Having founded, built and run a successful Skills and Leadership Training (Illumine Training) company for 24 years, my career so far has 3 distinct phases: - Early years of accounting, financial management and management consulting; - Entrepreneur - Founding, building and running Illumine Training; - Post Illumine - a free agent...The Early YearsAfter qualifying as a Management Accountant and working as a Financial Controller in the Tech Sector, I joined what was then Coopers & Lybrand as a Senior Management Consultant. At C & L, after spells in temporary Finance Director roles, I specialised in performance reporting and performance improvement, managing small and large projects in multiple locations around the world. That was great experience for around 7 years, before spotting a gap in the market...Entrepreneur - Founding, building and running Illumine TrainingInitially we specialised in thinking skills - speed reading, memory, learning, mind mapping, creative thinking - before branching out into broader skills development - communication skills, stress and resilience - and then all aspects of management and leadership development.We developed the business through the relatively early years of the internet and the proliferation of digital marketing as well as increasingly sophisticated CRM systems and ways of delivering training effectively.We negotiated major world shocks - 9/11 and the 2007/8 financial crisis come to mind - and were happy to have fabulous clients in just about every sector and throughout the world.We had decided to sell the business and were in the final stages of a negotiated agreement that was due to complete in March 2020 - then Covid happened and we closed the company in July 2020.Post Illumine - a free agent!After a short pause I spent some time with Spark'd Engagement, one of the most progressive and highly differentiated companies in the Employee Experience/Employee Engagement industry, as their COO. I am continuing to support the company in an advisory role.I am enjoying doing some mentoring on a leadership programme and some hands-on volunteering - plus a fair amount of golf and travelling - whilst looking for the next exciting opportunities!