Nottingham professor offers leaders blueprint for turbulent times in new book
From economic uncertainty and global trading pressures to ongoing debates about leadership culture and accountability, a new book by Prof Laura Serrant is calling for a return to integrity and authenticity as the foundations of effective leadership.
In The Lioness Effect: Leading with Integrity and Impact, Prof Serrant presents a practical leadership model designed to help business leaders, public sector managers and emerging entrepreneurs navigate change while remaining grounded and values driven.
The book challenges traditional hierarchies that prioritise control and competition, instead promoting collaborative strength inspired by the symbolic qualities of the lioness – strategic, protective and collective in nature.
A senior nurse, Prof Serrant, who was born and raised in Nottingham, has more than 40 years’ experience in health, education and policy, argues that leadership in 2026 requires emotional intelligence as much as strategic skill.
She said: “Leadership today is not about status or dominance.
"It is about integrity, consistency and the ability to create impact through others.”
Structured around four guiding principles – Be you, be human, be intentional and consistent and be vonnected – the book encourages leaders to build trust, strengthen relationships and create environments where teams and organisations can thrive together.
The release is particularly timely for leaders and those building new ventures, offering a framework rooted in confidence, clarity and collaborative success.
Prof Serrant is also a respected cultural voice and leadership commentator, known for her widelyshared Windrush poem, further underlining her long-standing commitment to inclusion, representation and social impact.
An excerpt of Laura’s poem is included in the Windrush Memorial at Waterloo Station.
She continued: “It has always been important to me that people are seen, heard and properly represented in the spaces where decisions are made.
"Leadership is stronger when it reflects the diversity of the communities it serves, and when people feel they genuinely belong within it.”
Now available across the UK, The Lioness Effect: Leading with Integrity and Impact is published by Candy Jar Books and with support from the Books Council of Wales, making it available through all major UK book retailers, including Waterstones, Gardners, Peters and Amazon.