Activating

Leaders

Leadership Trainers & Troubleshooters

We equip leaders with the practical skills, tools and content they need to inspire and mobilise the people they lead. That’s why we call ourselves Activating Leaders.

Our Products & Services

We Train Leaders

Media Training; Public Speaking; Gravitas & Executive Presence; Storytelling; Voice & Body Language Training … (more)

We Advise Leaders

Content Troubleshooting; Strategic Narrative Development; High-Impact Messages; Communications Strategy … (more)

We Empower Leaders

Visionary Thinking; Bold Mission Statements; Thought Leadership; Personal Branding; Leading by Example (Ethos) … (more)

Our Customers

CEOs

•

Politicians

•

Policy Makers

•

VIPs

•

HR & Talent Development Directors

•

Communications & Investor Relations Directors

•

Strategy & Change Management Specialists

•

CEOs • Politicians • Policy Makers • VIPs • HR & Talent Development Directors • Communications & Investor Relations Directors • Strategy & Change Management Specialists •

  • “Your presence, smart advice and creativity were of great support. I learned a lot, and very much appreciated the way you accompanied (the board) and helped us communicate with impact. I particularly liked the way you guided me on the gala dinner speech. From something that could have sounded ridiculous, you turned it into something funny. Thanks again and see you soon.” (CEO, Fortune Global 500 Company)

  • “I just wanted to drop a note through to say thank you for the time today. It was impactful, interesting, some real pointers and, importantly, enjoyable. It’s rare for me to have a few hours and I crystallized some real thinking during the session which was also great and very unexpected.” (Management Board Member, Top 10 Global Investment Bank)

  • “I cannot thank you enough for keeping me focused on audience, objective, logos, pathos, ethos ... Every minute spent with you was a great investment! Now I don't worry about the annual press conference or the Capital Markets Day as before ... I feel I can get through this. Thanks again.” (New board member, Global Top 10 carmaker)

  • "Sitting the whole day in a plane I had the first time to digest our training and your documents. Thank you very much. You really help me to unleash my potential! I will work the next weeks on my narrative for the group convention. Hope we will find some time to rehearse it together upfront." (CEO-elect, $3 billion turnover family firm)

  • "I did my presentation this morning. It went extremely well! The training day helped me to change how I present. One participant unprompted told me ‘You have an aura of knowledge about you’. Your encouragement was instrumental. So again I wanted to let you know how much of a difference our prep session made for me. Thank you.” (Head of Executive Development, Global Top 10 Financial Services Firm)

  • “Honestly, it was such a great training, both sessions, and I really feel I learned a tremendous amount and can put the training into practice … I definitely want to keep in touch.” (Board Member, Global Top 5 Sportswear Brand)

  • “The Capital Markets Day presentations went so well, and I hope you saw your own counsel pulling through with every presenter. The goal of cohesion, of teamwork, of channelled energy – this really came through, and everyone you coached took your training to heart! I did not want another day to go by without extending my personal thanks for your time and expertise. (Group Head of Communications, Global Top 10 Asset Management Firm)

  • “I would like to give you a short update regarding (his) pitch and the board meetings last week. Everything went well and smoothly. His contract extension also went through! He is more than happy. He said his pitch went better than ever. He was even praised by his fellow board members (and received a congratulatory text message from the CEO). So again: Thank you for the great training!” (Board Member’s Office, Global Top 5 software company)

  • “You did a fantastic job! (Our CEO’s) interview with the FT went really well. He stayed on-message and he made deliberate pauses before answering. He called me today to say that the training was fun and very helpful! Thanks again and let’s plan two more sessions next year for him.” (Head of Group Communications, Fortune Global 500 Company)

  • “Thank you for helping make last week’s leadership summit a true success! My favourite feedback was that we came across as one team. I found it a huge improvement compared to our last events. Many thanks for your direction and support. It was fun to work with you again and, once more, I learned a lot. I very much look forward to continuing our relationship.” (Divisional CEO, Global Top 5 insurer) 

  • “The coaching path I got was extremely effective with a lot of hints and takeaways, not only theory but practice as well. I could not believe at the end of the day the transformation I went into in just 6 hours. If I may say, among many courses I’ve received, this is very well invested money.” (Regional Managing Director, DAX 40 Company)

  • “(The trainer's) preparation, client management, content and delivery style were second to none. He is extremely personable and is able to challenge thinking in a way that is non-threatening and highly effective. He made an excellent impact with our leaders and his experience shone through. The feedback from delegates was extremely positive.” (Head of Employee Communications, FTSE 100 company)

  • “I used my pitch today and I think it might have worked ☺️ Client may well sign up … Hooray! Also had a board meeting this morning - I used the framework to present both my programs and they both got approved. So overall am delighted, thanks for the training - I found it really useful.” (Climate & Environment Director, Philanthropic Foundation)

  • “I wanted to introduce you two. L***** is an investor and is looking for a speaker coaching for one of her entrepreneurs. Paul is the best speaker coach I have met!! Over to you.” (CEO & Co-Founder, European tech unicorn)

Our People

In a fragmented leadership training market, we want to make ALP a globally recognised stamp of quality. Between us, we have supported hundreds of board members, politicians, central bankers, celebrities and world-class sportspeople, meaning we are comfortable training and advising at the highest level.

Even after we’ve taught a client everything we know, they often keep coming back because they value our practical insights, our honesty, and our unique energy. There are Fortune 500 CEOs and senior policymakers in-post today who we prepared for their job interviews and who continue to lean on us as trusted sounding-boards.

  • Paul Hoskins

    A former business journalist and conservatoire-trained actor. Paul has been training and advising leaders for a decade. He is a founding partner of Activating Leaders.

    Read Bio

  • Katharina Gebsattel (Germany)

    A trusted advisor to leading business figures and financiers, Katharina has provided strategic communications advice to some of the world’s biggest private equity firms and investment banks.

    Read Bio

  • Tara Joseph (North America)

    Leaders value the unique expertise Tara acquired in a career spanning journalism (on three continents); PR (on Capitol Hill); and a high-profile role as President of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong.

    Read Bio

  • Richard Laing

    Richard's world revolves around voice. A professional actor and voiceover artist, he works with clients to reactivate their own authentic voices so that they too can command and captivate the room.

    Read Bio

  • Lothar Lambertz

    A former head of media relations at one of Germany’s largest companies, Lothar has trained and acted as a crisis communications advisor to 100s of business leaders.

    Read Bio

  • Juliet Errington Mann

    Juliet has trained leaders at some of the world's biggest companies and worked in newsrooms spanning the globe, including CNN, CNBC, CGTN, Sky News, the BBC, TRT and Reuters.

    Read Bio

  • Douwe Miedema

    A former Reuters Chief Correspondent, newspaper editor and aide to senior policymakers, Douwe is a highly experienced communicator, advisor and content troubleshooter.

    Read Bio

  • Charlotte Otter

    A former head of executive communications and expert in Change Leadership, Charlotte helps clients position themselves reputationally. Her new book We Need New Leaders will be published in 2025.

    Read Bio

  • Mike Sergeant

    Mike trains and advises leaders around the globe. A former BBC journalist and public relations executive, he has a degree in economics from the University of Cambridge and is the author of PR for Humans.

    Read Bio

  • David Holdsworth, COO

    David is charged with putting Activating Leaders on a sustainable growth footing that will ensure we can grow without compromising quality! He is a founding partner of Activating Leaders

    Read Bio

The Activating Young Leaders Project

During training sessions we often see dawning (even tearful) looks of realisation on clients’ faces.

What follows, is a conversation about “why didn’t I learn this at school?” or “why did I have to wait until I was 48?”

That’s why we’re setting up The Activating Young Leaders Project, bringing leadership and communication skills to kids and young people of all backgrounds.

We have promised clients we will kick things off in 2024. Watch this space: www.activatingyoungleaders.org

Join the team

We’re building the best leadership training and advisory team in the business. To do so, we will need to diversify our own mix of talent as well as our product offerings. If you feel you would fit in, or more importantly could help us broaden our own horizons, we’d love to hear from you: careers@activatingleaders.com