Thom Dennis is the CEO of Serenity in Leadership Ltd, the premier culture remodelling, change and leadership specialists. He is an international speaker, voiceover actor and Amazon #1 published author and has been featured on both BBC TV News and radio and as a thought leader in over 320 articles in industry-leading publications in just the last two years alone.

With over 30 years’ experience as an Executive Coach, Facilitator, Change Maker and Leadership Developer, and having served 17 years as an officer in the Royal Marines, Thom has been hired by global banking, pharmaceutical, energy and engineering brands such as Citigroup, Royal Bank of Scotland, Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Conoco Phillips, Shell, BP, Centrica and Transocean to name just a few.

Thom’s additional qualifications include:

• MSc in Change Agent Skills and Strategies

• Certified Facilitator accredited by the CQ® Center

• Certified NLP Master Practitioner,

• Member of the International Association of Facilitators

• Member of the Professional Speaking Association

• Fellow of The Royal Society for Arts, Manufactures and Commerce.

Thom is an accomplished professional speaker and offers a series of impactful keynote talks for senior leaders and HR professionals which focus on leadership, workplace culture, how to address bullying and purpose. Thom’s talks are not only thought-provoking but aim to get results using his extensive expertise in creating transformational change

1. How to get men talking about the things they don’t want to talk about

In some of our monthly dialogue events around the time of the pandemic, one of the areas we explored was the impact of #MeToo and #TimesUp. What we found was that predominantly women wished to discuss the subject and men did not. This at a time when many men were afraid to get into a lift with a lone woman, preferring to wait for the next lift to avoid facing the possibility of being accused of some sort of inappropriate behaviour. Misogyny is a man’s issue and whilst women have, and rightly continue to demand action, it is for men to acknowledge their part and to act, and this includes in the workplace. The question is, how do we get men talking about the things they don’t want to talk about and how do we get men to actively be women’s allies?

2. The man of the future - The masculine and feminine in successful harmony

The Feminine has been suppressed not only in women but in men also. And yet it’s The Feminine that is needed, in both men and women, to displace the wounded, or some might say, dysfunctional, Masculine that has dominated for so long. Thom argues that the problems we face today cannot be solved by the traits that led to the creation of our current challenges - a real change is needed, and it’s the Feminine that has the wisdom and power to lead now with a functional Masculine alongside. By releasing the Feminine in this way, Thom shows why we will all gain.

3. Is CQ (Cultural Intelligence) the new EQ/ IQ?

Cultural quotient or cultural intelligence (CQ) is increasingly being seen as of far more value than IQ (intelligence quotient), and of equal importance in business to its counterpart emotional intelligence (EQ), because of its proven exponential positive impact on improved teamwork, performance, cooperation and communication. CQ is a globally recognised measure of how good we are at understanding cultural differences including, but not limited to, nationality, ethnicity, culture, location, gender and age.

Thom reveals why CQ assesses far beyond simple cultural sensitivity and awareness and how it helps us understand the decisions people and organisations make and how they are influenced by their beliefs, attitudes, and values.4How to crack the code to create a healthy business culture Legendary management consultant Peter Drucker once said: “Culture eats strategy for breakfast”. Is this still true, and how can we change the culture so that it supports our path into the future? A poor diversity and inclusion culture leads to increased levels of harassment, bullying, a lack of belonging, burnout, passive aggression, a loss of talent and high levels of absenteeism to name a few dysfunctional aspects. But there is a way to break toxic cycles and build a safe and welcoming environment, and Thom believes he has the keys to crack the code and unlock a sustainable healthy culture.

4. How to crack the code to create a healthy business culture

Legendary management consultant Peter Drucker once said: “Culture eats strategy for breakfast”. Is this still true, and how can we change the culture so that it supports our path into the future? A poor diversity and inclusion culture leads to increased levels of harassment, bullying, a lack of belonging, burnout, passive aggression, a loss of talent and high levels of absenteeism to name a few dysfunctional aspects. But there is a way to break toxic cycles and build a safe and welcoming environment, and Thom believes he has the keys to crack the code and unlock a sustainable healthy culture.

5. Why we should focus on the majority and what they call “normal”

We have got it all wrong when addressing the problems of being truly inclusive. Most people from a majority who want to help those who feel excluded or that they don’t belong, have the mindset of “What can we do to help them?” Very admirable, but it’s the majority that needs fixing, not the minority. It’s your problem, not theirs because after all if we are still talking about them and us, the problem is very much with us.

6. If bullying and harassment are systemic, what’s the solution?

Bullying takes place in almost every workplace but calculating the extent of bullying in an organization is still very challenging – it’s not even defined in law! It’s toxic for our employees, and our organisations suffer in so many ways which affect the bottom line. Bullying costs both the individual and the organisation dearly. Thom brings his own honest and revealing experience of being bullied to this talk, emphasises that if you are turning a blind eye to bullying you are part of it and reveals solutions to make our workplaces and cultures safer, and ultimately more productive.

7. Why the business leader needs to be a healer first

Leadership bestows power; what’s important is how that power is used – giving and enabling vs ego, fear and control. In the recent past we have seen shining examples of global influencers and inspiring business leaders. We have also seen incredibly poor leadership which has been synonymous with dishonesty, ego and conflict. Such a style leads inevitably to a negative impact on a company’s culture, creativity and productivity and creates stress and poor wellbeing in others.

Good and effective leadership comes from being a role model, being present, guiding individuals with humility and helping them to enable their personal achievements, as well as success for a greater common purpose. Thom brings all his experience as a facilitator, speaker, consultant, educator and change agent to show how to develop the skills of leadership needed for today and tomorrow in individuals and teams.

8. Purpose beyond profit – Why it’s so important

Purpose is a thought-out, conscious reason for being, behaving, and evolving. Businesses are increasingly looking to understand and adopt their purpose, values and mindset with their people, customers and community, with wellness at the forefront. But much like the values embedded in a mission statement, a company’s purpose can quickly be forgotten or be seen as a presentational exercise, rather than an integral part of their reason for existing.

In this keynote, Thom explores the importance of purpose because in the next decade, good leaders will not only be measured by their financial achievements, but by the businesses’ success at developing core values and giving employees and customers meaning and support to achieve their aims.

Thom is available for:

• Conferences & Conventions

• Facilitating Off-Site Retreats and Away Days

• Designing and leading Leadership,

Communication & Team Building Events

• Seminars, Workshops and Training Days

• Conflict Resolution

• Mergers & Acquisitions Planning

• Podcasts

• Expert Panels, particularly on gender, harassment, bullying and the abuse of power

• Chat Shows

Thom has lived and worked in many countries and is the proud father of two and grandfather of five. His extensive travels for both work and pleasure have informed his understanding of different cultures, and he continues to pursue his passion for writing with the upcoming launch of his next book. When relaxing, he can be found delving into his library or combining his love for nature and wild places with his curiosity in photography.