Dr Ellen Joan Ford is terrifyingly ambitious about improving the working world for people and for organisations. New Zealand media have described her as an “extraordinary leader” and a “change-the-freaking-world person”.
As an award-winning leader, researcher, military veteran, international speaker, TEDx speaker, facilitator, consultant and parent, Ellen draws on her research and practical experiences to drive organisational outcomes such as improved retention, productivity, engagement, well-being and ultimately, profit, by enhancing inclusive leadership capabilities and workplace culture.
Ellen has delivered keynotes to thousands of people and has worked with multiple corporate and government organisations, including KPMG, FMG, NZDF, Craigmore Farming, EY and Metcash across a variety of sectors such as professional services, construction, defence, engineering, health, education, tourism, hospitality and primary industries.
Ellen’s research and commercially smart ideas to improve the working world have been published globally and she is a sought-after media commentator and podcast guest. She has completed her MBA (exec), PhD and post-doctoral research focused on leadership and is the co-author of a nationwide primary industries leadership project for New Zealand’s largest export sector.
Using the findings from her PhD, Ellen spent 18 months in an advisory role to the Chief of the NZ Army, General John Boswell, providing recommendations for positive change to benefit all. General Boswell wrote, “To Ellen’s immense credit, she has significantly influenced how Army is now approaching a range of diversity and inclusion challenges. Her contribution has been invaluable, her expertise, interpersonal and communication skills are superb.”
Ellen doesn’t just research, advise, deliver keynotes, and facilitate workshops about leadership, she has decades of experience practicing leadership. As well as leading teams in the corporate sector, and running her own business, Ellen had a highly successful career serving ten years as an Engineer officer in the NZ Army, leading soldiers around the globe, including in Antarctica, Afghanistan, UK and much of the Pacific, as well as scholarship exchange tours to Australia, Japan and Indonesia.
A decade on from her military career, Ellen was at the heart of a volunteer team who supported the evacuation of 563 people from Afghanistan to New Zealand after the fall of Kabul. She was recognised nationally as the Kiwi Bank New Zealander of the Year - Local Hero as well as Person of the Year - Manawatu Standard.
Ellen is the author of #WorkSchoolHours: A revolution for parents, workplaces and the world, based on the movement she founded to deliver better social and organisational outcomes. #WorkSchoolHours has received wide-spread media attention (The Project, Breakfast, Radio NZ, NZ Herald, Stuff, Women’s Weekly and more) and has been dubbed a “must-read for any leader building a modern workplace.” The book is endorsed by multiple business leaders around the globe, including the CEOs of KiwiBank, FMG, DevryBV and Cliftons. Ellen received the prestigious Sir Peter Blake Leadership Award for her success in driving workplace change.
It is the culmination of these experiences that led to Ellen’s leadership model: Belonging, Autonomy and Purpose. She shares stories with her audience in a way that is relatable, highly engaging and full of practical takeaways. Ellen is passionate, authentic and speaks from the heart with warmth, enthusiasm, bubbliness and fun.
Talking Points
Belonging, Autonomy and Purpose Leadership
When people thrive, so does the organisation. Belonging, Autonomy and Purpose Leadership
Dr Ellen Joan Ford draws on her research and practical experiences to drive organisational outcomes such as improved retention, productivity, engagement, well-being and ultimately, profit, by enhancing inclusive leadership capabilities and workplace culture. Her keynote shares stories and practical insights, and her workshop then facilitates discussion for implementation.
Ellen shares her inspirational experiences to demonstrate the power of Belonging, Autonomy and Purpose:
- An officer in the NZ Army, leading soldiers around the globe, from Antarctica to the UK, Tuvalu to Afghanistan.
- An academic and leadership researcher: MBA (exec), PhD, post-doctoral leadership research and co-author of a nation-wide primary industries leadership project for New Zealand’s largest export sector.
- A volunteer at the heart of a humanitarian team who supported the evacuation of 563 people from Afghanistan to New Zealand after the fall of Kabul. Read Ellen’s team’s incredible story here.
- The author of #WorkSchoolHours, based on the movement she founded to deliver better social and organisational outcomes (endorsed by CEOs of KiwiBank, FMG, DevryBV and Cliftons and dubbed a “must-read for any leader building a modern workplace”).
Ellen is a recipient of the prestigious Sir Peter Blake Leadership Award, is Person of the Year – Manawatu Standard and KiwiBank New Zealander of the Year – Local Hero for her acts of leadership. Ellen is engaging, authentic and enthusiastic.
Key takeaways:
- Why, and how to create Belonging, Autonomy and Purpose in your workplace.
- Why, and how to apply the #WorkSchoolHours principles in a variety of sectors.
Ideal for:
- Team members, to aspiring leaders through to executives and directives (tailored to the audience and participants)
The Best Version of You is You: Authentic Leadership
Keynote/workshop content:The Best Version of You is You: Authentic Leadership
Throughout our childhood and working lives, we have absorbed so many images and messages about what a ‘good leader’ looks like, and how a ‘good leader’ acts and behaves. In so many cases, this stereotypical ‘good leader’ is very different to how we see ourselves, and this can negatively impact leadership capabilities, teamwork, staff engagement and culture within the organisation.
Dr Ellen Joan Ford shares her decades of leadership research and lived leadership experiences, including an MBA (exec) and PhD focused on leadership, ten years’ military service leading soldiers around the world, and a volunteer task to support the evacuation of 563 people from Afghanistan to New Zealand after the fall of Kabul, to demonstrate that the best leaders are those who are true to themselves.
A leader’s job is to create an environment where their team can thrive, and then direct that thriving energy at the task that needs to be achieved. How leaders achieve this is deeply personal and unique to each individual leader, and each of their team members.
Ellen’s upbeat session is filled with practical examples and tangible takeaways. Her warm approach encourages audiences and participants to open their minds and hearts and find their magic. We all have superpowers to offer this world, and when we harness what is authentic to us, we deliver the best outcomes for our teams and organisation.
Key Takeaways:
- An understanding of the value of diverse leadership approaches to an organisation.
- How to be a truly authentic leader.
- How to encourage others to be their authentic selves.
Ideal for:
- Team members, to aspiring leaders through to executives and directives (tailored to participants)
It's not a hand-out: Why #WorkSchoolHours is the commercially smart revolution that's changing how we work
Keynote/workshop content:It's not a hand-out: Why #WorkSchoolHours is the commercially smart revolution that's changing how we work
Dr Ellen Joan Ford started the #WorkSchoolHours movement to address the societal wide problem that sees parents needing to work as though they don’t have kids and parent as if they don’t have jobs. However, #WorkSchoolHours is not just for parents - it’s for everyone.
#WorkSchoolHours is underpinned by Ellen’s Belonging, Autonomy and Purpose leadership model, and is based on three principles:
- Value that people have things they care about outside of work (children, or other)
- Focus on outputs instead of hours
- Give people more flexibility where possible
In addition to her TEDx talk of the same name, Ellen is the author of #WorkSchoolHours and has received wide-spread media attention for this movement (The Project, Breakfast, Radio NZ, NZ Herald, Stuff, Australian Women’s Weekly and more). The book is endorsed as commercially smart by multiple business leaders around the globe, including the CEOs of KiwiBank, FMG, DevryBV and Cliftons. Ellen received the prestigious Sir Peter Blake Leadership Award for her success in driving socially and commercially smart change.
Ellen’s engaging and uplifting session contains practical insights and immediately actionable solutions that can be used in any industry.
Key takeaways:
- How to apply the #WorkSchoolHours principles in a variety of sectors.
- How to achieve better commercial outcomes applying #WorkSchoolHours principles
Ideal for:
- Team members, to aspiring leaders through to executives and directives (tailored to the audience and participants)
Stop Trying to Fix Women... and start fixing the system
Keynote/workshop content:Stop Trying to Fix Women... and start fixing the system
We need to stop trying to ‘fix’ women and start fixing the system. And the exciting part? Doing this is also good for men and good for organisational performance.
After ten years of military service and completing her PhD focused on the experiences of women leaders, Dr Ellen Joan Ford spent 18 months in an advisory role to the Chief of the NZ Army, General John Boswell, who noted, “to Ellen’s immense credit, she has significantly influenced how Army is now approaching a range of diversity and inclusion challenges. Her contribution has been invaluable, her expertise, interpersonal and communication skills are superb.”
Ellen’s keynote and workshop provides solutions to the primary barriers causing the gender pay gap, and the under-representation of women in senior leadership roles. In addition to discussing the requirement for suitable fitting uniforms and equipment, using representative imagery (‘you can’t be what you can’t see’), eliminating harmful behaviours and valuing a wider range of leadership approaches, Ellen details the biggest barrier facing women in the workplace; the ‘Mum penalty’.
Ellen’s session doesn’t dwell on the challenges; she is upbeat and enthusiastic about the exciting opportunities to cultivate inclusive leadership practices that benefit everyone.
Key Takeaways:
- Practical suggestions for removing barriers facing women in the workplace.
- How to create inclusive workplaces that benefit ALL genders, AND the bottom line.
Ideal for:
- Team members, to aspiring leaders through to executives and directives (tailored to the audience and participants)
Video
Dr Ellen Joan Ford | Saxton Speakers
KiwiBank New Zealander of the Year 2023 – Local Hero
Dr Ellen was such a wonderful panelist with such an inspiring message, not only to mothers but to all people in the workforce. A really empowering speaker that everyone should have the oppor ... keep reading Palmerston North City Council
A fantastic speaker who kept our audience engaged throughout - not an easy task given it was the morning after a fairly late night!
Ellen demonstrated a passion for leadership to transcend the ordinary and deliver the extraordinary. Ellen’s openness, honesty and positive energy was in itself an inspiration for our farming leaders.
Ellen’s presentation at BCITO’s Construction Summit was absolutely on point. Feedback from our 120 industry representatives present was extremely positive.
Ellen was a fantastic speaker… thought-provoking, stimulated significant discussion amongst attendees and was delivered with good humour.
Ellen’s passion combined with the research she has completed made for an engaging and thoroughly enjoyable session. Ellen is an excellent speaker.
An engaging speaker, Ellen held the room completely and led the conference in her open and honest manner through numerous and related subjects.
Ellen’s presentation style is highly engaging and she shared her expert knowledge with passion.
Ellen is an inspirational speaker with a unique and engaging presentation style… your presentation absolutely hit that mark.
You were the hit of the day Ellen– you’re a star!
Ellen’s engagement and candour were outstanding. Her knowledge, passion, and ability to connect with an audience are truly remarkable.
Your session was thought provoking, courageous, current and inspiring… your delivery was engaging, honest and energetic and you shouldn’t change a thing.
Prepare to be captivated from the very first page of this remarkable new book, full of thought-provoking themes. It’s an absolute must-read that will linger in your thoughts long after you’ve turned the final page.
Focusing on outputs versus hours, Dr Ellen Joan Ford brings to life the power of Belonging, Autonomy and Purpose to inspire the reader as she encourages us to think differently about our workplaces through the use of real life experiences and relevant practical examples.
