Linda Holbeche is a leading thinker, author and practitioner in the fields of human resources, organizational change, and strategy. She is the co-director of the Holbeche Partnership, a consultancy she runs with her husband, where they help businesses align strategy with people development. She also holds roles as a visiting professor and external examiner at various universities, making her influence felt in both business and academic circles. We at CIO Global, are proud to introduce Linda Holbeche as one of the Most Elite Business Personalities to Follow in 2025.
Linda’s journey into the business world was not planned from the beginning. She began her career in publishing, and later worked in teaching, specializing in modern languages. It was during this period that she started to see how important it was to prepare young people for the world of work. As a senior teacher in a large school in West London, she developed a curriculum focused on life and employment skills. This program grew to national level with support from several employers, including a major American financial institution—which later offered her a role. That marked her entry into the corporate world.
“Success today means staying curious, staying relevant, and helping others grow along the way.”
While working at the financial services firm, Linda became involved in management development and team performance. She was fascinated by the connection between business goals and human dynamics. A key moment came when the company faced unexpected competition and had to let go of many employees. Linda, who worked in management development, part of HR, saw firsthand how the remaining staff were deeply affected, even though they were not laid off. Despite positive messages from leadership, morale dropped significantly. This experience led her to explore how businesses can drive innovation and success without neglecting the human side. From then on, her focus was always on helping both people and organizations thrive together.
Over the years, Linda has managed teams, advised companies, and led research projects—all while staying committed to fairness, learning, and growth. She believes in leading by example, supporting team members, and creating an environment where everyone can contribute. Her leadership approach is built on mutual respect, constant learning, and genuine interest in others’ success. Her work is also rooted in deep research. She has written over 100 articles and 20 books. One of her early research projects explored the impact of flattened management structures on employee motivation and career growth. She interviewed thousands of professionals and published the findings in her book Motivating People in Lean Organizations, which was shortlisted for a major UK management prize. This research-based approach became a key part of Linda’s identity and continues to influence her work today.
At Roffey Park, a management institute with values that matched her own, Linda further examined how personal values align with organizational goals. She discovered that when people believe in their organization’s purpose, their performance improves. This insight helped shape her work in coaching, leadership development, and organizational transformation.
A major innovation Linda led came during her time as Director of Research and Policy at the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), the UK and Ireland’s HR professional body. At that time, HR was mainly seen as the department that applied employment laws. Linda helped change that narrative by launching the research-based “Shaping the Future” movement, which gathered insights from thousands of HR professionals across the UK. These collective views were used to influence both practice and inform public policy on retirement age, workplace regulations, and more. This effort helped establish CIPD as a recognized voice in government policy-making.
Even today, Linda remains deeply engaged with future trends. She continues to study industry shifts and advises clients on how to prepare for them. She reads widely, attends and delivers webinars, and stays in touch with key thought leaders across sectors. Her work with clients often focuses on scenario planning, strategy development, and adapting to global changes.
“AI should enhance human work – not quietly replace it.”
One major area of concern for her is artificial intelligence. Linda began talking about AI over 20 years ago, when it was still referred to as “advanced technologies.” Today, she sees AI changing the way people work, not just in manual tasks but in professional fields like medicine, education, and creative industries. She warns that while AI can enhance skilled jobs, it also threatens to replace entry-level positions and reduce job opportunities for young people. She herself discovered that her own books and writings had been absorbed into machine learning tools—without credit or permission.
Linda urges governments and organizations to create policies that manage the negative effects of AI while benefiting from its advantages. She believes AI should support human work, not replace it entirely. With fewer jobs available for new graduates, she emphasizes the need for a more thoughtful, balanced future where humans and machines can coexist productively. Her advice to the next generation of leaders is clear: never stop learning. She encourages young professionals to stay curious, take on challenges even if they don’t feel fully ready, and actively build relationships across different fields. She believes that human qualities like empathy, communication, and collaboration will become even more important in a world where people work alongside machines. Building a strong network and helping others grow will often create opportunities in return.
Linda also stresses the need for personal growth, resilience and relevance. Professionals should make sure their knowledge and skills remain fresh. She suggests either going broad as a generalist or diving deep into a specific area of expertise, as workplaces of the future will demand both flexibility and mastery. She believes the new workplace must be productive, efficient, and above all, human.
Looking ahead to 2025, Linda is excited about several ongoing projects with clients. These include scenario planning and supporting organizations through international expansion. She sees each client engagement as a chance to apply her knowledge in real, meaningful ways. On a personal level, her goal is to complete her first novel—a creative shift after decades of writing for business audiences. She hopes to see it published before AI “gets there first,” she jokes.
Linda is also deeply aware of the global issues that affect her work. She sees how geopolitics, economic shifts, climate change, and demographic changes shape the way businesses operate. She has written extensively on organizational agility and believes companies must be flexible to survive in this fast-changing world. Whether it’s supply chain disruptions, migration, or social tensions, she believes organizations need to be prepared and responsive.
She points out that demographics also play a big role. In many parts of Europe, the population is aging, while in other regions, there is a younger workforce. These shifts mean that companies must personalize their workplace strategies. For example, older employees might value elder care support, while younger ones might be more interested in flexible work and learning opportunities.
To handle these trends, Linda says businesses must be agile, fair, and prepared to respond to constant change. This includes being aware of how government decisions and national policies can affect organizations, especially small ones. She gives the example of rising employment taxes in the UK, which are pushing some companies to replace human workers with AI solutions.
“You can only drive change if people feel skilled, valued, and have the opportunity to put their strengths to use.”
When it comes to work-life balance, Linda admits she hasn’t always been the best role model. For many years, she worked long hours, took calls on holiday, and always kept her phone close. But in recent years, she has become more intentional about how she spends her time. Now, she balances client work with voluntary roles at charities and universities. She also travels with her husband, explores historical sites, and even brushes up on her Latin. She sees balance not as something automatic, but as a deliberate choice that supports both wellbeing and professional impact.
Throughout her career, Linda has placed a strong focus on coaching—both her own team members and leaders in client organizations. She believes coaching helps individuals grow, become more confident, and handle change better. She has trained many managers in coaching techniques and considers this one of the most rewarding parts of her work.
In 2025, Linda Holbeche remains a thoughtful, curious, and values-driven professional. She continues to shape organizations through her research, leadership, and wisdom. Whether advising a global nonprofit facing funding cuts or mentoring young leaders to adapt to AI, her mission stays the same: help people and organizations grow, together.