A man in a business suit standing outdoors with a city skyline in the background, in black and white.

James Gibb, Founder of Deep Life Journey

Consultant & Writer

Ten important words worth remembering: “I don’t know enough to have an opinion about that.”

There are many things I try to keep an open mind about for that reason. In both my work and my writing, I explore ideas that influence how we think, how we communicate, and how we live.

Deep Life Journey brings together my work as a consultant and writer. It is home to my essays, photography, and the strategic services I offer to clients.

At its heart is a commitment to living more deliberately, thinking more deeply, and bringing greater care to the work of life.

Clarity in Communication.
Depth in Thought.

Learn More

Contact Me

James the Writer

Essayist & Photographer.

I write essays about the ideas that influence modern life, drawing from cinema, literature, and culture. My writing has appeared in publications including Arabian Business, and each Friday, I publish Deep Life Reflections, a weekly essay built around one idea worth your time. I’ve now written more than 150.

Photography appeals because it stops time. With over a decade behind the camera, I have built a body of work marked by history and memory, the wild and the contained. My photography was recognised as a finalist in the 2025 Berlin Photo Awards.

Explore My Essays

Explore My Photography

James the Consultant

Strategic Consultant & Coach.

I work with individuals and organisations on positioning, value, messaging, and clear communication. My background includes 25 years of global experience in marketing, communications, and strategy, including senior roles at Dell Technologies, board-level experience, and small business ownership.

As an ICF-accredited coach, I also partner with senior leaders, executives, and creatives at important moments of growth, change, or reinvention, helping them define the next chapter with greater clarity and conviction.

Work With Me

Deep Life Journey is rooted in the belief that life is best approached deliberately: by thinking clearly rather than reacting, by building craft in how we speak, work, listen, pay attention, and make things, and by treating identity as something tested, chosen, recalibrated, and recommitted to over time.

It also explores how we meet the difficult moments in life that challenge our often simplified ideas of who we are. Moments like career change, loss, health scares, or even success that no longer satisfies. Easy answers are rarely found here.

It does not promise transformation or trade in hacks. It is not self-help or therapy. Nor will it appeal to people looking for certainty or to be told what to think.

But for those who value critical thinking, depth and reflection over shallowness and speed, and the steady building of craft, Deep Life Journey offers a serious and human way of engaging with life as it is.

Deep Life Journey is where all my work comes together.

The practical and the personal.
The visual and the written.
The professional and the creative.

What Clients Say

James provided invaluable strategic support as I transitioned from corporate leadership to a portfolio of board, advisory, and founder roles. His insight, clarity of thought, and ability to shape complex experience into a coherent narrative have been instrumental in helping me define and communicate this next chapter with purpose.

Aongus Hegarty
Independent Director | Chair & Strategic Advisor | Former President at Dell Technologies

Strategic Consulting
James helped me step back and rethink how I was presenting my work to the world. Through a full strategic review, he brought clarity to my proposition and created a series of recommendations that aligned my messaging with the true value I offer my clients. His ability to understand complexity and articulate a consistent brand voice was exceptional.

Russell Hemmings
Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapist & Author

Strategic Consulting
James played a key role in bringing clarity and direction to how we introduced Lakeside Capital to the market. He led the strategic development of our launch brochure, shaping the messaging, voice, and design to reflect our values and vision with precision. He understood exactly what we needed and delivered it. I highly recommend James. He really brings tremendous value to any organisation he works with.

Tommy Geary
Executive Coach | Business Advisor | Investor

Strategic Consulting
Working with James has been transformative. His structured yet friendly approach built trust while helping me tackle complex challenges in my role as Chief Executive. He helped me discover solutions on my own, improving my decision-making, work-life balance, and personal growth. I highly recommend his coaching to new or established leaders.

Christopher Glasgow
Chief Executive, Glasgow, U.K

Strengths-Based Leadership Coaching
James is everything you could ask for in a coach. Working with him, I discovered my strengths and how to put them to use. I left each session with a positive outlook, learning a new insight about myself and equipped with steps to move closer to my goals.

Michelle Thacher
Instructional Design Manager, Florida, United States

Strengths-Based Leadership Coaching
Despite being disciplined and organised, I struggled with prioritisation — balancing my roles as a mother and entrepreneur. James is calm, empathetic, and knows exactly when and how to challenge you. Each session provided clear actions and new insights, improving my communication and confidence.

Ana-Maria Iliescu
Business Owner & Coach, Dubai, UAE

Strengths-Based Leadership Coaching
James was the keynote speaker at our inaugural Annual Scientific Convention, delivering a powerful talk to over 200 senior healthcare professionals. He shared three meaningful strategies for cultivating intention, balance, and focus, all brought to life through clear ideas and his own personal story of resilience. His message left the audience both moved and inspired.

Dr. Shine Ashokan
Senior Orthopaedic Surgeon, King’s College Hospital London Dubai

Keynote & Guest Speaker Talks
James delivered a fantastic talk as part of our Global Wellbeing Week, speaking to a global audience of Dell finance professionals. His story, which focused on resilience, mindset, and personal growth in the face of major surgery, was both inspiring and practical. James has an excellent ability to speak from the heart while delivering insights that stay with you long after.

Barry McNamara
Finance Operations Senior Director, Dell Technologies

Keynote & Guest Speaker Talks
James spoke at our People of the Future event in Dubai, where he explored the power of reframing as a tool for moving beyond limiting beliefs. He shared his story with humility and insight, offering the audience practical strategies for living with greater intention and depth. His talk was thoughtful, inspiring, and clearly appreciated by everyone present.

Olga Saphoznikova
Documentary Director & Producer

Keynote & Guest Speaker Talks

Explore the Deep Life Library

Deep Life Journey is home to my creative work: frameworks for living more deliberately, photography, notes on modern life, and essays drawn from cinema, literature, and culture.