Strategy, leadership, and narrative for people building a more just world
I’m Jo Atkins-Potts, a writer, speaker, and strategy advisor working with organisations and leaders navigating complex social and political terrain - helping them clarify strategy, strengthen their voice, and lead with integrity.My work sits at the intersection of strategy, leadership, and narrative — supporting people and organisations to navigate complexity while staying grounded in their values.Alongside my advisory work, I write about leadership, grief, power, and what it means to remain human inside systems of change.
Work With Me
Social change work rarely happens in simple conditions. Organisations and leaders are constantly navigating pressure, competing priorities, and uncertain political landscapes.My advisory work creates space to step back from the urgency of delivery, think strategically, and reconnect strategy, narrative, and leadership with the values driving the work.
Leadership Development
Alongside organisational strategy work, I support leaders navigating the realities of power, responsibility, and decision-making in social change work.These programmes create space for reflection, strategy, and honest conversation about the pressures of leadership.
Strategy Clinic: Engaging with power without losing integrityThis clinic offers leaders dedicated space to think clearly about complex challenges, decisions, and direction.The next clinic is:Wednesday 6th May, 12-2pm GMT
Individual Leadership SupportAlongside programmes, I also work with a small number of leaders individually who want deeper strategic thinking space and support as they navigate complex roles and decisions.I offer a free 30 minute intro call so we can discuss how I might help you. Book your slot below:
Leading on the LineLeading on the Line is a leadership programme for people working at the frontlines of social change.It explores what it means to lead with integrity inside imperfect systems: navigating power, responsibility, and the emotional realities of leadership.
Strategy & Advisory
I support charities, NGOs, and mission-driven organisations to clarify strategy, strengthen their public voice, and navigate complex advocacy environments.My work often sits at the intersection of organisational strategy, strategic campaigns and communications, leadership visibility, and narrative change.This can include:+ Campaign and advocacy strategy
+ Narrative and communications strategy
+ Leadership positioning and public voice
+ Policy and public affairs alignment
+ Movement-building and coalition strategyWorkshops & TrainingI also design and deliver workshops for teams and organisations on topics including:+ Narrative strategy for social change
+ Campaign strategy in complex environments
+ Media and leadership visibility
+ Power, integrity, and ethical leadershipThese sessions help teams step back from day-to-day delivery and think more clearly about strategy, voice, and impact.
Strategy Clinic Series:
Engaging power without losing your integrity
Who is this for?People working in charities and civil society organisations who are navigating whether, and how, to engage with political power at a time when anti-racism and equality commitments are being tested in real time, and when community trust, staff safety, and organisational credibility are at stake.Why attend?If you are trying to protect trust, inclusion, and organisational integrity while under political pressure, this session will help you make clearer engagement decisions, set boundaries, and think through practical safeguards - especially for the people most likely to feel the impact first.
BROUGHT TO YOU BY
Writing
Writing sits at the centre of my work.Alongside strategy and leadership work, I write about power, grief, integrity, and the human cost of building a better world.My essays explore the emotional and moral terrain of leadership: the interior work behind public work.
Leadership Essays
I publish essays exploring leadership, power, narrative, and the pressures of working inside systems of change.These pieces are part reflection, part analysis, examining what it means to remain human while holding responsibility.You can read my latest writing below:
Poetry
My poetry explores grief, love, memory, and the quiet emotional landscapes that shape how we live.While more personal in form, these pieces sit alongside my wider work on humanity, loss, and what it means to remain whole in difficult times.
Debut Book
I am currently working on my debut book: a lyrical exploration of grief, love, and the continuing presence of those we lose.The book reflects on how loss reshapes identity, memory, and the ways we move through the world.Stay tuned for more information.
ABOUT
I’m a writer, speaker, and strategy advisor working at the intersection of leadership, narrative, and social change.For over a decade I’ve worked across charities, grassroots movements, and international NGOs helping organisations design campaigns, influence policy, and shape public narratives around complex social justice issues.My work has included collaborations with organisations such as Rutgers International, DIVA Charitable Trust, Amnesty International, the Jo Cox Foundation, the Open University, Bloody Good Period, and Dogs Trust.Alongside this work, I write about power, grief, integrity, and the human cost of leadership. I’m particularly interested in how individuals and organisations remain coherent and courageous inside systems that often reward compromise.I'm a queer immigrant and long-time movement builder, who now lives in London. I bring a personal, political, and emotionally honest lens to all I do. These days, you’ll find me walking with my scruffy little dog Pickles, cooking for friends, and dreaming up new ways to live and work with integrity and heart.
Speaking
I speak about leadership, power, integrity, and the realities of working for social change in complex systems.My talks combine strategic insight with reflection on the emotional and ethical dimensions of leadership.Recent themes include:
• The quiet erosion of integrity in leadership
• Narrative, power, and public voice
• The emotional cost of social change work
• Leading with integrity inside imperfect systems
• What keeps us human in fractured times
Contact
I work with organisations and leaders through:- Strategy and advisory work
- Leadership development and support
- Speaking engagementsIf you’d like to explore working together, I’d love to hear from you.Get in touch below: