Hello, I’m James Laidler!
I’m Pointerway’s Founder and Lead Coach.
As queer men, when we get older, we start to feel stuck.
We’re successful, comfortable, loved by those around us.
But it’s not quite enough somehow.
In 2019 I founded Pointerway because I was exactly where you are now:
You’re at the point where you feel happy with parts of your life, but at the same time you feel that something is missing.
I haven’t always been a life coach.
But I’ve certainly got a lot of life experience under my belt!
You can read my full bio at the bottom of this page.
I’m a British Academy Award-winning journalist, and I produced and anchored international news for the BBC.
I’ve been a member of the judiciary, hearing criminal cases and rehabilitating offenders.
And I’ve been a corporate trainer, developing and delivering courses for staff, to support new processes and systems.
In 2016 I gave it all up.
I changed careers and countries, relocating to America, to begin a journey of exploring who I am. I became more focused, self-aware, and began to live my life with confidence and authenticity.
I discovered that I could never achieve my full potential
because I wasn’t living as my authentic queer self.
And very soon other men started asking me to point the way to living life on their own terms, not to satisfy the expectations of others.
From spirituality and sex, to community and careers, there is such a breadth of LGBTQ+ life to explore, if only people knew how to find it.
So I decided to help show them, backed with a community of specialists from all walks of queer life.
We partner with world-class LGBTQ+ experts
to give you hands-on, practical experience.
We will challenge your assumptions.
We will push your boundaries.
We will show you the spectrum of existence
as a queer man in the 21st Century.
What People Are Saying
“I feel like I’ve opened my eyes and my soul to a whole new experience. I now realize that being a gay man means so much more than just who I sleep with. But even the sex is better now with James’s help!”
— Tony C.
“I found out how past events have shaped me as an adult queer man and have gained awareness of how guilt and shame have impacted me.”
— John M.
As part of your coaching with us, you’ll have one-on-one access and classes with our team, which comprises specialists such as:
licensed therapists focusing on racism, classism, homophobic societal expectations, and sexual trauma
professional trainers in sexual exploration, self-loving, kink, BDSM, non-monogamy, and polyamory.
queer historians and sociologists to highlight trends in behavior among gay men and ways to build community
experts in gender identity and expression from The Kinsey Institute
guest speakers on career transition, body image and weight loss, and straight pasts (including caring for children from previous relationships)
personal branding consultants helping you perfect your online profiles and photos
coaches in sex education, sexual health, holistic wellness, and food/nutrition
and many more joining our team all the time!
Ready to find out more?
I love to chat about what I do and how I can help you!
Schedule a chat with me to answer your questions and see whether coaching might be a good fit.
It’s free, zero pressure, and completely confidential.
This is your chance to tell me about your life and I’ll give you some suggestions for changes you can make right now to start living the queer life you want and you deserve!
James Laidler - Detailed Biography
James Laidler BSc (Hons), PgDip, Certified Life Coach
James Laidler is a British Academy Award-winning journalist, life coach, consultant, public speaker, and regular contributor for television shows and publications.
Originally from London, James fell in love with Chicago and moved there in June 2016, being given a Green Card as an ‘Alien of Extraordinary Ability’ for being in the top 1% of his field globally.
James spent more than a decade at BBC News, most recently as an Executive Producer of BBC Breakfast - the UK's highest-rated morning show - winning a BAFTA Award in 2015. He has trained and coached journalists across the world, including at Reuters and The New York Times. He was also a member of the BBC's diversity board for five years, championing fair LGBTQ+ representation in the Corporation's output and employment practices.
During his tenure at the BBC he managed several major operations and technology projects, including the biggest relocation of any broadcaster in history. Upon moving to the USA, he was headhunted to become a change management consultant, designing training plans and operational improvement approaches for several billion-dollar companies. He now blends that experience with his journalistic background to provide a holistic coaching and consulting service to global clients.
James is an undergraduate of the University of Southampton, where he studied Physics, and a postgraduate of Bournemouth University, where he graduated top of his class studying Multimedia Journalism and was awarded one of 12 BBC News scholarships.He founded Pointerway in 2019.
In his free time, he performs as That British Drag Queen, volunteers as a city tour guide with Chicago Greeter, and coaches children in Chicago Public Schools on literacy - with the help of dogs - through the non-profit SitStayRead. He lives with his husband in Chicago’s northernmost neighborhood, Rogers Park.