ROBIN RYDE is the Head of the Centre for Strategic Leadership with the National School of Government. Ryde has a background in leadership and organizational development spanning numerous sectors and internationally. In particular he was the youngest person to direct the British Prime Minister's flagship leadership development programme and he has delivered cross-sector development and consultancy in the UK, the US and other territories including South America and Eastern Europe. Ryde has two degrees in Sociology, is a qualified accountant and has, for some years, led evaluations of a diverse range of government programmes from the sale of UK gold reserves to the procurement of advanced military technologies. His interest in leadership thinking has, in part, been sparked by literally hundreds of private and public sector Chief Executives with whom he has engaged. This has ignited an interest in the way that leaders think and approach problems and the common dilemmas they face. Ryde regularly speaks at seminars and conferences and is nestled between Dame Anita Roddick and Sir Martin Sorrell on the BBC's 50 Lessons Business Leaders guide. He is a keen SCUBA diver and lives in South West London with his family.
