The collaborative book brings together an international group of experienced business leaders to share honest insights and practical lessons about leadership in today’s uncertain business environment.
Julia’s chapter, 'Be Deliberate About Why You’re in Business, or Fail', challenges owners to look beyond being busy and consider whether their business is genuinely giving them the control, value and choices they want.
Drawing on her work with growing organisations in the UK and internationally, Julia explores how incomplete financial information, inefficient processes, unclear responsibilities and reliance on one individual can restrict a business’s potential.
Julia said: “Most business owners I meet are not short of effort. They’re short of clarity. Being busy is not the same as being in control, yet it is easy to continue following familiar ways of working without noticing when they have stopped serving the business.
“My chapter is about stepping back, understanding what is really happening and being deliberate about the business you are building. With greater clarity, decisions become easier, pressure reduces and the business can move forward with less friction.”
The chapter includes examples from Julia’s career, including supporting a business to strengthen its reporting, forecasting and cashflow planning before securing £5.5 million in Series A investment and expanding internationally. The company was subsequently acquired by a US competitor.
It also examines why strong foundations, shared knowledge and clear processes matter to investors and potential buyers.
Julia writes: “They are not buying your memory or job. They are buying a business that can stand on its own.”
Julia founded Leask Advisory Solutions and helps leadership teams turn financial complexity into clear, confident decisions. Her work focuses on improving cashflow, strengthening financial foundations and building organisations that can scale without depending on one individual.
A Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, Julia was elected to the CIMA Council in 2025. Through this international role, she contributes to the profession’s future direction and supports the next generation of business and finance leaders.
She added: “Becoming a published co-author is an important personal and professional milestone. I am proud to represent Warwickshire and contribute alongside such an inspiring group of authors.
“I hope my chapter encourages owners to build businesses that give them options: the ability to grow, step back, attract investment or sell when the time is right.”
'Thoughtful Leadership in Business' will be published globally on September 22, 2026 alongside its companion volume, 'Living a More Thoughtful Life'.
