Who We Are

With validated tools, evidence-based programs, and a global community of certified practitioners, the Academy of Brain-based Leadership helps organizations build psychologically safe, high-performing cultures through the science of the brain.
From the individual, to the team, to overall company culture–understanding the brain, managing its limitations, nurturing its needs and unlocking its resilience is key to optimizing potential and performance. 

Our Story

Improving organizational performance and leadership through neuroscience

The Academy of Brain-based Leadership (ABL) was founded in 2015 by Leonie Hull, CEO and Dr. Dan Radecki Chief Scientific Officer. Together, they co-authored the bestselling book “Psychological Safety: The key to happy, high-performing people and teams” (learn more about the book).

Dan Radecki, PhD is the Co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer at ABL. He also serves as President and Head of Global Clinical Research at Object Pharma and holds a PhD in Neuroscience, Masters in Biopsychology, and Bachelors in Psychology. As a neuroscientist and corporate leader, Dr. Radecki has a unique perspective on how knowledge of brain functioning can help leaders maximize their results. He created the content for the educational arm of the NeuroLeadership Institute, including the first university-accredited Masters program that incorporated neuroscience research into an optimal model of leadership.

About the CEO

Leonie Hull brings over 25 years in leadership roles, the last 18 years leading organizations focused on building the platform for cutting edge research and training in the neuroscience of leadership, including the NeuroLeadership Institute (NLI). At ABL, she leads the design, development and implementation of ABL’s Psychological S.A.F.E.T.Y.™ System, and the learning and accreditation pathways for building psychological safety at an individual, relationship, team and organizational level.

What We Do

At ABL, we consolidate and curate cutting-edge neuroscience research, products, training programs, and diagnostic assessments to address organizational transformation one brain at a time. Our practical and scalable solutions help workplaces support the wellbeing, safety, and inclusion of its people.

ABL’s programs, assessments, and accreditation community reach organizations across industries and continents.

Our aim is to create “brain-conscious” cultures by providing the knowledge and tools for people to protect their own psychological safety, and that of others.

Why This Works

Psychological Safety is the #1 Predictor of a high-performing team. The research found that teams operating in a psychologically safe environment had employees who were: trusting, less likely to leave, more likely to harness the power of diversity, and ultimately were more successful.

ABL’s S.A.F.E.T.Y.™ Model gives leaders and their teams a common understanding, shared language, and a concrete framework to help organizations navigate uncertainty, reduce burnout, and retain their best people.

The S.A.F.E.T.Y.™ assessment helps team members understand their unique brain profile, revealing their psychological safety sensitivities and potential impact on themselves and those around them. Through facilitated debrief sessions, leaders and their teams learn to nurture and build psychological safety by understanding how to effectively manage these brain needs, leverage the diverse strengths that different drivers bring to the team, and how to proactively manage triggers when needs are not met.

The PS Pulse™ gives organizations a baseline to measure where psychological safety is breaking down before it breaks people. The leadership programs create lasting behavioral change because they work with the brain, not against it. The global accreditation community means this methodology doesn’t stop at the edge of a single workshop.