Our Team
Different strengths, different styles—but all working towards the same aim.
Claire
Claire is the founder of Lead for Life, built from a simple belief—leadership doesn’t start with a job title, and it shouldn’t only exist in the workplace.
Her career has been shaped by years of hands-on experience working at the heart of organisations, supporting people through change, growth and development. She has delivered leadership training and development across major organisations including BMW and ITV, where she worked closely with leaders at different levels to build confidence, capability and real-world leadership skills.
Through this work, Claire saw first-hand what works—and what doesn’t.
Too often, leadership is taught as theory, disconnected from real life, or introduced too late—after habits, confidence and self-belief have already been shaped. That insight became the turning point for creating Lead for Life.
Alongside her corporate work, Claire has coached and supported business leaders through programmes such as Help to Grow, and is a member of the Association of Business Mentors and a validated Jaguar Land Rover trainer. Her experience is built on doing the work—supporting real people with real challenges—not just studying it.
As a mother and grandmother, Claire brings a deeply personal perspective to her work. She understands the different life stages people go through, and how confidence, identity and decision-making are shaped over time—not just in the workplace, but at home, in school and through everyday life.
Lead for Life brings all of that experience together into something simpler, more human, and more relevant.
Claire’s approach is practical, straight-talking and rooted in real life. She focuses on helping people build the confidence, self-awareness and resilience to lead themselves—not just at work, but in everyday life. Her work spans from young people in schools and communities through to adults in organisations, all connected by one clear idea: leadership is something you grow into over time.
At the centre of her work is the Lead for Life 4 C’s framework—a simple, lifelong approach designed to help people understand themselves, make better choices, and handle life as it comes. It also creates a shared language for educators, caregivers and organisations, so people are supported consistently as they grow.
Claire is passionate about making leadership accessible to everyone—not just those in positions or professions, but starting early and continuing through every stage of life.
Because in Claire’s world, leadership isn’t about status.
It’s about knowing yourself, backing yourself, and finding your own way.
Founder
TrusteeMay
May Docherty is a key contributor to Lead for Life, bringing a strong passion for supporting people to grow in confidence, understand themselves, and navigate life with more clarity.
As a mother of two, May brings a deeply personal perspective to her work. She understands first-hand the challenges young people face as they grow—and the vital role that support, consistency and guidance play in helping them build confidence and make sense of the world around them.
Her approach is grounded in real life and shaped by a belief that personal development should be simple, practical and accessible to everyone—not just something introduced later in life or within the workplace.
Through her work with Lead for Life, May supports the development of workshops and resources designed to help young people build the foundations of self-leadership early on. She is particularly focused on helping individuals develop confidence, understand their experiences, and feel more in control of their choices.
Working across universities and communities, and alongside families, she is committed to helping create environments where young people feel supported and understood—while also building a shared language for the adults around them.
Together, her work contributes to a clear aim: helping people grow into themselves, at every stage of life.
TrusteeNigel
Nigel is part of Lead for Life, bringing a steady, real-world perspective shaped by experience, family life and a belief in keeping things simple and practical.
His approach is rooted in the understanding that young people don’t need complex language or theories—they need clear guidance, honest conversations, and the confidence to figure things out for themselves.
As a father of three, Nigel has seen first-hand how different personalities, challenges and environments shape how young people grow. This has reinforced his belief that there is no one-size-fits-all approach—what matters is helping each individual build the confidence to make decisions, take responsibility, and learn from life as it happens.
Through his work with Lead for Life, Nigel supports the delivery of workshops that focus on real-life situations—giving young people practical ways to deal with pressure, make choices, and develop a sense of ownership over their future.
He is particularly passionate about keeping things relatable and grounded, making sure what young people learn actually makes sense to them and can be used in everyday situations—not just in theory.
Nigel’s focus is simple: helping young people build resilience, back themselves, and learn how to stand on their own two feet.