OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM
At Real World Group, our people are at the heart of everything we do. Since being founded in 2001 as a spin-out company from the University of Leeds by Professor Beverly Alimo-Metcalfe and Dr John Alban-Metcalfe, we’ve grown into a trusted partner for organisations worldwide. Grounded in over two decades of leadership research and organisational development, our team brings expertise, passion, and a commitment to helping leaders create cultures where people thrive. We live our values of collaboration, inclusion, and evidence-based practice in everything we do.
Juliette Alban-Metcalfe
CEO - Chartered Occupational Psychologist
Juliette has been with Real World Group since we were founded, working globally with leaders and teams up to Board level to strengthen leadership capability and organisational impact. As a Chartered Occupational Psychologist, she combines deep academic expertise with a practical, people-centred approach.
Juliette is passionate about positive psychology and diversity & inclusion in leadership, ensuring organisations not only succeed but also build sustainable, high-performing cultures. She has been recognised as one of the UK’s most influential thought leaders in leadership development, with her work shaping how organisations worldwide approach inclusive leadership and organisational growth.
Rachel Hannan
Chair of the Board
Rachel is an Entrepreneur and Angel Investor who has successfully founded and scaled businesses. She supports growth across many sectors as a Non-Executive Director, Board Advisor, and Investor.
Her commitment to developing people and leadership capacity aligns closely with Real World Group’s mission. Rachel believes that an organisation’s greatest asset is its people and champions leadership strategies that maximise both individual potential and organisational success.
Professor Beverly Alimo-Metcalfe
Founding Director - Emeritus Professor of Leadership Studies
As co-founder of Real World Group, Beverly has shaped global understanding of leadership through more than 25 years of pioneering research and consultancy. She is a Chartered Organisational Psychologist and Fellow of the British Psychological Society, widely recognised for her evidence-based insights into leadership and organisational development.
Beverly continues to influence practice through her research, ensuring that leadership development remains both inclusive and impactful.
Jim Hopwood
Non-Executive Director
Jim brings extensive experience in scaling technology businesses, international mergers and acquisitions, and digital publishing. With a proven track record as an Entrepreneur, Executive, and Non-Executive Director, he is supporting Real World Group’s growth as we expand our market-leading online leadership development tools to a global audience.
His expertise helps us harness technology to bring cutting-edge leadership research into practical, scalable solutions for organisations.
Mark Powell
Head of Consultancy | Chartered Occupational Psychologist
Mark is a Chartered Occupational Psychologist with a distinguished career spanning leadership, consultancy, and organisational development. Previously the Chief Psychologist at the UK Cabinet Office, he has worked extensively across sectors including banking, the public sector, and the NHS.
At Real World Group, Mark leads our consultancy practice, helping organisations translate leadership research into practical strategies that drive performance, inclusion, and cultural transformation. His cross-sector expertise gives him a unique perspective on how evidence-based leadership development can create lasting impact.
Kirsty Beasley
Head of Business Development | Chartered Marketer
Kirsty leads our business development, ensuring that organisations around the world can access the benefits of Real World Group’s evidence-based leadership tools and research. As a Chartered Marketer, she combines deep expertise in client engagement, strategy, and growth with a commitment to building long-term, values-led partnerships.
Her focus is on connecting organisations with the right leadership and organisational development solutions, ensuring that our work creates measurable impact and sustainable growth for our clients.