Katy’s interest in the brain, flourishing, and leadership began in high-pressure environments early in her career, where she saw how relationships, mindsets, and character shape whether people struggle or thrive.

After serving in the British Army in Iraq, Europe, and the United States, she moved into school leadership roles focused on performance and development, and later, completed a Doctorate at Oxford University exploring leadership and flourishing.

She now teaches at Oxford, is a Senior Fellow of the Flourishing Network, hosted by the Human Flourishing Program at Harvard, and is a Deputy Head at Wellington College.

Katy co-founded a global youth leadership movement now active in over 100 countries and works internationally at the intersection of flourishing and wellbeing science, education, and leadership. Through her writing and teaching, she translates research into practical ways adults can help young people and teams to grow in character and flourish. A former GB synchronised swimmer, current GB age-group triathlete and lover of skiing, mountain biking, and ballet, she is driven by a simple question: how do we create the conditions for people—and their brains—to thrive?

Katy is the author of two Crown House Publishing titles, Leader and the forthcoming Growing Minds.