Keynote (45-60 min)
Leadership today is more complex than ever. Leaders face competing demands, constant change, and rising expectations from the people they lead. In this environment, technical expertise alone is no longer enough.
In this engaging and highly interactive keynote, Dr Kirstin Ferguson AM — a Thinkers50-ranked leadership thinker and recipient of the Thinkers50 Distinguished Leadership Award — explores what modern leadership truly requires: the ability to lead with both head and heart.
Drawing on more than three decades of leadership experience, from serving as an officer in the Royal Australian Air Force to leading a global consulting firm as CEO and later serving on major company boards, Kirstin brings a rare combination of real-world leadership experience and rigorous research.
Through insights from her internationally acclaimed book Head & Heart: The Art of Modern Leadership, along with stories, videos and practical examples, Kirstin introduces the eight attributes that define modern leadership.
Participants are invited to reflect on the leadership moments that shape culture and influence — the everyday decisions, behaviours and interactions where leadership truly matters.
Audience members leave with practical insights they can immediately apply to strengthen their leadership impact — at work, in their communities and in their families.
Key takeaways
- An understanding of the eight attributes of Head & Heart leadership
- Insight into the leadership moments that shape culture and influence
- Practical strategies to balance analytical thinking with human insight
- Inspiration to recognise that leadership is not defined by titles
- A personalised leadership profile through the Head & Heart Leader Scale™
- Real-world stories and practical examples from Kirstin’s leadership journey from the military to the boardroom
Workshop (90-120 min)
The workshop builds on the keynote by helping participants apply the Head & Heart leadership framework to real leadership situations through reflection, discussion, and practical exercises. Participants leave the workshop with:
- A deeper understanding of the eight Head & Heart leadership attributes and how they show up in everyday leadership situations
- Insight into how their own leadership style compares with thousands of other leaders through the Head & Heart Leader Scale™
- The opportunity to reflect on real leadership moments from their own experience and identify how they could respond differently in the future
- The chance to learn from the collective experience of others in the room through facilitated discussion and shared leadership challenges
- Practical ways to apply the Head & Heart framework to real workplace challenges such as decision-making, communication and team leadership
Feedback
- “Kirstin draws on decades of leadership, coaching and directorship experience while being warm, fun and relatable”
- “One of the best conference speakers I have heard – relevant, engaging and thought provoking”
- “Kirstin is an authentic, natural leader who immediately lifts your mood, your confidence and your own personal leadership style through her energy and positivity”
- “This session was inspiring - your presentation touched my heart and I had tears several times”
