Gary Parsons

I am a Leadership Mental Health Advocate with a passion for supporting business leaders in prioritising their mental health and wellbeing while enhancing their leadership performance. I provide executive mentoring, deliver workshops, and speak at events to help leaders embrace vulnerability, build resilience, and create healthier work environments.

My focus is on breaking the stigma surrounding mental health in leadership, ensuring leaders do not burn out while managing their teams and businesses. Through talks, mentoring, and tailored programmes, I help leaders improve their self-awareness, manage work-life balance, and create sustainable success without compromising their wellbeing.

I work with leaders at all levels—both new and seasoned—who are responsible for leading teams and driving organisational success. My customers include time-poor, driven professionals who need support in managing stress, decision fatigue, and leadership challenges while maintaining their wellbeing.

My industry spans leadership development, mental health advocacy, and professional speaking, with a key focus on equipping leaders to navigate today’s demanding business landscape more effectively.

The community – that’s what makes Marketing Derby special for me. Walking into a room, meeting up on a 121, or celebrating successes online – the Bondholder community is a force to be reckoned with, we’re about supporting each other and I love to be firmly in the place of working on the collective mission of making Derby a bigger and better place to thrive.

I believe Derby’s future is filled with opportunities for businesses to drive positive change – not just economically, but socially and culturally. As more businesses embrace sustainable growth, I see the city evolving into a hub of innovation, collaboration, and inclusive leadership.

One key area I see shaping Derby’s future is a shift in business culture, where prioritise not just their teams’ success but also the mental health and wellbeing of its leaders. By fostering healthier leadership practices, businesses can create environments where employees thrive, productivity increases, and retention improves. This cultural shift will also reflect Derby’s commitment to sustainable, long-term growth.

I see Derby’s future shaped by businesses that embrace innovation, inclusivity, and wellbeing, making it a city known for its vibrant, progressive, and sustainable growth.

Derby, and surrounding towns (including Belper where I live), scream independent, and whilst many cities have a siloed culture of business – Derby embraces a culture of collaboration and genuine support for each other, including celebrations of
success.