Our Story

Since 2008 cofounders Leonie Hull and neuroscientist Dr Dan Radecki have been at the forefront of interpreting and applying neuroscience research to the workplace, and creating and teaching brain-based leadership programs.

Over the years they experienced the profound, life changing impact this knowledge was having on learner’s professional and personal lives. By understanding their brain and it’s needs leaders were reporting vast improvements in their ability to manage their stress, bounce back from adversity, maintain focus, regulate their emotions and better understand others.  This was positively impacting their happiness, effectiveness and the quality of their relationships with their colleagues, friends and families. It was clear that brain safety was key to people’s professional and personal success.

At the same time neuroscience, academic and industry research were all revealing psychological safety as a critical foundation of high-performance in the workplace.  Evidently brain safety provided essential benefits for both people and organizations and Dan and Leonie recognized the importance of expanding its reach, application and accessibility beyond leaders to effect meaningful change for all people across organizations and cultures.

In 2015 they launched The Academy of Brain-based Leadership to help organizations build psychologically safe, inclusive cultures where all people are empowered to be themselves, believe their contribution is valued and that their needs matter.

That same year they launched the S.A.F.E.T.Y. Model closely followed by the S.A.F.E.T.Y. self-assessment in 2016.  Since then, they have developed online learning programs, tools and micro-learning solutions to help transfer this knowledge to learners at all levels.

In 2017 ABL launched S.A.F.E.T.Y. accreditation programs and has been building a global community of coaches and trainers to further expand the accessibility of this knowledge to empower individuals, leaders and teams all over the world.

In 2018 the ABL vision was captured in the book “Psychological Safety: The key to happy, high-performing people and teams”, outlining the solid research-backed rationale for building success through a brain-based culture that champions psychological safety, wellbeing and belonging.

Recognized as global thought leaders in the neuroscience of leadership field ABL has featured in numerous global conferences, radio interviews, TED Talks, scientific publications, leadership books and blogs.

Leadership Team

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Leonie Hull

Co-founder & Chief Executive Officer

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Dr Dan Radecki

Co-founder & Chief Scientific Officer

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Richie Marriott

VP Partner Solutions

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Christopher Ancona

Technology Data Analytics

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Judy Williams

Program Manager

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Amelia Valenti

Community Support Manager

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Matt Rule

VP Marketing & Branding

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Advisors

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Hasan Rafiq

VP Organizational Development Center of Excellence

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Heather Esposito

Director Learning, Development and Colleague Engagement, BPM LLP

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Mark Steiman

Executive Director Human Resources at CHOC Children’s

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Jennifer McCusker

Former Chief People Officer at DuPage Medical Group

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Grant Doster

Former SVP Global Practice Lead Inclusive Solutions at Lee Hecht Harrison

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Debbie Jeremiah

Former Faculty at GE Crotonville

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Phil Evans

Senior Market Research Manager, DP Assessment at International Baccalaureate Organization

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