Hi. I’m Tom.

Hi, I’m Tom Gardner, founder of The Management Distillery and international bestselling author of Exit Without The Exit.

After leaving McKinsey, I scaled three startups to exit and have advised businesses around the world. Now, I help founders exit their eight-figure businesses without selling them.

With a master’s degree in engineering and a finance degree, I joined McKinsey & Co as a strategy consultant. My experience opened doors in the startup space that led me to co-found and scale three different businesses. I’ve worked across industries - building, managing and scaling all key business functions. From starting dream programs, to reengineering car dealerships, I’ve taken a SaaS business global, and even advised a snake anti-venom business.

Here's the most important bit, I successfully exited all three of my founder roles without selling.

In doing all this, I’ve combined my strategic McKinsey experience with 15 years of execution experience to now be able to kick other founders out of their businesses, within 12 months! From 10X’ing staff compliments to unlocking 25% year on year growth for 5 years – I’ve helped my clients achieve some amazing business results while freeing Founders from their shackles.

My mission is to give Founders fulfilment, freedom and fortune. To release them from the Founder trap so they can go on to have further impact on the world and on their personal lives. They’ve earned it.  

Outside of the Boardroom, I’m a glutton for new adventures and experiences. When I left McKinsey, I promised myself that I would take up a new hobby every year. From drumming to becoming a yoga teacher, fly fishing to bow hunting, I continue to meet amazing people and ride new learning curves. I love wine and entertaining - especially hosting wine tastings (I did my WSET level 2 in 2015).