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Leadership & Gen Z engagement expert

Alex Atherton

Transform workplace culture with Alex Atherton, speaker specialising in leadership development and Gen Z engagement. Alex works with senior leaders in education and government to improve work-life balance and build effective intergenerational teams.

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Alex Atherton, Speaker | Leadership Consultant & Coach
Alex Atherton

Alex Atherton

London, United Kingdom

Typical fee range

£2k–5k

This is an estimated fee range for local in-person events. Location and format affect the final fee.

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London, United Kingdom

Starting from

£2k–5k

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loading@getapeptalk.com

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+44 203 835 2929

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Alex Atherton's biography

At a glance

  • Expert in managing intergenerational teams
  • Expert in recruiting and retaining Gen Z talent
  • Former secondary school headteacher of 3 schools across 12 years in inner London
Alex Atherton is a speaker and consultant who works with senior leaders in education and local government, helping them manage their demanding roles and achieve a better work-life balance. Having spent nearly 25 years in the public sector, primarily in senior leadership positions, Alex truly understands the pressures leaders face. Alex began his career as a secondary school headteacher at a young age, where he quickly realised the need for support. With the help of a coach, he learned to navigate the complexities of leadership and transitioned from feeling frantic to fulfilled. This experience inspired him to assist others in similar positions. As well as being a leadership coach, Alex helps businesses address the challenges of recruiting, retaining, and engaging Gen Z, the youngest generation in the workplace. In his talks, for which he was named Best Newcomer at the 2025 Speaker Awards, Alex shares the solutions to ensure organisations can recruit and retain the best of this generation in any industry. He also uses his experience to teach teams how to overcome the challenges faced by intergenerational teams to help them move their organisation forwards, faster.

Alex's showreel and videos

Topics, sessions and talks

Recruiting & Retaining Gen Z
In today's fast-changing job market, attracting and retaining Generation Z talent is a major challenge for organisations. Born between the mid-1990s and early 2010s, Gen Z represents a significant generational shift, making traditional recruitment methods ineffective. Alex Atherton, a former secondary school headteacher, offers insights into this misunderstood generation. Through engaging talks, he provides practical strategies to bridge generational divides, helping leaders effectively motivate and retain young talent. Attendees will learn key Gen Z characteristics and effective recruitment and retention strategies.
Managing Intergenerational Teams
Do age gaps hinder productivity, or do attempts at communication never quite connect? Are age and generation gaps an elephant in your organisation's room? In this talk, Alex examines the issues from a range of angles and demonstrates not only how to overcome them but also how to use them to move the organisation forward faster.
From Frantic To Fulfilled
Senior leadership roles in the public sector are unbelievably tough. Our society needs high-quality people to do these jobs well, but there is little interest in their job satisfaction or health. People assume that senior leaders cannot have a problem given their ‘high salaries, big offices, and cushy jobs’. Senior leaders can also be poor at caring for their own development and well-being, too often aiming for survival at the cost of the outcomes they seek. In this talk, Alex describes what public sector leaders can learn from existing research and apply it to the best effect on their professional lives. He does so in the context of his public sector career and those he has worked with since.
Managing The Multigenerational Workplace
Alex Atherton's keynote on managing the multigenerational workplace addresses the unprecedented age diversity in today's organisations, where four or more generations, from Baby Boomers to Gen Z, work side by side. This diversity offers unique opportunities and challenges, particularly in communication, technology, and work-life balance. Alex, passionate about age diversity, provides practical strategies to bridge generational divides. Attendees will learn to create inclusive environments that maximise each team member's potential.
Understanding Gen Z
Gen Z is reshaping the workplace with their unique perspectives and values, creating challenges in recruitment and retention for many organisations. Often, there's a disconnect as older generations struggle to understand Gen Z's aspirations, affecting motivation and engagement. Alex Atherton, a former secondary school headteacher, offers insights into this misunderstood generation. His talks provide practical strategies to bridge generational divides, helping leaders effectively motivate and retain young talent. Attendees will learn key Gen Z characteristics and strategies for successful engagement.

Why we recommend booking Alex

Book Alex Atherton to empower your leaders with insights on engaging Gen Z in the workplace. With extensive public sector experience, he understands their challenges and offers practical strategies to thrive amidst chaos. Transform your team's approach to recruitment and retention, ensuring a vibrant, balanced work environment.

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Trusted by National Grid

Testimonials

Alex is well-versed in the challenges and opportunities for Generation Z. A great source of knowledge that businesses need to appreciate and action to secure their workforce of the future in the ongoing battle for talent. A focused, articulate speaker with a fantastic appreciation of his material, delivering a practical session full of value and information to act upon.

We are about to be big recruiters of Gen Z. Alex gave our Leadership Conferences a fascinating presentation on the considerations we all need to make as managers to recruit and retain the next generation and beyond. I think there was a lot of 'oh... yeah!' moments, and the realisation that we need to work with the next generation to make our company a great place to work, and to a great place to stay.

Meg Fox

National Grid

Alex offered a thought-provoking insight. He has a very engaging style as a speaker, and his background as a headteacher meant his insights were grounded in real experience and he had a genuine respect for the young people he was advocating for. He was the highest rated external speaker throughout the event - 94% rated him good or excellent.

Kate Edwards

National Association of Funeral Directors

Featured Projects

Alex Atherton - The Snowflake Myth book cover

frequently asked questions

Something we've not covered here?

How do I book Alex Atherton for my next event?
Email alex.atherton@getapeptalk.com or call PepTalk on +44 20 3835 2929 (UK) or +1 737 888 5112 (US), and one of our speaker agents will contact you within hours to confirm Alex's availability and fees. If you can, please include your budget upfront – it helps us fast-track your request. It’s also helpful to know the date, format (virtual or in-person), location, and a bit about your audience.
What is Alex Atherton's speaking style like?
Alex Atherton draws on his 25-year public sector career, including 12 years as a secondary school headteacher, to ground his talks in first-hand leadership experience. He structures sessions around existing research on public sector leadership and generational workplace dynamics, translating findings into practical strategies that attendees can apply directly to recruitment, retention, and intergenerational team management.
What topics does Alex Atherton specialise in?
Alex Atherton speaks on recruiting and retaining Gen Z talent, managing intergenerational teams, and wellbeing and fulfilment for senior public sector leaders. He was named Best Newcomer at the 2025 Speaker Awards, drawing on nearly 25 years in the public sector, including 12 years as a secondary school headteacher across three inner London schools.
Can PepTalk help plan the speaker programme for my event?

Yes. Beyond booking a single speaker, PepTalk helps shape a full programme, matching voices to your agenda, audience, and goals across a day or a series. It is a consultative service, not just a booking. Tell us about your event at getapeptalk.com.

What does 'typical fee range' mean?

Speaker fees vary based on factors like event location, format, and availability. The 'typical fee range' figure gives you a baseline of someone's local, in-person rate sits, and we'll confirm the exact fee when you get in touch.

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A keynote speaker delivers an inspiring or informative talk. An MC hosts and guides the event, keeping things on track. Entertainment — like a band or comedian — creates atmosphere and fun. Each serves a different purpose, and PepTalk can help you book the right talent for all three.

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Not necessarily. While the speakers listed on our website may not have worked with PepTalk in the past, they are recognized professionals in the industry and known to engage in similar events and engagements. Alongside direct talent, we work with a wide variety of speaker agents and talent agencies, to ensure we have the best selection of speakers, hosts, comedians and entertainers available.

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Can I book entertainment and speakers as a package?

Yes! At PepTalk, you can absolutely bundle entertainment and speakers into one seamless package. It's a great way to create a fuller event experience while enjoying simplified booking and better value. Our team handles everything together, making the process effortless for you.

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How far in advance should I book a motivational speaker?

Book a motivational speaker at least 3–6 months in advance, especially for popular speakers or large events. Top speakers get booked quickly, so earlier is always better. For major conferences or peak seasons, booking 12 months ahead ensures you secure your first choice.

Help, I need a last-minute speaker for my event!

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