Leading with Heart: Continuing a Legacy

Carrying Forward a Legacy: My Vision for Maximy

What if leadership wasn’t something you earned with a title, but something you lived every day?

That’s the question I keep coming back to, and it’s the belief at the heart of everything we do at Maximy. Leadership isn’t just about managing teams or running organisations - it’s about how we show up for the people and roles that matter most to us. It’s about making an impact in ways that are meaningful and authentic.

For me, this work is deeply personal. Maximy was co-founded by my late mother, Deborah Tom, a woman who believed that leadership was for everyone, not just those in boardrooms or corner offices. She dedicated her life to helping people step into their potential and lead with purpose. Now, I have the privilege of carrying her vision forward, honouring her legacy, and evolving it for today’s world.

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My Journey to Maximy

Deep down, I always knew I’d end up here. My career has always been about people - understanding what drives them and helping them thrive.

With a background in psychology, I started out designing leadership programmes for senior leaders at Barclays. It was here that I learnt something fundamental: true leadership is about behaviour and mindset, not just strategy. That lesson stayed with me as I moved into consulting at Accenture, where I spent a decade helping organisations navigate disruption, lead through change, and inspire their people to be more innovative.

During this time, I became an accredited executive coach and co-authored Coaching and Mentoring for Work-Life Balance, a book that explores the intersection of professional growth and personal wellbeing. Writing that book was a turning point for me - it reinforced my belief that leadership is about balance, authenticity, and aligning what we do with who we are. 

After 10 years in consulting, I felt a growing pull to focus on something closer to my heart:helping people not just navigate change and disruption, but embrace their potential to lead it. That’s what brought me to Maximy - a place where the focus is on people as individuals, enabling them to step into leadership in their own unique way and create positive ripple effects in their lives and communities.

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What Leadership Means to Me

I don’t think of leadership as a one-size-fits-all concept. At its core, it’s about showing up with purpose and enabling success, wellbeing, and positive impact - for ourselves, the people we work with, our organisations, and the wider community.

Whether I’m coaching a client, collaborating with a team, or sharing Maximy’s vision, I focus on leading with honesty, empathy, and a deep commitment to making a difference in ways that truly matter.

I believe in:

• Empowering People: Helping others align their values with their actions and step into their best selves.
• Balancing Ambition with Joy: Achieving big things doesn’t mean we can’t have fun along the way. Leadership should feel human, not rigid.
• Building Connections: I thrive on creating spaces where people feel supported, seen, and ready to grow.

I’m someone who believes in rolling up my sleeves and making things happen. But I also know that leadership isn’t just about doing - it’s about being.

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Maximy: A Purpose-Driven Mission for Today’s World

We live in a world that’s constantly changing, and the rules of work and leadership are changing with it. For Millennials and Gen Z, the traditional paths - school, work, retire - don’t resonate the way they once did. Instead, many of us are seeking lives and careers that align with our values, prioritising purpose over hierarchy and striving for progress that feels meaningful and impactful.

In a world where roles are increasingly fluid and careers are multifaceted, Maximy provides a space where people can grow into the best versions of themselves. At its core, Maximy has always been about empowering people to lead in ways that reflect who they truly are, and that mission feels more relevant now than ever.

We’re already shaping what leadership looks like for a new generation:

• Leadership for Everyone: Leadership isn’t tied to titles. It’s about how you show up in the roles that matter most to you.
• Staying Relevant: From hybrid work to nonlinear careers, Maximy’s programmes reflect the realities of today’s challenges.
• Building a Movement: We’re creating a community of people who believe in leading with purpose and are committed to growing together.

Maximy isn’t just about preparing for the future - it’s about shaping it by enabling success, wellbeing, and positive impact for individuals, organisations, and the wider world.

A Personal Note

Stepping into this role has been one of the most meaningful decisions of my life. For me, this isn’t just a job - it’s a deeply personal mission to honour my mum’s legacy while creating something that resonates with the needs and aspirations of our generation.

I carry her spirit in everything I do, and it fuels my determination to make Maximy a place where purpose meets progress, and where leadership is accessible and visible for everyone.

This is my story, my passion, and my purpose. I’m excited for what’s ahead and for the opportunity to continue building something extraordinary with the incredible Maximy community.

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Let’s Connect

‍I’d love to hear your thoughts and connect with people who are as passionate about leadership development as I am. Find me on LinkedIn - whether it’s to share ideas, spark inspiration, or simply say hello, let’s start a conversation that matters!