com boom as a millionaire, serial entrepreneur. I was operating in my comfort zone, making venture capitalist very rich, and I was wasting my cash on the trappings of wealth to hide a fundemental truth. I wasn’t living my Ikigai.

In 2010, I took a leap of faith and reopened the School of Communication Arts, a decision that transformed my life. Leading the school taught me that creativity isn’t just a skill; it’s a mindset. It’s about seeing opportunities where others see obstacles and finding your unique way to shine.

Hundreds of people have trusted me to help launch them to the very top of the creative industry and my alumni reads like a Who’s Who. My school doesn’t teach creativity — it teaches you how you practice creatvity. My role is simply to create the space for people to be the very best versions of themselves.

Some people tell me that they worry they might not be creative. Creativity isn’t a skill, it’s a way of showing up in the world. When you create the space for people to be the best versions of themselves, they grow into that space.

I love teaching, whether it’s at my school in London, as a guest teaching in China and Europe’s top creative schools, or facilitating creativity workshops for teams. Whilst most classes focus on the how my approach has always been to focus on the why.

Along the way, I have faced my own share of challenges. Health setbacks and the ups and downs of running a business forced me to look inward, embrace vulnerability, and redefine success on my own terms. These experiences gave me a deeper understanding of the kind of transformation I wanted to inspire in others.

One realisation was that I needed to help people beyond the creative industry, because meeting a wider community would teach me new things. This led me to go back to school to become a fully qualified coach.

Now, whether as a coach, a teacher or a facilitator, I’m focused on helping people find their edge—whether they’re creatives looking to lead or leaders looking to create. I believe the most powerful change comes from within, and my role is to guide, support, and spark those breakthroughs.

The photo shows me with my family at a recent festival. The idea of camping would have revolted me in my 20s — I was all about turning left on long-haul and 5-star service. But look how happy I am here! Nearly as happy as my youngest daughter!!

My story is still being written, but its core remains the same: a belief in people’s potential and a commitment to helping them achieve it.