Jumping off from my last post about embracing imperfection, I’d like to introduce myself. I’m Dennis Stanley, the founder of “A Curious Adventure.” I firmly believe that the messiness of the creative (and curious) process is where the magic happens. My journey, both personal and professional, is a testament to the power of starting before “you’re ready.”
What’s My Story?
We all have a “genesis story”; here’s my short-form version. I left school at 16 with a handful of GCSEs, and crucially, Maths was not among the exams I’d passed. Convinced that my future was in catering (I’m a big foodie), I didn’t bother retaking my Maths GCE exam. So, I entered the world of catering and enjoyed seven years in that field.
After a while, the stress of working split shifts typical in the hospitality industry started to impact my social and personal life. I moved into the world of industrial catering at Rolls-Royce; a big shift in the type of food I was used to creating, with less kudos and reduced scope for creativity. Not long after this move, the catering function was outsourced, and I faced a choice: stay with the new company or be transferred elsewhere within Rolls-Royce. I chose the latter and ended up in a shop floor position as an "unskilled labourer." My identity as a skilled chef felt “taken from me.” What followed was a period of feeling down until I resolved to climb out of the hole, I had dug for myself.
This newfound resolve saw me undertake a transformative personal journey spanning ten years. The first step was deciding to go back to night school to finally get the Maths GCSE I had left behind. At the same time, I delved into GCSE Computer Studies and Photography. However, the real turning point in my journey was landing a role as an Assistant Buyer. There’s a whole backstory about my persistence in getting that role, but that’s a tale for another time!
What followed exceeded all my expectations! I quickly climbed the ranks, becoming a Buyer, Senior Buyer, and within five years, I was appointed a Purchasing Manager. This role saw me leading a department of 60 people and managing a procurement spend of £100 million per annum.
In parallel, I embarked on re-educating myself professionally, returning to night school over several years to obtain BTEC National and Higher National Certificates in Business Studies, a Diploma in Management Studies, my professional Purchasing qualifications (CIPS), and ultimately a master’s degree in engineering business management from Warwick University. Psychologically, obtaining the master’s degree was a big deal for me, as it now meant that I was on “par” with my peers who had come through the graduate trainee route.
My career has taken me across the globe, representing various organizations on the world stage, traveling to the US, France, Germany, Japan, Czech Republic, Poland, Romania, and Hungary, to name a few. All of this was achieved despite leaving school with few GCSEs and not obtaining a traditional first degree. But what I did have was an inner belief that I “could do” and “be more”!
During my master’s degree, I developed a keen interest in psychology, which later led me to study and qualify as an NLP coach. Reflecting on my own journey, I realise that while I was motivated to “better myself,” it was an underlying sense of curiosity that has been the driving force in my life; a constant itch of “I wonder if...”
So, “A Curious Adventure” seems like an appropriate name for my coaching practice.
What Can You Expect from A Curious Adventure?
Having worked as a procurement professional for over 30 years, I’ve found myself working on projects that often took me outside my comfort zone, requiring constant reinvention and the acquisition of new skills. As a leader, I sometimes had to take the approach of “faking it until you make it.”
Fortunately, working for large FTSE 100 companies exposed me to “in-house coaching” and “mentoring.” I seized every opportunity to be coached and actively sought mentors to help me move forward and tackle my challenges. I believe I now have an obligation to pay that forward.
A Curious Adventure aims to bring my professional leadership experiences to coaching those who are new to leadership or those looking for support in further developing their leadership journey. Based on my personal experience, I believe that curiosity is the cornerstone of effective coaching. Just as curiosity drives exploration and discovery, it fuels personal growth and transformation. My coaching practice embraces this ethos, guiding you to ask the right questions, uncover your hidden potential, and navigate your journey with a sense of possibility.
Join me on an adventure where curiosity leads the way, empowering you to unlock new insights and achieve your goals. Whether you're seeking career advancement, personal fulfilment, or new opportunities, I’m here to guide you.
Ready to Begin Your Curious Adventure?
If you're ready to embark on a journey of discovery and growth, let's grab a coffee or tea and book a 30-minute no-obligation discovery call using the link here.
