Meet Simon
Based in Melbourne, Simon Bowden is a highly respected Global Sales and Business Coach Strategist with over three decades of experience guiding CEOs, founders, and teams toward lasting growth. Through his firm, Simon Bowden Coaching, he has helped more than a thousand leaders across industries transform how they think, sell, and lead. Known for his pragmatic style and human-centered approach, Simon’s work goes beyond business performance, it’s about helping people rediscover clarity, confidence, and purpose in their professional journey.
For over three decades, Simon Bowden has been quietly shaping the growth stories of entrepreneurs and executives across Australia and beyond. A seasoned coach and strategist, Simon is known not just for his proven systems and commercial results, but for the grounded, human way he helps leaders rebuild, refocus, and rise.
What distinguishes Simon isn’t the scale of his success, though impressive ,but the depth of his understanding. His journey began long before the coaching industry took shape, and its roots stretch back to something deeply personal: a young boy’s determination to help his family stay afloat.
The Early Foundations of an Entrepreneur
Growing up in Melbourne, Simon learned the values of hard work and independence early. At just seven years old, he started his first business , a lawn mowing service, to support his single mother.
“I’ve always been a person who likes to help others around me be successful,” he reflects.
That early responsibility laid the groundwork for the kind of leader he would later become: practical, resourceful, and deeply committed to others’ growth.
After studying Visual Communication, Simon launched a graphic design firm in 1991. Within just 18 months, he had scaled it into a $2 million enterprise employing 15 staff , an achievement few could claim. Yet, even in that success, Simon felt something was missing.
“I was the face of the business, but I realised I was far more interested in helping my clients build their business than just delivering design work,” he recalls.
That insight would become the spark for a lifelong career in business coaching.
Resilience in the Face of Change
In the late 2000s, Simon faced a personal and professional turning point when he went through a divorce that left him emotionally and financially drained. “I could have crawled into a corner and cried for three months,” he admits. “But instead, I picked myself up, dusted myself off, and focused on rebuilding.”
With debt to repay and a renewed sense of purpose, Simon poured his energy into helping others succeed, building what would become a seven-figure coaching practice grounded in empathy, honesty, and results.
“Never give up,” he often tells clients. “No matter how bad things seem, there’s always a solution waiting for you.”
This philosophy now forms the heart of his work. Simon’s clients ,from small business owners to global CEOs , often come to him at a crossroads. “I’ve had business owners in their fifties sitting in my office in tears,” he shares. “They feel trapped by problems they don’t know how to solve, poor sales, ineffective marketing, team issues. My role is to take them by the hand, help them understand what’s really happening, and guide them through change.”
Coaching Built on Experience and Empathy
Today, Simon runs Simon Bowden Coaching, a Melbourne-based firm serving clients worldwide. His practice blends business strategy, marketing alignment, and leadership development, with a uniquely human touch.
Unlike many coaches, Simon avoids rigid programs and contracts. “I don’t lock clients into twelve-month agreements,” he explains. “Every business is different, and every problem deserves a tailored approach.” He prefers visiting clients in their workplaces, observing their operations firsthand, and crafting strategies that align with their real-world challenges.
Over the years, his approach has transformed countless organisations. From helping JMAX Engineering expand from a small Melbourne operation into a global player, to guiding BISTEC Global in doubling its revenue target from $5 million to $10 million within a year, Simon’s record speaks to both commercial acumen and genuine care.
Yet despite these measurable results, Simon’s definition of success remains refreshingly simple. “My reward isn’t an award or a title,” he says. “It’s seeing my clients build a better business, and a better life, for themselves and their families.”
Partnership and Purpose
Simon’s story is also one of partnership, both in business and in life. Three years ago, he married Naomi Bowden, founder of The Brand Advisory, who recently celebrated twenty years in business. Together, they’ve built a strong professional synergy and a reputation as one of Melbourne’s most dynamic entrepreneurial couples.
“We’re often called the ‘Power Couple,’” Simon says with a smile. “We support each other’s work and share the same values of integrity, creativity, and service.”
That shared vision has expanded their reach and strengthened their impact , blending Naomi’s design expertise with Simon’s business strategy to help clients grow holistically.
A Philosophy of Growth and Giving Back
At sixty, Simon shows no signs of slowing down. “I don’t see age as an excuse to step back,” he says. “I love coaching and plan to keep helping others succeed. I might reduce my client load, but I’ll never stop doing what I love.”
Outside of work, Simon finds balance in the quiet moments, walking by the lake near his home, reflecting on the day, and recharging for what’s next. His inspirations range from Simon Sinek and Richard Branson to his mother, who taught him resilience, and Naomi, who continues to remind him of the strength found in partnership.
For Simon Bowden, coaching isn’t a business, it’s a calling. His life stands as proof that adversity can be turned into advantage, and that true success lies not in scale, but in service. “Freedom,” he reflects, “is being able to do what I want, whenever I want, with who I want, and knowing I’ve made a difference along the way.”
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