We support leaders on strategy and delivery, through our global strategic advisory and executive coaching service
Athene Leadership supports leaders on strategy and delivery, through our global strategic advisory and executive coaching service.
We work with business leaders and senior government officials who want to ensure they are making the best decisions and successfully navigating the strategic challenges and opportunities they face, within the fast-paced, pressurised environment in which they operate.
We draw on 20 years’ experience delivering geopolitical, regulatory and reputational risk analysis, advice and mitigation for senior decision-makers in government and financial services, operating in the UK, Middle East, Africa and Asia.
Who we work with
Our clients are experienced, high-performing leaders — ministers, board directors, and C-suite executives — operating at the intersection of business, government, and geopolitics. They are strategically minded, politically astute, and accustomed to making consequential decisions at pace.
They lead organisations where the stakes are high, the scrutiny is intense, and the margin for error is small.
Where the pressure shows
Even the most capable leaders face challenges that no amount of seniority resolves. Operating at the top means fewer peers, less candid feedback, and less time for the kind of reflection that good decision-making requires.
The environment compounds this. Geopolitical volatility, regulatory flux, and reputational risk move faster than most organisations can track. Boards and executives are expected to act decisively on incomplete information — often without the intelligence infrastructure, or the independent sounding board, to do so confidently.
Leadership teams face their own dynamics: misalignment on priorities, communication under pressure, and the cumulative toll of sustained high performance.
The risks of getting it wrong
Strategic misjudgements at senior levels are rarely contained. A poorly framed decision, a misread political environment, or a failure of coordination at board level can carry significant financial, regulatory, and reputational consequences — for the organisation and for the individuals responsible.
The cost of acting on poor intelligence, or of leading through a crisis without independent support, is rarely theoretical.
What we offer
We provide three integrated services, designed to operate independently or in combination:
We produce high-stakes written and verbal intelligence briefings and advice for government ministers, boards, and C-suite — under time pressure and uncertainty. Our analysis spans geopolitical, regulatory, and reputational risk across the UK, Middle East, Africa, and Asia, giving leaders the clarity they need to act with confidence.
We facilitate training for leadership teams, focused on building resilience; managing stress; leading in volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous environments; and managing difficult stakeholder relationships — in order to optimise your leadership team’s impact.
We offer 1:1 coaching for senior leaders and executives, focused on performance and impact — particularly under pressure. Our approach is direct, evidence-based, and designed for people who want to develop the binocular vision that’s required to successfully navigate the threats and opportunities on the horizon.
Why now
The operating environment for senior leaders has rarely been more demanding. Geopolitical realignment, shifting regulatory landscapes, and heightened reputational scrutiny are reshaping the conditions in which consequential decisions get made.
Leaders who invest in the quality of their judgment — and in the structures that support it — will be better placed to act decisively, protect their organisations, and lead with authority when it matters most.
The difference it makes
Our clients make better decisions, faster. They lead with greater clarity and composure under pressure. They are better equipped to anticipate risk, manage complexity, and project authority to the stakeholders who matter.
Organisations benefit from more coherent strategy, stronger leadership alignment, and reduced exposure to the risks that most often catch senior teams off guard.
A six-month programme for results-driven, strong-willed senior executives
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Expand your leadership impact so you can succeed in different situations and contexts
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Identify and understand your inner purpose and values. Establish your goals and priorities
Find out moreI have worked closely with Julia over a number of years and seen her operate effectively in a highly charged and stressful corporate environment. Her ability to identify and focus on the key aspects of a situation makes her an accomplished decision maker and influencer. When Julia speaks people listen, regardless of seniority or experience. She has a gravitas and composure that many, more senior leaders, would envy. Julia connects and engages with integrity and humanity which enables her to get the best out of all those around her. I wish her all the best for the future.
David
Director, Leidon Consulting
Julia is one of those rare people that combines a razor sharp intellect with humanity and an ability to inspire others and do the hard stuff of leading. Listening, empathising, challenging, and correcting behaviour or attitude. I’ve seen her ability to coach and help people of all levels better understand themselves, understand the impact they can have and so get better business outcomes… if you want your organisation to develop better, more effective leaders for the world we live in now and into the future talk to Julia…
Jeremy
Founder of a creative agency
I’ve been working with Julia for around 3 months now. I started off relatively skeptical, as I understood the value of mentoring but not coaching. I wasn’t always sure what I wanted from the sessions, which made the output measurement difficult.
However, I am a complete convert – and that is testament to Julia as a coach. She has completely changed my attitude, and has really helped shape my thinking about developing my own career, as well as growing my business. I have absolute clarity in what I value and where my energy should be focussed. Julia is a great listener. I would truly recommend her to anyone looking to take their career to the next level.
Dan
Founder of a start-up
Julia is a hugely talented and insightful coach. She uses the strength of her significant leadership experience, combined with a personal warmth and attentiveness that delivers fantastic outcomes for her clients.
Christine
Director
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