About Me

Hello! I am Chantel Hayward - Leadership Coach, strategic people partner and Founder of Fox & Fable. I help founders of growing creative businesses navigate the people side of growth - giving them space to think, helping them make better decisions and making sure their leadership, people and culture can support where the business is going.

I have spent more than 18 years working alongside founders, CEOs and leadership teams through growth, change and the realities of leading people, including as HR Director and Head of People within creative agencies.

During that time, I have built People functions, coached leaders, developed managers, shaped cultures and helped businesses navigate some of the more difficult parts of employing and leading people.

Why creative businesses?

There is something distinctive about growing a creative business.

Your success depends on talented people doing brilliant work together.

Many creative businesses grow because their founders are very good at their craft. You build a reputation, win bigger clients, hire more talented people and suddenly you are not only responsible for the work. You are leading the people who make the work happen.

Your best designer becomes a Design Director. A brilliant Account Director is now managing a team. People who built their careers around their craft find themselves responsible for feedback, performance, motivation and difficult conversations too.

I understand that world and the balance between introducing enough leadership and clarity for a growing team without losing the pace, creativity and freedom that made the business successful in the first place.

My approach

I do not arrive with a ready made answer for what your business should look like.

I start by understanding what you are trying to build, what is working, what is becoming harder and what matters to you.

You get the thinking space of coaching alongside someone who understands the practical and commercial realities of leading people in a growing business.

Experience matters

I have worked directly with founders and senior leadership teams, built People functions from scratch and supported businesses through growth and change.

I am an ILM Level 7 Executive Coach & Mentor and a Chartered Fellow of the CIPD, with more than 18 years’ experience working with leaders and teams. I am also a Mental Health First Aider and a judge for the Company Culture Awards and UK Agency Awards.

Alongside my work with leaders, I write about leadership, wellbeing and the human side of work, with contributions featured in Stylist, Marie Claire UK, The i Paper and Women in Agencies.

But experience does not mean assuming I already know the answer. Every founder is different. Every creative business is different. Understanding yours comes first.

Outside Fox & fable

I believe work should be an important part of life, rather than the entirety of it.

When I am not working, you will usually find me with my family, practicing yoga and working on my yoga teacher training, travelling, walking somewhere green or reading (ideally with a cup of tea nearby, heavy on the oat milk please).

What is taking up your headspace?

If you are leading a growing creative business and the people side is taking more of your time and headspace, tell me what is happening.

We can have a conversation and see whether I am the right person to help.