Meet Phil – bringing extra strategic leadership expertise to P4L's team
It was attending one of our overnight leadership retreats that convinced Phil Reddall that Partners for Leadership would be a good fit for him.
Phil joined our executive team as a Strategic Advisor this autumn and clearly recalls his first 24-hour stay at Cumberland Lodge.
Located in Windsor Great Park, the venue is the ideal setting for senior leaders to step back, reflect and reset – supported by Partners for Leadership's immersive peer-led approach.
'I was already an advocate of the need for reflection in leadership roles and the power of the community to help unpack shared challenges,' Phil explains.
'Seeing that in action at Cumberland Lodge that first time energised me. The thing that stood out most was the value of reflection that's lightly guided and how much insight and learning comes from what's shared between the participants.
'It's something that doesn't happen day-to-day at work because of 'busy-ness' – and wouldn't happen in other networking environments because the conditions aren't created for the right conversations.'
Understanding the challenges senior leaders face
'With P4L, I could see something that I truly believe makes a difference: helping the development of senior leaders with a sustainable leadership lens'
In the weeks that followed his first Partners for Leadership (P4L) retreat, Phil had the time to get to know the wider Telos Partners team (who help deliver our experience) and understand the sustainable approach to success that runs through everything Telos Partners does.
'I realised how closely aligned our perspectives were,' he says.
'That all meant that, with P4L, I could see something that I truly believe makes a difference: helping the development of senior leaders with a sustainable leadership lens. And I saw how, with my background, I could help and add value.'
Sharing practical learning, talent and capability expertise
Phil's background is indeed key to the difference he's already making at Partners for Leadership, where his role as Strategic Advisor is to focus on the long-term success of the P4L experience, the community around it and the impact it has on our participants.
He spent more than two decades working in and later leading large-scale learning, talent and capability initiatives across organisations including Toyota, Capita KnowledgePool, AkzoNobel, The John Lewis Partnership and Thames Water.
During that time he has worked as a consultant, as a solutions provider and held in-house leadership roles. This means that today Phil can see the challenges that leaders and businesses face from all sides of the table.
Alongside this, he has also built strong connections within the wider leadership, HR and capability community and industry, partly through his (ongoing) independent advisory work and as an awards judge.
Creating a community for reflection and support
Now he's excited about joining Partners for Leadership for two reasons.
'Number one – and this is genuine – the ability to help senior leaders in their development journey,' he explains.
'It's often a lonely place being a senior leader in an organisation, so being part of a strategic leadership experience that gives them somewhere to come together to reflect and to support their thinking excites me.
'The second reason is the community of people in and around Partners for Leadership and the opportunities that the community brings to support each other more practically when needed.'
In a crowded market, he agrees that both of these things set Partners for Leadership apart from other leadership development 'programmes' – especially in the succession planning space.
The focus on sustainable business and longer-term planning and thinking, and how that affects today's challenges and debates, is another reason P4L stands out, he says.
Matching each leader with their own Critical Friend
'I think the most useful thing about a Critical Friend is that they understand the challenges you're dealing with [and] they're on your side'
He also highlights three other strengths he sees.
'Firstly, the senior leaders who come to Cumberland Lodge as speakers to share their stories and spark debate at our retreats.
'Second, the community within each cohort and their willingness to share with each other, support each other and learn from each other.
'And, finally, the access each P4L participant has to their own board-level Critical Friend,' he adds.
'Whether it's part of a regular connection or the ability just to pick up the phone for a particular challenge, the experience and support of Critical Friends can make all the difference in the moment.'
He speaks from his first-hand experience of drawing on the support of a Critical Friend during his own leadership career.
'Yes, I have a Critical Friend – in fact, I still cycle with him now! He is a manager from earlier in my career who's since retired, with a vast and complex career that gives him a broad perspective.
'I think the most useful thing about a Critical Friend is that they understand the challenges you're dealing with, they're on your side, they can navigate the balance between a coaching style and mentoring while at the same time having personal experience.'
What keeps Phil energised through his working week?
Working alongside senior leaders and organisations might be fulfilling but it requires focus, stamina and energy too.
So what keeps Phil motivated during (and beyond) his working week? Here's what he says:
Helping leaders make better organisational decisions and solve complex capability challenges.
Listening to different perspectives and experiences.
Seeing practical ideas translate into measurable business results.
Learning something new.
The great outdoors – I’ve always loved hiking and walking, trips to mountains, hills and dales, and I’ve always loved riding bikes. Over the last 10 years I’ve ridden road bikes more and more and now it’s probably the best decompression aid I could ask for.
Want to know more about Partners for Leadership?
Find out how our two-year experience develops the strategic confidence, judgement and presence participants need to step up and lead at the highest levels.
Visit our website and join our next cohorts – starting 23-24 February, 8-9 June and 21-22 September 2027. Get in touch here.
