"The greatest risk to leadership isn't external pressure. It's not knowing who you are when that pressure arrives."
Matthew Addison-Black
Former Royal Gurkha Rifles officer.
Five years in counter-terrorism and hostage rescue.
Psychologist & Associate Professor, RMA Sandhurst.
Doctoral researcher, University of Liverpool.
ICF Professional Certified Coach.
Clients include
When pressure rises, leadership can become performance
The proposition carved into the temple at Delphi — Know Thyself — is the only operational question that matters under pressure.
Many capable leaders know how to look composed, decisive and in control. But when the stakes are high, familiar leadership models can stop working. Decisions become reactive, communication loses clarity and the role begins to take over the person behind it.
Matthew Addison-Black helps leaders become Unshakeable Under Fire.
Speaking
“Matthew has already provided two dedicated leadership presentations… We are looking forward to hosting him again. It is not every day that you find a speaker quite like Matthew.”
Adam Dikker, Global Lead Events & Communications, S&P Global
"His ability to make complex ideas accessible and thick concepts digestible made for a profound period of focussed reflection and learning."
Dan Lansley, Founder, Dual-Use Tech
"The session left the team aligned, with greater self-awareness, shared language around performance under pressure, and a clear framework for managing our mental states."
Dr Raj Joshi, Director & Expedition Leader, The Adventure Boutique
Coaching
“I can testify to real noticeable changes in my behaviours and mindset within 4 months.”
Tristan Chiappini, Founder & Global Commercial Leader
“Matthew is uncannily incisive in his approach. He challenges in ways that are often unexpected, and at times deliberately uncomfortable.”
Olga Venzhina, Deputy General Counsel, Eastern Pacific Shipping
“Before our first session I was experiencing the constant mental whiplash between confidence and crippling doubt. From our first session, Matthew cut through the noise.”
Sam Mudie, Founder & CEO, Savea FinTech
Identity Under Pressure
Identity is the foundation of leadership, resilience, and performance under pressure.
When identity is clear, we make decisions that reflect who we are and what we stand for, the key to authentic values-based leadership, resilience and sustained motivation.
Forthcoming book
The self that has to hold when everything familiar has gone. Drawn from operational command and a cancer diagnosis at 23, and tested against doctoral research into how identity holds, adapts or fractures.
Represented by JFM Literary.
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Work with me
Six keynotes on identity, leadership, resilience, communication and influence. Grounded in psychology, evidenced by experience. Designed for organisations where clarity under pressure is not optional.
One to one. Selective. Built on radical candour and absolute discretion. For individuals operating at the highest level who require something more demanding than reassurance.
Applied, identity-focused leadership development for teams. Tailored to your context. Designed to be lived, not just learned.