Nicky Wallis’s path to becoming one of the UK’s most respected leadership coaches didn’t follow the traditional script. A school dropout turned hospitality executive, she now leads TEAL Learning Solutions, a company rewriting the rules of how British businesses develop emotionally intelligent leaders.
With stress-related illnesses, staff churn and low morale costing the UK billions each year, Wallis’s tailored, human-first approach is proving to be not just timely but transformative. Her programmes don’t just plug gaps in skills—they nurture long-term cultural change.
Her story starts not in a boardroom but in a fractured education system. At just 12, Wallis was pulled out of school and relocated to India, and then Canada, disrupting her academic foundation. Largely self-taught, she began an early journey into understanding people. “I was desperate to understand people,” she says. “What drives their choices? Why do they behave the way they do?” These questions would guide her for life.
Although she adapted to Canadian schooling, her interrupted education meant she never received formal qualifications. Returning to the UK alone at 19 and becoming a mother by 23, she could easily have settled for a quiet life. But her natural curiosity and drive wouldn’t allow it. A chance encounter led to a hospitality job—and a meteoric rise.
Within six months, she was Assistant Manager. By 30, she had turned around failing restaurants and led teams with a reputation for excellence. Her ability to inspire performance earned her the nickname “The Manager-Making Machine.” One of her standout achievements saw a restaurant swing from a 26% decline to a 32% uplift under her leadership.
Wallis’s reputation brought new opportunities. At The Restaurant Group, she designed and delivered leadership training across 27 brands operating in UK airports. At Gaucho, she developed an academy that transformed entry-level staff into future leaders. Her core message? Leadership can be learned—and everyone deserves that chance.
“The personal hurdles I’ve faced have actually been my greatest teachers,” Wallis reflects. “They gave me perspective, empathy, and creativity; qualities that shape my work every day.”
That ethos now forms the heart of TEAL Learning Solutions, which she launched in June 2023. TEAL offers emotionally intelligent leadership programmes tailored to real-world challenges—from generational divides to mental health and retention crises. Clients such as Sushi Samba and Coya are already reaping the rewards.
Wallis’s approach is refreshingly practical. Rather than relying on outdated theory, she empowers leaders to apply emotional intelligence, empathy, and cultural awareness in real time. Whether she’s hosting bootcamps in Europe or advising UK boards, the impact is clear: people-led leadership is not just good for morale—it’s good for business.
“We’re not just creating better leaders,” she says. “We’re helping individuals understand themselves, build empathy, and drive meaningful change.”
From a disconnected teen to a catalyst for national change, Nicky Wallis’s journey proves that leadership doesn’t require a perfect past—just purpose, perspective, and a willingness to lead differently.
