About the Joyful Leadership Academy
The Joyful Leadership Academy helps organisations cultivate leadership that is both effective and human.
Founded by Dr Katie McIntyre, the Academy brings together research, strategy, and experience to build workplaces where people thrive, cultures strengthen, and leadership drives measurable impact.
We work with leaders and teams across corporate, community, and public sectors to develop leadership capability that is purposeful, ethical, and grounded in wellbeing. Our approach integrates evidence-based insights with practical application to improve performance, engagement, and organisational health.
Joyful Leadership is not about surface-level positivity. It is about creating the conditions for courage, clarity, and creativity, even in times of change and complexity.
Through tailored programs, keynotes, and research partnerships, the Joyful Leadership Academy supports organisations to:
- Build psychologically safe and high-performing teams
- Strengthen leadership capability and resilience
- Align values, strategy, and culture
- Enhance well-being and reduce psychosocial risk
We help leaders find the balance between results and relationships, purpose and performance, ambition and joy.
Joyful Leadership is not about surface-level positivity. It is about creating the conditions for courage, clarity, and creativity, even in times of change and complexity.
Joyful Leadership is not about surface-level positivity. It is about creating the conditions for courage, clarity, and creativity, even in times of change and complexity.
About Dr Katie McIntyre
Dr Katie McIntyre is the Founder and Director of the Joyful Leadership Academy. She is an award-winning researcher, educator, and leadership consultant with more than twenty years of experience across nonprofit, government, education, and corporate sectors.
Katie’s work focuses on creating leadership that is ethical, evidence-based, and centred on human connection. She brings deep expertise in organisational leadership, strategy, and social impact, supported by a background in research, teaching, and senior management.
Her PhD explored joy as a distinct and measurable leadership quality and identified how joy fosters trust, collaboration, and well-being within teams. This research now underpins the Joyful Leadership framework and the Academy’s approach to developing leaders who are grounded in purpose and guided by values.
Katie has advised and partnered with a wide range of organisations to design leadership programs, evaluate impact, and deliver keynote presentations that inspire courage, compassion, and clarity. She is recognised for her ability to translate complex ideas into practical tools and meaningful outcomes.
As a speaker, facilitator, and researcher, Katie’s work invites leaders to think differently about success. Her message is simple: when people lead with purpose, integrity, and joy, everyone thrives.
Leading with Joy
Katie believes leadership should feel alive.
Her sessions are engaging, authentic, and full of energy. She blends research with real stories and practical insight to create experiences that are both inspiring and grounded. Participants often describe her work as the perfect mix of heart and evidence. She brings warmth, intelligence, and a spark of joy to every room she walks into.
Katie's style is interactive and focused on connection. Rather than talking about leadership, she invites people to experience it. Every keynote or workshop encourages reflection, participation, and a deeper understanding of what it means to lead with courage and care.
With a background in leadership, education, and research, Katie translates evidence into practice in ways that make sense for real people and workplaces. Her sessions are rich with insight but never heavy. They are about finding meaning, celebrating people, and creating workplaces where joy and high performance can thrive together
Leading with Joy
Katie believes leadership should feel alive.
Her sessions are engaging, authentic, and full of energy. She blends research with real stories and practical insight to create experiences that are both inspiring and grounded. Participants often describe her work as the perfect mix of heart and evidence. She brings warmth, intelligence, and a spark of joy to every room she walks into.
Katie's style is interactive and focused on connection. Rather than talking about leadership, she invites people to experience it. Every keynote or workshop encourages reflection, participation, and a deeper understanding of what it means to lead with courage and care.
With a background in leadership, education, and research, Katie translates evidence into practice in ways that make sense for real people and workplaces. Her sessions are rich with insight but never heavy. They are about finding meaning, celebrating people, and creating workplaces where joy and high performance can thrive together.
Leading with Joy
Katie believes leadership should feel alive.
Her sessions are engaging, authentic, and full of energy. She blends research with real stories and practical insight to create experiences that are both inspiring and grounded. Participants often describe her work as the perfect mix of heart and evidence. She brings warmth, intelligence, and a spark of joy to every room she walks into.
Katie's style is interactive and focused on connection. Rather than talking about leadership, she invites people to experience it. Every keynote or workshop encourages reflection, participation, and a deeper understanding of what it means to lead with courage and care.
With a background in leadership, education, and research, Katie translates evidence into practice in ways that make sense for real people and workplaces. Her sessions are rich with insight but never heavy. They are about finding meaning, celebrating people, and creating workplaces where joy and high performance can thrive together
Leading with Joy
Katie believes leadership should feel alive.
Her sessions are engaging, authentic, and full of energy. She blends research with real stories and practical insight to create experiences that are both inspiring and grounded. Participants often describe her work as the perfect mix of heart and evidence. She brings warmth, intelligence, and a spark of joy to every room she walks into.
Katie's style is interactive and focused on connection. Rather than talking about leadership, she invites people to experience it. Every keynote or workshop encourages reflection, participation, and a deeper understanding of what it means to lead with courage and care.
With a background in leadership, education, and research, Katie translates evidence into practice in ways that make sense for real people and workplaces. Her sessions are rich with insight but never heavy. They are about finding meaning, celebrating people, and creating workplaces where joy and high performance can thrive together
Leading with Joy
Katie believes leadership should feel alive.
Her sessions are engaging, authentic, and full of energy. She blends research with real stories and practical insight to create experiences that are both inspiring and grounded. Participants often describe her work as the perfect mix of heart and evidence. She brings warmth, intelligence, and a spark of joy to every room she walks into.
Katie's style is interactive and focused on connection. Rather than talking about leadership, she invites people to experience it. Every keynote or workshop encourages reflection, participation, and a deeper understanding of what it means to lead with courage and care.
With a background in leadership, education, and research, Katie translates evidence into practice in ways that make sense for real people and workplaces. Her sessions are rich with insight but never heavy. They are about finding meaning, celebrating people, and creating workplaces where joy and high performance can thrive together
Leading with Joy
Katie believes leadership should feel alive.
Her sessions are engaging, authentic, and full of energy. She blends research with real stories and practical insight to create experiences that are both inspiring and grounded. Participants often describe her work as the perfect mix of heart and evidence. She brings warmth, intelligence, and a spark of joy to every room she walks into.
Katie's style is interactive and focused on connection. Rather than talking about leadership, she invites people to experience it. Every keynote or workshop encourages reflection, participation, and a deeper understanding of what it means to lead with courage and care.
With a background in leadership, education, and research, Katie translates evidence into practice in ways that make sense for real people and workplaces. Her sessions are rich with insight but never heavy. They are about finding meaning, celebrating people, and creating workplaces where joy and high performance can thrive together
Experience and Impact
Dr Katie McIntyre has worked across corporate, government, education, and community sectors, helping
leaders and teams strengthen capability, culture, and wellbeing. Her experience spans coaching, leadership
development, keynote speaking, and research partnerships.
Areas of expertise:
•Workplace wellbeing and
•Organisational culture and
•Evidence-based program
•Social impact and evaluation
Delivery formats:
•Leadership programs and
•Coaching and mentoring for
•Strategic planning and
•Research and evaluation
Core impact:
Katie’s work supports leaders and organizations to:
•Build psychologically safe,
•Align values, strategy, and
•Improve engagement and
•Embed joy and purpose in
Experience and Impact
Dr Katie McIntyre has worked across corporate, government, education, and community sectors, helping leaders and teams strengthen capability, culture, and wellbeing. Her experience spans coaching, leadership
development, keynote speaking, and research partnerships.
Areas of expertise:
- Leadership and team development
- Workplace wellbeing and psychosocial safety
- Organisational culture and strategy
- Evidence-based program design
- Social impact and evaluation
Delivery formats:
- Keynote and conference presentations
- Leadership programs and training workshops
- Coaching and mentoring for leaders and executives
- Strategic planning and facilitation
- Research and evaluation partnerships
Core impact:
Katieʼs work supports leaders
and organisations to:
- Strengthen leadership capability and confidence
- Build psychologically safe, high-performing teams
- Align values, strategy, and culture
- Improve engagement and wellbeing
- Embed joy and purpose in everyday leadership
Leading with Joy
Katie believes leadership should feel alive.
Her sessions are engaging, authentic, and full of energy. She blends research with real stories and practical insight to create experiences that are both inspiring and grounded. Participants often describe her work as the perfect mix of heart and evidence. She brings warmth, intelligence, and a spark of joy to every room she walks into.
Katie's style is interactive and focused on connection. Rather than talking about leadership, she invites people to experience it. Every keynote or workshop encourages reflection, participation, and a deeper understanding of what it means to lead with courage and care.
With a background in leadership, education, and research, Katie translates evidence into practice in ways that make sense for real people and workplaces. Her sessions are rich with insight but never heavy. They are about finding meaning, celebrating people, and creating workplaces where joy and high performance can thrive together
