Mark Julian Edwards

Mark Julian Edwards is a distinguished strengths-based leadership expert (known as the Strengths Explorer), acclaimed two-time author, and compelling TEDx speaker.

Mark’s expertise lies in unraveling the essence of the “explorer mindset.” Through his insightful talks, he guides audiences on a transformative journey, emphasising the untapped potential within each individual’s innate strengths. Mark’s unique perspective serves as the guiding “red thread” that weaves through the intricacies of leadership, fostering a deep understanding of how embracing one’s strengths can unlock unparalleled success.

For 25 years Mark Julian Edwards worked as a top performing consultant across multiple sectors with Global Fortune 250 organisations. He has lead and developed many large and complex high performing teams and has a strong background in cross functional working and stakeholder management and is highly skilled at cultural and transformational change leadership.

As and accredited Gallup Strengths Coach and TEDx speaker, he showcased his innovative approach by collaborating with 18 senior female leaders, skillfully capturing and anchoring their unique strengths through a blend of coaching and photography. Mark’s travel experiences underscore the powerful truth that we all have the capability to become whoever we choose by leveraging our strengths.

SPEAKING TOPICS

STRENGTHS-BASED LEADERSHIP: EMPOWERED EMPLOYEES, DELIGHTED CUSTOMERS

Happy employees = delighted clients!  In this engaging, fun and practical session, Mark outlines practical ways in which we can:

• Identify the unique, intrinsic strengths of ourselves and our teams.
• Develop our teams in accordance with these strengths &
• Retain our people in engaging and creative ways through offering outstanding, tailored development.

After all, Gallup research reveals people leading through their strengths are 6 times more likely to be successful. In this media-rich talk, Mark shares how organisations he has worked with have made this change.

THE LENSES OF PERCEPTION – SEEING THE POTENTIAL IN OTHERS

It is said “We see the world, not as it is, but as we are – or, as we are conditioned to see it”. This is a powerful and practical talk aimed at Leaders in how we can truly empower others to believe they are capable of so much more (often than they believe themselves to be). By proactively choosing the Lens with which we see our people we begin to change others reality.

Mark Edwards shares how you can adopt the “explorer mindset” with regards to how you look to see the true potential which lies within your people, when led through their strengths – and not their job titles.

Mark shares his own story of how he leant into his strengths to write his own book, work as a presenter and write for the Lonely Planet, all with no prior experience or qualifications.

DEVELOPING A WORLD CLASS CULTURE

How do we develop a truly world class organisational culture?The best workplaces share two specific qualities:

• They create a shared sense of meaning
• They recognise people’s strengths and enable them to play to them.

Mark uncovers practical ways in which world class organisations create unmistakeable cultures. He also shares some of the key boosters and killers of organisational culture

MEMORABLE STORYTELLING

How do we tell our story or the story of our organisation or from a human, emotive perspective?

We are all naturally gifted storytellers, but how can we refine our skills further? Specifically, how do we bring to life our travel adventures to life so well that the recipient feels as though they were also there?

Mark will share how: The best stories begin with a single person and their experience. The biggest stories often lie within a person but are seldom unlocked. Stories are created in certain “defining moments” and we explore how we create and share these moments

The session will be covering several aspects such as voice, humour, “sharing the scene”, and telling others stories. In this session, Mark will share some of his stories in writing for the Lonely Planet, and through helping executives craft their own messages.

FINDING PICASSO – TELLING THE UNIQUE STORY OF A DESTINATION

Mark shares how to tell the story by capturing unique person, moment or feeling, with which to tell a wider story.