Why Corporate Leadership Failed Me and How I Found My Purpose in Football

The reality of corporate jobs can be difficult to navigate, especially when you encounter weak leadership. In many cases, if your leader feels uncomfortable working with you—perhaps because they see you as more capable, driven, or intelligent—they might do everything in their power to undermine your success. It’s a sad truth, but in many organizations, even if you’re the most efficient and valuable employee, you can still find yourself pushed out. This is something I’ve witnessed firsthand across multiple companies within the hospitality industry. I’ve worked in different organisations, each with its own structure, but the story was always the same: if the leadership felt threatened, they would make sure you didn’t succeed.

What makes this even more frustrating is how factors like nationality, passport, and even skin color can significantly impact your working experience. While we may want to believe that talent, work ethic, and dedication are all that matter, the unfortunate reality is that personal biases still play a massive role in the corporate world. People of certain backgrounds may face invisible barriers, and over time, this leads to frustration and discouragement. You can try to ignore these issues for a while, pretending not to notice or hoping things will change, but it catches up with you. Ultimately, you see that what leaders truly value isn’t necessarily your productivity or effectiveness, but their own sense of control and superiority.

Many leaders are more concerned with protecting their egos than fostering a strong, collaborative environment. They draw energy from those around them and crave validation, needing to feel like they are the smartest or most capable person in the room. When they encounter someone who challenges this image—someone who’s talented, outspoken, or simply effective—they feel threatened. In such environments, no matter how hard you work or how good you are at your job, you find yourself at odds with those in power. And unfortunately, it’s the weak leaders, the ones who create a toxic working environment, the ones who can’t handle the presence of strong, talented people. They are the ones who chase talent away, and this is why so many employees leave companies. It’s not because they don’t love the work they do, but because they don’t feel valued, supported, or appreciated. When you have strong, healthy leadership, people thrive. They stay with organizations, pour their energy into their work, and help the company grow. But in a world filled with fragile egos and poor leadership, the opposite happens. Employees feel stifled and held back, their talents go unrecognized, and their growth is limited. They’re forced to conform to the insecurities of those above them. This, I believe, is one of the biggest problems in the corporate world today—weak leadership that stifles innovation and ambition, leading to unmotivated teams and high turnover.

I experienced these dynamics myself across multiple companies in the hospitality industry, and that’s why I made the decision to change my career. I wanted to break free from an environment where my growth was limited not by my own abilities, but by the insecurities of those in leadership positions. It became clear to me that if I wanted to truly reach my potential, I needed to work for myself, where I could put my skills and knowledge to full use without being held back by someone else’s ego.

Today, I’m a FIFA Licensed Football Agent and founder of ProFootballMindsetLab , a football agency built around a holistic approach to guiding players toward greatness. Here, I can channel all my experience, expertise, and passion without feeling restricted or afraid of outshining anyone. It’s empowering to create an environment where I’m free to lead without limitation, and where I can help athletes reach their full potential, just as I’m able to pursue my own. Through my agency, I hope to contribute to building a football industry that is different from what I experienced in the corporate world. I envision a space where strong, effective leadership is the norm—leaders who aren’t afraid to surround themselves with talented people and who encourage their team to shine. I want to be a part of an industry where everyone, regardless of their background, is given the opportunity to succeed, where talent and dedication matter more than nationality or appearance. I believe the football world, with its diverse players and global reach, is ready for this kind of transformation.

I’m determined to become a successful football agent, not only by using my own skills but by building a culture within my agency that stands in stark contrast to the corporate environments I left behind. My goal is to help players grow not just as athletes, but as individuals. My agency is dedicated to a holistic approach that integrates the mind, body, and spirit, helping players achieve greatness in every aspect of their lives. Here, there’s no room for ego-driven leadership—only a genuine desire to see everyone succeed.

I firmly believe that if more leaders adopted this mentality, we would see a huge shift not just in football, but in every industry. People leave companies when they feel undervalued and underappreciated, but they stay when they are recognized for their worth and given the space to grow. It’s time for a new era of leadership—one that is not driven by insecurity, but by a true commitment to the success of others. I’m committed to being a part of that change, and I hope to see the football industry continue to evolve in that direction.