Dominic Ashley-Timms has spent more than twenty years helping leaders change how they think, act and communicate, and his work has influenced managers in some of the world’s largest organisations. As the founder and CEO of Notion, he has built a consultancy recognised for its measurable impact on performance, culture, and capability. His background as a graduate ergonomist, combined with an EMBA from IMD, shaped his belief that learning should be human centred and practical. Years spent delivering large scale change programmes gave him the insight that traditional management habits were no longer fit for purpose. That experience eventually led to the creation of the STAR model, now used in more than forty countries to help managers shift from firefighting to enquiry led conversations that unlock better thinking in their teams.
Dominic’s approach stands out because it blends evidence, simplicity, and everyday application. He co-created the multi award winning STAR Manager programme, which became the first management development programme in the world to certify leadership competence. The initiative was tested in a government funded study evaluated by the London School of Economics, and it showed that managers who used the STAR model increased their use of coaching related behaviours by seventy percent, improved nine core management competencies and lifted retention and engagement. These results were echoed across sectors ranging from banking to manufacturing, with programmes regularly generating hundreds of times ROI. Dominic shares these insights with clarity and warmth, often describing how a single, well timed question can transform the direction of a team conversation.
Dominic is also the author of the number one bestseller ‘The Answer is a Question’, a book that gives managers a simple philosophy for rehumanising the way they lead. His writing and speaking are driven by a belief that organisations thrive when leaders stop providing all the answers and start enabling others to think more creatively. A recent session with a global broadcaster illustrates this well. Dominic introduced their senior managers to the STAR model then guided them through real workplace scenarios. Within an hour, delegates were identifying moments where a shift towards enquiry would save time, reduce conflict, and grow capability. This blend of theory and immediate relevance is what makes Dominic’s sessions so valuable.
Across his career Dominic has spoken to leaders in thirty seven countries, delivered programmes for FTSE and Fortune 500 companies, and advised executive teams on culture transformation. His sessions are calm, engaging and filled with stories that show how small behavioural changes can create lasting results. Dominic offers an authentic and practical voice at a time when organisations need leaders who can adapt quickly, build trust and help people feel more connected to their work. Whether addressing a conference hall or a senior leadership retreat, he gives audiences a clear path to better management and the confidence to start using it straight away.
