I shouldn’t say this but…

I’ve spent 15 years inside high-growth businesses. What I found changed how I lead, how I coach, and what I believe leadership can actually look like.

Hi, I’m Katy

I am a growth leader and have built my career scaling ambitious brands into global forces. Earlier in my career, as Head of New Business and Marketing at MediaCom North, I sharpened my commercial edge, driving revenue through smart positioning and relationship building.

As Managing Director of Social Chain, alongside Steven Bartlett, I grew the team from 30 to more than 130 people, helping transform the start-up into a £300 million international marketing group.

As CEO of Gary Neville’s Relentless Group, I applied the psychology of fandom to sport and media. I led the media strategy at Salford City FC, launching its social channels and turning local attention into loyal support. I also drove audience growth for Stick to Football and played a key role in launching The Overlap, now one of the UK’s leading sports shows on YouTube.

Dubbed the “Female Simon Sinek”, today, I help leaders, teams, and entrepreneurs unlock clarity, confidence, and meaningful growth - without the burnout. In 2026, I was honoured to be listed at No.1 on the exclusive selection of the 10 Global Female Business Leaders to Follow and on the official list of the Top 10 Trending Female Motivational Speakers to Hire!

Work with me

Ways to work together

  • I bring honest stories, a touch of silliness and humour, and practical tools that get people thinking differently about leadership, growth, and work. Topics include:

    • What I Learned Scaling a Team from 30 to 130 & Revenue by 650% in Six Years

    • Overcoming Imposter Syndrome - How to Turn Your Biggest Fear into Your Biggest Motivator

    • Bridging the Generational Gap: Learning Together Across Ages

    • Sustainable Performance: Why Burnout is a Design Problem, Not a Personal One

    • From Work-Life Balance to Work-Life Blend - Designing How Work Actually Works

    • Sustainable Performance in the Modern Workplace - From Balance to Blend

  • Think of this as a safe space to get clarity, confidence, and a bit of a kick when you need it. It’s not about me giving you a ten-step plan - it’s about figuring out what works for you and making it stick, without adding more noise to your already-full plate.

  • No death by PowerPoint (promise!) These sessions are hands-on, human, and designed to give your team the tools to grow, lead, and stay sane in the process.

    We’ll tackle the real challenges, from imposter syndrome to culture shifts - and yes, how to actually understand and manage Gen Z in the workplace.

    The goal? Teams that feel more connected, confident, and capable when they walk out than when they walked in.

  • Podcasts are my favourite place for unfiltered conversations. If you want a guest who’ll show up with honesty, stories (including the messy bits), and a fresh take on leadership, I’m in.

“Leadership is not about being in charge. It is about taking care of those in your charge.” 

Simon Sinek

Katy’s Keynote Speaking Topics

What I Learned Scaling a Team from 30 to 130 & Revenue by 650% in Six Years

1

In this candid and energising talk, Katy Leeson shares the real lessons, challenges, and breakthroughs from her journey scaling a high-growth organisation. Drawing on six transformative years of leadership, from rapid team expansion to a 650% increase in revenue, Katy reveals the three leadership principles she would repeat without hesitation, and the one mistake she’ll never make again.

Overcoming Imposter Syndrome - How to Turn Your Biggest Fear into Your Biggest Motivator

2

In this honest, relatable, and highly practical talk, Katy Leeson shares her personal journey with imposter syndrome, from leading a rapidly scaling organisation as Managing Director, to navigating high-pressure roles, therapy, and eventually discovering how to turn self-doubt into fuel for growth.

Bridging the Generational Gap - Learning Together Across Ages

3

In a workplace where up to five generations now collaborate side by side, communication, expectations, and working styles have never been more diverse, or more full of opportunity. In this insightful and practical talk, Katy Leeson shares the lessons she learned leading and scaling a fast-paced multigenerational team, and shows how organisations can transform generational diversity into a powerful engine for shared learning and innovation.

Sustainable Performance - Why Burnout is a Design Problem, Not a Personal One

4

For years, organisations have tried to solve burnout by asking individuals to be more resilient, more balanced, and better at switching off. It hasn’t worked. In this talk, Katy Leeson challenges the idea that burnout is a personal failure and reframes it as what it really is: a work design problem..

From Work-Life Balance to Work-Life Blend: Designing How Work Actually Works

5

Work–life balance has become the ultimate workplace myth. In reality, work doesn’t sit neatly on one side of life, especially in high-performing, creative, and fast-paced environments. The result? People feel constantly “out of balance,” while organisations struggle with burnout, disengagement, and retention. In this talk, Katy Leeson introduces Work–Life Blend, a more honest, empowering way of thinking about how work and life coexist in the modern world.

Sustainable Performance in the Modern Workplace - From Balance to Blend

6

In the modern workplace, performance is high, and so is burnout. In this talk, Katy Leeson explores why traditional ideas about work, balance, and productivity are no longer fit for purpose, and why burnout should be seen as a design issue rather than an individual failing.

What Katy’s Clients Say…

  • "She changed everything by what she did. Katy was exceptional, then she hired nine of our top 10 people and the business completely changed"

    STEVEN BARTLETT

  • "Katy is so lovely approachable, and open-minded. I highly recommend Katy and always seek her feedback, as I value her honest opinion. She consistently provides constructive feedback that helps you and your business grow, bigger and better than you could ever imagine."

    LINDSEY KANE

  • "I just wanted to say a big thank you for the session you delivered for us this week. It was a pleasure having you as part of the programme and great to meet you."

    HFMA

  • Marketed.live Official Logo

    "Katy was a hugely popular choice as our keynote speaker at this year's MarketEd.Live event, Creative Climate... On the day, Katy allowed time for questions and was challenged on some ideas articulated in the talk. How fantastic to hear Katy respond positively and engage with delegates that were truly able to take something away with them. Thank you Katy."

    PAUL INCE

  • "Katy delivered an electrifying session that captivated all 200+ attendees at this years Dive-In event. Her high energy combined with deeply insightful content made the experience truly eye-opening. Speaking with raw emotion and an authentic tone, she shared lived experiences rather than polished theory, creating a powerful connection across the room. From the CEO of a billion-pound insurance company to young graduates at the start of their careers, everyone walked away with meaningful, practical takeaways. Katy’s message transcended titles and experience levels, leaving the audience not only inspired but equipped to think bigger, act bolder, and lead with greater clarity and confidence."

    YULIA, SENIOR PROGRAMME LEAD, LLOYD’S OF LONDON

  • Reach Plc Logo

    "During Katy’s keynote, the room of 200 was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. She spoke peer to peer — raw, honest, and practical about what it really takes to scale a business. No hype, just the truth about systems, people, tough calls, and disciplined execution. Her biggest takeaway: scaling isn’t about ego, it’s about process and building the right team. She turned complex growth challenges into clear, actionable steps you could implement immediately. Beyond the stage, she’s a genuinely lovely woman to work with — direct, grounded, and fully committed to helping others build something that lasts."

    DAVID SIMMS, REGIONAL MD, REACH PLC