Coaching, Mentoring & Leadership Counsel
About Absolute Forward
Absolute Forward was founded by two friends: Martin Arnold and Marc Mercer.
We created Absolute Forward following almost 40 years of combined experience in confronting many of the challenges that we seek to support our clients through. Behind this is a long-standing, shared desire to commit ourselves to helping others on their journeys.
We pride ourselves on integrating facets of leadership coaching, mentoring, and simply embracing our humanity in every interaction with our clients – fostering a natural, meaningful, and solution-driven partnership.
So whatever you want to discuss, whatever the solutions we find together and whether you want to spend our sessions virtually, in a coffee shop or walking in the hills, we’re here to facilitate the optimal environment for you to thrive!
Meet the Team
Co-Founder
Marc Mercer
Marc’s life has spanned several geographies, industries and organisations. Throughout it all, he has been in the eye of the storm with close exposure to leaders and the trials and tribulations that come with trying succeed in complex and highly political environments.
His exposure to leadership gave him a front row view to the support systems that are the lifeblood or downfall of leaders and the ripple effect of leadership on the people, systems and culture around them. With time and experience he found himself in the position of counsellor, mediator and negotiator, supporting leaders and those around them to execute on their strategic agendas.
In 2024, he left his last corporate role and founded Absolute Forward with Martin Arnold to spend more time supporting leaders and those around them on the path to high performance and success. His clients include CEOs, start-up founders and private families, among others.
Co-Founder
Martin Arnold
From playing team sports in France to becoming a tech professional and social worker, he's always been driven by one thing: helping others unlock their potential. Martin's journey wasn't a straight line – he juggled being a semi-pro athlete while working with youth centers, where he discovered his love for understanding what makes people tick and how to support them through challenges.
After diving into the corporate tech world, he kept finding himself being the go-to person for colleagues seeking guidance or just needing someone to really listen. This mix of experiences – from sports fields to social work to tech leadership – led him to create Absolute Forward in 2024. Think of it as your personal growth lab, where he combines the strategy of sports, the empathy of social work, and the problem-solving mindset of tech to help you navigate your path. Whether you're starting your career, facing big decisions, or just trying to figure out your next move, Martin brings a fresh, pressure-free approach to help you level up in your own way, at your own pace.
Our Clients
