Clear Leadership Guidance was founded in 2007 with a simple but ambitious purpose: to close the gap between leadership potential and leadership performance. Our founder, Dr. Margot Ellison, had spent fifteen years working inside large organisations as a senior HR executive and saw first-hand how often leadership development fell short — too generic, too theoretical, and too disconnected from the real pressures leaders face every day.
She set out to build a consulting practice that was different. One that started with deep listening, that honoured the complexity of leadership in the real world, and that measured success not by programme completions but by observable shifts in behaviour and business outcomes.
Over the past eighteen years, that founding vision has grown into a thriving practice serving organisations across Australia — from ASX-listed corporations and government agencies to innovative mid-market companies and not-for-profit organisations. Along the way, we have assembled a team of consultants who share our commitment to rigour, relevance and genuine partnership with our clients.
Today, Clear Leadership Guidance operates from our base in Queensland and works with clients nationally. We remain proudly independent, allowing us to offer unbiased advice and tailor every engagement to the unique needs of each client.
These five values guide every engagement, every conversation and every recommendation we make.
We cut through complexity to help leaders see what matters most. Our advice is direct, evidence-based and actionable. We believe that clarity of thought is the foundation of effective leadership, and we model it in everything we do.
Real leadership development requires honest conversations. We are willing to say what needs to be said — with respect and empathy — even when it is uncomfortable. We encourage our clients to do the same, because growth happens at the edge of comfort.
We work alongside our clients, not above them. We invest deeply in understanding your context, your culture and your aspirations. Our success is measured by your success, and we hold ourselves accountable to the outcomes we promise.
We ground our work in evidence — from organisational psychology, behavioural science and decades of practical experience. We do not chase fads or offer superficial fixes. Every recommendation we make is backed by sound methodology and tailored to your reality.
We design every engagement to build internal capability that endures. Our goal is to make ourselves unnecessary — to leave your leaders and your organisation stronger, more capable and more self-sufficient than when we arrived.
Our consultants bring a rare combination of academic depth and real-world leadership experience.
Margot holds a doctorate in organisational psychology from the University of Queensland and has over 25 years of experience in leadership development. Before founding Clear Leadership Guidance, she served as Group Head of Talent for a major Australian financial services company. She is an accredited executive coach and a sought-after keynote speaker on the future of leadership.
James brings fifteen years of experience in change management and leadership team development. He has led transformation programmes for organisations in mining, healthcare and technology sectors. James holds an MBA from Melbourne Business School and is certified in several leading team diagnostic tools including the Leadership Circle Profile.
Priya specialises in emerging leader development and cross-cultural leadership. She has designed and delivered leadership programmes across Australia, Singapore and India. With a background in behavioural science and a passion for inclusive leadership, Priya brings a fresh perspective to every engagement she leads.
Key milestones in the growth of our practice.
Dr. Margot Ellison establishes Clear Leadership Guidance with a focus on executive coaching and leadership assessment for senior leaders in financial services.
Growing client demand leads us to expand our service offering to include leadership team facilitation and offsite design. James Whitford joins the practice as our first senior consultant.
We begin working with clients in every Australian state and territory, delivering programmes for organisations in mining, healthcare, government and technology sectors.
Priya Narayanan joins the team and we launch our first structured emerging leader programme, designed to accelerate high-potential talent in mid-market organisations.
We celebrate a major milestone — having coached over 500 individual leaders — and launch our culture and strategy alignment service in response to growing demand for holistic organisational consulting.