About Us

Sport couple at sunset on a beach with surfboards

What we stand for

At Compass for Life, our mission is simple – we’re here to help you on a lifelong journey of learning and development to find your personal and professional purpose and become the best version of yourself. From CEOs, civil servants and international sporting champions to children and future leaders, each of us is on our own journey. As that journey progresses we’re here to equip you with the tools, skills and support to challenge you to take the next step.

With our visionary leadership courses and development programmes, we’ll delve into dreams, passions and an untapped pool of potential beyond your wildest imagination.

Our philosophy is based on the four cardinals of the compass and your unique Compass for Life map. With these tools, you’ll have everything you need to navigate life as the best and most authentic version of yourself and leave a legacy that you are proud of.

The compass gives purpose to life, motivating you to explore yourself fully while giving you direction to navigate your way to a more fulfilled life filled with passion and meaning. This bright, shining north cardinal (the guiding Super North Star) of aspiration sits in the sky so that no matter what, you can always see the path that lies before you.

Compass with the four Compass for Life cardinals and pointing to the North Star

Want to hear more about our leadership courses and development programmes?

Our bespoke courses can be tailored to organisations and individuals alike.

The Four Cardinals

Based on the four cardinals of the compass, our methodology teaches you how to become the best version of yourself and unlock qualities within you that can influence your future and contribution to the world. With each of the cardinals in perfect equilibrium, you’ll be impossible to beat, even on your worst days.

When these four cardinals come together and are in equilibrium, we create leaders with profound depth and adaptability. What’s more, our leadership courses and development programmes are universal. From executive coaching for senior leaders across multiple industries to management team leadership training and future leaders’ courses, we all have the capacity to transform ourselves.

North compass point

Super North Star

Your Super North Star is an unambiguous visualisation of your dream and a commitment to achieve it. A purpose to aim towards in a personal and professional perspective that sits high on the horizon so you can always see it.

West compass point

Warrior Spirit

Your strength of character is what we call your Warrior Spirit. When you unleash your warrior spirit, you’ll ignite the strength, mental and physical resilience within yourself to fight for and achieve your Super North Star.

East compass point

Ethos

Your ethos is a set of principles that guide your thinking and behaviour. We help you understand your authentic self and create a culture of high support and high challenge to guide you on your journey.

South compass point

Strategist

Becoming a strategist is looking at the facts, figures and detail to plan your route to reach your Super North Star. Using a combination of wisdom and common sense, together we’ll challenge your own misconceptions to help you develop and refine a roadmap for life with realistic milestones.

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“When going through the Compass for Life session, I loved how relatable it was. It wasn't a generic delivery, it was really focused on the areas I needed to concentrate on most and it gave me actionable tasks to take forward. If you partake in a Compass for Life course, one thing’s for sure – you will find the key to your full potential.”

Chris Ashford / Ashford Fitness Consultancy Ltd
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“As a club, we’re always looking for an edge in our people, whether that’s a player or a member of staff. The principles of Compass for Life help us do just that in a holistic way that aligns with our own aspirations as a club. The framework helps people to get the best out of themselves, whether that’s as an individual, or as a wider team. “

Iain Brunnschweiler / Head of Technical Development, Southampton FC
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“Any individual or organisation that strives to transform themselves and turn things around should work with Compass for Life. Because change is one thing, but the cultural glue that binds it together is fundamental, and that’s what Compass for Life deliver.”

Dr Daryl Szebesta /

Our non-profit

The Education Policy Institute 2020 report states that disadvantaged pupils are on average 18 months behind their peers in academic attainment by the age of 16. At the current rate, the study says it will take 500 years to close the gap. But we’ve made it our mission to do something about this today.

Thanks to the generosity of donors, we’re able to help disadvantaged children and young people to reach their full potential through the Compass for Life Foundation. With a lifelong programme of development and learning that harnesses the power of unbridled imagination, our foundation helps children and young people to make their wildest dreams a reality.

The pure magic of our children’s imaginations should never be underestimated, which is why the very core of our programme is centred around giving young people the tools to articulate their dreams. From here, we help them draw a map that takes them directly to their own Super North Star. By doing this, we give them a compass to navigate their way through the ups and downs of life so they grow into well-rounded adults with a clear sense of self and purpose.

With your donations, we’re able to empower teachers, youth workers and mentors with the tools they need to help us on this journey.

Schoolgirl writing in classroom lesson in primary school

Our People

Our leadership courses and development programmes are delivered by our expert team of Navigators all of whom have lived experiences in multiple professions. Each of them has known both success and failure to shape them into the person they are today. Now they are united in their quest to help others. From children to civil servants, business professionals to aspiring athletes, our Navigators find that spark of potential in people of all backgrounds and help them use the Compass to navigate their own worlds, plot a path to their Super North Star and make a difference to their lives and the lives of others.

  • Floyd Woodrow

    Floyd Woodrow MBE DCM

    CEO

    One of the youngest soldiers ever to have been selected for the elite SAS, Floyd is now a renowned speaker on leadership and performance coaching worldwide. Floyd is the founder of our organisation and the author of the Compass for Life methodology. From elite international athletes to corporate teams and academia, Floyd has dedicated his time and energy to coaching countless individuals into elite performers. Floyd has also been named one of the top 50 fintech entrepreneurs in the UK and is the chairman of Quantum group.

  • Chantal Dean

    Chantal Dean

    Director of Education

    As an assistant headteacher at a rural school in Wiltshire, Chantal has been involved in Compass For Life since the inception, working with teachers and students to develop their leadership skills. She has been instrumental in developing educational resources, including schemes of work for other teachers and schools to use in the delivery of Compass for Life.

  • Kevin Marlow

    Kevin Marlow

    Lead Navigator

    With career highlights that include 22 years of exemplary service with the British Army, 14 years in the Special Air Service and time spent as an armed bodyguard, Kevin has led others in the most extreme situations. He’s trained war correspondents to work in hostile regions, and now as our Chief Navigator, he’s worked with clients from many different sectors including the armed forces and prisons to schools and the NHS.

  • Geraldine Castro

    Geraldine Castro

    COO

    Geraldine brings her considerable experience in crisis management to the Compass for Life programme as a leadership coach. Drawing on first-hand experience from working internationally in the aftermath of incidents, she brings credibility, insight and strength of character to her work. Through training and coaching, Geraldine is focused on empowering people and teams towards their own goals and aspirations.

  • Dr Neil Hakes

    Dr Neil Hawkes

    Navigator

    A well-known TEDx speaker, educator, broadcaster, bestselling author and social commentator, Neil’s had a profound impact on the world of education and wider society. Neil gained international recognition through his work with Oxford University, where he created a school culture based on respect, tolerance, humility and justice. Neil’s methods of coaching aim to develop ethical intelligence, whether that’s in business, politics or on a human level.

  • Becky Price

    Rebecca Price

    Operations Manager & EA

    Before joining Compass for Life, Becky started in recruitment and transitioned to build her career within operations management in the NHS, leading multiple teams through the pandemic. Becky has invaluable experience in team building and development, implementing interoperability, morale and resilience. She also has a podcast, ‘How not to do life’, to help others avoid life’s pitfalls.

  • Marcus Child

    Marcus Child

    Navigator

    Starting out as an English literature teacher, Marcus’ reputation as a visionary and a positive force for good quickly grew as his approach led to phenomenal results for his pupils. As his career has evolved, Marcus has transitioned into mentoring those who are looking to achieve higher performance in life through goal setting, improved mental health and self belief. Marcus is an internationally recognised speaker and has transformed the leadership teams of globally recognised brands.

  • Ann Daniels

    Ann Daniels

    Navigator

    A polar explorer, world record holder, and environmentalist, Ann is one of Britain’s leading explorers. As a Polar guide and ice leader of the high-profile scientific Catlin Arctic surveys, Ann is living proof that good leadership, teamwork and self-belief can take you anywhere.

  • Malcolm Frame

    Navigator

    Working in the world of elite sport for more than 20 years, Malcolm is a renowned performance psychologist, driven by sparking improvement in performance and pushing the boundaries of possibility. Malcolm applies his advanced understanding of psychology, neuro-linguistic programme (NLP), hypnotherapy and counselling to the programmes he leads, leaving an indelible mark on all who engage.

  • ROSS MCDERMOTT

    Ross McDermott

    Navigator

    A former policeman and hostage negotiator, Ross understands the power of communication in the most high-pressure of circumstances. Ross uses his experience to help develop people’s skills in leadership, with an emphasis on helping people to achieve the best possible outcomes through the way they connect and communicate with the people around them. Since leaving the police, Ross has worked in multinational businesses developing their leadership and security protocols.

  • Jane Hannah

    Jane Hannah

    Navigator

    Jane has worked with the English Cricket Board and Educational organisation to encourage people to live healthier lives and take an active part in sport. She realised her own Super North Star creating her own business and has been working as a Navigator since 2020. Jane is a European Iron Woman with an ongoing commitment to helping others live healthier and happier lives.

  • Tom Sawyer

    Kevin (Tom) Sawyer

    Navigator

    A former soldier, policeman, security consultant and commercial manager, Tom has witnessed the true power of the human spirit in the most exceptional situations. Drawing on those experiences and his values, Tom possesses a unique ability to motivate and guide people to reach their Super North Star.

  • Dr Rob Kennett MBE

    Navigator

    Rob’s honed his skills over a 30-year policing career, where he held various high-profile roles in the high-risk world of hostage and crisis negotiation. Now an internationally respected and in-demand speaker, Rob’s training programmes are driven by his desire for excellence. Rob’s mission in life is to help people break down communication barriers by using authentic listening skills to build understanding, empathy and trust. He is a Doctor of Education and received an MBE for services to policing.

  • Matthew Whitfield

    Matthew Whitfield

    Navigator

    An international speaker, executive coach, flight instructor, business owner, and former fighter pilot, Matt is a versatile navigator with an incredible experience to share. Matt’s coaching specialisms include topics such as what it takes to earn trust, and how to lead outstanding teams capable of performing superbly under pressure.

  • Norman Greenwald

    Navigator

    Norman has over 25 years’ experience and a Master’s degree in the field of people and organisational development. He has successfully worked in a variety of sectors and industries. Norman uses his experience to develop leaders, high potentials (tomorrows leaders) and to improve team dynamics and performance. His approach is based on positive psychology, recognising that everyone has unique gifts that can be leveraged for both personal and organisational success.

  • Dr Daryl Szebesta

    Navigator

    A former research physicist with a PhD in atomic and molecular physics, Daryl has published more than 100 research papers and registered several patents. Daryl also enjoyed many successful years as a business leader heading up a team of more than 5,000 staff across 32 countries, so teamwork and leadership are second nature to him. Daryl has a knack for sparking innovation and transformation to fundamentally change the way teams operate.

  • Dr Julie Bullen DPhil MPhil BSc

    Navigator

    With an MPhil in clinical psychology, a DPhil in experimental psychology and an International Coaching Federation (ICF) accredited certificate in coaching, Julie is an expert at facilitating leaders and taking organisations through change and growth. Additionally, Julie is a member of the British Psychological Society (BPS) and has also run a number of personal development retreats for clients during her career.

  • Tom Mackay

    Navigator

    Psychology underpins all that we do here at Compass For Life, so Tom’s background fits perfectly with our ethos. A revered psychologist, psychotherapist, business consultant, and university lecturer, Tom has worked with thousands of people privately and in organisations such as Reuters, Vodafone, Barclays, Halifax, DWP, and Royal Mail. Tom is passionate about using his experience and array of techniques to help people overcome their challenges and achieve their goals.

  • Cardiff Council
  • Welsh Rugby Union
  • Vistage
  • Universal
  • tyf
  • Calor
  • BT
  • BBC
  • Barnet London Borough
  • Apollo
  • ao
  • amec
  • Rothschild & Co
  • primesite
  • Oracle
  • NHS
  • Monmouthshire Council
  • Marks and Spencer
  • Idemia
  • Gleeds
  • England and Wales Cricket
  • edf
  • EAS
  • Coats