Meet the leaders
The people powering our approach of Connected Learning to grow better leaders.
Meet the passionate individuals behind the READ TO LEAD® approach to connected learning. Led by founder and qualified coach Sarah Clayton-Jones and supported by a team and ambassadors, each one embodies the core values of Connection, Growth and Inclusivity, united by a common mission – to connect and grow people into better leaders with the READ TO LEAD® method of bitesize and action-based learning.
Sarah is a leadership coach and business consultant with a passion to inspire leaders to learn and grow through the power of connection, and books.
An accredited coach, NLP & Neuroscience Practitioner, and DiSC trainer, Sarah has worked with Global SME’s and Corporates to create high performing teams and brands.
Growth-minded and adventure-seeking, Sarah loves reading, camping, and skiing, just not at the same time!
Favourite Book Summary
"Atomic Habits by James Clear. Small things really do make a big difference. Forget information-overload, unrealistic intentions, pressured expectations. Atomic habits shows you how to make incremental gains, which overtime add up to quantum shifts.
READ TO LEAD® is the Atomic Habits of the Learning & Development world. We aim to inspire learning and growth, though bitesize learning and micro actions that deliver a big impact on lives and businesses."
Steve has worked at a senior level in marketing for over 15 years, during this time he spent five years helping to grow a national automotive brand in the UK, helping them achieve the status of being a Sunday Times Fasttrack 100 business. Steve has worked in multiple sectors including training & development, food & drink, automotive, ecommerce and finance. Steve's passion is working with businesses that make a difference to people's lives to help them grow and scale.
Favourite Book Summary
"Brand Story by Donald Miller - I love frameworks and this is one of the best in marketing, simple, easy to follow and clients love to see their story mapped out in front of them."
Olivia is a Training Consultant, ICF Accredited Leadership Coach and Everything DiSC Practitioner. She is passionate about developing leaders and teams through “Essential Human Leadership Skills”, making an impact through people.
Olivia started her career in the FMCG sector working for global brands leading teams through significant periods of change and growth whilst developing new sectors and opportunities to diversify the business.
Outside of work Olivia loves travelling, always with a side of adventure. Give her a ski holiday over the beach any day. She loves supporting her three sports mad children. Weekends are often on the side of a rugby or hockey pitch. – fuelling her interest for what sport and business can learn from each other.
Favourite Book Summary
"Dare to Lead by Brené Brown. Showing vulnerability allows people to ‘take off their armour and have conversations with real meaning and impact."
Melanie is an astute Virtual Assistant, providing small business owners with more time and headspace. Her professionalism, commercial awareness, speed of implementation and attention to detail has contributed to her award-winning service.
Melanie provides support to READ TO LEADers by administering communications, events and member management. Making sure the pages of the books keep turning!
Favourite Book Summary
"Surrounded By Idiots by Thomas Erikson. Understanding people, what makes them tick, and how to get the best out of each other, is the key to success in all strands of business."
Lee is a seasoned digital designer with more than 11 years of experience in the field. He has established himself as an expert in website development and branding, and is passionate about user experience and user analysis. Throughout his career, Lee has had the opportunity to work with a diverse range of clients, including renowned companies like Mars, as well as numerous startup businesses. Regardless of the scale, Lee's primary goal has always been to provide his clients with a strong online presence and contribute to driving their businesses forward.
In addition Lee also runs a wedding photography business with his wife where he gets to photograph some incredible places in the UK and abroad. Outside of work, he enjoys skiing, hiking, and gathering around a campfire with a whisky.
Favourite Book Summary
"Building a Story Brand by Donald Miller - I use elements of this book in most of the websites I create, it's really simple and super effective!"
Chrissy is a Business Systems & Strategy Coach and a Kartra Expert & Coach with 20+ years experience in business, leadership and mentoring. Chrissy specializes in helping brand new and seasoned entrepreneurs upgrade their business strategy, structure, and technology to achieve success.
Her mission is to provide online business owners with the knowledge, tools, and support they need to build thriving businesses online. With the right strategy, systems and tech, anyone can achieve streamlined success without the frustration, overwhelm and wasted time.
Favourite Book Summary
"Just Listen, by Mark Goulston. Listening is the key to effective communications. Learning how to listen more actively and attentively is essential to serving others, and is a game changer in business."
Tanya is a marketing consultant with 18 years of experience in digital marketing and media. Throughout her career, she has had the opportunity to work with global SMEs and Corporates, and has worked alongside some of London's top media and creative agencies.
She launched her business Cyclone Marketing UK in September 2022 and now works for herself, supporting a range of businesses to help them achieve their business and marketing ambitions.
Favourite Book Summary
Atomic Habits because Rome wasn't built in a day, and small incremental changes will achieve big things over time. A group of individuals with their own personalities and skill sets can come together to make wonderful things happen, and this is why I love being part of the READ TO LEAD® community.
Ambassadors
What Angela doesn’t know about Accountancy is not worth knowing. Due to her passion for engineering (that’s what she has a degree in), she absolutely loves to get into the nitty-gritty of innovative equipment and how systems work. When she understands the detail, she then devises the ideal tax plan or accounting plan to get the best value from it.
Angela is the consummate professional, completely dedicated to her team and clients. As well as strategy, tax planning, and business development, Angela’s other passions include country music and the odd cocktail (sometimes at the same time!).
Favourite Book Summary
"Drive by Daniel Pink. Understanding what motivates yourself and others is powerful, in life and business. The author Q&A with Daniel Pink was a key highlight in READ TO LEAD® Community."
Matt has 24 years’ communications experience, primarily in media and technology (Warner Music, BPI, BRIT Awards, BBC, Wise, Viacom, Publicis, JCDecaux, Reach). He made 100+ media appearances as a record industry spokesman for the BPI, before three years leading technology PR as the BBC rolled out BBC iPlayer and invested in new technology.
In three years as client service director, he helped Propeller PR double in size to become a £2.4m agency, before founding PPR, a pay-as-you-go PR agency for marketing firms and tech scaleups. He’s now a freelance business development and communications consultant.
Favourite Book Summary
"E-Myth Revisited. The first book you should read if you are considering making the transition from independent consultant (selling your time) to a business owner (building a company). I have since revisited this book a number of times. It’s inspirational and practical for any small business owner."
Laura is a chartered HR professional with two decades of HR experience, working both nationally and internationally. She supports the Not-For-Profit sector creating human centred, compassionate and credible HR solutions. Her priority is to help organisations deliver their mission through connected and driven people.
Open HR prides itself on authentic connections, in addition to expertise, knowledge and experience of the sector. Laura is passionate about supporting inspiring causes, whatever your situation the aim is always to bring positive energy and credible HR solutions to an organisations goals.
Favourite Book Summary
"Charismatic Leadership by Kevin Murray. So much resonated. In particular the importance of warmth to create connection to become a more effective leader."
Amit has over 25 years in the business software industry. His passion is building an increasingly engaged & energised team that enjoys deploying business software solutions to the benefit of the customer. Increasingly focussed on leading the company through growth, Amit is committed to keeping an eye on the rapidly advancing technology landscape.
Favourite Book Summary
"Noise. The idea of applying discipline to your decision making was a concept that really made me consider how I make decisions and invited me to see more diverse thoughts as a benefit not an annoyance!"
Kam Chauhan started her career as a passionate teacher, she transitioned into the world of marketing and found her true calling as a marketing trainer and consultant.
With a perfect blend of academic knowledge and hands-on experience, she brings a well-rounded perspective to her training sessions. Kam's friendly demeanor and relatable approach make her a trusted guide for small business owners. She combines her educational background with real-world strategies, empowering entrepreneurs to navigate the world of marketing effectively and achieve tangible results.
Favourite Book Summary
"Less Doing More Living by Ari Meisel- It was a reminder as to why I run my own business and to create a life where I can work the hours that I want to rather than have to."
Kerry has been in the world of business ownership since 2007, with lots of lessons learned along the way! She launched Akeno in 2015 following 15 years in various roles within the private and public sectors.
Akeno is an agency focused on business transformation. In addition, Akeno Adventure, is a business focused on career coaching and mentoring.
Kerry’s passion is to drive a client’s success through the connection of people, functions and project dependencies. From a personal perspective, her passions are reading and travelling – better still, reading whilst travelling!
Favourite Book Summary
"Surrounded by Idiots = Firstly, what a brilliant title for a book! Although I was already familiar with the concepts being discussed, it was a really engaging and interesting view of how to use personality types in a real business environment."
Dr. Bonnie Wims is professionally trained as a Counseling Psychologist who works side by side with individuals and couples who hold limiting beliefs in themselves and their potential to live a fulfilled life.
Favourite Book Summary
"I love Noise because I think it brought forth the idea of thinking about our thinking in an approachable and clear way. As a psychologist I believe the ability to step outside our own minds with curiosity is the key to living a fulfilled life."
Melanie is a former lawyer and has been working as a virtual PA since 2015. Her strengths are creating order out of chaos for clients and freeing up their headspace and time so that they can focus upon their business and increase revenue. She provides a wide range of professional business support solutions to SMEs as a generalist VA.
Becoming a member of READ TO LEAD® is for her professional and personal growth. Hobbies include gardening and eating chocolate!
Favourite Book Summary
"Building a StoryBrand by Donald Miller. This gave me the kick start that I need to focus upon my personal brand and how best to market my business and appeal to my ideal clients."
MEET OUR MEMBERS
Living the READ TO LEAD® Experience
Bitesize
Nuggets of wisdom from best-selling authors, and nudges for action from a qualified coach. Bitesize is not another newsletter, it’s a personal and business growth accelerator.
Join business professionals like you, to get smarter, faster. You will also be sent invites to READ TO LEAD® events.
