Jimmy Burroughes - Leadership Coach and Consultant

Jimmy joins host Vinnie on Road to Growth to discuss his route into executive coaching and leadership development. He outlines how his early career in the British Army, including deployment in the second Gulf War at age 23, shaped his direct approach to leadership under pressure. After transitioning out of the military in 2007, Jimmy spent twelve years working in corporate human resources, talent development, and senior management across various international locations before founding his own remote consulting practice.

During the conversation, Jimmy explains his core philosophy of experimental leadership. Operating in an uncertain and fast-moving world requires leaders to test one clear hypothesis rather than juggling dozens of simultaneous changes. He notes that conventional, multi-day training programmes frequently overwhelm managers who return to overflowing inboxes. Instead, he advocates for bite-sized, 45-minute sessions focused on single adjustments that participants can test immediately in their next business meeting.

Jimmy also shares the operational hurdles of running an international advisory firm while living in Mexico. He explains how he moved away from round-the-clock availability, preserving his sleep and weekends by giving clients specific scheduling options rather than blanket refusals. He emphasises the importance of recognising small milestones to sustain motivation, encouraging managers to maintain a log of progress rather than waiting for distant career objectives to feel satisfaction.