Laurence Davies Profile Photo

Laurence Davies

Founder & Executive Coach (ICF PCC); Fractional COO; Board Advisor / NED

18+ Years Speaks English
Product Management Executive Leadership Startup & Early Stage High-Growth Scale-ups Hiring & Interview Panels Communication & Executive Presence Negotiation & Influence Career Transitions & Coaching

About

I have getting on for two decades experience of coaching and mentoring Founders and Executives. I have coached many hundreds of clients in this time. I have my own experience of starting and growing multiple businesses and teams into 7 figure annual revenue in diverse contexts (Education technology; Mental health / workplace wellbeing; Training & Consultancy; Logistics; Coaching).

Available Services

Behavioral Interview Practice STAR-format answers for leadership principles, culture fit, conflict resolution, and collaboration scenarios - tailored to the specific values of the company you're targeting.

Resume Building & Review Get your resume built or reviewed by professionals who've screened hundreds of candidates at top companies. Optimize for ATS, highlight impact, and walk away with a resume that gets callbacks.

LinkedIn Profile Optimization Optimize your LinkedIn headline, summary, experience, and skills to rank in recruiter searches. Build a profile that attracts inbound opportunities from top companies.

Job Search Strategy Build a structured plan for your job search - which companies to target, when to apply, how to handle timelines across multiple interview pipelines, and how to maximize your chances.

Referral & Networking Strategy Learn how to build genuine connections, request referrals without being awkward, and leverage your network to get interviews at companies that rarely post on job boards.

Promotion Guidance Get a clear roadmap to your next level. Understand what the promotion committee actually evaluates, build your case with the right artifacts, and learn how to make your impact visible.

Salary Negotiation Learn to negotiate base, equity, sign-on bonuses, and counter-offers with confidence. Get strategies specific to how top tech companies structure and approve compensation packages.

Performance Review Preparation Prepare for your upcoming performance review cycle. Learn to write strong self-assessments, quantify impact, collect peer feedback strategically, and handle calibration conversations.

Career Roadmap Planning Map out your 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year career plan. Identify skill gaps, align your growth direction, and make intentional choices about specialization vs. generalization.

Skills Gap Analysis Identify exactly what skills, experiences, and knowledge you're missing for your target role or level. Get a prioritized learning plan with concrete resources and milestones.

Building Visibility & Executive Presence Learn how to make your work visible to leadership, build influence beyond your team, communicate in senior forums, and develop the executive presence needed for Staff+ and Director+ roles.

Career Break Re-entry Returning after a career break for parenting, health, personal reasons, or sabbatical? Get a step-by-step plan to re-enter the workforce, rebuild confidence, and target the right opportunities.

International Job & Relocation Navigate international job searches - visa-sponsoring companies, resume localization, interview culture differences, relocation packages, and compensation comparisons across geographies.

PIP Support Placed on a Performance Improvement Plan? Get confidential, judgment-free guidance from senior professionals on how to navigate it - fight back, negotiate an exit, or plan your next move.

Toxic Workplace Navigation Dealing with a difficult manager, office politics, or a toxic culture? Get practical strategies to protect yourself, document issues, and decide when and how to move on.

Workplace Conflict Resolution Navigate disagreements with colleagues, cross-team friction, or difficult stakeholder relationships. Learn frameworks to resolve conflicts professionally without damaging your reputation.

Burnout & Stress Management Feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, or disconnected from your work? Talk to experienced professionals who have navigated burnout and come out stronger - get actionable strategies, not just sympathy.

Work-Life Balance Struggling to set boundaries between work and life? Get advice on managing energy, setting realistic expectations, and building sustainable habits from people who have figured it out at demanding companies.

Layoff Recovery & Next Steps Recently laid off? Get immediate clarity on severance negotiation, unemployment benefits, and how to pivot fast - from professionals who have both managed and survived layoffs at top companies.

First-Time Manager Coaching Just became a manager or about to? Learn the fundamentals of 1:1s, feedback delivery, delegation, performance management, and building trust - from experienced engineering leaders.

Engineering Manager Coaching Level up as an EM. Get guidance on team scaling, hiring, performance calibration, managing up, cross-org influence, and navigating the unique challenges of engineering management.

Director / VP Track Aiming for Director, VP, or CTO? Work with senior leaders who have made it. Cover organizational strategy, executive communication, multi-team management, and building a leadership brand.

Building & Scaling Teams Learn how to build a team from scratch, scale it 2x-10x, set culture, define hiring bars, create onboarding processes, and maintain quality as you grow - lessons from leaders at top companies.

Idea Validation & Market Fit Test your startup idea with experienced founders and operators. Get honest feedback on market opportunity, competitive landscape, and whether the problem is worth solving before you commit.

Fundraising & Pitch Prep Prepare for investor conversations. Get your pitch deck reviewed, practice your narrative, understand term sheets, and learn what VCs and angels actually evaluate at different stages.

Leaving Corporate for Startup Thinking about quitting your job to build something? Get clarity on financial planning, timing, co-founder dynamics, and how to de-risk the leap from professionals who have made it.

Experience

Trustee

Electric Storm Youth

Nov 2025 — Present Current

Founder & Executive Coach (ICF PCC); Fractional COO; Board Advisor

Power of Perspective

Jan 2009 — Present Current

Director of Operations

Pupil Progress

Mar 2022 — Feb 2025

Head of Customer Success & Business Development

Sparkjar

Oct 2020 — Feb 2022

Head of Training & Consultancy

Mental Health UK

Nov 2018 — Sep 2020

Head of Training & Consultancy

Rethink Mental Ilness

Jul 2014 — Sep 2020

Reaching Your Potential Peer Mentoring Coordinator

Sussex Central YMCA

Dec 2013 — Jul 2014

Peer support projects work

Freelance

Mar 2010 — Sep 2012

Co-Founder

Positive Moves

Sep 2007 — Sep 2009

Senior Personnel Assistant

East Sussex County Council

Dec 2005 — Apr 2007