Advisory · David McQueen

Your Trusted Advisor

This work is commercial, without apology, but it starts with a relationship. I partner with you to address the space where leadership constraint about decisions is the constraint at the moments when the quality of that judgement determines what follows.

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Where the Work Applies

Quality decisions
can't be left to chance

Each represents a distinct pressure point with its own dynamics, its own stakeholders, and its own pattern of how decisions go wrong. Many senior leaders are navigating at least two simultaneously.

Scaling

Growth changes more than the numbers. The leadership model, culture, governance and decision-making that got you here may not be the ones that get you there. Most CEOs and founders underestimate how much the role changes as the organisation grows, and pay a structural price for the delay in adjusting.

We can explore Organisational design, Leadership structure, Decision rights, and Culture under pressure

Capital

Raising or deploying capital introduces a different level of scrutiny. Capital decisions are leadership as well as financial decisions. The moment of a raise or restructuring is when what leaders say they value and what they actually choose becomes visible to investors, boards, and themselves.

We can explore Investment readiness, Strategic narratives, Capital roadmaps and Stakeholde confidence

Succession

Eventually every leader has to confront what happens when they are no longer the person making the decisions. Succession is about more than replacing a person. It is about transferring responsibility, relationships, knowledge and trust — and designing that transfer before it becomes urgent.

We explore Exit readiness, Ownership transition, Succession planning and Governance continuity

Where the gap has already opened, I can hold the role on an interim basis while the right permanent appointment is made.

How the Work Is Delivered

Four formats.
Each designed for
a different moment.

Executive 1:1

Individual work focused on the CEO, founder or other C Suite Executive. Direct, confidential work for the executive who needs to think clearly about their role, their direction, or the specific decision in front of them. Available as a series of structured sessions or an ongoing relationship.

Advisory

Ongoing strategic counsel for the CEO or founder. A retained relationship for the decisions that keep arriving — a consistent outside perspective that accumulates context over time and allows for a different quality of conversation than any single session can provide.

Intensives

Focused, high-impact sessions built around a specific issue or decision. When the situation demands clarity before it demands continuity — a concentrated period of work that produces a clear view of the problem and a defined path through it.

Interim & Strategic Partner

For the moments when advice is not enough and someone needs to hold the decisions. A sudden departure, a stalled transition, or a period where the organisation cannot afford to stand still. I step in as interim CEO or MD, or work alongside the leadership as a fractional strategic partner, for a defined term with a defined mandate. Every engagement is built around a handover, not a dependency.

How Engagements Begin

A diagnostic conversation

I need to understand the situation before I can say whether this work is useful and how. Not every conversation leads to an engagement and that is intentional.

Initial Conversation

You describe the challenge, the decision, the pressure or the conditions that have brought you here. I ask questions to understand whether this work is useful and which format serves best.

Clarity on Fit and Format

If the work fits, I will tell you which format I recommend and why. If it does not fit, I will say so directly. Integrity and honesty are important to me.

Scope and Terms

We agree on scope, timeline, and investment. We document the structure and clarify expectations before anything begins. Confidentiality is absolute unless you direct otherwise.

Work Begins

For ongoing relationships, the work starts with an initial session. For structured engagements and group work, it begins with diagnostic preparation before the first session.

Readiness

This work requires certain conditions to be useful.

You are ready if

The cost of a wrong decision has financial, reputational, or organisational impact
You want to understand what is true, not confirm what you prefer
You are willing to hear what is uncomfortable if it is accurate
The decision authority sits with you
You are prepared to act on what the work reveals

You are not ready if

You are looking for someone to validate a decision already made
You want solutions before you are willing to understand the problem
The final call belongs to someone else
The primary goal is comfort rather than clarity

In their words

His perspective on situations is refreshing.

Not only is David witty, smart and inspiring, but his perspective on situations is also refreshing. My coaching with him over the years has helped me see things from multiple perspectives and encouraged me to ask the bigger questions and dig deep to find a broader meaning.
Our time spent together is always fun and engaging and I know I can call on him whenever I need him for some sound advice.

Harley Kisberg

Former CEO, iTech Media

He helped shape our founders into natural storytellers.

David prepared our startups and thier pitches for funding rounds. His work helped several win multi-million rounds. His prescence in our accelerator is always highly anticipated by the CEO's, bringing a large dose of dynamic north London entrepreneurial chutzpah with him. Highly recommended. .

Garan Goodman

Former MD,
Wayra Germany

What are you
really deciding?

If you are navigating a decision that matters — in your organisation, your leadership, or your own thinking — that is where this work begins.