Barry Marshall-Graham.
I work with people who want to live with clarity, emotional steadiness, and courage, especially when the conversations are hard.
I bring over 25 years of experience building and leading software engineering organisations, with deep technical credibility and a coaching-led approach to leadership.
I’ve led leaders and scaled teams, accountable for delivery, culture, and standards, including leading large multi-national organisations for glabally recognised clients and brands.
I’ve also been brought in many times to stabilise and reset environments under pressure, including executive team turnarounds that improve team satisfaction, increase delivery performance, reduce defects, clear legacy issues, and deliver significant cost efficiencies.
I’ve spent years operating as a trusted advisor across many sectors, not just building software teams, but managing stakeholders, politics, accountability, and the human dynamics that decide whether good work lands.
My coaching work sits at the intersection of standards, behaviour, and trust because I strongly believe that the quality of your conversations shapes the quality of your culture.
If you would like to take the next step click below. Always remember, the path to extraordinary is walked with a thousand small steps, you're doing great!

Calm structure. Clear action. Permanent shift.
When you work with me.
My style is calm, structured, and honest. I’m not interested in motivational noise. I’m interested in the words you need to hear that others will not dare to say, the standard you need to set that you may not hold yourself, and being your accountability partner for the next small steps you’ll take.
- Clarity under pressure: separating fact from story, and finding the real issue
- Standards and boundaries: holding the line without over-explaining
- Language and delivery: what to say, how to say it, and what to do with resistance
- Consistency: reducing drift by making expectations undeniable
My Certifications
- ILM Level 7 Executive Coach
- PRINCE2 Agile Practitioner
- Certified Scrum Master
- MSc Software in Enterprise (University of Sunderland)
- BEng Mechanical Engineering (The Open University)
When I am not working.
I live on the North-East coast with my wife and three daughters. After a full and busy professional week, I reset in the quiet of living by the sea and the stillness of the countryside nearby (and a bit of golf when time permits).
How I show up
“Generous with his time, and committed to shared learning.”
CEO, Telecommunications
“Barry's 'Small Steps' have been invaluable in my leadership journey.”
Technology Lead
“Deep dives that are engaging, energising, and genuinely useful.”
CTO, Banking & Finance
“I would wholeheartedly recommend Barry to anyone looking for coaching or mentoring in leadership. His ability to develop people with depth, care, and practical insight is exceptional.”
Software Engineering Manager
“Barry is very quick thinking and highly responsive during challenges. It’s really reassuring to know he is there when the going gets tough.”
Head of Projects
“Barry has a natural ability to create a growth mindset in others, encouraging thoughtful reflection, and confident decision-making.”
Platform Manager
If you’re done tolerating drift, we can reset the standard; calmly, clearly, and properly.

Barry Marshall-Graham
Executive coach and leadership advisor