Heart Leadership wasn’t born out of a business plan. It was born out of an intrinsic knowing that things can be different.
That’s what I first noticed about Gemma when I met her; she just KNOWS things can be better, and is relentless in trying to get to that better place. There was an instant spark between us, and I was drawn to the fire deep within her.
During our conversations, we’d come back to the same topics over and over again. We were vexed, repeatedly deliberating: why do so many workplace cultures feel performative, disconnected, or just built for a certain type of person?
We kept noticing the same things:
- Cultures that preach values, but don’t practice them.
- Managers who are promoted, but not supported.
- Talented, zealous people doing extraordinary work while feeling isolated, unheard, or burnt out.
- Organisations brimming with good intentions, but unsure of how to move away from “how we’ve always done things”.
I know we are not alone in picking up on these things. Think of the working people around you. I bet you can think of a few people who are experiencing the above. Maybe you are…
So, with that fire, which spread from Gemma to me, we started Heart Leadership. Out of frustration, yes. But also out of hope. And belief. We simply don’t believe in surface-level, performative fixes. We go deeper. We listen harder. And we do it with our whole hearts.
What we believe
We believe leadership is profoundly personal. Your story, your identity, and your experiences rule how you lead. Leading with a difference is something to lean into, not hide. And when people are supported to lead with their full selves? Sparks fly!
We believe culture is the foundation of everything you do. It’s not a side project, which is only graced with attention at 3pm on a Friday. It needs constant, intentional graft. When you get culture right, everything else falls into place.
We believe people don’t thrive under pressure. They thrive when they’re challenged, included, trusted, and filled with purpose.
Why it matters to us
Because Gemma has been the young person trying to lead without a blueprint.
I’ve been the only person in the room who looked or loved like me.
And we KNOW the power of being surrounded by people who get it and accept that the systems are broken, not individual people.
So, if you want to build a culture that’s bold, human and heart-led, we would LOVE to walk alongside you.
From the heart,
Hetal