George Mullin

George Mullin, General Counsel, Generation at Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA), shares how Henley's Advanced Personal Leadership Programme challenged his assumptions, pushed him beyond his comfort zone and changed how he approaches leadership. Through challenging experiences, learning alongside peers and one-to-one coaching, he gained new perspectives that continue to shape how he leads and supports his team.

Leading legal teams across multiple jurisdictions brings constant challenges, particularly when balancing increasing work demands with keeping people motivated, engaged and supported.

I had attended numerous leadership development programmes during more than a decade in senior leadership positions, but something about Henley's approach stood out. It seemed to offer something different from the leadership courses I had experienced before. I was not entirely sure what I was getting myself into, but that was part of its appeal.

Nothing quite prepared me for how deeply the programme would challenge me.

It asked an enormous amount of us emotionally. We were encouraged to look deeply within ourselves, question long-held assumptions and reflect honestly on who we were as leaders.

There were moments of real vulnerability. Rather than simply being given answers, we were encouraged to discover them for ourselves. The faculty created opportunities for us to challenge our thinking through reflection, discussion and practical exercises. It was intense, sometimes uncomfortable, but incredibly powerful.

The small-group environment was particularly valuable. Working closely with people from completely different backgrounds encouraged us to open up, challenge one another and explore different perspectives. Seeing quieter members of the group step forward and demonstrate their leadership abilities was a powerful reminder that there is not just one way to lead effectively.

The setting at Greenlands was also an important part of the experience. Being away from the demands of everyday work gave us the space to focus, reflect and connect with one another.

I particularly valued the one-to-one coaching. Having the opportunity to talk openly with someone outside my usual environment gave me a fresh perspective on my approach to leadership and what I wanted from my professional life.

The biggest change has been learning to challenge myself before acting.

Where I might previously have charged ahead, I now stop and consider how best to bring out the potential in others. It has made me more conscious of how I communicate, listen and respond to individual team members.

I have applied this when supporting colleagues through particularly challenging situations. Rather than immediately trying to resolve an issue, I have taken a more considered approach, listening to their concerns, helping them see things differently and working through challenges together.

I have also become more aware of the importance of recognising individual contributions and helping colleagues maintain perspective during demanding periods. These may seem like small changes, but I believe they have made a meaningful difference to the support I provide my team.

Perhaps most importantly, I have gained greater confidence in my own leadership style. Recognising that there is not one right way to lead has allowed me to trust my judgement while remaining open to different approaches.

I would tell them to expect something quite different from a traditional leadership course. I have never experienced a course that challenged me quite so deeply.

There were moments that were emotionally demanding, when I found myself questioning things I had perhaps taken for granted throughout my career. It wasn't always comfortable, but that is what made the experience so powerful.

I have spoken to many colleagues about just how different the programme is and two of them are now joining the next cohort. I genuinely hope they gain as much from the experience as I did.

It is difficult to fully appreciate what the programme involves until you have experienced it yourself. For me, it was an intense and deeply personal journey of self-reflection and self-discovery, one that has stayed with me and continues to shape how I approach leadership.