Senior leadership for founder-led businesses, without the full-time cost.

I help founders and SMEs grow sustainably by taking ownership of client relationships, operations, and team development.
Delivered fractionally.

Get in touch

“Helen has been instrumental in building our client experience which has helped transform the business from jumping from project to project to meaningful relationships.”

Simon Thomason, MD, Leap

Working together we can…

Make chaotic operations become manageable with practical systems that stick.

Transform client relationships from reactive or transactional to long-term and loyal.

Enable your team to feel less stretched and more supported.

You get a senior pair of hands that have done this before without hiring a full time director.

What I offer

I work with a small number of businesses at a time. If you’re exploring fractional support I’d love to hear what you’re building.

    • Build stronger, longer-lasting client relationships

    • Develop retention strategies and account growth approaches

    • Navigate tricky client conversations and manage expectations

    • Support your managers to grow into their leadership roles

    • Help create team cultures where people can do their best work

    • Bring practical Mental Health First Aid training alongside leadership experience

    • Help you create practical systems and processes

    • Bring clarity when things feel chaotic or overwhelming

    • Find the balance between structure and flexibility

    • Provide practical support for early-stage founders

    • Help you figure out operations, client approach, and team basics

    • Ask questions that help you make clearer decisions

    • One-to-one support for founders, leaders, and professionals

    • A sounding board for decisions, transitions, and growth challenges

    • ILM-trained business mentor and member of the Association of Business Mentors

Drop me an email

I’ve worked in leadership roles in the creative industries for the past 15 years.

I’ve managed multi-million pound budgets and often wear multiple hats to retain and grow key client relationships, head up projects, improve agency operations, and develop teams.

Over the last 10 years I’ve specialised in the purpose sector, working with impact-driven agencies and clients including English Heritage, IKEA, Tilda and Barnardo’s to deliver positive change for people and planet.

My path has taken me from London to Bristol to Cornwall, where I now live with my family and our beagle Edith and spend as much time as possible in nature.

I am part of a three-person leadership team managing B Corp creative agency Leap in a part-time role as Client Partnerships Director alongside the MD and Creative Director.

And for the past three years I’ve worked alongside the founder of human and science-based wellbeing start-up Lovely Messy Humans.

About me

  • ILM-trained business mentor

  • Mental Health First Aider

  • Kerning The Gap mentor

Some of the brilliant organisations I’ve been lucky to work with…

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Kind words

  • "Having Helen by my side over the past two years as I’ve developed Lovely Messy Humans has been invaluable. She’s been hands-on across so many areas of the business - from project management and admin to client support and systems - but what really sets her apart is her ability to bring clarity when things feel messy or overwhelming.

    Helen has a calm, grounded presence and a brilliant way of helping you think clearly and put the right structures in place. I genuinely couldn’t have got to where I am without her, and she’s an exceptional person to have on your team."

    Beth Derry, Founder, Lovely Messy Humans

  • "Helen mentored me during the 2023 Kerning the Gap mentoring programme, which aims to empower and grow confidence and leadership skills for women in the design industry. Helen created a space where I felt supported and heard, with her incredible ability to listen and guide with both empathy and insight. 

    Helen is empathetic and her sincerity helped me gain the confidence to stretch beyond my comfort zone and tackle challenges that I had found daunting. Through her guidance, I felt capable and valued. I was able to grow professionally, but also personally, having learned to lean into trusting my own judgement and voice. 

    I’m very grateful for her mentorship and I would highly recommend her to anyone seeking a thoughtful and empowering guide."

    Charlotte Davis, Design Consultant, Kinneir Dufort

  • "I was lucky enough to bring Helen on board at Leap. Initially our short term need was project management support but it soon became obvious that she could bring so much more to the business.

    Helen has been instrumental in building our client experience which has helped transform the business from jumping from project to project to meaningful relationships. She’s embraced our values and is helping to shape an exciting future at Leap as part of our Leadership team.

    Helen brings a calmness and clarity to our studio and her recent team wellbeing work has seen much improvement in our work life balance and team happiness. She has a wonderful ‘get stuck in’ approach and is an absolute pleasure to work with."

    Simon Thomason, Managing Director, Leap

Book a conversation

hello@helenjohnston.work