Available to book

People-first leader & culture expert

William Lankston

Effective Leadership

Workplace Wellbeing

Company Culture

Transform workplace culture and drive commercial success with William Lankston, Managing Director of Timpson Direct. William helps organisations implement upside-down management principles and people-first leadership strategies that prioritise employee happiness. Fellow of The RSA who leads a profitable business model built on trust, autonomy, and radical employee welfare.

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Trusted by Willmott Dixon Construction Limited, British Holiday & Home Parks Association, Timpson Direct

Will Lankston, Speaker | MD Timpson Direct

William Lankston

London, United Kingdom

Starting from

£2k–5k

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Book William

London, United Kingdom

Starting from

£2k–5k

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loading@getapeptalk.com

Give us a call

+44 203 835 2929

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William Lankston's biography

Retail

Thought Leader

Business Leader

Inclusion

Executive

Inspirational

At a glance

Retail executive leading Timpson Direct's strategic growth
Champion of upside-down management and employee autonomy
Leader in scaling values-led retail and service businesses

William Lankston is Managing Director of Timpson Direct, overseeing the fastest growing divisions within the Timpson Group, a family business serving British high streets since 1865. Will joined Timpson in 2008 as a shop assistant in Aylesbury, working his way through nearly every division in the company. He now leads strategic partnerships, vending operations, web businesses, and franchising. He is a Fellow of The RSA and a vocL Voice, participating in discussions with MPs, journalists, and business leaders on leadership and social impact. Central to Will’s work is the Timpson ethos of Great Service by Great People. He is a strong advocate of the Group’s upside-down management philosophy, where leaders exist to serve their teams, and where success is measured not only in financial terms but also through employee happiness and wellbeing. He frequently speaks about Timpson’s distinctive approach to recruitment, including its long-standing commitment to employing ex-offenders. His hands-on knowledge of every level of the operation gives him practical insight into how inverting traditional management structures drives both financial performance and workplace wellbeing. Audiences learn how to implement upside-down management principles in their own organisations, discover practical strategies for building teams based on trust, and understand the business case for prioritising employee happiness. Will shares real examples from Timpson's operations, demonstrating how giving staff autonomy creates better customer service and stronger financial results. Book Will to learn how people-first leadership translates directly into commercial success and sustainable growth.

William's showreel and videos

Topics, sessions and talks

Leadership At Timpson: Lessons In Upside-Down Management

Join William Lankston, Managing Director of Timpson Direct, to uncover the secrets of upside-down management and doing the right thing. While it may seem straightforward to CEOs, managers, or directors, traditional top-down approaches often lead to wasted hours in meetings and emails, making team members feel like mere cogs in a machine. The Happy Index offers valuable lessons to help you and your team rethink management strategies. William will share insights on how adopting an upside-down mindset can enhance financial success and improve team wellbeing and happiness. Attendees will learn practical tools and tactics for effective, people-centered management.

Why we recommend booking William

William Lankston brings unique credibility to people-first leadership, having risen from shop assistant to Managing Director while implementing radical management practices that turn traditional hierarchies upside down. His proven track record of building profitable teams through trust and employee autonomy delivers actionable insights that transform workplace culture and drive measurable business growth. Secure Will now to discover how upside-down leadership creates both happier teams and stronger financial performance.

Check William's availability

Trusted by Willmott Dixon Construction Limited, British Holiday & Home Parks Association, Timpson Direct

Testimonials

I just wanted to drop you an email to say thank you for sourcing Will [Lankston] for our event. He was, in the simplest words, brilliant. We had lots of great comments about his piece at the end of the event, and he aligned brilliantly with the cultural message that we wanted to land. He was funny, engaging, honest and very genuine.

Willmott Dixon Construction Limited

Featured Projects

The Human Factor Podcast - Interview With Will Lankston

15,000+ experts

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Email william.lankston@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 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. As speaker agents, PepTalk can secure William Lankston for commercial and corporate events, conference keynotes, leadership talks, celebrity brand endorsements & partnerships, personal appearances, and motivational speaking engagements. We can assist with enquiries about William Lankston's speaking fees, availability, and booking process for private business functions, industry conferences, and team events. Please note, for media interviews, autographs, charity appearances, or personal matters, we recommend contacting William Lankston directly.

What is William Lankston's speaking style like?

Will delivers engaging presentations that align seamlessly with organisational culture. Audiences praise his brilliant delivery and ability to reinforce key messages, leaving a positive and lasting impression at business events.

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