Keynote speaker
Many see my message as uncompromising and they’d be right. Operating deep inside Kosovo prior to the NATO campaign, my leadership was tested amidst the harsh realities of human conflict. Coming home, I was unaware that the toughest battle was yet to begin. From battlefield to boardroom, this is what the textbooks don’t tell you…
Leadership coach
People often ask how leaders inspire teams to sustainable success. No single leadership profile or definition exists, so how do we go about recognising and developing leadership potential? Where do we start?
In my experience, it takes more than the right knowledge, skills and capabilities to lead well. Credibility is important but technical efficiency is not enough. Resilient leaders inspire a deeper sense of meaning, trust and inter-connection between people.
My starting point is in developing a leader’s self-awareness and sense of connection with others. Together, we create an environment where human beings will thrive. Some see this as the ‘soft stuff’, but I believe it is the essential foundation upon which the operational tools of leadership can be built. Put simply, leadership has a human heartbeat – it is the human connection that keeps us alive.
Do you walk the talk?
Can I trust you?
Am I inspired?
Testimonials
“Gemma’s story and her experience of leadership and resilience shared at our Women in Business Forum was inspirational, candid and rousing. Her ability to connect with her audience and provide a forum for open conversation was superb. There was real food for thought for us all to take away, regardless of our roles, both in our business and personal lives.”
“As a Board, we wanted to adopt a different approach to shaping our future vision given the complex challenges that we faced. Gemma provided this by introducing us to effective leadership principles and new ways of problem solving based on her experience as an army officer. This fresh approach has been invaluable to our development as a board”
“Gemma takes the stigma around mental health head on, talking openly and genuinely about her own experiences and how we can all learn from them. She is inspirational, challenging and compelling – you could hear a pin drop.”
“Gemma’s incredible personal story made us stop and think. She inspires us to reflect on our own challenges and commit to do something better.”
“Gemma made a pivotal impact to our record-breaking medal haul at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. She models a unique mix of thought-provoking honesty, empathy and robust humility. We are indebted to her wealth of experience and practical insight.”
“Gemma’s advice was spot on. She shrewdly analysed how team dynamics could be improved and recommended a course of action that was unequivocal. Subsequent results have been testimony to the huge improvements that she initiated.”
“Gemma’s process is simple and yet challenging, creating a trusting environment and performance culture where everyone plays their part. This brought successful promotion in the first year and helped set the focus for winning the Championship in Year Two.”
About
Credentials
Gemma began her career as an Army Officer and was the first woman to be awarded the Carmen Sword from HRH Princess Royal. She is a former International Athlete and Welsh Captain, gaining 85 Caps and ranked the ‘Most Valuable player in Europe’ at the 1997 Games. Today, she is the Founder of Morgan Eight Ltd, Fellow of the Institute of Leadership and Management (FInstLM) and Master Practitioner of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (MPNLP).
Gemma has featured on our TV screens, starring in the BBC Documentary ‘Gareth Malone and the Invictus Games Choir’. She also appeared alongside HRH Prince Harry and Warner Brothers in the promotion of ‘Dunkirk’, the movie. She is an Ambassador for the charity ‘Help for Heroes’, supporting wounded, injured and sick British Armed Forces Veterans. Diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress as a result of her military service, she campaigns to promote mental health awareness in organisations today.
SOME OF MY CLIENTS
