David Coleman's biography
- Former Royal Marines Commando who survived an ambush explosion
- Corporate performance coach and mental health advocate
- Respected speaker and broadcaster who overcame a lifelong stammer
David Coleman is a former Royal Marines Commando and award-winning business owner who has turned a life of extreme adversity into a platform for resilience, leadership, and mental health advocacy. Known for his remarkable journey from frontline combat and severe personal challenges to delivering keynote speeches in the House of Commons and on BBC News, David speaks with authenticity, clarity, and purpose.
On joining the Royal Marines at 16, David completed Commando training on his first attempt as the youngest member of his troop. Deployed to Afghanistan at 18, he survived a grenade blast causing extensive injuries, and returned to active service only a month later. A rare, life-threatening infection forced him back to the UK, where his recovery confronted him with further battles, including PTSD, anxiety, depression, and addiction. Today, David speaks openly about these experiences to help educate others in a similar position to get the help they need.
Also previously living with a severe stammer his entire life, and the knock-on mental effects of this, David persisted to work on his speech until the stammer was all but gone to inspire others with speech impediments, or any setback in life, that the impossible can be done, and through persistence and perseverance anyone can learn to talk again. David has now fully overcome his stammer despite being told he would never be able to do so.
Today, David delivers high-pressure team-building and leadership programmes for corporate and professional sporting clients including Red Bull, Bosch, HM Police Force, Warrington Wolves, and Land Rover. He was also invited to be interviewed by former editor in chief for "HELLO!" magazine turned award winning author, Rosie Nixon, on a panel of subject matter experts alongside England & Saracens rugby hero Alex Goode.
Audiences gain practical insight into resilience, communication, pressure management, and the tools needed to face adversity constructively. David equips leaders and teams with skills to build confidence, navigate stress, and develop mental strength.
Book David to empower your organisation with a powerful message of perseverance, adaptability, and courageous leadership.
David's showreel and videos
Why we recommend booking David
David Coleman draws on his extraordinary journey from Royal Marines Commando to award-winning business leader to deliver practical insights on resilience, communication, and mental strength. Book David today to inspire your team with proven strategies for overcoming adversity and building confident, adaptable leaders.
Finding a compelling voice to speak in the House of Commons is never easy, but David Coleman, who spent his entire life with a stammer, definitely did not disappoint in finding his. Drawing on his authentic lived experience—from commando training and operational service, through injury and multiple set backs, into his remarkable journey of recovery and civilian success—DC brought both power and reason as one of the Real Voices of the Covenant at this year’s All-Party Parliamentary Reception for the Armed Forces Covenant. Hosted by the Ministry of Defence in conjunction with the Royal British Legion, David spoke immediately before the Minister for Armed Forces (Al Carns) address, giving a human dimension and real-life impact to the policy agenda. I would wholeheartedly recommend David for any future speaking engagement without hesitation.
Stuart Fawcett
MP's Chief of Staff, House of Commons
We recently had the pleasure of hosting Dave Coleman, founder of Civvy to Commando and a former Royal Marine Commando, for a series of talks at LSH Auto. Dave delivered an incredibly powerful and personal message about overcoming adversity, drawing from his own life journey. From battling a childhood stammer to passing the Royal Marine Commando training on his first attempt, a feat accomplished by just 0.01% of candidates, to serving in Afghanistan and enduring severe injuries, his story is one of true grit and resilience. What stood out most was Dave’s brutally honest and confronting yet deeply inspirational approach. He showed us that success isn’t about being the best on paper, but about being willing to face fears, stay open, and never give up. His emphasis on teamwork, collective achievement, and pushing through hardship resonated profoundly with our team, making his sessions both relevant and truly uplifting. We’re grateful for the inspiration Dave brought to LSH Auto.
Vaughan Blackman
Managing Director, LSH Auto
I first met DC in May 2023 with I attended a Civvy 2 Commando corporate event. I genuinely loved the whole experience, but in reality I gained so much more than what I was hoping for. What impressed me was how quickly the instructors were able to take control of the group immediately gaining the respect of all of the recruits. I really saw people grow throughout the event and a team culture was quickly established. Having noticed so many crossovers from the military world to the corporate sector, I have engaged with DC in supporting me rollout a culture/leadership transformation program with Bosch UK. The first step was we invited DC into the Bosch office to deliver a talk to a group of senior leaders where topics like mindset, resilience and mental health were discussed. DC’s story was highly impactful, very moving, and incredibly inspiring. This has left a significant impression on people and several months later there still remains a hot topic of discussion in the office with noticeable lasting take aways. I would say this is one of, if not the most inspiring talk I have ever listened to in 30 years within the industry. We have agreed further plans tailored for our needs regarding how we progress these topics further with DC. Exciting times ahead!
Director of Global Operations, Bosch Mobility
