Heather Elkington is an entrepreneur, writer, and leadership coach reshaping how modern managers lead their teams. As the founder of Fresh Leadership World, she’s on a mission to build a world where people actually love the work they do by giving every manager the tools to lead with courage, clarity, and care.
Heather began her career as an Assistant Manager on the Harrods shop floor. She went on to help scale the SaaS company GoProposal to multi-million-pound revenue and an eight-figure exit, before joining Sage (FTSE 100) as Director of Operations, leading five high-performing teams. After seeing how outdated most management training had become, Heather founded Fresh Leadership World, which has now trained over 5,000 managers worldwide and reached tens of millions online. Her clients include global organisations such as Sony Music Publishing, the Ministry of Defence, Abercrombie & Fitch, American Express, and Specsavers.
She is a TEDx speaker, her talk ‘How to Manage Gen Z’ having amassed a staggering 18,000 views, and a Penguin-published author. Heather’s debut book, 'Your Boss Era,' offers a refreshing, practical guide to modern management with honest storytelling to help leaders make a real impact in the workplace. Her work has been featured in GQ and Forbes, and her candid, evidence-based approach has made her one of the most trusted voices in leadership today.
Warm, grounded, and deeply engaging, Heather’s speaking style turns complex leadership challenges into clear, actionable insights. She leaves audiences inspired to think differently about what great management can look like, and equipped to make it happen.
Heather Elkington's official speaking topics are listed below:
Stop Being Nice, Start Being Kind
Most managers avoid conflict in the name of being “nice”, and it’s costing your company time, money and trust.
This bold, energising session gives teams the mindset and frameworks to have the hard conversations they’ve been avoiding, without the drama.
How to Manage Gen Z
Gen Z has rewritten the rules of work, and most managers are still trying to play by the old ones.
This session dives into what Gen Z actually values and how to manage them in a way that drives accountability, creativity, and loyalty.
Using Heather’s TAPES™ Method, managers will learn how to create environments that help younger employees Thrive, Adapt, Perform, Engage and Stick.
This isn’t about pandering; it’s about understanding how to lead a new generation without losing standards or sanity.
Heather also offers a full-day session:
The Leadership Upgrade Day
Most teams operate at 60%. Not because they’re lazy. But because the systems, clarity, and confidence just aren’t there. This day changes that. We dig into what’s slowing them down, unlock new standards, and walk out with practical systems and actions that stick.
What you get:
- A pre-session strategy call to identify your team’s pressure points
- A fully bespoke agenda tailored to your leadership needs
- Hands-on frameworks, real-time coaching, and tough conversations tackled live
- Printable workbooks + implementation plans
- Sharper, aligned, and ready to go managers
Official Feedback From In-Person & Virtual Events
"Heather! Thank you so much for yesterday. Everyone absolutley loved your session! You were so humble, authentic, and represented everything we stand for. So relatable to the team. I had so many people tell me how much they valued you being there and how validating you were. It was perfect!' - Astrid & Miyu
"Heather, I have just finished watching the recording of you 'The presentation you wish your old boss had' you ran for the MOD Learning at Work Week. Very interesting and inspirational. After more than 40 years in the RAAF and RAF, I have picked up some great leadership tips.' - Ministry of Defence
"One of the best decisions I’ve ever made for my career and my confidence. I used to fear letting go, worried my team might outgrow me. Now I delegate with purpose, coach instead of hover, and have space to focus on my own work again. My team’s never been stronger, and every lesson from this course shows up in how I lead, every single day. " - Shared Access Ltd
"Heather’s training stood out because my team could interact throughout the session, making it engaging and practical. The one-to-one sessions added incredible value, giving each team member personalised support. I wouldn’t hesitate to invite Heather back as we continue to grow, her approach truly makes a difference.” - M Squared Accountants Ltd
- 2025 – Became a published author of ‘Your Boss Era’, establishing herself as one of the most refreshing and practical new voices in modern leadership
- 2024 – Delivered her first TEDx talk
- 2023 - She went on to found Fresh Leadership World
- 2020 - 2021 – Heather Elkington played a key role in scaling GoProposal and its successful acquisition by Sage
How to hire Heather Elkington
Contact the Champions Speakers Agency to provisionally enquire about hiring Heather Elkington for your next event, today. To get in touch, simply call an official booking agent on 0207 1010 553 or email us at [email protected] for more information.
** We do NOT accept requests for autographs, signed merchandise, fan mail, birthday messages or any other non-commercial contact with the speakers or acts. Each speaker on the website may not have necessarily worked with Champions in the past but are known to perform such engagements within the industry.
