What can working inside a prison teach us about leadership?

More than you might think.

In this powerful, thought-provoking and often humorous talk, Dr Karen Castle draws on her extraordinary experience as one of the first women in the UK to work in men’s prisons, and one of the first qualified nurses to train as a prison officer.

Entering a traditionally male, hierarchical and challenging environment taught Karen that leadership is not about having the loudest voice, the highest rank or being the person in charge. It is about understanding people, building trust, reading situations, making difficult decisions and having the courage to lead when the path ahead is far from clear.

Through fascinating stories from behind the prison walls, Karen explores what happens when leadership meets power, politics, culture and human behaviour. She challenges some familiar assumptions about what makes an effective leader and reveals why not everything is always what it seems.

From dealing with resistance and conflict to navigating the power games that exist in every organisation, Karen demonstrates how the lessons she learned in prison remain remarkably relevant to today’s workplaces.

The talk explores five key leadership lessons:

• Leading in a man’s world – challenging stereotypes and finding your leadership voice.
• Not everything is what it seems – the importance of observation, emotional intelligence and understanding what lies beneath the surface.
• When horns lock – managing conflict, confrontation and competing personalities.
• The power game – understanding influence, politics and the dynamics that shape organisations.
• Leadership under pressure – making decisions, taking responsibility and staying true to your values.

With a unique combination of real-life experience, humour, insight and practical leadership lessons, What Prison Taught Me About Leadership will entertain, challenge and inspire audiences to think differently about themselves—and the way they lead others.