The UR Who Story

After 32 years in BP, the founder of UR Who, Keith Freeland retired in 2006 with a clear vision of what he wanted to do in the future. Retirement was the last thing on his mind. He wanted to create and run his own business and he also wanted to have some time for he and his wife Angie to do some of the things they always wanted to do if they didn't have to work all the time.

The very next working day after he retired, The D&G Partnership was up and running with his friend and business partner, Paul Page. It was an unlikely combination of skills because Paul was and still is a record producer. As the D&G Partnership Keith and Paul created what has been described as the most innovative and leading edge leadership programme in existence, The Leader's Voice. The Leader's Voice and The D&G Partnership was extraordinarily successful, so much so that by the end of 2007 Keith reflected that he was now working harder than he ever had inside BP. Something was not quite right!

Having talked the issue through with his coach he then had two very significant conversations. One was with a person referred to him by his coach who had been on a similar journey and now lived part of the year in Majorca. His name was Mike O'Sullivan who talked to Keith about "letting go". The other was with a friend and trusted colleague of many years, Kate Owen who hit the nail on the head for Keith. She observed that, on leaving BP Keith wanted to set up and run a successful business of his own. Two years later he had done that. She asked why he had to continue doing so.

The future became clear. Keith and his wife Angie, a BACP Accredited Psychotherapist running her own successful business, were going to make a significant lifestyle change. The summer months would be spent in their home in Sandbanks, Dorset and the winter months in their home in Tenerife, Canary Islands. He broke the news to his business partner Paul who took the news really well! Some months on and The Leader's Voice was nestled into another consultancy, The Delta Partnership, founded by a long term colleague and associate, Ken Ideus. Paul continues to deliver and develop The Leader's Voice inside an organisation much better placed to offer the programme to a much wider range of clients.

Keith and Angie had decided that they would still "keep their hands in" with one to one coaching perhaps working together to design the odd workshop. Their future was mapped out and they were truly excited about their future life together. Then something happened.......................

Keith started getting phone calls and emails from colleagues and associates, some of whom he hadn't heard from for years. Interesting possibilities sparked in his mind. Workshops, writing a book, an exciting business proposition. It seems the more he tried to let go, the more interesting conversations and ideas appeared around every corner. Now Keith thrives on relationships and conversations, regardless where they lead him. He could not help himself from being drawn into those fascinating conversations.

UR Who is the vehicle for fascinating conversations! UR Who was born!