I have had the deep privilege of counting Simon Hampel as a close friend for almost 20 years. Simon believes passionately in, and is a living example of, what he calls ‘conscious leadership’.
In 1993, the year we met, Simon was 24 years old. He had just started his first business, Mercator International, a brokerage company. This enterprise proved so successful that by 1997 Simon owned three more companies – a sports management firm, a commercial consultancy, and an IT related business. Simon’s companies had offices around the world.
From 1998 he raised substantial venture capital to develop IT solutions. In 2001, valuations in his specific IT sector dropped by 90%. The meltdown resulted in the closure of all his businesses.
Emotionally and physically shattered, he moved to Seville to recover and learn Spanish. Using up his remaining air miles, Simon ventured to South America, where he chanced upon the English explorer, John Blashford-Snell, in a bar, in La Paz.
Simon joined Blashford-Snell’s expedition into the Amazon. He spent the next four years leading scientists and aid workers back into the Amazon, across the Himalayas, Mongolia, and Africa.
He stewarded scientific research missions. He managed teams that provided medical aid and built and refurbished water wells, clinics and schools. In 2006, Simon was appointed CEO of the international blindness prevention NGO, Right to Sight.
He focused on empowering local talent. He trained locals to establish NGOs based on social enterprise models. He raised funds and established partnerships with governments, NGO’s and businesses. Simon developed 25 projects in eight African countries and India. Within four years, those efforts resulted in sight being restored to 500,000 people, per annum, who were needlessly blind.
Simon has also been mentoring people of varying ages and experiences for the past 10 years. He immersed himself in the teachings of Zen Buddhist masters. He has learned about silence and meditation. He now focuses his energies on fellow leaders, working with them to make the best of themselves in all aspects of their lives.
Simon lives in London, enjoys sailing, fishing and golfing. He regularly returns to Seville for a dose of sun, manzanilla and flamenco. In the last year, I have personally coached and taught Simon much of what I have learned about mentoring.
Email: simon.hampel@me.com
Mobile: +44 7540 271 742
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