About
“I believe in the power of courageous conversation, in which people feel able to be open and honest as part of building trusting relationships.”
Leadership Partner, Facilitator, Mentor, Coach and Speaker, Author, and Host of the Leaders in Conversation Podcast
With more than 30 years' experience I have been working with global leaders across a range of sectors and industries for more than 30 years, specialising in helping senior leaders and their teams create a safe environment to bring out the best in each other and others. I value inclusive dialogue and diversity of thought and feeling and incorporate it as part of working collaboratively to deliver remarkable results and services.
I believe in the power of courageous conversation in which people feel able to be open and honest as part of building trusting relationships.
My Story
“From a young age I was curious about the world, the people I met and the conversations I had with them.”
I was brought up in a small mill town in the Pennines, Yorkshire, by my hard-working parents. Education and getting on in the world mattered to them, as did their Protestant faith. The impact of this early, deeply religious upbringing is something I have written about in the book ‘Children Growing Up with Religion’. At the age of 10, I was sent away to an all-girls Quaker boarding school in York.
On completing my first degree in Communication Studies at Sheffield Hallam University, I knew I wanted to work with people. I gained a Masters in Management Learning from Lancaster University and am an Accredited Mediator, by Regents College London. I am an Accredited Practitioner of MBTI (Myers Briggs Type Indicator), FIRO-B and Hogan which are tools widely used to understand peoples' personality types and decision-making styles to bring about positive behavioural change and promote team performance.
I am passionate about leadership, believing it to be personal and relational. In 2007, I published ‘Assertiveness and Diversity’, in which I explore, through theory and case studies, how individuals, teams, and organisations can make it possible for everyone to be valued for who they are and respected for what they do.
In 2013, I was interviewed on BBC4’s Ramblings and spoke about my love of the Walk and Talk approach. Whether working or relaxing, I love being outdoors. I regularly make the most of living on the edge of the South Downs in Sussex by enjoying walks and talks with friends, colleagues and clients.
Passionate about lifelong learning
I am passionate about learn and reading on the subjects of leadership, inclusivity, and how to create a collaborative culture in the workplace. I enjoy continually learning and educating myself, being creative through my love of writing and photography, and spending time exploring new topics and ideas that help me further my leadership and help others lead with confidence.