Testimonials 

Rosie O'Mahoney - Strategic Account Manager at Amber

I’ve reported to Julian for a number of years and I can say with confidence that he is one of the most effective and well-rounded leaders I have worked with. Across his remit spanning sales, account management and customer success, Julian brings a combination of commercial sharpness and genuine people focus. In high-pressure situations, Julian remains level-headed and acts as a calming influence. What sets Julian apart is his commitment to the development of the people around him. He is a natural coach and mentor, taking the time to understand individual strengths and create the conditions for people to grow. I benefited directly from his guidance, and it has had a lasting impact on how I approach my own work. If you need a leader who can drive results, develop talent and bring stability to a team, Julian should be your first call.

Sonia Patel - Business Development | Sales & Account Management | Driving B2B Growth | Public Sector Partnerships

Julian McKenzie was my director for over 3 years. He brought with him a unique set of skills, which was a breath of fresh air. He successfully created, managed and developed our Sales and Account team. Julian is a very experienced leader, excellent collaborator, and a dedicated team player. He overcomes challenges with ease, regardless of the task, Julian will always try his best to provide support and sound advice. Julian is an excellent role model and is very well respected. His work ethics and professionalism are unmatched. People’s welfare is always at the forefront in everything he does. I have witnessed first-hand his leadership skills, his dedication, and his care for people. Through his mentorship and encouragement, I was able to develop into a more senior role which at the time felt very daunting. Julian’s support throughout the process was beyond exceptional. This helped me overcome not just personal but professional challenges which is something I will be forever grateful to him for. It has been an absolute privilege and joy to work with him. Julian will always be the first person to show up and the last to leave regardless of the task or challenge. He is highly reliable and will always give 100% effort with a smile on his face. He is the best leader I have ever worked with and for. He will be an amazing asset to any organisation, given the opportunity.

Asif Iqbal - Building Multi-Sector Partnerships That Transform Supply Chain Performance | Senior Business Development & Account Manager

I was fortunate enough to work with Julian for 2 1/2 years. I reported to him as part of a Sales & Account Management team which thrived under his leadership. Julian's approach, work ethic and support was invaluable and I've learnt a lot from him that I will take forward in my career. Julian managed to create, grow and manage a successful team where everyone felt valued, motivated and supported. I would highly recommend Julian as a senior leader/Director, and he would be a brilliant asset to any company.

Stewart Bottomley - Employment and Careers Specialist 💼 (Job Evaluation/Labour Market Intelligence/Talent Acquisition/Graduate & Early Careers) | Strategic Accounts & Partnerships | Operational & Strategic Leadership

I had the privilege of embarking on a coaching journey with Julian at the start of 2023, a pivotal period for me as I was navigating a new role which had me feeling a little out of my comfort zone workwise, at the same time as experiencing some challenging situations in my personal life. Julian's coaching approach was nothing short of transformative. From the outset, he tailored our sessions based on my learning preferences and honed in on some key areas which had a profound impact on various aspects of my professional development. Julian's coaching goes beyond expertise; it's anchored in genuine interest, professionalism, and a unique ability to balance challenge with support. I wholeheartedly recommend Julian McKenzie to anyone seeking a coach with an exceptional blend of skills, empathy, and a true commitment to personal and professional success.

Testimonial from Lewis Breeze 

I had the privilege of working with Julian at both Capita and Coventry University, where his coaching and mentorship had a significant impact on my confidence and professional development. Julian has a real ability to recognise people’s strengths, often before they fully recognise them themselves. He helped me appreciate the value I brought to my roles, challenged me to think differently and encouraged me to have greater belief in my own judgement and abilities. His support was always thoughtful, honest and constructive, giving me the confidence to take on new challenges and progress my career.

The lessons I learned from Julian have stayed with me throughout every role I have held since. His approach taught me the importance of listening, asking the right questions, understanding different perspectives and helping others to find their own solutions. I continue to apply these principles when working with clients and colleagues, and they have made me a more effective and supportive colleague. I would wholeheartedly recommend Julian to anyone looking for a coach or mentor who can bring out the best in people, build genuine confidence and create a lasting positive impact.

Yasser Bouarfa – Project Team Lead

Julian brings an incredible range of leadership skills and qualities to any team. He has a real ability to remove blockers, bring people together and promote cross-functional collaboration, always understanding how to balance the needs of different functions while keeping everyone focused on the overarching business goal.

Julian is also an exceptional coach and mentor. I’ve personally had the opportunity to receive coaching from Julian over the past year, and his support has had a huge impact on my confidence as I’ve transitioned into more senior spaces.

What makes Julian such a great coach is his ability to understand you as an individual and recognise the talent and potential within you. He has helped me build on my strengths, challenged my thinking and, on many occasions, given me the clarity and direction I needed to take the next step in my development.

If you ever get the opportunity to be coached or mentored by Julian, take it. He is genuinely one of the best I’ve had the pleasure of learning from, and I know that his guidance has played a significant part in my own development.

It has been a real pleasure to work alongside Julian, and an even greater privilege to have been led by him across a number of projects. Any organisation would be lucky to have him in their leadership team, and I have no doubt he’ll make a huge impact wherever he goes next.

Baljit Singh – Global Senior Relationship Manager

I had the pleasure of working in Julian's wider team at Inclusive Employers and can confidently say he is one of the most authentic and effective leaders I have worked with. What stood out most was how closely his values aligned with my own. He consistently led with integrity, transparency, and honesty, creating an environment built on trust and mutual respect. You don't often come across great leaders like Julian!

Julian is also an exceptional coach and mentor. He invested time in understanding my strengths, challenging me to grow, and providing thoughtful guidance that significantly contributed to my professional development.

Beyond his leadership capabilities, Julian genuinely cares about the success and wellbeing of his team. I really appreciated the support he gave me during a family bereavement. In addition, he empowers people to reach their potential while fostering a positive, collaborative culture where everyone feels valued and supported.

Finally, I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to have worked with Julian and genuinely sad to see him go but know he will be brilliant in another organisation. I would highly recommend him to any organisation looking for a leader who combines strong values, outstanding coaching ability, and a genuine commitment to developing people. Thank you, Julian, for everything :).

Clare Robertson – Global Senior People & Culture Consultant

I feel incredibly fortunate to have Julian as my manager. He is one of those rare leaders who manages to combine genuine warmth and support with an ability to challenge you, develop you and bring out the very best in you.

Julian is an exceptional coach. Rather than simply giving you the answer, he asks thoughtful questions, listens properly and creates the space for you to work things through yourself. He has a real talent for recognising people’s strengths, building confidence and helping them see opportunities and possibilities they may not have recognised themselves.

What I particularly value is the trust, and psychological safety Julian creates within his team. I have always felt able to be open with him, ask for support, test ideas and be myself, while also knowing that he will encourage me to stretch myself and keep developing.

He leads with empathy, humour, integrity and a genuine investment in the people around him. I have grown enormously under Julian’s leadership and coaching, both professionally and personally, and I would wholeheartedly recommend him to anyone looking for an outstanding coach, mentor or people leader.