Shaun West
Shaun West (born 8 October 1979) is a British entrepreneur, public speaker, and former paratrooper.[1][2][3]
Early life
[edit]West was born in South Shields, England, on 8 October 1979. He joined the British Army’s Parachute Regiment in 1997 and served for over eight years. His operational deployments included Northern Ireland, Sierra Leone, Macedonia, and Afghanistan.[4][5]
During his service, he also worked as an instructor at ITC Catterick, where he trained recruits for the Parachute Regiment’s selection process, known as P-Company.[3]
Career
[edit]Security industry
[edit]After leaving the military in 2005, West shifted into the private security sector, completing the Ronin Protective Services bodyguard course in Cape Town, South Africa. Initially, he worked in high-risk environments, including Iraq and Afghanistan, before focusing on executive protection for Ultra High Net Worth Individuals (UHNWIs) in the UK and internationally.[6][3]
He co-founded the British Bodyguard Association (BBA), which reportedly grew from an online forum into a professional association within the UK security industry. He also played a role in establishing The Circuit Magazine, which provides industry insights on security trends, risk management, and protective services.[7]
Business coaching
[edit]West went into business coaching, reportedly applying principles from his military experience and security background alongside established business frameworks. West has attended business education programs, including Tony Robbins’ Business Mastery, Donald Miller’s Business Made Simple, Mike Michalowicz’s The Pumpkin Plan, and Nigel Botterill’s Entrepreneurs Circle. His coaching focuses on strategies to support business growth and leadership development.[3][8]
Public speaking
[edit]West has spoken at various events across the UK. In October 2024, he delivered a TEDx talk in Helsinki, discussing the application of military principles to business success. His talk was later featured in Los Angeles Business Magazine as one of the “Editor’s Picks for 30 Impactful Talks This Century” and has garnered over 100,000 views.[9][8]
In January 2025, he was interviewed on BBC Radio Newcastle by Anna Foster, discussing his transition from the military and security sectors into business coaching.[3]
References
[edit]- ^ "TEDxViikki | TED". www.ted.com. Retrieved 2025-02-20.
- ^ Buckland, Danny (2018-08-26). "Discretion is the better part of valour for true-life bodyguards". Express.co.uk. Retrieved 2025-02-20.
- ^ a b c d e "BBC Radio Newcastle - Anna Foster, 03/01/2025, Ex-Paratrooper channels military grit to help others". BBC. 2025-01-03. Retrieved 2025-02-20.
- ^ Team, Business News North East (2024-12-23). "Ex-Paratrooper channels military grit to conquer public speaking and launch business". Business News North East. Retrieved 2025-02-20.
{{cite web}}:|first=has generic name (help) - ^ "Former paratrooper admits: My greatest enemy was stage fright". The Northern Echo. 2024-12-20. Retrieved 2025-02-20.
- ^ Newman, Keith (2024-12-19). "Ex-Paratrooper Channels Military Grit to Conquer Public Speaking and Launch New Business". Highlights PR. Retrieved 2025-02-20.
- ^ "Forging A Successful Career In Protection Through Smart Training Decisions – Shaun West - British Bodyguard Association". Retrieved 2025-02-20.
- ^ a b Desk, La (2025-02-05). "Editor's Picks! 30 TED(x) Talks That Have Made an Impact This Century! - Los Angeles Business Magazine". Retrieved 2025-02-20.
{{cite web}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ^ TEDx Talks (2024-12-12). Resilience, Leadership and Community: From Military To Business Success | Shaun West | TEDxViikki. Retrieved 2025-02-20 – via YouTube.