Hi, I'm Sol.
For as long as I can remember, two things have shaped my life: a hunger to do work that matters, and a harsh inner critic telling me it's still not enough.
I used to think that if I just worked on the right problems, the big, urgent, meaningful ones, I would finally feel content, fulfilled and “enough”. So that's what I did. I studied social sciences, then a master's in sustainability: people and then planet. Over the next two decades I trained youth leaders, ran a refugee mentoring programme across London, worked in some of the most challenging school environments, got my hands dirty on organic food growing projects, and led a global programme of events for the world's largest online student community.
I loved it, at times. No matter what I achieved, that voice was there, telling me I should be doing more or doing better. I was quietly disillusioned about whether any of it was making a difference, and drained by the work I'd once given everything to. Eventually, I burnt out.
Like a lot of us, I went looking for answers in therapy, books and podcasts. Some of it helped, but none of it really shifted how I felt deep down. What did, slowly and quietly, were mindfulness-based practices that enabled me to notice my unhelpful habits, my assumptions and that ever-present critic. What shifted things wasn't becoming a better version of me. It was learning to accept the one I already was, critic included. I softened, set better boundaries and slowly started to like myself again. The critic still pipes up sometimes, and that's okay. I'm human. I notice it, let it be, and let it go. Somewhere along the way I fell back in love with my work and the purpose behind it.
Why “The Alt Academy”?
It stands for the alternative academy. Kids turn up at school fizzing with curiosity, silliness and wild ideas, and bit by bit that fizz gets managed out of them. I was one of those kids. I learnt early that mistakes were punished and my own ideas were best kept to myself, and that grew into years of perfectionism, people pleasing and procrastinating.
The skills that actually helped me untangle all of that were never on my timetable: noticing where my attention has wandered and gently bringing it home, feeling an emotion in my body before it takes me somewhere unhelpful, bending rather than snapping when life goes a bit sideways, and being a little kinder to myself. The Alt Academy is where grown-ups finally get to learn them.
What I'm really here for
Not long ago I was looking at my newborn son and asked myself what I most wish for him. It wasn't success, or even impact. It was that he backs himself, believes in himself and enjoys his own company. That's what sits underneath all of this work for me. I want people who give so much to the world to befriend themselves and treat themselves kindly, and to keep giving from there, with joy rather than from depletion.
The evolution of my work
I went on to sit silent retreats and train with the Oxford and Sussex Mindfulness Centres, then branched out into mindset and mental fitness through Positive Intelligence coaching. Along the way I realised most people don't want to spend years on a cushion learning how to feel human again, so I distilled what I'd learnt into a clear framework with practical tools that fit into real, busy lives.
I've since trained hundreds of people, from students to senior leaders, to build the mental strength to keep making a difference with joy, and without burning out. My favourite part is the moment someone starts to see themselves differently and finds that spark again. The change can look small at first, but it's real, and it tends to set off a chain reaction. I'm still practising all of this myself, and I expect I always will be.
What I believe
I call it my Altifesto.
Your mission matters. And you matter too.
Our minds can be our greatest tool, but also our biggest obstacle between where we are and where we want to go.
We might have all the skills and experience, but it's our inner critic, self-doubt, perfectionism and people-pleasing that hold us back and get us down.
We overthink decisions, procrastinate on the important stuff, and push so hard we burn out. It means we never access our full potential.
These aren't problems to fix. They're skills to practise that build our capacity to create the impact we seek.
This is mental fitness.
It helps us develop the strong and agile minds we need, to lead and live from a steadier place. It rewires old patterns and builds lasting habits that ground and focus us.
Inner growth isn't a luxury; it's the fuel for building the future our heart knows is possible. Progress happens when we feel at home in our skin and confident in what we bring. When we're creative and courageous, not depleted or disillusioned.
Because clarity is power, and self-respect is strategy.
Thoughts are just theories. We choose which to follow.
Feelings are feedback, full of wisdom, not weakness.
Actions are experiments; we don't need certainty to begin.
We are our own greatest asset. And when we're clear-headed, courageous, and kind to ourselves, we feel more in flow and empowered than we knew was possible.
Your mission matters. And so do you.
More like this, in my newsletter: From the Centre.
Trained & accredited
Organisations I've worked with
What people say
"What stands out about Sol's coaching is the space he creates for people to arrive exactly as they are. He asks questions that help me find my own clarity, rather than handing out answers. He doesn't sit on a pedestal."
Marc Convey
"Sol has this wonderful ability to create a calm, supportive environment where everyone feels welcome and heard. His skilled facilitation and genuine curiosity helped me explore mindfulness practices in ways that felt both meaningful and accessible."
Eleanor Gibson, Tilt
"It's rare to find a space that holds both vulnerability and momentum, where you can slow down, share half-formed ideas, and feel truly supported. I joined out of curiosity, now I'd be lost without it."
Vivien Underwood, Change:Maker Collective
If any of this sounds familiar, I'd love to help you build the kind of inner change that lets you enjoy life more fully and show up more powerfully in your work.
Not ready to talk yet? Start with the Critic Map.
A short guide and worksheet for mapping your inner critic, plus two bonus practices. Pop your details in and they're yours.
Or just read along: subscribe to From the Centre.
Here you go.
Open the Critic Map first, then the two bonus practices.
One more thing: From the Centre. My monthly newsletter on how to make a difference with joy, and without burning out. Subscribe on Substack.
Once you've filled in your Critic Map, book a free call and we'll go through it together. No pressure, no pitch.
Let's talk
No pressure, no pitch. Just an honest conversation about what you're dealing with, and whether I'm the right person to help.
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