Learning Leaders Network

This session explored Leadership Shadows and Cultural Webs with Kathie Knell, MBE — a powerful session on the unseen influence leaders have on organisational culture.

Together, we reflected on how what leaders say, do, measure, and prioritise becomes a blueprint for behaviour. Kathie challenged us to look through a gendered lens, embrace human-centred leadership, and acknowledge that everyone shapes the culture.

From Johnson & Scholes’ Cultural Web to the British Army’s Mission Command philosophy, we saw how rituals, symbols, and routines can either entrench or shift a culture. A reminder that change starts with us.

In this inspiring and thought-provoking session, leadership expert Rick Cooper explored the idea that courage isn’t just an individual trait — it’s a behaviour that spreads.

Drawing on real-life examples and powerful storytelling, Rick challenged us to rethink what courage looks like in everyday leadership. It’s not always bold or dramatic — sometimes, it’s the quiet choice to speak up, to stand beside someone, or to do what’s right even when it’s uncomfortable.

Key themes from the session included:

• How small acts of courage can create a ripple effect across teams and cultures
• Why courageous leadership is key to building trust, inclusion and psychological safety
• The role of vulnerability and authenticity in inspiring others to be brave
• Practical ways to foster courage in ourselves and others — even when the stakes feel high

Rick reminded us that when one person leads with courage, it gives others permission to do the same. The session left many feeling energised and empowered to lead with more intention, heart, and boldness.

Unlocking creativity isn’t just about having great ideas — it starts with creating the conditions where people feel safe to share them. In this insightful panel session, we explored the powerful role of psychological safety in building high-performing, innovative teams.

Our expert speakers, Amandeep Hothi and Bep Dhaliwal, shared real-world insights on what it takes to foster an environment where individuals feel confident to speak up, take risks, challenge the status quo, and admit mistakes — without fear of judgement or consequence.

Key takeaways from the session included:

• Why psychological safety is a prerequisite for innovation and meaningful collaboration
• How leaders can model openness and vulnerability to build trust
• Practical ways to encourage inclusive conversations and invite diverse perspectives
• The ripple effect of psychological safety on team morale, problem-solving and performance

The session left attendees with a renewed sense of responsibility — and possibility — in shaping cultures where everyone can contribute, grow, and thrive.

Great leaders, like great athletes, don’t rely on talent alone – they train. In our first session of 2025, our CEO Samantha Caine, explored the concept of Leadership Fitness and the mindsets and habits that help leaders stay effective, energised and adaptable. Samantha shared practical tools and used group dicussions to consider:

Are we playing to our leadership strengths to inspire trust and deliver results?

How flexible are we when the game changes – new teams, shifting priorities, tough challenges?

Can we juggle demands without losing focus or momentum?

This session sparked thoughtful conversations around self-awareness, intentional habits and the need to build in recovery as well as action. It reminded us that leadership isn’t just about leading others – it’s also about leading ourselves well.

Justin Featherstone

Justin is a leadership consultant and expedition leader. He has an interest in researching leadership in traditional communities around the world, spending time with communities such as the Wai Wai Tribe in Guyana and bringing the lessons learnt back to the modern working world. Using personal case studies from expeditions around the world, Justin brings to life the power of kindness and challenges perceptions by introducing compassionate leadership.

Hannah Williams

Hannah discusses the influence of your surroundings on your artistic evolution and business acumen. Asking us to think about how our environments have shaped our
perspectives and contributed to our successes.

Dr Starling Hunter

Starling is the co-founder of Organalytic, a Stockholm-based advisory and consultancy specializing in organizational network analysis. Starling explores how we can use organisational network analysis to reduce silos, enhance communication and increase knowledge flow within our organisations.

Danny Matthews

Navigating change has always been challenging, but over the last 3 years our workforce, our leadership and our ability to adapt has been tested – without prior warning. Danny explores the 12 principles that he believes guide a highly productive and happy workforce including findings from his remote working experiment with 8 remote employees, ditching offices and work hours in the process.

Kate Atkins

Kate Atkin is an award-winning speaker.
Research indicates that over 70% of the population experience a feeling of fraudulence, worrying that they will be ‘found out’ at some point in their lives, discovered not to be as good as others think they are or harbour a sense that they don’t deserve the position they have attained. This is commonly referred to as ‘Imposter Syndrome’ and Kate explores how we can manage our inner critic at work.

Helen Franklin

Helen Franklin is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute for Personnel & Development, holds a Masters in Coaching & Mentoring Practice, and is certified at Senior Coaching Practitioner level with the EMCC. Helen shares some key models and tips on how to effectively structure team coaching to ensure greater value add for the team and their stakeholders