Global strategic advisory, leadership development, and executive coaching service

At Athene Leadership, everything we do is about helping you to navigate turbulence and high-pressure environments:

• We advise governments and businesses on national security – drawing on hands-on expertise in homeland security, counter-terrorism, defence, critical infrastructure resilience, and geopolitics
• We support companies as they scale – especially companies that are working with government – to help them succeed environments
• We help organisational leaders to lead under pressure, and to build their organisations’ capability to operate well under pressure – through leadership development and 1:1 executive coaching

We draw on 20 years’ experience delivering geopolitical, reputational and regulatory 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 leaders operating across 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 we can help you

Are you a senior leader in a high-pressured environment? Do you feel the pressures of operating at the top, with fewer peers, less candid feedback, and less time for the kind of reflection that good decision-making requires? Do you worry about needing to act decisively on incomplete information – amidst geopolitical volatility, regulatory flux, and reputational risk – and without an independent sounding board? Does your leadership team face challenging dynamics such as misaligned priorities and the cumulative toll of sustained high performance?

With 20+ years of experience in exactly these environments, Athene helps leaders to navigate turbulence, and to lead their organisations successfully amid pressure – through our advisory support, 1:1 executive coaching, and leadership team development.

Julia (founder and director of Athene) spent 12 years in international security, leading geopolitical intelligence analysis and strategic advisory/delivery teams across UK government. She then spent 9 years in critical infrastructure and financial services, leading strategy, transformation and risk mitigation, at FTSE 100 level and with regulators.

She’s led teams in high-stakes, pressurised situations including military operations and diplomatic crises. She was commended by Prime Minister David Cameron for leadership during COBR’s 24/7 crisis response resulting in successful hostage rescue.

She’s advised Cabinet ministers on operational and reputational risk. And she’s represented the UK internationally in intelligence and security discussions.

With her experience of how government departments, international organisations and regulators interact, and having advised senior decision-makers across government and industry, she can support your business as it scales, navigates turbulence, or builds capability to operate well under pressure.

What we offer

We provide three integrated services, designed to operate independently or in combination: Global strategic advisory, 1:1 executive coaching, and leadership team development.

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 need advice and reassurance that’s grounded in experience. And teams need thoughtful leadership that holds up under pressure.

Leaders who invest in the quality of their judgement – and in the structures that support it – will be better placed to act decisively and lead with authority when it matters most.

The difference it makes

Leaders make better decisions, faster. They are better equipped to anticipate risk, navigate turbulence, and lead with greater clarity and composure under pressure.

Organisations benefit from more coherent strategy, stronger leadership alignment, and reduced exposure to the risks which most often catch senior teams off guard.