Coaching Journeys: From 20 Years in Recruitment to Executive Coaching — Neil Telfer

Cambridge-born recruiter Neil Telfer joins Daniele for the Coaching Journeys: Conversations from Cambridge series, tracing his path from two decades in recruitment to training as an executive coach. Neil talks about the "innate feeling" to help people that goes back to childhood, why 20 years in recruitment left him wanting to go deeper, and how AI and the rise of in-house talent teams are reshaping his industry — making it "probably as tough as I remember it" for winning new clients. He draws a sharp distinction between prescriptive sports coaching and the kind that facilitates someone's own talent, argues that prioritisation and future-thinking are the leadership skills that matter most right now, and explains why he'd tell his younger self to start coaching earlier. Plus his favourite opening question — "How has your day been so far?" — and why a person's state in that moment shapes everything that follows.If you want to know more about Daniele Forni, go to www.danieleforni.com