Why Mindfulness Might Be the Most Underrated Business Strategy You’re Overlooking

If there were a world’s worst marketing award, our keynote speaker Andrew McNeill says it would go straight to the people who came up with the word mindfulness. Let’s be honest, the term alone makes many leaders roll their eyes. It sounds fluffy, soft, and far removed from the hard realities of corporate boardrooms and high-stakes decision-making.

But here’s the surprise: mindfulness (when framed correctly!) isn’t just relevant to business, it can literally transform how leaders collaborate, make decisions, and show up for their teams. And Andrew McNeill is proof.

Andrew isn’t your typical mindfulness advocate. He’s not armed with incense sticks or meditation cushions. Instead, he comes from the world of senior leadership, having held positions within the UK Civil Service, law, and corporate management.

He’s led high-pressure teams, navigated male-dominated industries, and as a keynote speaker he’s walked into defence companies where mindfulness was initially met with scepticism — only to leave audiences completely re-thinking what it means and why it matters.

This credibility makes him a trusted keynote speaker and workshop facilitator for corporate audiences who would normally dismiss mindfulness out of hand.

Think about your last board meeting. How many people in the room were fully present? Chances are, while one person was presenting figures, another was replaying an email they just sent, someone else was mentally planning dinner, and another was silently worrying about missing their child’s school assembly.

Ironically, the very space where being present matters most — where big decisions are made — is often the space where it happens least.

At its simplest, mindfulness is being aware of the present moment and acting without judgement. Isn’t that exactly what an effective board meeting should look like?

Most leaders operate on autopilot. We make quick decisions under pressure, influenced by unconscious biases, stress levels, and distractions we rarely stop to acknowledge.

Mindfulness interrupts that cycle. It teaches leaders to notice the cognitive and physical factors that influence their decisions and to respond with greater clarity.

Andrew has learned how to implement this, and now teaches others to do the same. He’s shown that when leaders understand what drives their choices, they make better ones. When teams are present in discussions, collaboration improves. And when judgement is suspended, more innovative ideas emerge.

Andrew’s workshops are deliberately simple, practical, and designed for people who wouldn’t normally entertain the idea of mindfulness. Some of his most popular strategies include:

• The 30-Second Reset
  A quick activity that grounds participants in the present moment — instantly shifting energy and focus.
• Sustainers and Drainers
  Attendees reflect on what fuels them (sustainers, like exercise, supportive colleagues, or quality sleep) versus what depletes them (drainers, like constant emails, negative relationships, or back-to-back meetings). Andrew then invites people to rebalance those lists, often sparking powerful changes in both work and life.

It’s straightforward, relatable, and leaves even the most sceptical of audiences admitting: this makes sense.

For corporate audiences, particularly in high-stakes or traditionally sceptical environments, Andrew offers something rare: credibility. He understands the pressures of leadership (because he has been a leader), the pace of change, and the dynamics of male-dominated or high-stress industries.

His sessions don’t just introduce mindfulness: they rebrand it. Suddenly, it’s not “soft” at all. It’s a performance tool. A leadership edge.

If you’re planning your next conference, leadership offsite, or team development day, Andrew McNeill is the speaker who can shift perspectives and leave leaders better equipped to collaborate and make decisions.