Chloe Hoggard

When my manager suggested the Henley Advanced Personal Leadership Programme, I’ll be honest, I felt terrified. I hadn’t been in formal education since leaving school. I didn’t have a degree. And in the corporate world, that can make you feel like you don’t quite belong. But I knew I wanted to lead at a higher level, not just in title, but in presence and impact. This programme felt like a door opening into the kind of leader I aspired to be.

It was like nothing I’ve ever experienced. The first 48 hours shook me. At first, the structure, or lack of it, threw me completely, but I now understand that it was by design. It forced me to let go of control, sit with discomfort, and really examine how I lead and respond. That discomfort is where the real learning happened.

What moved me most was the people. I walked into a room filled with brilliant, diverse minds from all over the world, from different cultures, industries, and life experiences. And suddenly, I didn’t feel like an outsider. I felt seen. It wasn’t just a course; it was a mirror, showing me who I really was as a leader, and what I’d been carrying for years - self-doubt, the fear of not being ‘enough’.

This programme changed how I lead, but more than that, it changed how I see myself. I came in thinking I had to prove my worth. I left knowing I already had it.

I’ve stepped back from being the fixer, the one who carries it all. I’ve learned that empowering others isn’t about stepping in, it’s about stepping back. One coaching session changed everything. I was asked, “What would happen if you put less of yourself in?” That alone was transformational, it unlocked a lifetime of over working, over giving, and over proving. It was a moment of liberation.

Now, I speak more confidently about my power, my drivers, and my value. I no longer downplay my intensity. I understand it’s part of what helps me lead, connect, and deliver.

Absolutely. Shortly after the programme, I was named the Best Sales Leader in EMEA at Salesforce. That recognition wasn’t just about numbers, it reflected inclusion, team performance, and peer feedback. I also received one of the highest performance ratings in my career, not just for what I achieved, but for how I showed up as a leader.

But beyond awards and ratings, the biggest outcome is how I feel. I’m no longer trying to fit into a mould. I’m leading on my own terms.

Do it, especially if you’re scared, especially if you feel like you don’t fit the traditional leadership mould. This isn’t just a programme; it’s a journey into yourself. It’s uncomfortable, intense, and at times bewildering. But if you surrender to it, it will show you what you’re capable of and who you truly are. I arrived unsure of myself and left as a proud alumna of a world-leading business school.

Henley gave me more than insight; it gave me belonging. And that has opened doors I never thought I’d walk through.

Game-changing and utterly transformational, it didn’t just shape how I lead; it reminded me that I am a leader.