In addition to being a consultant on JMW’s UK Team, Vanessa Matthews is a multi-sector Process, Psychology and Change Leader. Her background includes leading several specialist selection and assessment, learning and development and leadership projects in the UK, Australia, Poland, and the Caribbean. Vanessa has worked with a mix of both public and private sector organisations, including high-growth start-ups, as well as a number of FTSE 100 household names. Sector exposure includes banking, finance, professional services, legal, central government, utilities, mining, aviation, and senior leadership within academia.

Vanessa is a cognitive behavioural coach and has worked with leaders of high-growth start-ups as well as executives managing life transitions. The latter resulted in invitations to speak at KPMG’s specialist ERG and Parliament on “caring whilst working.” She is also an experiential learning specialist where drama is used to deliver behaviourally focused change interventions. An experienced workshop facilitator of over 15 years, her recent expertise has led her to supporting leadership reflections in hybrid working. Although not a traditional inclusion practitioner, she co-wrote the cross-cultural component for Warwick University’s MBA programme 15 years ago, and her insightful approach led her to be invited to the current “Unapologetic Landscape” of inclusion where she illuminates leadership perspectives through the lens of inclusivity. Here Vanessa operates both disruptively and incrementally, priding herself on interventions that regardless of the subject, are incisive, energetic, business relevant, and thought provoking. Her specialisms include leadership and performance coaching, selection and resourcing of fast-scaling projects, culture change using behaviour and competency frameworks and facilitation.

Vanessa makes her home in London. In her free time, she enjoys travelling and camping. Vanessa also runs storytelling workshops for children in nature.