How Yorkshire’s Liz Howard is redefining modern leadership

From corporate boardrooms to building Up2Eleven, her Leeds-based consultancy, Liz Howard is helping organisations across Yorkshire create emotionally intelligent cultures where people and performance can truly thrive.

At a time when businesses across Yorkshire and beyond are grappling with shifting workplace expectations, talent retention challenges and constant change, leadership has never mattered more. For Liz Howard, who is a Chartered Psychologist and highly experienced executive coach, this isn’t just a trend - it’s the focus of a career spanning more than two decades.

Through her Leeds-based consultancy, Up2Eleven, Liz works with organisations to develop stronger leaders, more engaged teams and cultures built on emotional intelligence. Her approach is refreshingly grounded.
“Leadership is about people,” she says, “understanding them, supporting them and creating the conditions where they can do their best work.”

That perspective has been shaped not only by academic expertise - including a Psychology degree from the University of Huddersfield, a Master’s in Organisational Psychology from the University of Manchester and more recently becoming a British Psychological Society recognised Chartered Psychologist (CPsychol) - but also by hands-on experience at senior level within organisations such as; Lloyds Banking Group, Bentley Motors, Capita, and Drax Group.

“I’ve seen first-hand the pressures leaders are under,” she explains. “The pace, the complexity, the expectations. That’s why my work focuses on the human side of leadership - because that’s often where the biggest impact sits.”

Liz’s journey into this field began with a simple but enduring curiosity about people. Growing up in a lively, opinionated household, she was encouraged to think independently and take responsibility for her choices - values that still underpin her work today. Yet, her path wasn’t entirely straightforward… challenges during her teenage years, including family illness and a loss of confidence, left her feeling out of step within a school system that didn’t always reward curiosity.

“Looking back, what was missing was understanding,” she reflects. “No one really asked what was going on - and I think we still see that in organisations today. When someone struggles, the response can be judgement rather than curiosity.”

It was a more supportive college environment, and a teacher who recognised her potential, that helped her regain confidence and ultimately pursue psychology. Alongside her studies, Liz worked a variety of jobs - from supporting neurodiverse children in schools to working in hospitality and retail - experiences she still credits with shaping her practical, relatable approach.

“I’ve always been interested in what drives people - how environment, mindset and confidence influence what we’re capable of,” she says. “Psychology just made sense of that for me.”

That interest evolved into a successful corporate career in organisational development, where she spent over 20 years designing leadership programmes, shaping talent strategy and supporting large-scale change across multiple sectors. But, it was during the COVID-19 pandemic that everything shifted.

Stepping away from corporate life to care for her terminally ill father, Liz found herself reassessing what she wanted next. At the same time, consultancy opportunities began to emerge through her network - offering both flexibility and a renewed sense of purpose.

“That period made me realise I could build something different,” she says. “Something aligned with my values and focused on the work I care about most.” So, in 2020, she founded Up2Eleven, which has since grown into a successful business supporting organisations across the UK.

The name Up2Eleven is a nod to the cult film ‘This Is Spinal Tap’ and its iconic reference to pushing beyond the usual limits. For Liz, it perfectly captures her philosophy. “So many people are capable of more than they realise,” she explains. “It’s often confidence, culture or environment that holds them back - not ability. My work is about helping people turn that dial up.”

Central to her approach is what she describes as “high support, high challenge” — creating environments where individuals feel both safe and stretched. It’s a balance she believes is critical for modern leadership, particularly as organisations navigate hybrid working, evolving employee expectations and increasing pressure to perform.

“There’s a real opportunity for Yorkshire businesses right now,” she says. “Those that invest in their people and leadership capability will stand out - not just in results, but in their ability to attract and retain great talent.”

Today, Liz brings both professional expertise and personal insight into her work, shaped by her own experiences of confidence, challenge and growth. “I know what it feels like to lose your confidence at work,” she says. “And I know how powerful it is when you find the right environment again. That’s what I want to help leaders create.”

Outside of work, she can often be found walking her dachshunds, paddleboarding or enjoying the region’s food scene - a self-confessed foodie with a love of everything from fine dining to McDonald’s, ideally paired with a glass of rosé. A lifelong music fan, her tastes have shifted from raving days to folk, reflected in her dog Bob, named after Bob Dylan.

Alongside running her business, Liz also gives back through her work with Smart Works Leeds, supporting women into employment through coaching and interview preparation. “Confidence can change everything,” she says. “Sometimes people just need the right support to see what they’re capable of.”

As Yorkshire’s business landscape continues to evolve, consultants like Liz Howard are helping leaders and organisations shape a more human, sustainable approach to success - one where performance and wellbeing go hand in hand, and where, with the right leadership, people are empowered to go just that little bit further - even, as Liz might say, up to eleven!