The Advanced Management Accelerator Programme

James has extensive experience in commercial and operational roles as a leader within high-growth SME environments.

Initially working within executive recruitment within the construction industry, he has also consulted with all sizes of organisations across multiple sectors. James brings a pragmatic, thought-provoking and experience-led perspective to address the challenges faced by leaders today. 

He supports leaders to distribute decision making and deploy coaching practice in order to achieve sustainable growth and empower the organisation throughout.

Dr James Fowler is a lecturer in strategy and the Deputy MBA Director at Essex University’s Business School. He was formerly a regular Officer in the Armed Forces where his appointments included running the language wing of the Defence College of Intelligence and Security and advising the Royal Engineers’ training and development team. In his academic career James has published a series of books and journal articles in the field of business and management history. Alongside his academic work he is also frequently in contact with business via consultancy and executive education. In those capacities he has advised and worked with Brusov University, the TALE - Haven Gateway Partnership, Transport for London and the c2c rail franchise.  

Dr Victoria Smith-Collins, Managing Director of Smith-Collins International, is one of our most experienced trainer-facilitators and coaches.

Victoria has over 20 years of academic and corporate experience that spans international markets.  She has trained/supervised academic programmes up to MBA level (including delivering lectures, tutorials and dissertation supervision). Victoria has also worked extensively with the Chartered Management Institute, delivering programmes, examining and verifying assessment work.

Victoria specialises in leadership/management development, with a focus on strategic leadership, consumer psychology (the subject of her Ph.D), organisational development and change management.  She has worked internationally for 13 years, where she has worked for an international training institute and has headed the Learning and Development function at one of the Middle East’s largest regional banks.

Whilst at the training institute, Victoria grew and developed a number of professional UK based programmes (including those from CMI and CIM).  She logged over 1500 hours of training/facilitation, training professionals from the financial services sector and other public and private sector organisations.  Before moving  to the bank, Victoria took on a senior business development role which primarily involved consulting with key clients (cross-sectors) and partnering with them to understand their development needs and tailor programmes to fulfil those needs.

Whilst at the bank, Victoria also took the role of HR business partner which involved working closely with departments on strategic change management projects.  The role involved many hours of coaching at multiple levels, from junior up to senior executives.  Trained as a coach through the Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM, UK), Victoria has over 1500 hours of international coaching experience that crosses industries.  Executive coaching is indeed one of her passions and her track-record of results is outstanding.

Pierson has 15 years’ experience as a consultant and facilitator, specialising in leadership, management and coaching. Experienced in the design and delivery of people development, Pierson uses coaching psychology to engage with leaders at all levels, supporting them to; be, have and do more. 

Highly experienced in talent development, from managing large graduate programmes to developing directors and senior leaders for global brands at an international level, Pierson adds value by making learning stick, while turning new knowledge into practical skills.

Stuart has enjoyed a 25-year career in coaching, management and leadership. Stuart's passion for coaching and personal development emerged through a successful career in the health and fitness industry. Beginning as a health & fitness coach, Stuart worked through all levels, including senior leadership roles with various organisations, from small independent businesses to multi-site operators. 

As well as an experienced management and leadership professional Stuart is also qualified in Positive Psychology and Wellbeing Strategy and is an NLP Master Practitioner. For the last 10 years of his career, Stuart has worked as a coach and L&D consultant for a diverse range of clients in public and private sectors. He has extensive experience creating and delivering development programmes, workshops and coaching courses for people at all levels.  

Stuart is also a sports mental training coach and has worked with athletes on their cognitive skills achieving success at all levels, from juniors to world championship and international-level competitors.