Dr. Simone Hayes smiling warmly in a black and white tweed jacket against a softly lit office wall

Author, speaker, advisor

Great leaders don't wait to be chosen.

I help mid-career and senior leaders build the confidence, influence and presence to lead at the next level.

Book a Discovery CallGet the Book

As featured in

  • The Meridian Review
  • LEADWELL
  • Harbor Business Journal
  • atlas weekly
  • The Boardroom
    Podcast
  • Northstar Radio
Simone's writing desk: an open book, a latte with foam art and her reading glasses on soft linen

About Simone

I was told to wait my turn. I didn't.

For eleven years I did excellent work inside one of the largest hospital systems in the Southeast and waited to be noticed. I watched colleagues with less experience step into the roles I wanted, because they had learned something I hadn't: influence is built in the open, long before the title arrives.

Leadership was never something anyone could hand me. I had to practice it first.

So I started. I pitched the leadership academy nobody asked for, became Chief Learning Officer three years later, then earned my PhD studying exactly what changed. Today I help capable, overlooked leaders stop waiting, and help their organizations build cultures where nobody has to.

Simone Hayes

Dr. Simone Hayes, PhD, ICF Master Certified Coach
  1. 2013Pitched the leadership academy that graduated 1,200 leaders
  2. 2016Named Chief Learning Officer of a 40,000-person health system
  3. 2019Earned my PhD and founded my coaching and consulting practice
  4. 2024Published Lead Without Permission, a national bestseller

Work with me

Support for every stage of your leadership.

For mid-to-senior professionals and the HR and L&D leaders who develop them. Every engagement is built around measurable change.

Two women in a one-to-one coaching conversation at a small table beside tall city windows
Most requested

1:1 Executive Coaching

Six to twelve months of private work for leaders stepping into bigger roles. Best for directors, VPs and new executives.

  • A sharper executive presence in senior rooms
  • A clear strategy for your next role and how to earn it
  • Confidence in the conversations that define your reputation
Book a Discovery Call

How every engagement works

  1. Talk

    A free 30-minute call to understand your goals and where you're stuck.

  2. Assess

    360 feedback and proven assessments reveal how you're really showing up.

  3. Practice

    Focused sessions, real scenarios and scripts you use the same week.

  4. Measure

    90-day reviews track the change your stakeholders can see.

The book

Lead Without Permission

Most people wait to be chosen. The leaders who rise fastest don't. This book shows you how to build trust, influence and visibility from exactly where you sit today.

  • The four shifts that turn expertise into influence
  • Word-for-word scripts for the conversations most leaders avoid
  • A 90-day plan to become the obvious next choice
“The rare leadership book that is both research and recipe. I bought copies for my entire executive team.”
Renee Whitfield, CEO, Brightline Capital
Get the BookRead Chapter One Free
Barnes & Noble Bookshop.org Apple Books Audible

Ordering 25 or more copies for your team? Ask about bulk pricing, which can include a live Q&A or keynote.

Impact

Eighteen years of leaders who stopped waiting.

10,000+leaders trained across fourteen industries
200+keynotes delivered on four continents
120organizations advised, from startups to the Fortune 100
94%of coaching clients promoted or expanded within 18 months

What leaders say

The results show up in promotions.

Six months after we started, I was promoted to SVP. Simone didn't hand me a script. She gave me a way of thinking I use in every hard conversation.
Marcus EllerySVP of Operations, Calloway Health
Our director cohort's engagement scores rose 22 points in a year. Three of them now run divisions.
Priya RamanChief People Officer, Vantage Freight Group
Hers was the session people were still quoting at dinner. We rebooked her before she left the stage.
Danielle OkaforDirector of Learning & Development, Halden Bank

Speaking

Keynotes that change what leaders do on Monday.

  • Lead Without Permission

    The four shifts that help people at every level act like owners, speak up and move work forward.

    Keynote, 45 to 60 minutes

  • The Room Where It Happens

    How emerging leaders earn trust and visibility with senior stakeholders.

    Keynote or breakout, 60 to 90 minutes

  • Multiply Your Leaders

    For HR and L&D leaders building pipelines that don't depend on luck.

    Keynote or executive workshop
Book Simone to SpeakRequest the One-Sheet

Recent stages

  • National HR Leadership SummitChicago
  • Women in Healthcare Leadership ForumNashville
  • Midwest Banking Association AnnualMinneapolis
  • Global L&D ExchangeLondon

Speaker reel

The full reel and recent keynote recordings are shared with event planners on request, along with my speaker one-sheet.

Request the One-Sheet

Resources

Ideas for leaders who don't wait.

A professional woman in a camel blazer smiling as she works on her laptop at a long bright desk
Featured essay8 min read

The promotion conversation you should start this quarter

Most people ask for a promotion after they deserve it. The leaders who move fastest start the conversation six months earlier, with a different question.

A diverse team in lively discussion around a table in a modern open office
Teams

Why your best people stop speaking up in meetings

A woman in glasses and a blush cardigan holding a notebook against a pale wall
Career

Five sentences that build executive presence

Podcast and media

  • The Boardroom PodcastLeading before the title, episode 212
  • Northstar RadioWomen, ambition and the permission myth

Free chapter

Read the first chapter on me.

Get Chapter One of Lead Without Permission plus my 12-question Leadership Readiness Assessment, sent straight to your inbox.

You'll also get the Monday Memo, one short leadership idea a week. Unsubscribe anytime.

Contact

Let's talk about what's next.

Tell me a little about you or your organization. I read every message and reply within two business days.

Prefer to talk first?

Book a free discovery call and we'll map your next step together.

  • 30 minutes, no obligation
  • Video call at a time that suits you
  • Leave with one clear action either way
Choose a Time
hello@simonehayes.comGeneral and coaching inquiries media@simonehayes.comPress, podcasts and speaking

Common questions

Who do you work with?

Mid-career and senior professionals, from managers stepping up to new executives, plus the HR and L&D leaders who develop them.

How long does coaching last?

Most engagements run six or twelve months, with biweekly sessions and a progress review every 90 days.

Can my company pay for coaching?

Often, yes. Many clients use professional development budgets, and I can provide a proposal your organization can approve.

Do you speak virtually?

Yes. I deliver keynotes and workshops in person and virtually, and adapt every session to your audience and goals.

How far ahead should we book a keynote?

Three to six months is ideal, especially for spring and fall conference season, but ask about shorter timelines.

Do you offer bulk book orders?

Yes. Orders of 25 or more copies receive volume pricing, and larger orders can include a live Q&A or keynote.

Claim this site