We’ve spent our careers leading businesses to success. James, with a background in the Military, Leisure and Logistics, brings a structured approach to planning strategy and activation. At the same time, Valentina’s expertise in sales growth, business development and, importantly, relationship building has helped companies scale quickly and effectively.
Valentina Slater
Valentina’s career is a testament to ambition, adaptability, and exceptional sales expertise. She began in vehicle finance, mastering deal-making before rapidly rising to Sales Manager at Rentokil. Her ability to drive revenue and exceed targets set the stage for her future success. In 1996, she co-founded Direct Accident Management Ltd, where her strategic leadership fuelled rapid expansion, culminating in its parent group’s admission to AIM in 2018—solidifying her reputation as a business powerhouse.
Never one to stand still, Valentina turned to property development in 2019, successfully renovating up to six properties annually while driving an ambitious growth strategy. Recognising a major marketing opportunity within Direct Accident Management Ltd, she spearheaded McAMS’ sponsorship in British Superbikes, forging partnerships with Kawasaki and later Yamaha. Her strategic vision transformed McAMS into a widely recognised brand throughout the paddock and played a pivotal role in McAMS Yamaha’s championship victory in 2021.
Today, as the driving force behind Stride Consultancy Partners, Valentina’s leadership continues to inspire and deliver outstanding results. Her relentless pursuit of growth, ability to forge strong relationships, and talent for seizing opportunities mean that success is never left to chance. It is worked for, deliberately.
Valentina’s strength lies in structuring, managing, and growing high-performing sales teams, ensuring businesses not only expand but sustain their success.
James Slater
With over 30 years of leadership experience, James brings a sharp strategic mind, operational expertise, and hands-on problem-solving to every challenge. A former Airborne Forces, Army Physical Training Corps, and Intelligence Services soldier, he applies military precision, resilience, and strategic thinking to the business world.
Armed with a Sports Science degree, James has worked across sectors including Leisure, Fleet Management, Hire Services, and Operational Logistics. A brief stint in television sharpened his communication skills before he transitioned fully into business, most recently helping launch a tech-driven Asset Management startup.
James excels in driving efficiency, risk management, and growth strategies, helping businesses scale and improve performance. At Stride Consultancy Partners Ltd, he delivers tailored solutions, working closely with clients to navigate challenges and unlock sustainable success.
From the military to the boardroom, James’s adaptability, innovation, and leadership continue to make an impact.
Stride Consultancy Partners
At Stride Consultancy Partners, we believe in practical, results-driven solutions. Founded by experienced business leaders, we bring decades of expertise in leadership, sales, and business growth.
AI-Enabled Delivery
Stride is built on decades of senior leadership experience, supported by an AI operating layer we call Nova. Nova is not a member of staff. It is the intelligent system working behind the scenes to make our delivery faster, sharper and more consistent.
Working alongside James and Valentina, Nova strengthens the structure, rigour and scalability of every client engagement, including:
- Governance and operational frameworks
- Financial modelling and forecasting structure
- Corporate positioning and sales deck development
- Risk management and compliance mapping
- Process design and documentation
- Brand and content refinement
The result is straightforward: complex operational challenges turned into clear, structured, scalable solutions, with human judgement always owning the decision.