About Self Determined Life

Hi, I am Martin Cole. I run the Self Determined Life newsletter and website.I am a professionally certified organisational and executive coach. I have a Masters (M.Sc.) in Coaching Psychology. I am also a qualified lawyer and I work in finance leading a team of compliance professionals.

I teach and coach leaders using evidence-based approaches to help them build the skills, knowledge and presence to create authentic leadership confidence

Who should subscribe?

While I welcome anyone interested in leadership development, I'm particularly focused on helping the new and emerging leaders who are wrestling with real challenges, and for whom leadership does not fall easily in to place.

I like to help the strivers, the strugglers, the honest hard-working people trying to do the best they can in the face of all that life and work throws at them. I am talking about:

• First-time leaders who need practical tools, not motivational platitudes

• Emerging leaders trying to build credibility while still figuring things out

• Team leads balancing getting results with maintaining relationships

• New managers who just need a helping hand navigating the complexity of leadership

• Rising leaders who want to develop sustainably without burning out

• Reluctant leaders - those who are excellent at their craft but never planned to manage people

• Leaders facing impostor syndrome who need techniques to build genuine confidence

• People leaders juggling team needs, senior expectations, and their own development

• Values-driven leaders who want evidence-based (rather than marketing-based) advice

• Experienced leaders facing new or unexpected challenges or who are trying to navigate their latter part of their leadership career.

The truth is, leadership success isn't about having all the answers or projecting false confidence. It's about building genuine capabilities, developing authentic presence, and creating sustainable ways of working.

If that strikes a chord, please subscribe. We'll have something in common, because I've been there myself - and I remember what actually helped me, as opposed to what just sounded good.

What you get

Subscriptions are currently free. You will get the weekly newsletter in your inbox and access the full publication archives.

My background and approach

What you’ll find here is based on established research and many years of experience in leadership and developing others.

I bring a unique blend of legal expertise, financial services leadership, and professional coaching to the to help emerging leaders navigate their leadership journey.

My own journey began in the UK, where I qualified as a barrister and practiced at the Bar in London for several years. But my interest in helping others develop led me to transition to management and leadership roles in regulation, risk management, teaching, and coaching.

My academic journey, including earning a Master of Science in Coaching Psychology from the University of Sydney, has equipped me with a deep understanding of the psychological principles that underpin effective leadership development.

But more importantly, I've been where you are - struggling with the challenges of leadership, making mistakes, and eventually finding the approaches that actually work.

At Self Determined Life, my mission is to provide evidence-backed strategies that help new leaders build sustainable success without sacrificing their wellbeing or authenticity. Everything I share is grounded in both established research and extensive practical experience.

This combination of theoretical knowledge and practical application forms the cornerstone of my approach, making Self Determined Life a reliable resource for anyone looking to enhance their leadership skills and capabilities.