In this essential book, international trainer and consultant Dr Lisa Cherry engages professionals from education, social work, healthcare, and criminal justice in insightful conversations on a range of vital topics that will make a positive difference for practitioners and their workplaces today.

With integrity and authenticity at its heart, the book explores what compassionate, inclusive leadership really looks like and how to get there. Each discussion brings a new perspective, exploring topics from nurturing belonging and anti-racist practices, to growing from adversity and supportive supervision. Placing an emphasis on learning from lived experience, collaboration, and caring deeply about others, these rich conversations share a range of trauma-informed practices and approaches which work, along with opportunities for the reader to reflect on themselves and their wider community. Children, young people and their families deserve the best version that adults can be, and each discussion helps all practitioners to understand that the work starts with us.

This practical book is designed for action, for change, and to create something better than we have experienced before. Settings, services and systems must view themselves as connected communities that have to be well if there is any hope of supporting the people they serve. This book will inspire and encourage leadership teams across sectors to enact a change in culture which makes a difference for all.

“What a privilege to be a fly on the wall listening to these enriching, wise, insightful conversations. This is not a book of abstract theories that cannot be implemented in real life, it is a powerful compilation of conversations with leaders who share raw, honest insights into the application of trauma informed principles in their leadership roles. Lisa inspires us with her commitment to lead with deep love and care that does come at a cost. Her book offers a practical, deeply human guide to embedding these principles into everyday leadership. It is an invaluable resource for anyone seeking to lead with authenticity, integrity, and lasting impact” - Betsy de Thierry, Consultant Psychotherapist, Author and Founder of Trauma Recovery Global and Trauma Recovery Centres

“What I like about this book is the huge wealth of experience that it provides. Each chapter is focused on a different practitioner and rooted in different practice. The book places an emphasis on partnerships across sectors and is easy to dip in and out of for staff CPD. It truly is a welcome addition. Thank you.” - Andrew Moffat MBE, CEO of the No Outsiders charity

“This is not a conventional leadership manual, but it is certainly a book every leader should read. The author’s motivation—to respond to a period of profound personal and professional upheaval, including a critical illness—adds a deeply human and powerful dimension to the work. This is a book of courage. It stands apart through its storytelling approach and the interviews and personal reflections offer not just insight, but connection. This is a heartfelt offering grounded in lived experience and it is both timely and necessary.” - Alison Kriel, Founder of Above & Beyond Education

Dr Lisa Cherry is a leading international trainer, specialising in assisting professionals working with vulnerable children and families to understand trauma, recovery and resilience. She is the Founder of Trauma Informed Consultancy Services, an organisation which provides a holistic approach to supporting those working in universal, targeted or specialist settings, services and systems. Lisa brings over three decades of working in educational and social care settings and a 35-year journey of recovery in overcoming her own experiences of trauma.