In 2011, our founder Catherine Aldridge left her role as Chief Operating Officer at a Melbourne-based infrastructure firm. She had spent sixteen years in executive positions across three industries, and the one constant frustration was the quality of leadership training available to her teams. Most programs delivered polished presentations and motivational anecdotes. Almost none changed how people actually behaved when they returned to work on Monday.
Catherine started with a single offering: a five-day residential intensive for twelve senior leaders, built entirely around live practice and direct feedback. No slides. No inspirational quotes on screen. Just real scenarios, honest coaching, and a structure that forced participants to try new approaches in front of peers who would hold them accountable.
That first cohort in early 2012 included executives from logistics, healthcare, and financial services. Several of them are still clients today, now sending their own leadership teams through the program. Word spread through referrals rather than advertising, and by 2015 we had a waiting list.
We exist to close the gap between what leaders know and what they do. Knowing the right approach is easy. Doing it when the pressure is on, when the room is hostile, when the data is ambiguous: that is the hard part, and that is where we focus.
Every session includes live exercises. Participants practise difficult conversations, strategic presentations, and decision-making under time pressure. Reading about leadership is useful background. Doing it is how you get better.
Our coaches tell you what they see, not what you want to hear. If your communication style is undermining your message, you will find out in the room, not six months later in an anonymous survey. Participants consistently tell us this directness is the most valuable part of the experience.
We cap cohorts at twelve people. A group of thirty cannot have the kind of conversation that changes behaviour. Twelve is large enough for diverse perspectives and small enough that nobody hides.
We track outcomes with pre- and post-program 360 assessments. If a participant has not improved in the areas they targeted, we want to know why, and we offer additional coaching to address the gap. Training without measurement is guesswork.
Every coach at Leadership Elite Training has held executive roles. We hire people who have managed real teams, handled real crises, and made real mistakes. That experience is what makes their feedback credible to participants who are living those same pressures.
Founder and lead coach
Former COO with sixteen years in executive leadership across infrastructure, mining services, and professional services. Catherine designed the original intensive program and still facilitates two cohorts per year personally.
Senior coach
David spent twelve years as a managing director in the technology sector before joining us in 2017. He specialises in coaching leaders who are scaling fast-growing teams and dealing with the organisational complexity that comes with rapid growth.
Coach and program designer
Meera was a regional director at a global consulting firm for nine years. She leads the design of our emerging executive program and coaches participants through their first board-level interactions. Her background in consulting gives her a sharp eye for how leaders structure arguments and influence stakeholders.
We have been running programs since 2012. Here are a few numbers from our most recent annual review, covering the twelve months to December 2024.
The recommendation figure comes from our post-program survey, which has a 78% response rate across all 2024 cohorts. We share the full survey methodology with clients on request.
Our clients include ASX-listed companies, government departments, mid-market firms, and fast-growing startups. We have delivered programs for leaders in healthcare, financial services, mining, technology, professional services, and not-for-profit organisations.
We do not publish a logo wall. Our clients value discretion, and we respect that. What we can share is that roughly 60% of our business comes from repeat clients or direct referrals. When an organisation sends a second cohort through the program, it tells us more than any testimonial could.
If you want to speak with a past participant before committing, we can arrange that. We have a small group of graduates who have volunteered to take reference calls from prospective clients. Ask us during the discovery conversation and we will connect you.
