Heather Elkington: Can Introverts Be Great Leaders?

Much of what we associate with great leadership still revolves around charisma, confidence and being the loudest voice in the room. But what if we’ve been measuring leadership by the wrong standards?

Leadership coach, speaker and writer Heather Elkington has spent years helping professionals become more effective leaders while challenging conventional assumptions about authority and influence. Drawing on her own unconventional career, from Harrods to building and selling a multi-million-pound business, she argues that some of the strongest leadership qualities are often the least visible.

Together, we explore:

• Whether introverts can become exceptional leaders

• The leadership strengths that often go unnoticed

• How to step into leadership early in your career

• Why authenticity builds stronger influence than performance

• What Heather learned from building and selling her own business

Beyond leadership frameworks, the conversation explores a broader question: whether we’ve mistaken visibility for leadership, and what becomes possible when we lead in ways that feel true to who we are.