After a short career in professional football, my life took an unexpected turn. I travelled to the United States on a journey of self-discovery that challenged everything I thought I valued. I went from being someone who measured worth by material success to someone who learned to lead with empathy, gratitude, and purpose.

This transformation didn’t happen overnight, it was a process of unlearning and rebuilding. I was exposed to new cultures, perspectives, and struggles that made me look inwards and ask bigger questions about the kind of life I wanted to live. I realised that fulfilment doesn’t come from what you own, but from the impact you make.

Driven by this new purpose, I immersed myself in service and community work. I’ve helped build a schoolhouse in Uganda, which now educates over 150 children each term, a symbol of hope and opportunity for so many young lives. I also swam 53 miles across the Lake District National Park to raise funds for an employment programme that helped 36 homeless individuals transition from the streets back to stable employment and independence.

One evening in Manchester, I encountered a homeless man who would unknowingly change the course of my life. He told me:

“Stories are the pages that make up this book we call life.”

Those words stayed with me. They lit a spark and gave me a vision: to create a platform where stories could empower, unite, and transform. In November 2019, that vision became a reality with the launch of Tales to Inspire.

Through this platform, I’ve shared the stories of people from all walks of life—people who have faced trauma, injustice, hardship, and uncertainty, and turned those experiences into a catalyst for growth and change. Our goal isn’t just to tell stories; it’s to inspire real-world action that creates social impact and sustainable change.

Since then, I’ve had the honour of sharing my own story on a TEDx stage, speaking at schools, corporate events, and conferences, and collaborating with communities around the world to deliver workshops, mentorship programmes, and storytelling-based leadership training. To date, I have spoken to over 100,000 young people and adults through my keynotes, bespoke workshops, and interactive programmes that empower individuals to think differently and take action in their own lives.