Face reality.

Choose what you are for.

Establish powerful practices.

Thrive.

Succeeding in a high paced and dynamic business requires a special kind of leader.

To successfully drive sustainable growth and effect positive change, you must navigate complexity, uncertainty and relentless pressure, and do so in collaboration with colleagues, customers and investors. Thriving as a growth leader requires a special mix of agility, clarity and resolve.

I am Phil Dorman. Not Neutral is my coaching practice, dedicated to helping growth leaders thrive. I help my clients develop the resources needed to not only drive business success, but also find fulfillment, transforming their relationships with themselves, their teams and their work.

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Me (Phil Dorman) standing out whilst fitting in

I work with:

Helping leaders find their way to drive growth and thrive through one to one executive coaching. Learn more here.

Individuals

Helping leadership teams harness the power of collaboration to elevate their performance. Find out more.

Teams

Organisations

Partnering to unlock the potential of people at scale, generate energy and drive org. wide change. More here.

My approach to this work flows from the belief that to thrive as growth leaders, you cannot leave how you lead to chance, you cannot be neutral. You must be active in engaging with leadership - as it shows up both in yourself and in collaboration.

You must:

Face Reality

Ensuring everything you do is grounded in a true understanding of the messy realities of who we are, the dynamics that exist between us and the current state of our work and life.

Choose What You Are For

Actively deciding what kind of leader you want to be, and the kind of business you want to lead.

Establish Powerful Practices

Acting with both discipline and curiosity to translate intention into sustained action.

Read more about my approach

This approach is born of more than 25 years’ experience working in high growth environments  - as a media “pioneer” in Shanghai in the early 00s, as a founder, as a consultant helping the world’s largest companies find organic growth through innovation and as a coach and advisor to venture and equity back start-ups and scale-ups. Read more about my background and experience.

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  • Helen C - CEO

    “Phil has been a dynamic, enthusiastic, and honest coach and supporter throughout the past 2.5 years.

    Our journey began when I was exploring opportunities beyond my role at a university, and he provided invaluable guidance as I navigated redundancy, freelancing, and ultimately securing my next great role.

    When I stepped into my first CEO position, Phil’s support became even more essential. He helped me lead with authenticity, stay grounded in my values, and reflect on my goals - ensuring I approached leadership with both confidence and integrity. This period was anything but smooth, yet Phil’s unwavering support, insightful guidance, and innovative thinking helped me navigate the challenges effectively.

    I wholeheartedly recommend Phil to anyone seeking a coach who combines wisdom, encouragement, and practical strategies to drive real growth.”

  • Mike P - CEO

    “I worked with Phil Dorman at Artlogic, where he facilitated our quarterly executive offsites using his Let's Go framework. Phil is an exceptional facilitator - empathetic, engaging, and skilled at creating the conditions for honest, productive conversations at the leadership level.

    His practical tools made strategic alignment genuinely straightforward, and he wasn't afraid to hold the room accountable. He adjusted his style based on feedback from me and the team, which made the partnership feel truly collaborative.

    The standout moment: Phil led a two-day intensive that left us more aligned than we'd been in years - and for the first time, our company kickoff was scheduled for the first week of January rather than the last.

    If you're looking for a facilitator who combines real warmth with professional rigour, Phil is the person I'd call first.”

  • Gillian D MBE - Former CEO IKEA China

    “Phil was a great partner for me and the IKEA China team in our efforts to build a culture of customer centricity and empowerment across our entire workforce - work that was central to our building a purpose driven and high performing organisation.

    He is an inspiring and energising coach and consultant and I recommend him to any leader seeking a partner to help them and their organisation navigate change and drive sustainable growth.”

  • Guy H - Founder & CFO

    “Phil has contributed hugely to building out the Startup CFO community learning and development offering. He helped us adapt a group coaching methodology for our members and I've lost count of the number of Tech CFOs who have committed to working with Phil for one-to-one coaching.

    He understands, in detail, what it takes to build a fast growing business and can deploy his coaching skills to support finance leaders at important career junctions. I'd strongly recommend Phil for this type of coaching and leadership work.”