Ian Windle is an award-winning keynote speaker, leadership coach and Amazon best-selling author who has inspired thousands of leaders across the world. With over 130 speaker sessions delivered to Vistage CEO groups in the UK, Canada and the US, Ian is known for his ability to challenge, engage and energise audiences. His TEDx talk ‘Why You Should Have an Unreasonable Dream’, has been viewed more than 40,000 times and captures the essence of his speaking philosophy: to empower people to achieve what once seemed impossible. His biggest achievement to date is the publication of his book, ‘The Leadership Map’, which became an Amazon No.1 Best Seller in Entrepreneurship.
Ian’s early career was shaped by 16 years at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, where he worked in London, Hong Kong, Lisbon, Berlin, Brussels, The Hague, Oslo, Stockholm and Rome. Rising through roles such as Senior Consultant and Political Officer, he developed skills in diplomacy, cultural awareness and leadership in high-pressure environments. During this time, he also headed graduate recruitment, introducing assessment centres and influencing long-term policy. Keen to develop academically, Ian gained an MBA from Henley Business School, specialising in strategic marketing, alongside a Diploma in Marketing, and later an Executive and Corporate Coaching Diploma (ILM7). These experiences laid the groundwork for his transition into business leadership and professional speaking.
In the corporate world, Ian became Managing Director of Celemi UK, where he also served as Head of Global Consulting, leading international accounts with organisations including HSBC, J Sainsbury and Toyota Europe. In 2006, he founded his own leadership consultancy, and since then has worked with CEOs and executives across multiple industries. His impact as a speaker has been recognised through several honours, including Vistage International's Most In-Demand New Speaker Award and multiple Outperforming Speaker Awards from Vistage. Alongside speaking, Ian co-hosts the Gritty Leaders Podcast, where he interviews entrepreneurs, CEOs, and thought leaders on the realities of leadership.
Today, Ian is one of the UK’s most respected leadership speakers, offering practical strategies alongside powerful storytelling. At a time when organisations face constant transformation, Ian helps leaders look beyond the obvious, embrace challenge and create a culture where people can thrive. His sessions are not only inspiring but also deeply practical, leaving audiences motivated to act and ready to achieve extraordinary results.
Books
The Leadership Map: The gritty guide to strategy that works and people who care
Ian Windle's official speaker topics are listed below:
- The Leadership Map
- Strategy that works and leaders who care, A powerful, practical framework for building strategy with purpose and heart - drawn from Ian’s bestselling book The Leadership Map.
- Purpose, Vision & Values
- Creating clarity and alignment. How to unite people behind a shared purpose, turn vision into action, and embed values that drive performance.
- Building High-Performing Teams
- What the world’s best teams do differently - and how leaders can create a culture of trust, ownership, and results.
- Finding Your Growth Zone
- Leading with energy and authenticity. Discover how to step beyond your comfort zone, tap into your energy, and lead yourself and others with confidence and authenticity.
- Leading and Living Change
- Practical insights for leading through uncertainty and transformation - with resilience, empathy, and clear direction.
Official Feedback From In-Person & Virtual Events:
“Ian delivered an outstanding programme to support widespread change across our national recruiting organisation. The approach was widely acclaimed across a demanding audience. Delivered on time, within budget and with exceptional professionalism. I would commend Ian to any organisation managing significant change.”- Lt Col I G Tritton Commandant The Army School of Recruiting
“State-of-the-art learning and cultural change with real business impact. Inspirational, challenging and authentic. Ian delivers high-impact leadership and cultural change work that translates into tangible business value.” - Morten Frimand CHRO, People & Culture Bang & Olufsen (ex-Lundbeck Pharma)
“A true strategic partner. Ian and his team made a vital contribution to our strategic change programme. Their expertise, passion and commitment elevated our programme and helped take the business to a new level.” - David Bowes VP Organisational Development WDSGlobal
“Ian brought clarity and authority at a critical moment in our transformation. We engaged Ian to support our all-colleague transformation conference as we prepared the business for significant change. He shaped the narrative with us beforehand and delivered a powerful keynote on Making Change Happen that aligned perfectly with our strategy. His preparation, professionalism and delivery were exceptional. I would highly recommend Ian to any organisation seeking a speaker on leading through uncertainty.” - Paul Wheeler Chief Executive Mansfield Building Society
“Ian’s TEDx talk captivated a full auditorium audience, taking them from comfort zone to stretch zone with humour, insight and compelling storytelling. His message on having an unreasonable dream resonated deeply and continues to be talked about.” - Ges Ray MC, TEDx Woking
“A watershed moment for our leadership team. Ian has supported Flexeserve through conferences, leadership retreats and change programmes. The feedback from our Leadership Group has been outstanding, and one recent retreat felt like a genuine turning point for the team. He combines strategic clarity with personal challenge in a way that drives real growth — both professionally and personally.” - Jamie Joyce Global CEO Flexeserve
“Your presentation on High Performing Teams made a real impact. It was an honour to have Ian keynote at our international ELIA conference in Rhodes. His session resonated strongly with our global audience and delivered practical insight alongside inspiration.” - Clio Schils Global Director of Life Sciences CQ Fluency
“Ian’s contribution truly made our leadership conference interactive and stimulating. Ian played a key role in the success of our Leadership Conference in New York. Feedback from senior delegates was extremely positive, particularly around the breakout sessions and the clarity of his facilitation.” - Ken James President, R&D GSK Consumer Healthcare
- 2025 - Completed IronMan, Italy
- 2022 – 2024 - Completed multiple IronMan 70.3 in UK and Europe
- 2022 – Accredited DISC Profiling Facilitator
- 2021 - Amazon No.1 Best Seller in Entrepreneurship, ‘The Leadership Map’ published
- 2021 - Launch of The Leadership Map Programme for middle and senior managers
- 2020 – Launched The Gritty Leaders Podcast with Ben Wales
- 2018 - Delivered TEDx Talk: Why You Should Have an Unreasonable Dream (40,000+ downloads)
- 2018 - Most In-Demand New Speaker Award, Vistage
- 2018 - Vistage Accredited Leadership Speaker, multiple Outperforming Speaker Awards
- 2018 – Executive Corporate Coach Diploma (ILM7)
- 2012 - Vistage CEO Peer Group Chairman
- 2011 – Accredited Belbin Profiling Facilitator
- 2006 - Founded IanWindle.com
- 1996 - Managing Director at Celemi UK and Head of Global Consulting
- 1994 – MBA & Diploma in Marketing, Henley Business School
How to hire Ian Windle
Contact the Champions Speakers Agency to provisionally enquire about hiring Ian Windle 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.
