Alexander Smith

Alex has 15+ years’ experience leading, managing, training, and developing, editorial teams for Lexis Nexis, part of the FTSE 100 listed RELX Group, a leading global provider of legal, regulatory, and business information and analytics.

He is a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Practitioner, has a Prince 2 qualification and holds a MSc in Political and Social Theory and a BA (Hons) degree in French. These influence his coaching approach, not only in terms of supporting clients currently in higher education, but also in the fact that both degrees covered psychology, philosophy and wider theories of work, communication, influencing others, and social theory. 

Alex is essentially an executive coach with an ADHD and “executive functioning” lens.

Alex received rigorous Executive Coaching training under the RELX Group's "Velocity Scheme", an intensive 16-month programme accredited by the Institute of Leadership and Management and delivered by trainers from the Henley Business School.

Through successful completion of the programme, Alex gained an ILM accredited academic qualification in Management Coaching and Mentoring along with wide-ranging practical experience of delivering executive coaching. He coached and mentored staff at all levels of the organisation from Senior Executives through to new graduate starters, along with acting as a Coaching Supervisor and Mentor for subsequent Cadres of Coaches. He also coached in mentoring schemes run by both the University of London and Camden Schools supporting vulnerable teenagers and working with groups under-represented in higher education.

Since leaving the RELX Group in 2016 Alex has undertaken specialist training in coaching for ADHD and executive functioning deficits by completing to Advanced Level the ADHD Coach Training Programme with ADDCA (the ADD Coach Academy).

This has given him niche expertise in an area of coaching about which he is really passionate, namely that of “executive functioning”, challenges of which are central to ADHD, autism, dyspraxia and dyslexia and exacerbated by stress, anxiety, depression and many other mental health conditions.

Alex has broad lived experience of the huge practical and emotional challenges associated with undiagnosed ADHD, having belatedly received an ADHD diagnosis aged thirty-eight, and having achieved his Undergraduate and Master’s degrees, and served in numerous middle and senior management positions, with undiagnosed ADHD. 

He approaches ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), "executive functioning" and wider Neurodiversity using Solution Focused, Strengths Based, Coaching techniques and from the perspective of neurological difference rather than deficit. 

Whilst these conditions present with an inconsistent, uneven, and “situationally variable” skillset there is huge scope to do things differently and to thrive on your own terms, which is often much more rewarding than the exhausting and demoralising zero-sum game of trying to “out-neurotypical, neurotypical people”.

Similarly, he has huge compassion and insights into the complexity and unpredictability of managing ADHD on an ongoing basis, and particularly in conjunction with the varied physical and mental health comorbidities which often run parallel to ADHD.

• Coaching, awareness, advocacy, and Support for "executive functioning".
• Coaching, awareness, advocacy, and Support for Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
• Coaching, awareness, advocacy, and Support for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
• Coaching, awareness, advocacy, and support for Neurodiversity.

I work with a wide range of clients offering both "executive coaching" and specialist coaching in ADHD, ASD, "executive functioning" and wider Neurodiversity.

I also offers wider training courses, mentoring and support for fellow coaches, along with advocacy and awareness training for ADHD, ASD, "executive functioning" and wider Neurodiversity. 

The range of fees reflects the diversity of his work - please contact Alex for a tailored quote by booking a Free Introductory Call, at which fees for a particular engagement will always be transparently given and documented.

I am committed to continuing professional development (CPD) and to upholding a high level of professional ethics in my coaching, marketing, and associated activities. To this end I am a member of the following bodies:

Association For Coaching (MAC): MAC No. ​73452905. www.associationforcoaching.com

Better Bolder Braver: Committed to ethical, transparent, and authentic, marketing within the coaching profession. www.betterbolderbraver.com

Senior Coach | The ADHD Advocate: www.the adhdadvocate.com

The ADD Coach Academy (ADDCA) | Accredited ADHD & Life Coach Training Program: www.addca.com