Our story
Leader Visionary was founded with a simple but powerful conviction: that every organisation deserves access to world-class Leadership Development, regardless of its size or sector. What began as a small coaching practice in North Amelie, New South Wales, has grown into a trusted consultancy serving hundreds of organisations across Australia.
Our founder, Dr. Elaine Hartwell, spent fifteen years in senior executive roles across healthcare and financial services before recognising a persistent gap in how organisations approached leader development. Too many programs were generic, theory-heavy and disconnected from the day-to-day realities of leading teams. She set out to build something different — a practice grounded in behavioural science, customised to each client and relentlessly focused on measurable outcomes.
Today, our team of twelve consultants and coaches carries forward that founding vision. We have coached over eight hundred leaders, delivered workshops in fourteen industries and maintained a client satisfaction rate of ninety-six per cent. But what we are most proud of is the lasting impact our work has on the leaders we serve and the teams they lead.
Our mission and values
Our mission is to cultivate courageous, self-aware and strategically minded leaders who create positive ripple effects throughout their organisations and communities. Everything we do is guided by five core values that shape how we work with clients and with each other.
Evidence over assumption
We ground every recommendation in research and data. Our Leadership Development methodology draws on peer-reviewed organisational psychology, neuroscience and decades of practical application to ensure our programs deliver real, measurable change rather than motivational platitudes.
Integrity in practice
We are honest about what Leadership Development can and cannot achieve. We set realistic expectations, provide candid feedback and never overpromise. Our clients trust us because we tell them what they need to hear, not just what they want to hear.
People at the centre
Leadership is ultimately about people. We design every program with the human experience at its core — respecting the complexity of individual growth, honouring diverse perspectives and creating psychologically safe spaces for learning and vulnerability.
Continuous improvement
We hold ourselves to the same growth mindset we cultivate in our clients. Our team engages in regular professional development, peer supervision and program evaluation to ensure our Leadership Development offerings remain at the cutting edge of best practice.
Meet our team
Our Leadership Development consultants bring a rare combination of academic rigour and real-world leadership experience. Each team member has held senior roles in their respective industries before transitioning into coaching and consulting, which means they understand the pressures and complexities their clients face every day.
Dr. Elaine Hartwell
Founder and principal consultant
With a doctorate in organisational psychology and fifteen years of executive experience in healthcare and finance, Elaine brings deep expertise in transformational leadership and culture change. She has personally coached over three hundred leaders across Australia.
Marcus Tan
Senior executive coach
Marcus is an ICF Professional Certified Coach with a background in technology leadership. Before joining Leader Visionary, he spent twelve years in product and engineering leadership roles at major Australian tech companies, giving him unique insight into leading through rapid change and ambiguity.
Sophie Brennan
Workshop facilitator and coach
Sophie specialises in emerging leader programs and team dynamics workshops. Her background in education and not-for-profit management gives her a talent for making complex Leadership Development concepts accessible and immediately applicable for participants at every level.
Our journey
A brief look at the milestones that have shaped Leader Visionary into the Leadership Development practice it is today.
2014 — Founded in North Amelie
Dr. Elaine Hartwell established Leader Visionary as a solo coaching practice, working with healthcare executives in New South Wales. The first year saw twenty-five individual coaching engagements and a clear demand for something more structured and scalable.
2016 — Expanded into workshops
Responding to client demand, we launched our first group Leadership Development workshops. The initial offering of three workshop formats quickly grew to eight as organisations asked for programs covering conflict resolution, strategic thinking and change management.
2018 — Team growth and new sectors
We welcomed our first additional consultants and expanded into financial services, technology and government sectors. This year also marked the introduction of our signature 360-degree feedback process, which became a cornerstone of every engagement.
2020 — Virtual delivery and national reach
The shift to remote work accelerated our virtual program capabilities. We invested in digital facilitation tools and redesigned our workshops for online delivery, enabling us to serve clients across every Australian state and territory.
2023 — Eight hundred leaders coached
We reached the milestone of eight hundred individual coaching engagements and launched our alumni network, creating a community of practice for leaders who have completed our programs to continue their development journey together.
Partner with us
Whether you are seeking to develop a single high-potential leader or transform your organisation's leadership culture from the ground up, Leader Visionary has the expertise, experience and passion to help you succeed. Our Leadership Development programs are designed to create lasting change — not just in the leaders who participate, but in the teams and organisations they serve.
We invite you to start a conversation with us. Reach out today and discover what thoughtful, evidence-based Leadership Development can do for your organisation.
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