From the Pitch to the Boardroom: My Journey to Executive Coaching
In rugby, the moment the whistle blows, you see everything you need to know about a team. Not in the passes or the tackles, but in the space between. How they regroup, how they respond, how they rise.
Many years ago, coaching young people as an RFU-qualified coach taught me early on that leadership isn’t barked from the sidelines or stepping over the white line to take over when it’s not going to plan, it’s built in the quiet, personal moments of reflection and grit.
Years later, that same lesson would echo through the glass-walled meeting rooms of Volkswagen Group UK, where I had the privilege of supporting Dealer Principals as they faced high stakes and hard truths. The pressure was real. But so was the potential.
These experiences—on muddy pitches and polished showroom floors—form the foundation of how I coach today.
The Pivot Point
The decision to become an executive coach wasn’t a single moment of revelation. It was a series of nudges. Building teams with resilience and spirit, strategy sessions that became breakthrough moments. Situations and challenges where people didn’t need a manager, they needed a coach.
My Executive Coaching qualification journey is helping sharpen the edges. A recent SWOT analysis reinforced what colleagues had often said back to me:
Empathy with edge – the ability to connect deeply, but not let comfort get in the way of truth.
Strategic clarity – seeing around corners, helping others simplify complexity into decisive action.
High-stakes calm – developed under floodlights and fast-moving markets alike.
Integrity of intent – putting people before process, but always having the cones marking the playing area.
These aren’t soft skills—they’re critical assets in a sector like automotive, where the stakes are high, the change is relentless, and the room for error is narrow.
Who I Coach and Why
I will work with individuals across the automotive ecosystem—Dealer Owners navigating transformation, OEM leaders building new cultures, Innovators challenging legacy systems, and 3rd Party Service Providers reshaping the customer experience.
And while their contexts differ, the themes are shared:
Clarity in complexity
Courage in conflict
Growth in discomfort
What I bring to the table is not a magic formula. It’s presence. A deep understanding of the business and its rhythms. And the ability to help leaders stretch without snapping.
The Invitation
If you’re part of the automotive world and feeling the weight of leadership—or the restlessness of untapped potential—let’s talk.
I don’t offer one-size-fits-all programs. I offer coaching that fits you, your world, and the future you’re building.
Because leadership, like rugby, is not about always knowing the next move. It’s about knowing yourself well enough to make it count.
If you like the idea of coaching within your business then give me a call on 07867 486356 or email me on jason@cranswick-consulting.co.uk
Jason Cranswick
Executive Coach | Founder, Cranswick Consulting