Award Winning Growth Consultant | Helping create thriving work cultures through streamlining & systemising processes, & career conversations which reduces high turnover, builds engagement, supports Gen Z & career growth


Focused on recruiting and engagement for a leading firm of solicitors, I focus on attracting and retaining top legal talent who bring the right energy, skills, and mindset to move the business forward. It’s not just about filling roles — it’s about building a culture people want to be part of.

I believe recruitment should be human, intuitive, and a strategic driver of success — not just another task on a checklist.

🔹 Finding the right fit, not just the right CV
🔹 Bringing fresh energy into the legal space — and keeping it
🔹 Hiring with heart, intention, and a future-first vision

Want to be part of a growing legal team? Let’s connect.

Penelope Layzell

One Degree Ltd

One Degree was a start up business in 2022, that with no money, no business contacts, no business experience, and no knowledge of sales or marketing, I took from zero to 6-figures within 10-months

I founded One Degree after 23-yrs in the RAF. My final role was teaching their worldclass leadership and management courses.

Despite the quality of the training provided, there were just so many examples of such terrible leadership. Which I struggled to understand.

This took me on a developmental pathway learning the psychology of leadership, why people behave the way we do, the neuroscience of learning, and mindset.

I created the Infinite Leadership Development Programme that combines personality profiling, training, mentoring and coaching, to create leaders who have added millions of pounds (GBP) to their businesses revenue.

Founder

Andy Nisevic Coaching

Helping micro businesses create a personalised emergency strategy to interrupt the decline and and start growing

Stop your business failing coach

Royal Air Force (RAF)

Rank: Warrant Officer (Executive)

Led strategic design and implementation of the RAF-wide leadership framework, supporting capability development across all leadership tiers

Delivered ILM and CMI-accredited leadership and management programs (Levels 4–7), with a focus on mid-senior and executive leadership

Coached and assessed learners against behavioural standards and RAF core values, reinforcing ethical leadership and decision-making under pressure

Played a key role in strategic planning discussions, aligning leadership development priorities with organisational transformation and operational readiness

Oversaw instructor supervision, learner progression, resource management, and programme evaluation to ensure high-quality, high-impact delivery

Unified operational and strategic leadership development functions under one remit, ensuring cohesion, alignment, and cultural relevance

Head of Leadership Development

Rank: Flight Sargent (Senior Management)

Delivered ILM and CMI-accredited leadership and management programs at Levels 4–7, supporting leadership development across mid to senior personnel.

Assessed learners’ performance and attitudes against core values, applying coaching principles to support growth and behavioural change.

Led programme evaluation and improvement cycles to ensure alignment with current leadership challenges and operational expectations.

Supervised instructional staff and managed training resources to maintain quality and consistency across all delivery cohorts.

Supported the development of leadership mindsets, decision-making, and ethical awareness through facilitated reflection and coaching.

Leadership Development Manager

Rank: Flight Sargent (Senior Management)

Directed a 20-person department responsible for operational training design and delivery, including executive-level development for senior personnel.

Developed and implemented learning strategy aligned with mission objectives, workforce capability needs, and evolving operational contexts.

Led end-to-end design, delivery, and evaluation of training programs across technical, operational, and leadership domains.

Focused on enhancing instructional capability, introducing innovative learning tools and creative delivery methods to increase engagement and effectiveness.

Engaged senior stakeholders to align training outcomes with frontline and strategic requirements.

Transformed a high-performing department into an overachieving centre of excellence—praised for flexibility, responsiveness, and impact across the organisation.

Head of Learning and Development

Rank: Flight Sargent (Senior Management)

Led a team of ~100 personnel across multiple UK and international sites, delivering dual operational outputs: UK Air Defence and overseas military mission support

Took over a fragmented, low-morale unit and led a cultural and structural transformation grounded in RAF core values of respect, integrity, service, and excellence

Dismantled siloed behaviours and internal cliques by fostering a culture of mutual accountability, operational ownership, and cross-functional support

Enhanced operational readiness by increasing qualifications and training across the team, boosting flexibility and deployment capability

Created a high-performance environment recognised for its operational focus, cohesive team culture, and mission resilience

Senior Operations Manager

Rank: Sargent (Middle Management)

Contributed to the strategic replacement of the UK Air Defence Management System by representing operational end-users in cross-functional procurement discussions

Conducted logistics and user criteria assessments, ensuring proposed solutions aligned with real-world operational demands across domestic and international theatres

Led training needs analyses and contributed to strategic documentation, influencing procurement decisions through frontline insights

Drew on extensive experience with diverse systems used in multiple operational environments to shape solution design and system selection

Collaborated with technical specialists, Ministry of Defence stakeholders, training teams, and external vendors to align user needs with delivery capability

Procurement Representative

Rank: Sargent (Middle Management)

Joint Royal Air Force & Royal Artillery

Acted as a key liaison between the Senior Leadership Team and operational units, ensuring alignment of frontline delivery with strategic priorities across multiple domestic and international sites

Led a multidisciplinary team of ~30 personnel spanning technical, operational, and training functions, maintaining a consistent standard of performance, discipline, and readiness

Managed crew and resource allocation to optimise operational effectiveness and meet mission-critical timelines

Monitored and enforced KPIs, embedding accountability structures and driving continuous improvement using Lean principles

Oversaw the implementation and use of bespoke systems for operational planning and equipment availability, improving decision-making and reducing downtime

Maintained high standards of operational discipline, contributing to the team’s strong reputation and consistent delivery of high-priority objectives

Recognised for leading a small, agile team that became highly sought-after for delivering strategic outcomes under pressure

Operations Manager

Rank: Sargent (Middle Management)

Led end-to-end operational delivery across multi-site and multi-national teams, ensuring alignment with strategic goals and KPIs.

Designed and implemented process improvements that increased efficiency and reduced operational bottlenecks.

Managed resource planning and allocation, optimising use of personnel, budgets, and infrastructure.

Oversaw compliance with regulatory, safety, and organisational standards, mitigating risk and ensuring continuity.

Delivered performance reviews and improvement plans, enhancing team capability and accountability.

Championed a high-performance culture through coaching, mentoring, and structured team development.

Collaborated cross-functionally with HR, .and senior leadership to drive operational cohesion.

Spearheaded technology adoption (e.g., systems/process automation), improving service delivery and data accuracy.

Monitored KPIs and produced performance dashboards to inform strategic decision-making.

Rank: Corporal (Supervisor)

• Developed and delivered comprehensive training programs for RAF recruits, combining theoretical knowledge with practical application.  
• Utilized on-the-job instructional techniques to enhance learning outcomes and ensure alignment with organizational values.  
• Conducted attitudinal assessments to foster a culture of excellence and accountability among trainees.

Learning And Development Specialist

Rank: Corporal (Supervisor)

• Managed a team of apprenticeship assessors across multiple national and international sites to ensure effective learning outcomes.  
• Coordinated and implemented learning activities, enhancing the success rate of apprenticeships.  
• Spearheaded the implementation of a Learning Management System (LMS) to improve the accuracy of learning tracking.

Joint Royal Air Force & Royal Artillery

• Collaborated within a multi-site international team to deliver real-time threat assessments for military partners.  
• Utilized specialized equipment to identify and disseminate critical threat information effectively.  
• Enhanced operational efficiency, contributing to improved response times and decision-making processes.  
• Developed skills in threat analysis, data interpretation, and cross-functional communication in a high-stakes environment.

Operations Specialist

• Delivered operational conversion training to graduates of RAF recruit and trade training, ensuring readiness for real-world applications.  
• Employed a blend of classroom-based, process-driven, and on-the-job training techniques to enhance learning outcomes.  
• Followed quality assured assessment processes, ensuring high quality operators.

Learning Facilitator

• Conducted surveillance of UK Airspace, ensuring its integrity and safety.  
• Operated bespoke ICT equipment for real-time threat analysis and mitigation.  
• Implemented threat mitigation processes, enhancing operational efficiency.  
• Trained new staff members, fostering a knowledgeable and skilled team environment.

Operations Team Member

After 23 years in the Royal Air Force, rising through all the non-commissioned ranks and eventually teaching their Level 7-accredited Leadership & Management programmes, I learned something vital:

There’s no such thing as a “good” or “bad” manager — only human beings, doing their best while carrying unseen pressures.

In 2018, I was diagnosed with moderate depression and severe anxiety. That experience reshaped how I lead my teams. Making the changes after (eventually) seeking support, my department went from performing well, to achieving things no one thought was possible.

Now, I help stressed senior and middle managers lead with certainty, clarity, & confidence, all of which mean they have great impact, without losing themselves in the process.

My clients have seen results like:

•	42% business growth in two years
•	Tripling production
•	79% reduction in staff turnover
•	Breaking cycles of overwork, self-doubt, and silence

But numbers aside, the real impact is personal. They go from people-pleasing to boundary-setting, from anxious to assertive, from unclear to unshakeable.

I'm known for being honest, clear, and direct. No waffle, no sugar-coating. If you’re ready to face the truth, do the work, and lead with integrity, let’s chat.
________________________________________
🏅 No.1 Best-Selling Author | International Keynote Speaker | Master Trainer & Mentor

🎯 Accredited Coach: Personal Performance | Team Performance | Wellbeing | Holistic Coaching | Life Coaching

🧠 Certified Practitioner in DISC and Core Strengths (SDI)

Let’s turn pressure into performance — and you into the leader your team deserves.

📩 info@onedegree.uk
🤳🏻 07737 194 852

taplio

The Battle

Penelope Layzell

Andy Nisevic

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?