About
“I believe in the power of courageous conversation, in which people feel able to be open and honest as part of building trusting relationships.”
Leadership Partner, Facilitator, Mentor, Coach and Speaker, Author and Host of the Leaders in Conversation Podcast
With more than 30 years' experience working with global leaders across a range of sectors and industries, I specialise in helping senior leaders and their teams create a safe environment - bringing out the best in each other and others and valuing inclusive dialogue and diversity of thought and feeling, as part of working collaboratively to deliver great results and services.
I believe in the power of courageous conversation in which people feel able to be open and honest as part of building trusting relationships.
My Story
“From a young age I was curious about the world, the people I met and the conversations I had with them.”
I was brought up in a small mill town in the Pennines, Yorkshire, by my hard-working parents. Education and getting on in the world mattered to them, as did their Protestant faith. The impact of this early, very religious upbringing is something I’ve written about in the book ‘Children Growing Up with Religion’. At the age of 10, I was sent away to an all-girls Quaker boarding school in York. I contributed to the book ‘Trauma, Abandonment and Privilege’ (written by Nick Duffell and Thurstine Basset) having realised what a huge impact boarding school had on me.
On completing my first degree in Communication Studies at Sheffield Hallam University, I knew I wanted to work with people. I gained a Masters in Management Learning from Lancaster University and am an Accredited Mediator, by Regents College London. I am an Accredited Practitioner of MBTI (Myers Briggs Type Indicator), FIRO-B and Hogan. These are tools widely used to understand peoples' personality type and decision-making styles to bring about positive behavioural change and promote team performance.
I am passionate about leadership, believing it to be personal and relational. In 2007, I published ‘Assertiveness and Diversity’, in which I explore, through theory and case studies, how individuals, teams, and organisations can make it possible for everyone to be valued for who they are and respected for what they do.
In 2013, I was interviewed on BBC4’s Ramblings and spoke about my love of the Walk and Talk approach. Whether working or relaxing, I love being outdoors. I regularly make the most of living on the edge of the South Downs in Sussex by enjoying walks and talks with friends, colleagues and clients. I live with my partner, and have two grown-up daughters.
Passionate about lifelong learning
A highly qualified leadership partner, coach and mentor, I’ve numerous qualifications and memberships and vast professional experience working with a wide range of organisations and senior leaders and their teams.
I am passionate about lifelong learning and continue to read widely on the subjects of leadership, inclusivity, and how to create a collaborative culture in the workplace. View my qualifications and memberships here.
Anni Townend Guest Speaker on the Walking Mentorship Walkcast
Walking Mentorship is led by Joao Perre Viana and Nuno Santos Fernandes and combines nature, walking, and mentoring into a tool of self-development.
This wonderful series brings an inside look at the beautiful people they walk with. It is a delightful listen and highlights how dialogue between people is proof that we’re more alike than we think.
I got to combine my love of walking whilst talking on this podcast and was delighted to select three pieces of music that are significant to me. Take a listen to hear my chosen tracks.
Anni Townend Guest Speaker on The Parent Equation podcast
Ayesha Murray is passionate about bringing together working parents, creating The Parent Equation® podcast as a platform for people to share their stories of bringing up a family alongside their careers.
Each episode highlights how every journey is unique; we can all take inspiration, support and insights from each one as we try to be the best parent, employee, business owner, and entrepreneur we can be.
I was delighted to be invited on Episode 10 of The Parenting Equation podcast and spoke about how collaborative childcare when my children were young made my working life possible.