And how we make it work for you
Meet Lesley and Graham
LESLEY has worked for over three decades in the private and voluntary sectors, and has wide leadership experience. Coupled with her empathy, life experience, a decade of caring responsibilities, and growing up in a family business, Lesley brings a comprehensive understanding and range of solutions to the challenges business leaders face in their day-to-day operations.
GRAHAM has a strong track record of senior leadership experience, organisational change and growth, coupled with executive and non-executive board membership positions, relevant qualifications and a learning mindset. Graham's academic qualifications are complemented by his key attributes of wisdom and insight. This potent mix offers a real solution to you, the business leader, your staff and your board.
THE LEADER is an encore career for us. An encore career is work in the second half of life that combines continued income, greater personal meaning, and social impact. Find out more about Encore
Graham's Skills
Leadership, growth and development have been Graham’s key areas of focus over the past 25 years of his senior business leadership journey. During this time he led the transformation of a small traditional organisation into a thriving enterprise with a turnover of £28m, over 600 staff and a robust, sustainable business model.
In his role as company chief executive, Graham developed wide-ranging executive skills. Leadership - the ability to transform vision into reality - was demonstrated by the implementation of significant organisational change, and ongoing sustainable growth. This was achieved by developing strategic vision, turning this into a strategic plan, effective decision making and consistently and efficiently executing the plan to ensure success. Graham continuously developed his technical, technological and interpersonal skills and was strongly committed to developing others to ensure their personal and organisational growth was maintained.
He led multi-million pound capital development projects and navigated the complexities of investment and blended income streams. Personal growth enabled Graham to demonstrate attributes based on integrity and commitment, whilst incorporating realistic and relevant purpose and values for the enterprise.
Graham’s evaluated experience taught him that ‘comfort’ with change is essential as companies grow through individual and team development. Organisational renewal and adaptability is increasingly required to both survive and thrive, so he led this growth through regular and clear communication.
Graham also focused on acquiring a change and development mindset. Believing that people do what people see, he led staff by example to adapt to new business models and methods. Innovation was essential to this growth and he successfully adopted and embedded a social and business innovation culture. An expansive attitude and approach enabled him to visualise non-traditional approaches to business development, and successfully develop multiple and complementary income streams.
Successful business leaders need a high tolerance of ambiguity, and over many years Graham developed both the mental flexibility and resilience to manage this.
Qualifications and Awards
Building on formal qualifications including a BA and MBA, as well as professional qualifications in social work and social work education, continuous learning was maintained by short courses on strategy and entrepreneurship at the Graduate Business School at the University of Stanford, California and Warrington Business School at the University of Florida respectively.
He was part of the first INSEAD Social Entrepreneurship cohort on the Fontainebleau Campus in France. More recently Graham has qualified as an accredited John Maxwell Team Coach and Trainer. He has been a Winston Churchill Memorial Trust Travel Fellow and EY Social Entrepreneur of the Year. He was also the Scottish IOD West of Scotland Director of the Year as well as Third Sector Director of the Year.
In 2018, Graham was also awarded a Social Enterprise UK Honorary Fellowship, recognising the individuals who work at the very heart of social enterprise, taking their own organisations from strength to strength but also playing a large part in shaping, guiding and championing the social enterprise movement as a whole.
Graham was awarded an OBE in the New Year 2019 Honours List, in recognition of his leadership in developing, supporting and promoting social enterprise. Commenting on his honour Graham said, "I've been privileged to work with talented people in a wide variety of settings. This award highlights the power of good business and committed people working together to make their community and country a better place."
Experience
In addition to implementing company growth leadership, Graham gained a significant amount of international experience across North America and Europe as well as in Australasia, Africa and Asia over a time-span of 38 years. Understanding different cultures and business practices, as well as the practical challenges of language and travel is a key executive skill, and increasingly important in a global economy.
Having held non-executive director positions in 10 companies, including three current, Graham’s knowledge of the major governance issues facing companies today continues to grow. This track record of wide experience enables him to build on and develop ‘big picture thinking’. This is closely aligned to the independent mindset essential for non-executive directors. Alongside this he also has the critical ambassadorial traits essential to company representation, with the executive presence that is pivotal to such roles.
A Personal PS
While skills, qualifications and experience are essential, I also bring the right temperament, energy, passion and commitment to my work with other leaders. I am keen to put all these to good use in my encore career, helping the next generation of leaders to become better, stronger and more resilient.
If you would like more detailed information on my earlier career, I am happy to arrange a face-to-face meeting.
Lesley's Skills
Lesley has worked for over three decades in the private and voluntary sectors. She has over two decades of experience supporting the creation, growth and operations of social enterprises and charitable business. She has a strong, demonstrable track record of leading and managing business-critical support functions including strategic marketing and communications, business planning, securing statutory and non-statutory funding, developing staff and working with a wide range of national and international partners and stakeholders.
Qualifications and Awards
In 2010 Lesley obtained her MBA from the University of the West of Scotland and was awarded the Court Medal. Her dissertation topic was Knowledge Management, and she undertook her research in Scotland, Chicago, Nebraska, New Orleans and Las Vegas. She has also studied short courses on strategy and entrepreneurship at the Graduate Business School at the University of Stanford and Warrington Business School at the University of Florida. In 2018 she completed the John Maxwell Team accredited Professional Coaching curriculum.
Experience
She has been involved in a number of transnational European partnerships in Finland, Spain, Sweden, Ireland, Germany and Italy and has travelled extensively in North America. She has also co-presented and facilitated workshops and sessions on social enterprise and charitable business development in the UK, California, Kansas, Pennsylvania, Idaho, Louisiana, Georgia, Florida, Canada, Cape Town, Sydney and Auckland.
After a 10-year career break in the mid-eighties to devote time to bringing up her daughters and caring for her parents, Lesley returned to work, and from 1995 until her “retirement” in 2017 she rapidly took on new roles and greater responsibility, and continually invested in her personal and professional development.
Lesley has been shaped by growing up in a family business, by her career choices and her voracious appetite for personal growth. She therefore brings a comprehensive understanding and insight to the challenges and opportunities faced by today’s business leaders, irrespective of their age, stage or sector. Lesley's key passion is leadership development, and she is known and recognised for the strong emotional commitment she invests in everyone she leads.
Encore
In my own words
Establishing The Leader Scotland Ltd allows me to embark on an “encore career” and draw on my knowledge, experience, skills and learning to help leaders at all ages and stages. As a baby boomer, I have reaped the benefits of decades of social and economic change, and this encore career lets me give something back to the next generation of leaders.
My ongoing learning continues, as I re-skill and up-skill to establish the new company, develop our services, design our website and create our marketing materials. I have also retained my interest in Knowledge Management – or Knowledge Enrichment – and The Leader will provide a Knowledge Enrichment Node comprising a range of contemporary relevant tools and resources to help leaders improve their knowledge, skills and practice. Finally, I am looking forward to meeting and working with different individuals and their businesses and supporting them on their leadership journey.
About The Leader
The Leader Scotland Ltd
Company No SC589889
Registered Address
An Claggan,
Argyll Rd Kilcreggan
Argyll Scotland
G84 0HU
Contact Us
0141 266 0190
hello@theleader.scot
The Leader © 2022
Welcome to our website. If you continue to browse and use this website, you are agreeing to comply with and be bound by the following terms and conditions of use, which together with our privacy policy govern The Leader’s relationship with you in relation to this website. If you disagree with any part of these terms and conditions, please do not use our website. The term ‘The Leader’ or ‘us’ or ‘we’ refers to the owner of the website whose registered office is An Claggan, Argyll Rd, Kilcreggan G840HU. Our company registration number is SC589889. The term ‘you’ refers to the user or viewer of our website. The use of this website is subject to the following terms of use: • The content of the pages of this website is for your general information and use only. It is subject to change without notice. • This website uses cookies to monitor browsing preferences. We use traffic log cookies to identify which pages are being used. This helps us analyse data about webpage traffic and improve our website in order to tailor it to customer needs. We only use this information for statistical analysis purposes and then the data is removed from the system. • Neither we nor any third parties provide any warranty or guarantee as to the accuracy, timeliness, performance, completeness or suitability of the information and materials found or offered on this website for any particular purpose. You acknowledge that such information and materials may contain inaccuracies or errors and we expressly exclude liability for any such inaccuracies or errors to the fullest extent permitted by law. • Your use of any information or materials on this website is entirely at your own risk, for which we shall not be liable. It shall be your own responsibility to ensure that any products, services or information available through this website meet your specific requirements. • This website contains material which is owned by or licensed to us. This material includes, but is not limited to, the design, layout, look, appearance and graphics. Reproduction is prohibited other than in accordance with the copyright notice, which forms part of these terms and conditions. • Unsplash stock photographs used on the website are copy-right free provided under the Unsplash Licence. • All trademarks reproduced in this website, which are not the property of, or licensed to the operator, are acknowledged on the website. • Unauthorised use of this website may give rise to a claim for damages and/or be a criminal offence. • From time to time, this website may also include links to other websites. These links are provided for your convenience to provide further information. They do not signify that we endorse the website(s). We have no responsibility for the content of the linked website(s). • Your use of this website and any dispute arising out of such use of the website is subject to the laws of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
The Leader Scotland Ltd Website Privacy Policy This privacy policy sets out how The Leader uses and protects any information that you give The Leader when you use this website. The Leader is committed to ensuring that your privacy is protected. Should we ask you to provide certain information by which you can be identified when using this website, then you can be assured that it will only be used in accordance with this privacy statement. The Leader may change this policy from time to time by updating this page. You should check this page from time to time to ensure that you are happy with any changes. This policy is effective from 15 May 2018. What we collect We may collect the following information: • name and job title • contact information including email address • demographic information such as postcode, preferences and interests • other information relevant to customer surveys and/or offers What we do with the information we gather We require this information to understand your needs and provide you with a better service, and in particular for the following reasons: • Internal record keeping. • We may use the information to improve our products and services. • We may periodically send promotional emails about new products, special offers or other information which we think you may find interesting using the email address which you have provided. Security We are committed to ensuring that your information is secure. In order to prevent unauthorised access or disclosure, we have put in place suitable physical, electronic and managerial procedures to safeguard and secure the information we collect online. How we use cookies A cookie is a small file which asks permission to be placed on your computer's hard drive. Once you agree, the file is added and the cookie helps analyse web traffic or lets you know when you visit a particular site. Cookies allow web applications to respond to you as an individual. The web application can tailor its operations to your needs, likes and dislikes by gathering and remembering information about your preferences. We use traffic log cookies to identify which pages are being used. This helps us analyse data about webpage traffic and improve our website in order to tailor it to customer needs. We only use this information for statistical analysis purposes and then the data is removed from the system. Overall, cookies help us provide you with a better website by enabling us to monitor which pages you find useful and which you do not. A cookie in no way gives us access to your computer or any information about you, other than the data you choose to share with us. You can choose to accept or decline cookies. Most web browsers automatically accept cookies, but you can usually modify your browser setting to decline cookies if you prefer. This may prevent you from taking full advantage of the website. Links to other websites Our website may contain links to other websites of interest. However, once you have used these links to leave our site, you should note that we do not have any control over that other website. Therefore, we cannot be responsible for the protection and privacy of any information which you provide whilst visiting such sites and such sites are not governed by this privacy statement. You should exercise caution and look at the privacy statement applicable to the website in question. Controlling your personal information You may choose to restrict the collection or use of your personal information in the following ways: • whenever you are asked to fill in a form on the website, look for the box that you can click to indicate that you do not want the information to be used by anybody for direct marketing purposes • if you have previously agreed to us using your personal information for direct marketing purposes, you may change your mind at any time by writing to or emailing us at hello@theleader.scot We will not sell, distribute or lease your personal information to third parties unless we have your permission or are required by law to do so. We may use your personal information to send you promotional information about third parties which we think you may find interesting if you tell us that you wish this to happen. You may request details of personal information which we hold about you under GDPR 2018. A small fee will be payable. If you would like a copy of the information held on you please write to The Leader, An Claggan, Argyll Rd, Kilcreggan G840HU. If you believe that any information we are holding on you is incorrect or incomplete, please write to or email us as soon as possible at the above address. We will promptly correct any information found to be incorrect.