‘‘Empathy isn’t soft. It’s the strongest skill a leader can have’’
Neil Francis
The Leadership Book - Acheiving the empathetic Edge
Leadership Advisor and Thinking Partner
Develop Leaders Who Lead With Clarity, Humanity, and Impact
What I Do
I work with senior leaders and organisations as a leadership advisor and thinking partner who want to navigate complexity, lead with empathy, and deliver sustainable performance without losing themselves or their edge.
With over 30 years’ experience as an entrepreneur and CEO, I’ve founded, grown, and successfully exited businesses. I’m also the author of five books on leadership, creativity, and entrepreneurship, with a sixth - The Leadership Book: Achieving the Empathetic Edge - publishing in early 2026. Here is my LinkedIn profile.
My work takes two forms. I offer individual leadership advisory support for leaders facing specific challenges or transitions, and I also deliver a number of focused leadership programmes for those seeking a more structured developmental journey.
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How I Work
A Thoughtful, Grounded Approach
My approach is not about quick fixes or generic leadership models.
It is about:
creating space to think clearly
challenging assumptions
strengthening judgement
leading with empathy and confidence
I work best with leaders who value reflection, depth and practical insight.
‘‘When you create the right conditions, ideas appear. Creativity doesn’t happen by accident — it happens by design.”
Neil Francis
The Creative Thinking Book - how to ignite and boost your creativity
Leadership Programmes
I offer a small number of focused programmes designed to create space for thinking, reflection, and better leadership decisions.
The Empathetic Edge™
Executive leadership advisory focused on emotional intelligence, clarity, and confidence.
Explore Programme
The Creative Edge™
Creative thinking for leaders and teams navigating uncertainty and change.
Explore Programme
The Entrepreneur’s Edge™
Advisory support for developing entrepreneurial thinking in professional services leaders
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“The desire to act must outweigh the fear of getting it wrong.”
Neil Francis
The Entrepreneur’s Book - The Crucial ‘why’ questions that determine sucess’’
Let’s Talk
If you would like to explore working together, or simply have an initial conversation, you’re very welcome to get in touch.
📞 0771 252 7158
✉️ neil@neil-francis.com