“It is a credit to Russell and how great a mentor (and all-round decent bloke) he is, that he was able to help me during a particularly low point professionally. I had drifted from design and wasn't sure what to do next, or even what I wanted. Through his relaxed but thoughtful process he helped me map out my journey and the decision making that had influenced it. With the help of a series of fun, reflective tasks that got my design brain thinking again, we reframed many of the traits I felt were weaknesses into strengths, and found that some of what I thought was fixed about me really wasn't. He was never judgemental and gave me space to explore different possibilities and reach my own conclusions, in my own time. With renewed confidence and a couple of promotions in the bag since, I can pin-point it as a crucial moment in my career reboot.”
“Mentoring with Russell was the result of a lengthy search for a Creative Mentor, at a moment where I was seeking to recalibrate after some professional disillusionment, in order to find meaningful future career focus. Russell was at the same time going through his own recalibration, so there was genuine empathy right from the start, not just professional distance. After patiently listening to understand my journey, insightful questions and challenges followed - always delivered in his warm style, but undeniably cutting through to find what mattered most to me at the team, design, and human levels. As a career-long in-house designer, Russell also offered me a 'peek over the fence' at consultancy and self-employed life, sharing invaluable, honest advice shaped by his decades of experience. He has been an incredibly generous and altruistic mentor whom I wholeheartedly recommend to others, and with whom I look forward to continuing a long relationship.”
“Not only has Russell provided fantastic mentoring to some of the designers in the Mondelez CED team, he has partnered closely with us on aspects of our Transformational Innovation programme. Helping us paint those future scenarios, expanding our view of the world and stretching our thinking to de risk our innovation pipeline. Professional, authentic and knows how to get the best out of a team, it’s a pleasure to work with him.”
“I found Russell at a very critical point in my life when I was relocating to a completely new country and transitioning from a business owner for a decade to an employee of a company. Turning the focus onto myself went far beyond updating a CV or portfolio. It required a deeper, more comprehensive approach to how I was perceived from the outside. Russell showed up at the right time and held the mirror up to me, allowing me to work on myself at my own pace. Russell generously shared his vast experience, helping me understand the depth and dynamics of a bigger market I had only vague knowledge of. I count myself as incredibly lucky to have received such comprehensive support from him in the midst of chaos. He didn't just guide me but supported me through the process, keeping me focused on what truly matters. He is the mentor of mentors who goes the extra mile without hesitation.”
“Russell has been a huge support in my design journey, from when we first sat down and talked about what a job as a designer looked like, whilst I was still in high school. Over the years, he has always been a great sounding board; challenging my ideas and gently nudging me in the right direction, without ever telling me what to think. Having his perspective during my final year at university pushed me to create a final year project that the industry was interested in, instead of one that just checked all the academic tickboxes. Russell also introduced me to his wider network, who in turn inspired me and allowed me to have a real head start as I entered the world of design post-graduation. Russell has been a great mentor, who knew exactly how to guide me forward, whilst giving me the space to find my own creative direction and make my own mistakes along the way.”
“We are a small, service led business that has grown organically over the past few years, and we found ourselves needing some strategic focus. Russell took the time to understand our business and the personalities within it to offer us support that was the perfect fit for our culture and ambitions. He didn't offer us generic business advice, rather he gave us the tools to work out our own solutions, along with guidance whilst we tried to make positive change. As a result the quality of our work has increased, internal communications are better, and I have fallen in love with my business again.”
“During our first conversation, it was clear Russell was going to be a fantastic mentor. He is immediately easy to talk to and a great listener. Having been on similar yet different adventures in design and business, I felt comfortable and confident sharing my story. Having moved on from an intense startup adventure, I started my own recalibration journey. I was looking for a like-minded and unbiased mentor who had considerable more professional and life experience than me! Russell is one of the most honest and considerate people I have been fortunate to meet and has an uncanny talent to get you chatting. His wealth of experience and genuine warmth and motivation to help people make him a brilliant mentor. It’s been an absolute pleasure to build a relationship with Russell, and I look forward to continuing to share our adventures in the future.”
“We approached Russell, as owners of a small design agency looking to scale our business in a sustainable way, so that we could hopefully pick his brains on his past experience and hopefully learn from his mistakes, without making them ourselves! From the outset, Russell has been friendly and approachable, as well as being hugely knowledgeable on our industry. We've also really appreciated his honest perspective on our business - sometimes it's hard to hear but when you're so close to your own business, it's often exactly what you need to hear. We've thoroughly enjoyed each of our sessions and feel like we've already progressed so much as business owners, even in such a short space of time. There's lots still to do though, but we're happy we've got Russell to call upon when needed.”
“I've had the pleasure of working with Russell across a number of roles and industries over the years, and one thing has remained consistent throughout: his commitment to helping people grow. Russell invests his time in understanding people's strengths, asking thoughtful questions, and creating the confidence for them to become the best version of themselves. What I've always appreciated most is that Russell leads with curiosity rather than ego. He challenges assumptions, encourages different perspectives, and creates an environment where people feel supported to learn and develop. Russell brings deep design expertise, but it's his ability to combine that with empathy, humility and a genuine passion for people that sets him apart. I'd happily recommend him to anyone looking for a thoughtful leader, mentor or design partner.”
