Once a teenager without a formal education, Nicky Wallis is now at the forefront of a new movement in leadership training across the UK. As Founder and Director of TEAL Learning Solutions, she’s driving a revolution in how companies nurture leaders, retain staff, and grow cultures in an increasingly turbulent world of work—fuelled by lessons drawn from a life of personal adversity.
With workplace burnout, absenteeism, and staff turnover costing UK businesses eye-watering sums every year, Wallis’s approach—deeply rooted in emotional intelligence and human connection—is offering businesses a much-needed remedy. Her tailored programmes have delivered tangible outcomes, from drastically improving retention to preparing next-generation executives. Wallis is fast becoming a trusted voice in leadership transformation.
Yet her journey didn’t begin in a leadership seminar. It started with upheaval and survival.
At just 12, Wallis was pulled out of school and moved first to India, then Canada—resulting in a two-year gap in her education. Disconnected from the classroom, she turned to books to feed her relentless curiosity. “I was desperate to understand people,” Wallis says. “What drives their choices? Why do they behave the way they do?” That early hunger for understanding human behaviour became the foundation of her future career.
Despite excelling academically when she returned to education in Canada, her disrupted schooling meant she couldn’t graduate. At 19, she returned to Britain alone, without a support network or a clear direction. By 23, she had become a mother—but soon realised she wanted something beyond family life. A casual suggestion from a friend led her to a part-time role in a local restaurant—unknowingly setting her on the path to a remarkable career in leadership.
Within half a year, she was promoted to Assistant Manager. By the age of 30, she was running three restaurants as General Manager, turning around poor performers and earning the nickname “The Manager-Making Machine” for her talent in transforming struggling teams. In one notable case, she reversed a 26% loss into 32% growth.
Her passion for understanding what motivates people soon found a wider audience. During her time with The Restaurant Group, she managed training across 27 brands within UK airports, improving service quality under intense conditions. At Gaucho, she developed an in-house academy that elevated team members from entry-level roles to executive positions—including CEOs—proving her belief that leadership can be cultivated in anyone.
Still, her ascent was not without hardship. “The personal hurdles I’ve faced have actually been my greatest teachers,” she explains. “They gave me perspective, empathy, and creativity; qualities that shape my work every day.”
In June 2023, Wallis founded TEAL Learning Solutions to give back to the industry that had forged her. The company offers bespoke leadership training that tackles the realities of today’s workplace—from generational tensions to mental health challenges and shifting employee expectations. High-profile clients already include Sushi Samba and Coya, with courses tailored to specific business environments.
What sets TEAL apart is its rejection of stale theory. Wallis prioritises actionable learning—whether she’s leading leadership bootcamps across Europe or supporting executive teams with strategic challenges. Her work is rooted in the idea that companies thrive when people come first.
“We’re not just creating better leaders,” says Wallis. “We’re helping individuals understand themselves, build empathy, and drive meaningful change.”
Her story is proof that unconventional paths can lead to powerful change. From missing her own graduation to shaping the leaders of tomorrow, Nicky Wallis is reimagining what it means to lead in today’s complex workplace.
