About Simon, director and lead trainer

Hi. I’m Simon Michaels, the lead trainer and founder of Mindful Work.

I combine 30 years experience in business management with 25 years meditation and mindfulness practice.

Whilst the training is entirely secular, my personal experience and understanding comes from a deep and on-going meditation practice in the Buddhist contemplative tradition. I have lay ordination as Upasaka Tsultrim Wangpo in the Namgyal lineage. This ancient wisdom is the foundation for effective mindfulness practice, where sound ethical values underpin the techniques and tools.

I have been a very successful social entrepreneur for the last 20 years, applying the boundless energy at the heart of being. This has included setting up seven profitable enterprises with multiple 6 figure turnovers. My work orientation has changed in the last few years, so that I now train workplace groups in stress management and developing wellbeing, and coach individuals with mindfulness at the core of it.

I have formal qualifications in business support, coaching, and mindfulness teaching.  I’m a member of the International Stress Management Association and have a Mental Health First Aid certificate, and adhere to the code of practice for mindfulness-based trainers. I’m an elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, a director of 6 successful ethical companies, and have advised over 100 businesses, government agencies, third sector organisations and local authorities. I was a finalist in the Leading Wales Awards 2019.

My qualifications and long experience in business development, ensure that the profound practice of mindfulness is applied creatively to help resolve contemporary workplace issues such as stress reduction, improved creativity and innovation, and better team working.