I’ve previously written a recommendation for Steven Windmill, but I also want to speak to his remarkable resilience in the face of adversity. During our time in Iraq amidst the intense violence of 2008-2009, Steven was the very embodiment of calm, composure and humor. While others faltered in chaos, Steven remained a pillar of strength. His ability to lead, make sound decisions, and maintain a rational mindset under immense pressure saved lives and preserved order in situations where few could have succeeded. As a senior military leader, Steven’s capacity to adapt and respond to high-stress environments was exemplary. He inspired confidence in his team, grounding them in the belief that no challenge was too great to overcome with clear thinking and steady resolve.
His resilience, however, extends beyond the battlefield. Upon transitioning to the business world, Steven carried with him that same mental toughness, foresight, and ability to remain composed in complex situations. Whether navigating post-acquisition integrations or overseeing delicate personnel management, his unshakeable resolve became a hallmark of his success. Leading over 80 integrations in sectors as volatile as IT and cybersecurity, Steven’s military-caliber leadership proved invaluable. His business acumen is not just rooted in technical expertise, but also in his calm, calculated mindset—the same strength that carried him through the most challenging days of his military career. He doesn’t just manage; he leads, focusing on human connections and cultural alignment, which makes his leadership all the more impactful.
A decade after Iraq, Steven’s resilience was tested again on a personal front. After the end of his marriage, he suffered the loss of his father, shortly followed by his mother dying during the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead of retreating into grief, Steven channeled his energy into supporting others. Amidst his own personal challenges, he became a central figure for former military personnel and friends struggling with isolation during the pandemic. Through WhatsApp, Steven charitably created a much-needed network of support, offering empathy, camaraderie, and purpose to those battling loneliness and despair from the covid lockdowns and isolation. His actions likely saved lives and restored stability to many, just as he had done during his military service.
Steven’s ability to thrive in both his military and business careers, while offering support to others in moments of crisis, is a true testament to his character. His strength and determination in the face of adversity have been a beacon of hope for many. Whether leading through chaos, or quietly offering a hand to those in need, Steven’s resilience and compassion make him a truly exceptional individual.
It is a privilege to call him both a friend and colleague. Steven’s unwavering resolve and his capacity to lift others in the toughest of times will continue to inspire all who have the honor of knowing him.I’ve previously written a recommendation for Steven Windmill, but I also want to speak to his remarkable resilience in the face of adversity. During our time in Iraq amidst the intense violence of 2008-2009, Steven was the very embodiment of calm, composure and humor. While others faltered in chaos, Steven remained a pillar of strength. His ability to lead, make sound decisions, and maintain a rational mindset under immense pressure saved lives and preserved order in situations where few could have succeeded. As a senior military leader, Steven’s capacity to adapt and respond to high-stress environments was exemplary. He inspired confidence in his team, grounding them in the belief that no challenge was too great to overcome with clear thinking and steady resolve. His resilience, however, extends beyond the battlefield. Upon transitioning to the business world, Steven carried with him that same mental toughness, foresight, and ability to remain composed in complex situations. Whether navigating post-acquisition integrations or overseeing delicate personnel management, his unshakeable resolve became a hallmark of his success. Leading over 80 integrations in sectors as volatile as IT and cybersecurity, Steven’s military-caliber leadership proved invaluable. His business acumen is not just rooted in technical expertise, but also in his calm, calculated mindset—the same strength that carried him through the most challenging days of his military career. He doesn’t just manage; he leads, focusing on human connections and cultural alignment, which makes his leadership all the more impactful. A decade after Iraq, Steven’s resilience was tested again on a personal front. After the end of his marriage, he suffered the loss of his father, shortly followed by his mother dying during the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead of retreating into grief, Steven channeled his energy into supporting others. Amidst his own personal challenges, he became a central figure for former military personnel and friends struggling with isolation during the pandemic. Through WhatsApp, Steven charitably created a much-needed network of support, offering empathy, camaraderie, and purpose to those battling loneliness and despair from the covid lockdowns and isolation. His actions likely saved lives and restored stability to many, just as he had done during his military service. Steven’s ability to thrive in both his military and business careers, while offering support to others in moments of crisis, is a true testament to his character. His strength and determination in the face of adversity have been a beacon of hope for many. Whether leading through chaos, or quietly offering a hand to those in need, Steven’s resilience and compassion make him a truly exceptional individual. It is a privilege to call him both a friend and colleague. Steven’s unwavering resolve and his capacity to lift others in the toughest of times will continue to inspire all who have the honor of knowing him.
𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐌 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐓𝐃 𝐌𝐁𝐀: 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐲𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫
If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to work with a living legend, then you need to know about Steven Windmill!
𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐬𝐬: Steven is a polymath, a rare breed of intellectual powerhouse who can converse as easily about quantum physics as he can about market trends. His depth of knowledge provides a well-rounded approach to problem-solving that is as innovative as it is effective.
𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩: Steven isn’t just a leader; he’s a visionary who sees the chessboard ten moves ahead. When he’s at the helm, you’re not just playing the game—you’re changing it! His strategies are so groundbreaking, they don’t just set trends; they revolutionize industries!
𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞: Having worked closely with international organizations and intelligence agencies, Steven brings a level of strategic acumen that is nothing short of genius. He knows how to navigate complex landscapes while keeping his eye on the ultimate prize.
𝐔𝐧𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Steven has an innate ability to bring out the best in everyone around him. He’s not just building teams; he’s building dream teams. His collaborative spirit transcends borders and breaks down barriers, making him a unifying force in any venture.
𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭: Steven’s influence isn’t confined to one country or industry. He’s a global titan whose work has had ripple effects across continents. Whether it’s in the military, IT, or cybersecurity, his name is synonymous with transformative change. 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐌 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐓𝐃 𝐌𝐁𝐀: 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐲𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫 If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to work with a living legend, then you need to know about Steven Windmill! 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐬𝐬: Steven is a polymath, a rare breed of intellectual powerhouse who can converse as easily about quantum physics as he can about market trends. His depth of knowledge provides a well-rounded approach to problem-solving that is as innovative as it is effective. 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩: Steven isn’t just a leader; he’s a visionary who sees the chessboard ten moves ahead. When he’s at the helm, you’re not just playing the game—you’re changing it! His strategies are so groundbreaking, they don’t just set trends; they revolutionize industries! 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞: Having worked closely with international organizations and intelligence agencies, Steven brings a level of strategic acumen that is nothing short of genius. He knows how to navigate complex landscapes while keeping his eye on the ultimate prize. 𝐔𝐧𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Steven has an innate ability to bring out the best in everyone around him. He’s not just building teams; he’s building dream teams. His collaborative spirit transcends borders and breaks down barriers, making him a unifying force in any venture. 𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭: Steven’s influence isn’t confined to one country or industry. He’s a global titan whose work has had ripple effects across continents. Whether it’s in the military, IT, or cybersecurity, his name is synonymous with transformative change.
I speak from experience and observation through many years of association with Steve.
I first worked with him when he was the civil servant tasked with running the national pilot project for Business Growth Training, to test the ministerial assumption that by raising skills within small businesses their financial performance would improve. He appointed my consultancy firm as the first UK small business specialist of the day and together, we found a South London commercial stationer that was suffering from the sudden death of its founder leaving his 3 young sons with the problem of how to run the business. We set to work and over 6 months raised its sales and profits by training and focusing the sons on marketing and financial management skills.
Our following 28 pilots (of 60 nationally) went on to further prove the point that strategically raising business skills equals raises business performance. On that basis, the Secretary of State announced a £250m national programme to roll out the methods that we had developed. Steve was first off the mark to recruit 100 businesses throughout South London that paid £5000-£10000 each towards the government subsidised service. Steve later founded the first Training and Enterprise Council (TEC) when the government’s Training Agency was privatised, which was followed by another joint project to pilot and develop the Investors in People Standard (IiP) and then commercialise it nationally with a £5bn, 10-year budget.
All this deepened Steve’s interest in business to the extent that he studied in his limited spare time for an MBA, graduating with distinction. This qualified him to head up Thames Valley Enterprise’s Business strategy unit where he was responsible amongst other things for penetrating more than half the notoriously unapproachable multinationals (MNC) along the M4 corridor when we persuaded them to collaborate with us to support small businesses with best practices.
Leaving the civil service / NGO scene he moved into the business consultancy market, making his mark with the likes of Sun Alliance, Eagle Star, HP, Microsoft, Scottish Power and several MNC manufacturing firms, where he led transformation/rationalisation) programmes that improved performance and profit per employee.
As a private contractor to the public sector he led major MOD (Defence) programmes that required £19bn of rationalisation, outsourcing, and privatisation and developed the forecasting and KPI monitoring processes that underpin £1bn pa maintenance of much of UK Royal Navy fleet. At the same time he worked on rationalising the £30bn nuclear commissioning and decommissioning supply chain.
As a senior officer in the British Army Reserve, he has served in Iraq and Afghanistan, when he found himself in temporary command of 200,000 personnel! Coming to the attention of the Iraqi prime minister for his original views, he advised the government on small business development post-war and holds an honorary professorship at aI speak from experience and observation through many years of association with Steve. I first worked with him when he was the civil servant tasked with running the national pilot project for Business Growth Training, to test the ministerial assumption that by raising skills within small businesses their financial performance would improve. He appointed my consultancy firm as the first UK small business specialist of the day and together, we found a South London commercial stationer that was suffering from the sudden death of its founder leaving his 3 young sons with the problem of how to run the business. We set to work and over 6 months raised its sales and profits by training and focusing the sons on marketing and financial management skills. Our following 28 pilots (of 60 nationally) went on to further prove the point that strategically raising business skills equals raises business performance. On that basis, the Secretary of State announced a £250m national programme to roll out the methods that we had developed. Steve was first off the mark to recruit 100 businesses throughout South London that paid £5000-£10000 each towards the government subsidised service. Steve later founded the first Training and Enterprise Council (TEC) when the government’s Training Agency was privatised, which was followed by another joint project to pilot and develop the Investors in People Standard (IiP) and then commercialise it nationally with a £5bn, 10-year budget. All this deepened Steve’s interest in business to the extent that he studied in his limited spare time for an MBA, graduating with distinction. This qualified him to head up Thames Valley Enterprise’s Business strategy unit where he was responsible amongst other things for penetrating more than half the notoriously unapproachable multinationals (MNC) along the M4 corridor when we persuaded them to collaborate with us to support small businesses with best practices. Leaving the civil service / NGO scene he moved into the business consultancy market, making his mark with the likes of Sun Alliance, Eagle Star, HP, Microsoft, Scottish Power and several MNC manufacturing firms, where he led transformation/rationalisation) programmes that improved performance and profit per employee. As a private contractor to the public sector he led major MOD (Defence) programmes that required £19bn of rationalisation, outsourcing, and privatisation and developed the forecasting and KPI monitoring processes that underpin £1bn pa maintenance of much of UK Royal Navy fleet. At the same time he worked on rationalising the £30bn nuclear commissioning and decommissioning supply chain. As a senior officer in the British Army Reserve, he has served in Iraq and Afghanistan, when he found himself in temporary command of 200,000 personnel! Coming to the attention of the Iraqi prime minister for his original views, he advised the government on small business development post-war and holds an honorary professorship at a
Steven was the British Military Expert who helped us with “Theatre of War” specific language while we were designing a Pashton language course for our soldiers in Afghanistan.
Steve demonstrated expertise and professionalism throughout the project. I am so proud to have had the chance to work with Steven. I would be lucky to work with him again.Steven was the British Military Expert who helped us with “Theatre of War” specific language while we were designing a Pashton language course for our soldiers in Afghanistan. Steve demonstrated expertise and professionalism throughout the project. I am so proud to have had the chance to work with Steven. I would be lucky to work with him again.
Steven is one of those rare breeds of business exectitves, guru, mentor, friend and philosopher all rolled into one. I am not going to say much about Steven because one short phrase is enough to communicate to the outside world what sort of guy Steven is: Steven creates and leads
disciples, among those that he leads and those that hire him.Steven is one of those rare breeds of business exectitves, guru, mentor, friend and philosopher all rolled into one. I am not going to say much about Steven because one short phrase is enough to communicate to the outside world what sort of guy Steven is: Steven creates and leads disciples, among those that he leads and those that hire him.
Steven and I served together in Iraq where he spearheaded efforts at a national level to unify the government. He is a strategic visionary of the highest order and exceptional leader.Steven and I served together in Iraq where he spearheaded efforts at a national level to unify the government. He is a strategic visionary of the highest order and exceptional leader.
I worked with Steven over some 2 years at the inception of the MOD Defence Training Rationalisation programme. He was pivotal in drawing up the outline and then the detail of the initial programme using a combination of critical analysis, innovative thinking and hard work. I am delighted to recommend Steven as a strategic thinker with the pragmatism to turn strategy into detailed plans.I worked with Steven over some 2 years at the inception of the MOD Defence Training Rationalisation programme. He was pivotal in drawing up the outline and then the detail of the initial programme using a combination of critical analysis, innovative thinking and hard work. I am delighted to recommend Steven as a strategic thinker with the pragmatism to turn strategy into detailed plans.
Steven and I worked in parallel courses for many years in the Army and he is known to me well as a very professional competent and hard working officer who has a great deal to offer employers and colleaguesSteven and I worked in parallel courses for many years in the Army and he is known to me well as a very professional competent and hard working officer who has a great deal to offer employers and colleagues
Steven is a highly intelligent and astute strategic thinker.
He has a particular ability to think outside of the box and create innovative solutions to complex problems. His proposed solutions were often game changers and he would work tirelessly to see them become reality.
In his role as my line manager I found him to be a supportive and encouraging leader and would gladly work for him again.Steven is a highly intelligent and astute strategic thinker. He has a particular ability to think outside of the box and create innovative solutions to complex problems. His proposed solutions were often game changers and he would work tirelessly to see them become reality. In his role as my line manager I found him to be a supportive and encouraging leader and would gladly work for him again.
A brilliant strategic thinker who was pivotal in establishing the top level defence priority – the Defence Cultural Specialist Unit. His particular contribution was in sourcing alternative funding streams without which the unit could not have been established. It is a measure of his financial acumen that the multi-million pound bid was one of only two that were accepted by MOD in that financial year.A brilliant strategic thinker who was pivotal in establishing the top level defence priority – the Defence Cultural Specialist Unit. His particular contribution was in sourcing alternative funding streams without which the unit could not have been established. It is a measure of his financial acumen that the multi-million pound bid was one of only two that were accepted by MOD in that financial year.
Steven is a highly effective and conscientious manager with a great deal of experience in managing complex projects. Other than well developed management skills he is very good at inspiring people to deliver. Anthony PalmerSteven is a highly effective and conscientious manager with a great deal of experience in managing complex projects. Other than well developed management skills he is very good at inspiring people to deliver. Anthony Palmer
Steven gave a great contribution to the NATO Training Mission-Iraq. He acted as smart, concrete, determined and very professional UK Army Reservist. For these reasons I recommend Steve to all the employers would like to have him in their Organizations.Steven gave a great contribution to the NATO Training Mission-Iraq. He acted as smart, concrete, determined and very professional UK Army Reservist. For these reasons I recommend Steve to all the employers would like to have him in their Organizations.
Steven is an immensly talented strategic thinker and operator. Having worked closely with him over a number of years I have absoluetly no hesitation in recommending him for any senior strategic management post or activity.Steven is an immensly talented strategic thinker and operator. Having worked closely with him over a number of years I have absoluetly no hesitation in recommending him for any senior strategic management post or activity.
