Hi, I’m Michael
If you work in, or around, economics, evaluation, or public policy — in government, at an international financial institution, in consultancy, or somewhere adjacent — then there's a good chance I've sat where you're sitting, or somewhere close to it. That shared ground means I can move faster with you: less time explaining the institutional furniture, more time on the actual decision in front of you.
Most of the people I work with are well into that career — weighing a senior move, a step up, or what comes after either. But I also hear from people earlier on: graduates and early-career professionals trying to get a proper foothold in economics or policy evaluation, unsure how the profession actually works, which routes in are realistic, or how to turn an academic background into an application that lands. The same background applies either way — I just aim it differently depending on where you are.
I also co-host Econ to Icon, a podcast with Paul Johnson (former Director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies), where we talk to people whose careers started in economics and went somewhere unexpected — into politics, journalism, business, and beyond. [Listen to Econ to Icon]
I spent more than twenty years in senior leadership roles across the UK civil service, a "Big Four" professional services firm, and the International Monetary Fund in Washington DC. I started my professional life as an economist working on public policy, and progressed from there into analyst leadership and, eventually, Board-level roles — engaging with Ministers, parliamentarians, and C-suite executives along the way.
I gradually came to realise that the part of my work that gave me most satisfaction was helping the people around me get better at their work. That's what led me to retrain as a coach and mentor after I left the IMF in 2023.
“His life experience and ability to help guide you towards decisions was deployed very productively... I highly recommend him.”
What My Clients Say
“Michael’s career coaching was instrumental in shaping my career path. His structured framework and strategic approach helped me effectively navigate through various job offers.”
“The discussions we had were invaluable for me to understand my unsettled and confused state of emotions... The release of emotion was immediate, and now the new journey begins”
Who my clients work for
What I can help with
Work
Interview practice
Stepping up into a new role
Shifting from “doing” to working through others
Enhancing your strategic focus
Job crafting – making your current job work better for you
Improving your relationships – with bosses, peers, reportees, clients
“Imposter syndrome” and low confidence
Difficult conversations you need to have
Life
Work-life balance, burnout
Major transitions – starting work, getting married, having a family, returning to work, retirement
Developing and sustaining new habits, eg around exercise or diet
Identifying and changing self-sabotaging beliefs and thought patterns
Stress management, eg through meditation and connecting with nature
Teams & Groups
Faciltating honest self-assessment of team performance
Understanding how the team currently works
Surfacing problems, tensions and opportunities for improvement
Co-creating better ways to work together
Identifying individual and collective strengths and potential,
Developing and.refining team objectives and roles
Developing peer support groups
How I can help
Coaching
Coaching is not about telling you what to do. It is about unlocking your wisdom, resilience and confidence.
My job as your coach is to be your “thinking partner”. By listening, questioning, affirming and sometimes challenging you, I will help you find insights and clarify the way forward that is right for you - helping you to set ambitious but achievable goals, develop concrete next steps, predict barriers and identify sources of support.
Mentoring
Mentoring is more directive than coaching, with less “drawing out” and more “putting in”.
I have 35 years experience working as an economist and policy evaluator in and for the public sector. And I have 20 years experience as a leader of analyst teams, and operating at Board level, engaging with senior stakeholders including Government Ministers, parliamentarians and C-suite executives. If you work in, or are thinking about moving into, similar roles, then I can help you benefit from my experience, by applying it to you and your situation.
Teams & Groups
If you lead a team, I can work with you and your team to understand the dynamics of how you are currently working together; identify and develop the mix of skills in the team; and explore and practice ways to work together more effectively. I can do this through a combination of group and individual sessions, and off-line diagnostic exercises.
I can also work with groups of peers—who may not be in the same standing team, but share job and career challenges and opportunities—to develop and sustain peer support networks.