Philippa White

Philippa White is an international bestselling author and Founder and CEO of TIE Leadership, specialising in human-centred leadership that drives commercial performance. Named Most Influential HR Businesswoman 2026 by Acquisition International Magazine, she has spent nearly two decades working with organisations including M&G plc, Santander and Leo Burnett, helping senior leaders shift from traditional ROI thinking to a people-first Return on Humanity. Her book, Return on Humanity: Leadership Lessons from All Corners of the World, was a finalist in the Business Book Awards 2025. Through keynotes, immersive programmes and her TIE Unearthed podcast, Philippa equips leaders with the adaptability, self-awareness and purpose needed to unlock innovation, strengthen teams and sustain meaningful impact.

In 2006, Philippa White founded TIE Leadership with a conviction that felt radical at the time: that humanity belonged at the centre of business, not at its edges. Nearly two decades later, that vision has not only proven commercially sound but has earned her recognition as Most Influential HR Businesswoman 2026 by Acquisition International Magazine. Her journey from marketing executive in London to CEO of a UK-based leadership organisation reflects a career built on challenging convention, and her international bestselling book, Return on Humanity: Leadership Lessons from All Corners of the World, stands as a finalist in the Business Book Awards 2025. Born in South Africa, raised in Canada, and now based in Brazil, Philippa has spent her professional life bridging cultures, continents, and the often artificial divide between commercial performance and human purpose.

Her early career working on global accounts for P&G, British Airways, and Barclays gave her a grounded understanding of brand, communication, and organisational culture. That foundation shaped her approach to leadership development, one that refuses to separate emotional intelligence from business impact. Over nearly two decades, she has partnered with forward-thinking organisations including M&G plc, Santander, and Leo Burnett, supporting them through innovation challenges, team dynamics, leadership engagement, and change management. Her fluency in Portuguese and her immersive work in Brazil's Northeast region have deepened her sensitivity to cultural nuance and global systems. Personal history also informs her values: her uncle served as Nelson Mandela's doctor during South Africa's transition from apartheid, a family connection that underscores her commitment to transformation and justice.

Philippa's work centres on shifting leadership thinking from traditional ROI to what she calls Return on Humanity, a people-first approach that drives adaptability, self-awareness, and sustainable performance. Through immersive learning programmes, real-world challenges, and her keynotes delivered in both English and Portuguese, she equips leaders to navigate complexity with courage and clarity. As host of the TIE Unearthed podcast and author of over 60 published articles, she combines powerful storytelling with practical insight, challenging audiences to rethink what effective leadership looks like. Her sessions leave teams more engaged, more innovative, and better prepared to lead through uncertainty, proving that putting humanity at the heart of business is not just the right thing to do but the smartest competitive advantage available.