About Nick Owen

Background and experience

Writer, theatre director, actor, storyteller, coach, and catalyst, Nick Owen is a consultant with an international reputation whose work has been acclaimed across many contexts, particularly in business, the professions, the arts, and education. He is known for his creative and alternative ways of exploring some of the key issues that affect individual and organisational success, innovation, and transformation.

Nick’s particular areas of expertise include: the art and practice of delivering compelling and memorable presentations; accessing one’s own personal style of leadership; the power of storytelling and narrative to create change; the role of metaphor in unlocking difficult issues; trainer training and trainer development; and the power of breath, voice, and energy in leadership interventions.

Nick has developed and delivered many programmes for global corporations including Aon, Asahi, Atradius, Aviva, HSBC, SABMiller, Shell Oil, Standard Chartered Bank, and Zurich as well as other major organisations in the technology, financial services, health, and public sectors.

Much of Nick’s work involves supporting ‘experts’ to let go of their expertise and see a bigger and more widely systemic picture; in other words shifting from an expert mindset, to a manager mindset, and ultimately to that of a strategic and inquiring leader.

Formal education

Nick has a degree in English from the University of Durham; and has completed postgraduate work at the universities of Manchester and Oxford.

Professional Development/Expertise (some concurrent)

  • 12 years as a professional actor and theatre director in the UK
  • 10 years facilitating grass roots change in the developing world (Africa, South America, South East Asia)
  • 6 years working freelance in radio and print journalism
  • 30 years working in learning and leadership development in schools, universities, public sector institutions, and in large corporates and organisations
  • Master Practitioner and Certified Trainer in NLP
  • Certificated to train and coach using the Global Leadership Profile (GLP Torbert), the Leadership Development Framework (LDF Harthill), Spiral Dynamics, and Time Line Therapy
  • Visiting Lecturer CEDEP/INSEAD (2005 – 2008)
  • International Faculty at DeBaak Management Centrum in The Netherlands (2005 – 2018)
  • Visiting Lecturer London Business School (2015 – 2016)
  • Visiting Lecturer IESE Business School, Barcelona (2016)
  • Associate Lecturer Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University
  • Associate: Amara Collaboration
  • Associate: Narrative Leadership Associates
  • Senior Associate: Global Leadership Associates
  • Action Inquiry Fellow (Action Inquiry Associates)
  • Scorer/Commentary writer: The Global Leadership Profile (GLP)
  • Member: Society of Authors


Nick partial face Amara copyPublications: 
Books

  • Owen N. The Magic of Metaphor: 77 Stories for Teachers, Trainers, and Thinkers. Crownhouse 2001
  • Owen N. More Magic of Metaphor: Stories for Leaders, Motivators, and Influencers. Crownhouse 2004
  • Owen N. The Salmon of Knowledge: Stories for Work, Life, the Dark Shadow, and OneSelf. Crownhouse 2009 

Publications: Articles

  • Owen N. Presenting Excellence. English Teaching Professional Vols. 17 – 20
  • Owen N. Spiral Dynamics in the Classroom: action logics in education. English Teaching Professional Vols. 27 – 30

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