In 2019, life unravelled in ways he never expected. His second marriage ended. A serious cycling accident left him with 12 fractures, multiple plates in his ribs, and months of recovery. At the same time, a milestone birthday forced him to confront a question he had spent years avoiding.

Despite business success and many outward signs that life was working, he felt lost, confused and disconnected from who he really was.

What followed was a deep personal journey of reflection and growth. Along the way, Mark came to realise that one of his greatest struggles was vulnerability. He had spent much of his life being capable, resilient and self-reliant, but far less comfortable being open about his fears, doubts and imperfections.

He has not mastered vulnerability. He still practises it. He still gets it wrong at times. But he has discovered the freedom, connection and self-acceptance that become possible when we stop pretending to have everything together.

Over the years, Mark has seen the same struggle in many successful men. Men who have built businesses, careers and families. Men who are respected by others but who sometimes feel unseen themselves. Men carrying questions, disappointments and uncertainties that rarely find their way into everyday conversation.

The Real Table was created for those men.

Mark's role is not to be the expert with all the answers. It is to create a trusted space where honest conversations can happen, where meaningful connections can grow, and where men can discover that they are not alone in what they are carrying.