MY STORY
I learned leadership lying in a hospital bed, forcing one toe to move
I'm a leadership coach, uber for my friends, and chief negotiator between my wife and son.
A fraction of a second. That's all it took for the ground to disappear.
My entire world was instantly stripped back to a white hospital ceiling and a terrifying silence. The corporate titles, the strategic plans, and the multi-year projections vanished. My only metric of success became forcing a single toe to move.
Lying in that bed, I didn't learn about leadership from a textbook or a multi-thousand-dollar seminar. I learned it through the brutal, raw discipline of managing my own mind away from panic, rebuilding my foundation from absolute zero, and learning how to walk again.
Leadership isn't tested when things are smooth sailing. It is forged when you are knocked completely off course, changed forever, and still required to find a way forward.
That hospital bed wasn't the end of my story. It was the birth of the Leading Through Adversity framework
WHY THAT MATTERS TO YOU
You don't need a hospital bed to know that feeling.
A promotion nobody prepared you for can knock you just as flat. The team who doubts you, the conversation you can't face, the sense the ground has gone. That's who I built this for.
SOMEONE LIKE YOU
From undermined to unstoppable
Take Sohan. When he was promoted from team leader to manager, not everyone was happy for him. Senior team members who'd believed it was their time to step up actively undermined him, turning his early weeks into a nightmare. He was almost at the point of throwing in the towel.
But Sohan didn't give up. He looked for support and found me. After a few sessions he grew in confidence and began backing himself. He learned how to deal with the people trying to cut his legs off, and started setting direction for his team.
By the end of the year he'd outgrown his team and was ready for a new challenge in a new environment. He applied for and secured a management role in Sri Lanka, where he and his wife now live, building their dream life together.
"Col's unwavering support and belief in my abilities empowered me
to exceed my own expectations and reach new heights in my career."
Sohan, Help Desk Manager, Sri Lanka
HOW I GOT HERE
It started with a few mates who couldn't get support from their boss
2016
The side hustle
A few mates in Wellington stepped into management for the first time and couldn't find support from their boss, so they asked me. I was managing a team of 40 in government and thought, "This could be a fun side hustle." Word spread. People weren't asking for much, just basic advice and support they couldn't find in their organizations.
2024
Backing myself
I was at the top table, leading a team of 200+, when my 9-5 executive role was disestablished. I backed myself and launched colintepohe.net, to give new managers a leg up and help them build solid foundations as people leaders.
MID 2025
Beyond Coaching (an unexpected pivot)
I expanded into speaking at leadership conferences and delivering workshops. I work with clients virtually across the globe, one-on-one and in groups, and I'm building a library of resources for whenever suits you, whether that's your couch at midnight or your desk at lunch.
REAL CONNECTION, REAL GROWTH
Expect a few laughs, straight talk, and a space where you can be honest
My coaching style is relaxed, down-to-earth, and grounded in real connection. I don't take life too seriously. I believe growth happens best when you're actually enjoying the process. I'm most passionate about giving people the leg up and support they need but often can't find anywhere else. You'll see results from our very first conversation.
Outside of coaching
I'm a first-time dad, a rugby referee, and I love giving back to my community. I'm also a volunteer at Global Games NZ, delivering some of the premier sports events in the country and connecting over 400,000people to date.
You don't have to figure this out alone
Thiry minutes. Your challenge. One clear step.
