David Coleman

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.

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.

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!