About Rusty
A partner you don’t have to perform for
I work with founders at moments where leadership matters more than answers.
When growth becomes uneven, pressure increases. Too much still runs through one person, the quality of partnership becomes critical.
This page isn’t a CV. It’s here to help you decide whether I’m the right person to work alongside you at that stage.
How I show up
I think in systems, patterns, and second-order consequences. I’m comfortable sitting with complexity without rushing to resolution, and I’m calm under pressure when decisions carry weight.
In practice, that means:
I slow things down when clearer thinking is needed
I challenge assumptions without creating threat
I treat confidentiality as essential, not optional
This is a working space, not a stage.
Where this comes from
Over several decades, I’ve worked inside environments where responsibility is real and consequences are tangible.
I’ve led teams, supported leaders, and seen first-hand what happens when leadership evolves with complexity.
And when it doesn’t.
Some of what shaped how I work came from experiences that demanded steadiness over long periods of pressure.
That’s left me with a deep respect for psychological safety.
And little patience for performative leadership or noise disguised as progress.
I care about delivery.
I care just as much about how people carry the load while getting there.
How I think about leadership
Leadership doesn’t fail because people stop trying.
It fails when the system hasn’t evolved to match reality.
This work helps you recognise when your leadership needs to evolve and how to make decisions others can act on.
Develop people who can think, decide, and deliver without escalation.
This isn’t about fixing people.
It’s about evolving how leadership works.
Who this works best for
I work best with founders who are thoughtful, curious, and ready to look at how they lead — not because something is broken, but because the system has changed.
If you’re looking for tactics without reflection, or someone to take responsibility off your hands, this probably isn’t the right fit.
If you’re ready to evolve how leadership works, so delivery doesn’t depend on you, we should talk.
A Little Deeper…
Some of how I work was shaped outside traditional leadership environments. I’ve spent years in situations that demanded sustained attention, pattern awareness, and calm judgement under pressure.
That experience taught me to notice what’s happening beneath the surface, to value psychological safety, and to avoid leadership that relies on performance or bravado.
It’s why I care about leadership that spreads capability rather than concentrating responsibility.
A quieter part of the picture
Outside of work, I’ve spent years running role-playing games.
Not as escapism, but for the same reason I enjoy working with founders.
They’re spaces where groups navigate uncertainty, test decisions, manage dynamics, and move a shared story forward without a script. The parallels to leadership are closer than they first appear.
