James Davis is the co-founder of The Midlife Mentors, author of The Midlife Male Handbook, and an international speaker focused on men’s mental health, wellbeing, and performance. His journey began in the corporate world, where he held leadership roles at Viacom, News International, and Vodafone. With a background in psychology and coaching, he eventually decided to dedicate himself fully to the wellbeing space. At EliteX, we are proud to have James Davis as part of the edition: Impactful Business Icons to Look Out For in 2025.
James Davis | Co-Founder | The Midlife Mentors
Over the last decade, James and his wife Claire have built The Midlife Mentors into a respected global brand, working with companies like Google, Shell, KPMG, Citibank, Deutsche, and NBC Universal. His work today focuses on helping men navigate midlife with greater balance and confidence while guiding organisations to build cultures where wellbeing and performance go hand in hand.
The inspiration behind James’s work came from his own experiences in his forties, a time when he faced questions about identity, purpose, and direction. Realising that many men experience similar struggles in silence, he set out to create a space for open and honest conversations about male midlife. This vision led to the creation of The Midlife Mentors and later, The Midlife Male Handbook. Through these platforms, James aims to give men the knowledge and tools to thrive in midlife, not merely survive it. His mission is to challenge outdated ideas around men’s health and to encourage open dialogue about topics such as mental wellbeing, low testosterone, and andropause.
“Wellbeing isn’t a luxury; it’s the foundation of resilience, creativity, and growth.”
At the heart of The Midlife Mentors is a simple but powerful mission: to empower both individuals and organisations to perform better by understanding the factors that influence mood, energy, and mental clarity. What sets their approach apart is its combination of psychology, physiology, and lived experience. The programmes developed by James and Claire are evidence-based and designed to create real change. They focus on helping men rebuild confidence, energy, and purpose, while also supporting businesses to improve engagement, retention, and leadership performance through wellbeing-driven strategies.
Building the business came with its share of challenges. One of the earliest hurdles was convincing corporate leaders that wellbeing was not just a nice-to-have but a critical driver of performance. As the business grew, the challenge shifted to maintaining authenticity and depth while scaling globally. James and Claire overcame these challenges by staying rooted in their purpose, refining their message, and building a strong support system. Drawing from his background in corporate strategy, James blended structure and scalability with a deeply human approach.
His leadership style is collaborative and grounded in values. He believes in fostering psychological safety where every team member feels encouraged to share ideas and take ownership. Motivation, for James, comes from connection and clarity. He ensures his team understands the mission and the impact of their work. Leading by example, he prioritises his own wellbeing and authenticity, setting a standard that inspires others to follow.
For James, success is about alignment between values, purpose, and daily action. Professionally, it means transforming how midlife is perceived – making it a time of opportunity and growth rather than decline. Personally, success is about strong relationships, good health, and the freedom to live with joy and intention.
Innovation plays a central role in his journey. James constantly explores new ways to blend science and storytelling, whether through books, digital tools, or corporate programmes. He and Claire are currently working on a new book aimed at helping midlife couples thrive, a project that reflects their shared passion for making wellbeing practical and relatable.
To stay relevant in a fast-changing world, The Midlife Mentors balance data and human insight. They stay informed about emerging research in psychology and workplace wellbeing while remaining deeply connected to their clients’ real-world challenges. Their work continues to evolve with global shifts like hybrid working and technological change, while maintaining a strong foundation in science and empathy.
James’s long-term goal is to change how male midlife is understood, both personally and professionally. He aims to normalise conversations around men’s health and mental wellbeing, just as society has done for women’s menopause. His vision for 2025 and beyond is to expand The Midlife Mentors’ reach, taking its message to more organisations, stages, and communities worldwide. Alongside this, he is focused on completing his new book, which he believes will help countless men and couples embrace midlife as a powerful stage of growth.
Ultimately, James’s story is one of purpose and authenticity. He has learned that true impact comes from aligning values with action and that resilience is built through self-awareness, balance, and connection. His message is simple but transformative – that wellbeing is not a luxury but the foundation of lasting success, both in business and in life.
“I wanted to spark an honest conversation around men’s midlife, turning it from a silent struggle into a stage of growth and strength.””I wanted to spark an honest conversation around men’s midlife, turning it from a silent struggle into a stage of growth and strength.”
