

Paul
Roger
Meet The Team
Paul O'Connell
Co-Founder
Roger Martin
Co-Founder
Hi, we’re Paul and Roger, the Co-Founders of The Mindset Difference.
We came together through a shared curiosity — and sometimes frustration — about how often people’s natural capabilities for resilience, creativity, and collaboration get buried beneath unhelpful thinking when the stakes are high.
We’ve spent years exploring what helps leaders and teams be at their best in difficult conditions such as when it's hard to see the wood for the trees or figure out which way is up.
Our conclusion? It starts with mindset — the lens through which people see themselves, others, and the challenges they face.
When that lens clears, performance, connection, and confidence follow.
Our story and approach
Our work combines decades of leadership and organisational experience with insights from psychology, philosophy and neuroscience — made simple and practical for the realities of modern business.
We help leaders and teams turn awareness into action: the small shifts in perspective that change how people think, decide, and work together.
We don’t come in with pre-packaged solutions - we help you uncover the ones that matter most.
We create space for real conversations, fresh insight, and practical change that lasts.
Who we work with
We’re particularly known for our work in Construction — helping clients, contractors, and consultant teams build collaboration, trust, and alignment on complex projects. Technology too — helping leadership teams scale culture and clarity as they grow.
Across every context, our focus stays the same: helping leaders perform at their best — in the heat of delivery.
Our backgrounds
Paul O’Connell began his career in the technology sector, moving from consulting to leadership roles running UK and European operations for high-growth US firms.
Roger Martin has spent over 25 years on the front line of leadership, team, and organisational development — partnering with clients in construction, media, financial services, telecommunications, and government.
We’re based in South West London.
When we’re not doing the work we love, Paul can usually be found running, reading, or skiing; Roger walking the Pembrokeshire coastline, watching international rugby or being a granddad!
What clients say
“Working with The Mindset Difference feels like a conversation with trusted colleagues. It’s real, it’s practical, and it gets to the heart of what matters.”
— Senior Manager, Infrastructure Project
“They helped us see what was really driving performance — and shift it fast.”
— COO, Technology Firm
Connect with us
If you’d like to explore what’s on your mind — whether it’s a leadership team finding its rhythm or a cross-organisation group tackling a complex project — we’d love to hear from you.
