About Me

Tesse’s Fellowship certificate from Association for Coaching (AC)

“I am so appreciative of being honoured by Association for Coaching in this way” says Tesse


Celebrating & Championing  Leadership While Dealing with governance, leadership and management challenges. 

Described by her clients as ‘a leading light’,  Tesse delivers her services with a smile, compassion, gentleness, care and kindness.   She brings hope through the prism of fun, joy, love, resilience, laughter and optimism.   Integrating  technical skills with human-centered approaches is key to purpose-driven organisations.

Clients enjoy working with Tesse Akpeki Associates Limited with the ease that comes with it as well as achieving lasting result.  We notice how much difference having great people as leaders make to organisations.  Finding and nurturing talent  and developing skills is key.  People simply flourish in organisations where they are set up to thrive and succeed.

Tesse Akpeki : Key note speaker, Leaders and Governance Strategist, Influencer, Coach,  Facilitator, Trainer, Relationship Development Adviser, Seeker,  Peace Maker and Bridge Builder

I strive to be the best that I can be so people can take of advantage of my pursuit of excellence and use it to the advantage of their organisation.   My love of knowledge and desire to learn comes with a deep curiosity to explore and be adventurous about organisational health, people and resilience.  As a person , I have experienced highs and low; organisations are no exception.   I am able to journey with my clients through their struggles, their bumps, their sufferings, their pain and their triumphs with the hope of coming out at the other side and ability to learn from failure.  I believe there is nothing like the joy of working with organisations to create and implement change that makes a difference while building sustainability.

I am a director of Tesse Akpeki Associates Limited  and Founder of the Well-being and Resilience Leadership Initiative.  I am an Appreciative Inquiry Practitioner and a graduate of the Inner Activist .  I  have an eclectic advisory portfolio that has evolved over the last 35 years.   I act as lead consultant for Bates Wells, Senior Associate for NCVO, Associate Trainer for Directory for Social Change , Senior Adviser for Trustees Unlimited Diversity Panel ,  Associate of Getting On Board , Adviser for BOND diversity international awards , Judge for the Charity Governance Awards hosted by The Clothworkers Company  , Fellow of the Chartered Governance Institute (ICSA) , Mentor to members of the Chartered Governance Institute (ICSA), Practitioner of Client Centred Leadership, founder of Tesse Leads  and host of Tesse Talks.   I am an accredited coach of the Coaching Academy and an ILM certified coach, trained by the  MOE foundation . I am a member for the Buzz Launch Team for Weaving Influence and  review books on Netgalley. I review books for the Chartered Governance Institute (CGI )

I am also an advisor to Pyro Talks and the Institute of Risk Management


I have seen Tesse plan and implement Governance reviews twice now and have been impressed by her diligence in research and awareness of the needs of different interests.  She has an extraordinary talent for getting people to reveal hidden issues and is highly adept at forming options for solutions to those issues. Whilst the first review was highly worthwhile the subsequent follow up has allowed us to make the transformation required of a fast moving and fast growing organization. In particular the groundwork and background she so diligently performed has smoothed the pathway for changes that could have been more challenging

Clive Thompson CFIRM  |  Technical Adviser

Institute of Risk Management


The Chartered Governance Institute UK & Ireland recognises Tesse Akpeki FCG as a leading governance professional.

“No one can achieve anything on their own – we stand on the shoulders of giants.  We need each other to sustain success”.

Discover Governance – Case Study – Tesse Akpeki (cgi.org.uk)

Tesse works with organisations and individuals to strengthen their health and enhance their impact.  Her virtual network, the Wellbeing and Resilience network encourages collaboration, connection, cooperation and the delivery of services to individuals and organisation who need them.

What I  Offer: 

A Person Centred & Client Centred Approach – See Videos Below

As Director of Tesse Akpeki Associates I work closely wth boards and staff to assess their needs and the benefits of managing change, going through transitions and achieving their mission and goals and fulfilling their vision.  I will work with you to codesign and  address situations that confront the organisations that present opportunities, threats, puzzles or pathways to something different.  I host inclusive conversation to explore issues, concerns or developments and these often highlight different options and alternatives.   We will create spaces and places for people to meet, greet, talk, debate, dialogue and have conversations.

The range of services offered by Tesse Akpeki Associates Limited include:

  • Governance Review  for increased effectiveness and strategic direction
  • I review books for the Chartered Governance Institute (CGI)
  • British Council
  • Institute of Risk Management
  • Royal Society of Public Health. 
  • Board and Trustee assessments clarifying team roles and responsibilities
  • Coaching and mentoring spaces for development
  • Facilitation assignments for enhanced team dynamics
  • Bridge building for repair, restoration and rich stakeholder engagement
  • Leading change – Empowering people – managing performance and building team work
  • Utilising individual and collective assessments
  • Enhancing creativity and innovation through generative thinking.
  • Health and well being
  • Resilience
  • Thought leadership pieces and ideas

In Tesse’s words, “there is nothing like the joy of working with organisations to create and implement change that makes a difference.”

Tesse has delivered services to household names such as Independent Age, Brooke, Penny Appeal, Lloyds of London charities, Jubilee Campaign , Westway Trust , The Association of English Cathedrals  and F H Europe to name a few.

Tesse was an Associate at the Centre for Charity Effectiveness at Cass Business School (Cass CCE), a leading non profit and philanthropic centre in the UK (2005 – 2017). She was a coach in the Outstanding Leadership Programme.

Tesse was a guest speaker on governance on the Clore Social Leadership Programme (2013-2015) and a coach on the Clore Leadership Programme (2017).

Tesse is an Associate of Directory of Social Change (DSC)

Telephone and Online Consulting

Our services are bespoke, shaped to meet the needs of individuals and organisations.  Information is provided on a confidential basis with the aim of crafting solutions that work for you.

I work closely with your staff, board and volunteers to assess the needs of your organisations. The context and framing of this will be based on your vision, goals and mission. The telephone and web consulting will focus on problem solving, conflict resolution and enhancing creativity and innovation through generative thinking.   You will be provided with advice and guidance in real time and have timely access to expertise on issues facing your organisation and board. Telephone and online support will be provided on a confidential basis and give you an objective and quick resource to provide an objective perspective to develop and sustain your organisation.

Customised Consulting

Tesse Akpeki Associates Limited will work closely with your staff, board and volunteers to assess the needs of your organisations. The context and framing of this will be based on your vision, goals and mission. The telephone and web consulting will focus on problem solving, conflict resolution and enhancing creativity and innovation through generative thinking.

Customised Facilitation

Getting the relationship between the Chief Executive and the Chair right is crucial to organisational success. Energy, time, morale, money and confidence can be lost when this key relationship goes belly up. Knowing the different steps parties can take to resolve disputes between the CEO and the Chair is essential. This video shares tips to resolve these conflicts in a constructive way .