Leading After Loss - Oliver Groarke
Grief changes you. It reshapes your world, shifts your priorities, and leaves an indelible mark on how you see life. But in the depths of loss, I found purpose—one that has not only shaped me as a person but has profoundly influenced my leadership journey.
Who I Am
My name is Oliver Groarke. I’m 31 years old and currently the Marketing Director of BGEN, where I built the marketing function from scratch, led a major rebrand, and played a key role in shaping the company’s growth strategy—ultimately contributing to its acquisition by M Group Services. Alongside my role at BGEN, I sit on the advisory board of It’s Time Charity, an organisation dedicated to supporting young people through grief, and I’m also an angel investor, working with various start-ups to help them realise their potential.
A Career Shaped by Change
I’ve always been ambitious. After studying Business at Leeds University, I stayed on for another year to complete a Master’s in Law, a decision partly fuelled by my love for learning and partly by my reluctance to leave the city I’d grown so attached to.
My professional journey started at Diageo, where I secured a spot on their European Marketing Graduate Programme. It was a dream start—moving from Manchester to London, selling Guinness and Hop House 13 to pubs in South London, then diving into culture marketing, working on influencer-led campaigns that embedded Diageo’s brands into music, sport, fashion, and food. My final role saw me join theScottish Malt Whisky team, where I helped relaunch Mortlach and supported the hugely successful Game of Thrones collaboration.
It was during this time—just as my career was taking off—that my life was turned upside down.
Losing My Mum
At 24, I lost my mum to a rare and aggressive form of ovarian cancer. She had been my rock, my biggest supporter, and the centre of our family. She was diagnosed the very weekend I moved to London, and for the next two years, my life became a balancing act—commuting home every weekend to be with her while navigating the pressures of a high-intensity career in the capital.
Losing her changed everything. It made me question my path and redefine success on my own terms. I no longer saw life through the narrow lens of career progression—I wanted purpose, family, and fulfilment.
Rebuilding & Finding Purpose
That shift in perspective led me back to Manchester, where I pursued a Master’s in Development Economics and Climate Change at theUniversity of Manchester. The world of corporate marketing had given me incredible experiences, but I wanted to work on something that had real impact.
That opportunity came when I was asked to lead the rebrand of Boulting Group, a 100-year-old engineering company. I developed theBGEN brand and, from there, built a marketing team from the ground up. Over the next few years, we tripled revenue, profit, and headcount, positioning BGEN for acquisition. More than just a business transformation, it was a personal one—I had found my place.
How Grief Shaped Me as a Leader
Losing my mum has fundamentally shaped my leadership style in ways I never expected.
Empathy & People-First Leadership
Grief gives you perspective. It teaches you that life isn’t just about hitting targets or driving growth—it’s about people. I strive to lead with empathy, ensuring that those around me feel valued, supported, and heard.
Resilience & Risk-Taking
When you experience profound loss, your perception of risk changes. Things that once seemed terrifying—career moves, big decisions, even failure—lose their power to intimidate you. You realise that if you can survive the worst life has to throw at you, you can handle anything. This mindset has pushed me to take bold steps in my career that I might not have taken otherwise.
A Purpose Beyond Profit
My mum dedicated her life to helping others—whether as a teacher in disadvantaged schools or as a foster carer to over 30 children. Her example drives me to use my career for good. That’s why I’m committed to mentoring young talent, supporting initiatives like It’s Time Charity, and investing in businesses that align with my values.
Advice for Those Navigating Grief
Grief doesn’t have a blueprint, and there’s no “right way” to move forward. But if I could offer two pieces of advice to anyone who has lost a parent at a young age, they would be:
There’s no “correct” way to grieve.
When I lost my mum, someone who had been through the same experience told me something that stuck with me: "Whatever you feel is right." There’s no timeline, no roadmap—grieve in your own way, in your own time.
Be kind to yourself.
Grief doesn’t have an endpoint. It ebbs and flows, sometimes hitting you years later when you least expect it. When that happens, allow yourself grace. Share how you feel with those around you so they can support you when you need it most.
Carrying My Mum’s Legacy Forward
The most important thing I want to share is that my mum was, and still is, the most influential person in my life. She dedicated her life to others—whether in teaching, fostering, or simply being an unwavering source of love and support for me and my brothers.
Her resilience, kindness, and unbreakable spirit inspire me every day. She shaped me into the leader I am today. And through my work—whether at BGEN, in investment, or with It’s Time Charity—I hope I’m making her proud.
If this resonates with you, or if you’ve been through something similar, I’d love to hear your story. Grief is something we don’t talk about enough—let’s change that together.