Bob Keiller’s career has taken him from engineering and the energy industry to leading, buying, growing and selling businesses.

In this episode of Success or Excuses, James Fleming sits down with Bob Keiller to explore leadership, culture, communication and the power of storytelling. Bob shares how he moved from corporate life into leading a business, the brave decision to offer to buy part of Halliburton, and how storytelling helped him secure support and funding.

He also speaks about building a business where values weren’t just words on a wall, but the foundation for decision-making, culture and growth. From turning down work that didn’t fit their values to helping save Glen Craft in Aberdeen, Bob explains how culture became a real business differentiator.

James brings his own perspective into the conversation, sharing how storytelling has shaped the way he communicates leadership, mindset and belief through The Power Within Training.

Key moments include: ✔️ Bob’s journey from art and engineering into business leadership ✔️ Moving from corporate life into running his own business ✔️ The “boat underwater” strategy presentation ✔️ Offering to buy part of Halliburton ✔️ Raising funding through storytelling ✔️ Building a business around core values and culture ✔️ Turning down work when it didn’t align with their values ✔️ How culture helped grow the value of the business ✔️ The role of storytelling in leadership and communication ✔️ Bob’s work helping charities, entrepreneurs and Aberdeen city centre ✔️ Advice on being prepared, communicating clearly and creating culture

Follow James Fleming LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesflemingtpwtd/ Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/successorexcusespodcast YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@SuccessorExcusesPodcast Website → https://thepowerwithintraining.com/

Follow Bob Keiller LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobkeiller/

Website→ https://www.ourunionstreet.com/

Timestamps [00:00] Introduction to Bob Keiller [00:00:57] Bob’s background in art, engineering and energy [00:03:30] Moving into a managing director role within Halliburton [00:05:30] The “boat underwater” strategy presentation [00:07:30] Deciding to offer to buy the business [00:11:10] Raising funding through the Scots pine story [00:13:00] Creating the new business in 2006 [00:14:10] Choosing culture as the business differentiator [00:14:40] Building the DNA and core values of the business [00:16:30] Turning down work that didn’t align with the values [00:17:20] Finding a better solution for a client [00:19:40] How culture helped double the value of the business [00:21:00] James on values, vision and living the culture [00:22:20] Bob on communication and setting conditions for success [00:24:20] Community impact through Bangladesh and Glen Craft [00:27:10] James on the power of stories in leadership [00:28:00] Bob’s journey into corporate storytelling [00:30:40] The storytelling template Bob now teaches [00:33:20] Bob’s current work with business leaders and entrepreneurs [00:34:10] Our Union Street and changing the story of Aberdeen city centre [00:36:30] Bob’s top three pieces of advice [00:40:30] Closing thoughts and where to connect with Bob