Meet Michael Todd

“I was living in what I now call the ‘leadership triangle of drama’ - showing up either as the victim, villian or hero”.

“When I started approaching experiences with curiosity instead of judgement…. I stopped just operating in my ‘zone of excellence’ - where I was competent and rewarded - and stepped into what I now call my zone of unique value”.

I used to think leadership was about pushing harder, achieving more, and telling great stories about the journey. For years, I held senior global roles, delivered results, travelled the world and lived what looked like a high-performance life.

But here’s the truth: I was running on empty. I was living in what I now call the ‘leadership triangle of drama’ — showing up as either the victim (‘Why is this happening to me?’), the villain (‘Who’s to blame?'), or the hero (‘I’ll fix it all myself’). It kept me locked in stress and performance mode, and away from my best thinking and creativity.

My wake-up call came by chance through a book club in Shanghai, when I read The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership by Jim Dethmer and Diana Chapman. It introduced me to a radical, yet practical, idea: take 100% responsibility for both the results you create and the way you create them.

When I started approaching experiences with curiosity instead of judgement, something shifted. I stopped just operating in my ‘zone of excellence’ — where I was competent and rewarded — and stepped into what I now call my zone of unique value. This is where your natural talents, learned skills and deep passions intersect to create disproportionate impact. For leaders, that means moving from 'managing well’ to ‘leading with purpose and clarity.’

To master this shift, I trained with the Conscious Leadership Group in the U.S, completed the Inner MBA with Mindful NYU, and became a certified breathwork coach and teacher of presence. These experiences gave me tools that worked powerfully both in the boardroom and my personal life.

I founded Conscious Uprising to share these tools with other leaders. It’s about cutting drama from decision-making and leading in a way that is sustainable, authentic and energising — even in high-pressure environments.

This approach draws on my journey: growing up in the public eye, living in four countries, leading major brands like Hallmark, Fonterra, Kraft Foods and PepsiCo, and navigating challenges like divorce, redundancy and health issues. I’ve learned that the most effective leaders aren’t the ones with the perfect story — they’re the ones who own their whole story and use it to inspire others.

Conscious Uprising exists to help leaders move from running at full speed to leading with full presence — unlocking better thinking, stronger relationships and results that matter.  

To explore how you can become a more authentic leader with the business and personal benefits that follow, please reach out for a complimentary discovery session.