Online leadership development for technical experts who lead people and innovation.
A small crew of technical minds who actually get your world. Bonding way beyond the programme, there will be no corporate theatre, no fluff just real conversations, shared challenges, and a cohort that’ll tell you the truth (kindly… mostly).
Why choose our program?
Innovation environments are distinct from standard business operations primarily through their emphasis on risk-taking, comfort with failure and multi-function collaboration. Strong innovation cultures value experimentation over rigid standardisation and predictability.
Leading to Innovate is specifically designed for technically trained individuals dealing with these challenges. We will share our four decades of combined experience and research to help you transform from a technical expert into an innovation leader.
Our program is inclusive, practical and built for technical brains
You will be part of a supportive group of peers where you can grow, develop and learn from others. Relationships will extend way beyond the programme!
Learning and insights will be specific to you and your organisational setting.
What will the programme deliver?
Leading to Innovate will support you to:
Grow from individual contributor to innovation leader
Lead with confidence and authenticity
Communicate with authority
Improve clarity in decision making
Create conditions where collaboration thrives
Lead stronger, more effective teams
Build a personalised plan for continued leadership growth
Share learning and challenges with other technical leaders
Calm the chaos!
Programme structure
Leading to Innovate is an online program combining group learning, peer dialogue, and individual coaching over three months. Cohorts will be limited to eight participants and will start in February, May and September 2026.
Four 90 minute online workshops
Each interactive session combines short inputs, reflection, and peer discussion. Topics are:
Leading self: Managing energy, confidence, and emotional regulation under pressure. From expert to enabler; shifting your leadership identity
Leading through uncertainty: Managing ambiguity, experimentation, and learning from failure.
Creating safe and innovative cultures: Building trust, psychological safety, and open dialogue.
Making bold decisions: Balancing data and intuition and influencing beyond technical expertise.
Three 1-hour group coaching / action learning sessions
Small-group facilitated discussions to explore real leadership challenges and support practical application of learning in participants’ own organisations. Facilitators will support participants with frameworks and listening and questioning skills.
Two 1 hour individual coaching sessions
Focused on personal leadership development planning — identifying strengths, growth areas, and concrete next steps. A workbook will be provided which supports this process.
A personal development workbook
Price per participant £2400 + VAT
Dr Nell Masey O'Neill
Dr Nell MAsey O’Neill Nell is an executive coach with deep roots in science and commercial R&D. As the former most senior scientist in her organisation, she led innovation strategy, built high-performing technical teams, and partnered with senior leaders to translate complex science into commercially meaningful outcomes.
She now designs and delivers innovation leadership programmes that combine rigour with approachability. Nell creates spaces where science and technology leaders feel safe to think boldly, challenge assumptions, and collaborate brilliantly.
Nell is an EMCC accredited coach with an MSc in Psychology. Her work blends executive coaching, team development, and real-world innovation experience, making her a trusted guide for organisations that want to unlock impactful creativity
Dr Abi Hird
Abi is Founder & Director of Defankle Innovation, where she supports companies to improve innovation practice. She has wide-ranging experience across innovation, engineering, leadership & culture, and strategic decision making, having supported 1000+ tech and engineering companies to address varied and complex challenges. She is a member of INCOSE, Vice Chair of Product Design Scotland and a Design Council Expert.
Abi spent time at the University of Strathclyde as a Researcher and leading research and knowledge exchange activities across the Engineering Faculty, and as a Lecturer in Design and Manufacturing Management
In 2018, Abi joined Innovate UK KTN where she led ‘Navigating the Design to Manufacture Journey’ and the ‘Design in Innovation Network’ (creating strategy for better use of design in UK innovation), before leaving to found Defankle.
“Nell has helped our team develop by pushing leaders to challenge their conceptions of self, of success and of leadership… she has helped people gain more confidence, both in their day-to-day work, and also for career growth.”
Alistair Cross, Managing Director
ADM Milling
Ben Murrcott,
CEO, Murrcott Engineering
James Hall, Director of Operations,
Tannlin
“We had a great foundation but needed a shift to also push value creation across the business. Nell’s coaching made this change happen.”
Managing Director
Saxon Agricultuure
Andrew Raslin,
COO, Pipeline Organics