Human relationships are the bedrock of your success.

Build the relational intelligence* you need to flourish in our age of acceleration, compounding complexity, and artificial intelligence.

*Relational Intelligence: the ability to create trust and clarity, navigate difference and disagreement, and fulfil shared purpose with others.

Exceptional groups cannot form without these skills.

Be a part of this.
Be a part of this.

  • “10/10 learning. I would have chosen more than a 10/10 if I could have. This should be compulsory learning for all leaders.”

    - Farah Akbar, Deputy Head of Institute

  • "Lots of practices teach you to diminish your power to make space for others. This teaches you to accept and own your power, and use it for deep dialogue that surfaces alternate views, which makes for transformative relationships.”

    Julia, Director

  • "Tension is created by design in leadership teams. Individuals are losing the art of exploring the difference with each other, instead resorting to: “I'm right, you're wrong”. Using the question - "What would you need to come along?" helped a locked discussion with entrenched positions, created a shift in the conversation from reluctantly agreeing, to committing.”

    Nick Pope, Managing Director

  • "A life-changing, empowering and a wonderfully enriching experience – I am truly grateful."

    - Dawn Cremonese, Head of Research Culture

You’ve noticed the signals that relational intelligence could improve within your context:

  • Decisions don't stick, even when seemingly agreed to

  • Everyone is very polite, and that blocks real conversations

  • The same topics or behaviours repeat over and over

  • Disagreements go unspoken, even if everyone can feel them

  • People are edgy and distracted, attention is fragmented, and frustration or stress builds up around projects, meetings, or decisions

  • Breakdowns in communication are frequent and derail progress, people don’t really speak to one another

  • People are not feeling well, there may be a pattern of burnout or stress related leave

  • There are a few people who generate all the ideas or action

  • Resistance to change or leadership decisions is common

You want to achieve outcomes that matter with others, and…

  • You know your biggest challenges are not technical - they are relational, and human

  • You know that more rules, policies, meetings or away days won’t solve your challenges long term

  • You want to change how you work, not just what you do

  • You value learning via experience and practice

Is this work for you?

How to work together

My work focuses on three aspects of growing relational intelligence: building your relational capability, establishing your relational resilience, and designing relational infrastructure.

As artificial intelligence advances, the world polarises, and the pace of change continues unprecedented, we are experiencing fragmentation, disconnection, unwise decisions, and declining wellbeing.

In these conditions, the quality of our relationships and collaborations matters more than ever.

The future success of leaders and organisations will depend on how well they can cultivate and sustain healthy human relationships.

Avoiding this is not a sustainable strategy for transformational work. Growing your relational intelligence is.

This capability will be your biggest strength as we face the uncertain and complex conditions of the 21st century.

  • I bring facilitation and learning programmes designed to meet your organisation’s specific needs, and build your relational intelligence capabilities. You’ll leave ready to steward yourself, your people and your shared purpose with far more effectiveness and able to unlock the potential in every group situation.

    I also provide top team coaching, partnering with your leaders on live challenges and strategic priorities, building your capacity along the way and leaving you with lasting practices and skills, deeper awareness and stronger relationships - the foundations of relational resilience.

    If you have a strategic project or innovative pilot that requires relational design, I can join your team as a relationships consultant supporting you to design the infrastructure that creates conditions for strong relationships and sustainable, long term outcomes.

  • I join forces with schools, universities, and educators to embed training in relational intelligence into tailored learning modules for your context.

    This forms educators and future decision makers (today’s students) into confident collaborative leaders. The learning instills people with the capabilities that will shape their careers, the difference they make, and will last their lifetime.

    I also partner with educators as a team coach creating conditions for relational resilience by supporting you to collaborate to navigate live challenges and opportunities in real time.

    If you have a strategic project or innovative pilot that requires relational design, I’ll join your project team as a relationships consultant supporting you to design the infrastructure that puts relationships at the centre of your education system - leading to healthier long term outcomes for young people, parents, and educators.

  • I occasionally offer open enrolment training in Deep Democracy - the core methodology that informs my work.

    It offers practical ways for leaders, coaches and facilitators to work with difference, strong emotions, resistance and what remains unsaid. It helps us notice what is happening beneath the surface and create the conditions for more honest conversations, wiser decisions and stronger relationships. You can read about the method here.

    Check this page for future open training dates.

  • "I loved that the learning was all "analogue" - no Power Points, no tech - actual raw skill and all based on real interactions."

    - Emmanuelle, Participation Specialist

  • “Francesca made the University a better place. Her ability to create interventions which prompt deep thinking and action to improve our culture has advanced the development of our staff and will leave a legacy here. She has built strong relationships, credibility and trust in a short time, giving those who work with her real confidence to tackle our challenges. She's one of the best appointments I've made.”

    -Sara Shinton, Director

  • “Connecting across difference, being able to hold polarities, and voicing what is often blocking a group are just some of what I draw on daily in my work now."

    - Katy Kent, Coach

I am lucky to have worked with…