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I coach CEOs to scale themselves, lead great teams, and grow the business, without sacrificing their health and relationships. There are two ways to work with me.

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Dig Howitt avatar
Dig Howitt
CEO & President, Cochlear Ltd
Phil’s keynote resonated strongly with our leadership group. He gave great examples of the different types of partnerships and how the leverage from partnerships can make strategy execution more effective.
Dr Kate Burbury avatar
Dr Kate Burbury
Chief Executive, Tasmanian Health Service (Hospitals South)
The journey of CEO can be incredibly isolating, especially in massive and complex systems of tertiary healthcare, which is why having Phil in my corner has been in short a game-changer. He creates a safe, constructive space to unpack complex challenges. He helped me to develop greater communication clarity and emotional resilience which completely revitalised my approach, in terms of aligning strategic and operational intent and impact. Phil doesn’t just coach you on business metrics, he coaches the whole person and a person as a member of a team and an ecosystem. His recognition of the importance of sustained partnerships which become relational, has been pivotal. I highly recommend him for anyone, at any stage in their journey, who is striving to revitalise, grow or build a thriving business or organisation with balance and vision and without burning out.
David Simpson avatar
David Simpson
Chief of Strategy and Partnerships
We recently reached an inflection point in our 10-year strategy, a moment where it was essential to bring our senior leaders together for our Leadership Summit to shape the next horizon of our ambition. The purpose was simple, but critical, create clarity, build alignment, and ensure we were united before stepping forward to execute the next chapter of our Reimagining 2033 strategy. As we planned the event, I couldn't help but think of Phil. He is one of the most engaging, articulate, and compassionate people I've had the privilege of meeting. As a coach who has been a CEO, can seamlessly traverse front line operations and enterprise strategy, he combines this with an incredible ability to connect with people, create energy in the room, and guide deeply meaningful conversations with both authenticity and purpose. I genuinely couldn't think of anyone better to help bring such an important event to life.
Phil is masterful at coaching leaders to understand the value of partnerships as a cornerstone to business growth. In an era where time is short and growth is crucial, knowing how to initiate and build strong, aligned partnerships is an essential skill.

The Leadership Letter

Get one piece of clear, honest thinking on leading at CEO level. Every Wednesday, from someone who has spent 20 years in the seat you're sitting in. Practical enough to use. Human enough to matter. Join 20,000+ leaders who read it every Wednesday.

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Nichola Quail avatar
Nichola Quail
Founder and CEO, Insights Exchange
I can't recommend this program highly enough. Our main growth strategy is through successful partnerships - but there is definitely a WRONG way to go about building those. Phil has done a fantastic job at putting like minded people together so we can learn from each other and an effective program to walk you through best practice in partnerships. Don't miss out on this next cohort opportunity!
Odette Barry avatar
Odette Barry
Founder & Publicist
I’ve been securing six-figure partnerships for clients for years, but my approach was largely intuitive, not systemised. That made me a bottleneck in my own business, limited by how much I could share with my team. With Phil’s super accessible course and GPTs, I’ve finally been able to clearly and efficiently transfer (and extend upon) my knowledge in a way that’s scalable across our PR agency, and we’ve 4x’d our results in a matter of weeks. The Partnerships Lab is 100% super valuable, totally aligned to where I’m at and exactly what I need to know. The content is brilliant, and the whole experience is seamless and easy to navigate. I jumped straight in and used it with a client in real time, mapping out a miscarriage not-for-profit partnership, and instantly brought the values of both organisations to life. It made the process genuinely fun. Honestly, I think all marketing and PR agencies are bleeding cash if they’re not adopting this for influencer and creative partnerships. It radically extends the value we deliver for clients.
Joann Yap avatar
Joann Yap
Space Lawyer | Strategic Partnerships at HEO
Working with Phil has been phenomenal - he brings a trove of expertise and experience that provides an incredibly useful perspective, from a birds-eye structural view of partnerships generally, down to the small details. Phil's coaching on 1-1 calls has been and continues to be incredibly valuable in working through complex and niche markets, as are the practical resources and guidance available from the beginning through to the end of a partnership. Very glad we are working with the Partnership Lab!
Dr. Christian Poensgen avatar
Dr. Christian Poensgen
Ranked #1 German LinkedIn Creator | "Ultraproductive" Coach & Author at Portfolio Penguin | Follow for posts about habits, productivity & personal development
linkedin
Such a sharp framework, Phil Hayes-St Clair. Most teams manage suppliers like cost centers. Your approach turns them into growth partners.
Kylee Ingram avatar
Kylee Ingram
Co-Founder, Wizer
So many things promise. Few deliver. Partnership Lab over delivers. Working with Phil and the Partnership Lab has been a turning point for our business. The clarity we gained around partnership structure, pricing, and delivery models has helped us build real, scalable channels—especially with partners who want to integrate our tech. What could have ended as short-term client relationships have now grown into long-term strategic partnerships. The framework gave us the tools to move fast, align on value, and unlock new revenue streams with great clarity.
Hugh Coppen avatar
Hugh Coppen
Leadership Coach
Loved the clarity of the communication outline you provided to help an internal champion close out a partnership deal. It's an excellent communication model that can be used in many different situations. Every week there's always usable material in your weekly newsletter - thanks Phil!
Simone Henderson-Smart avatar
Simone Henderson-Smart
Group Head of Marketing and Communications
The first word that springs to mind is CLARITY. Phil's delivery is super clear and concise. He really knows his subject, but also knows how to keep it simple and easy to follow. I came into this with no ideas about building partnerships. After just one lesson, I had a really clear vision of what, how and why partnerships will work at Rare Birds. The GPTs that Phil has built are a brilliant tool for sparking ideas - more like a fun brainstorm than a learning exercise. The weekly group calls are also brilliant: fun, insightful and Phil is really present - giving thoughtful, personal and actionable advice to all who need it. The whole Lab has been put together incredibly well. Really impressive work.
Chris Eversley avatar
Chris Eversley
🏀 Helping high-potential leaders and teams lead through transition | Performance Mindset Coach | Speaker | Ex-Pro Athlete
linkedin
This is GOLD, Phil! The amount of free game you give us on a consistent basis is actually remarkable. We (me + 165 others) appreciate it!
Jennifer Tucker avatar
Jennifer Tucker
Strategy Advisor & NED
The Partnership Lab has completely transformed my approach to assessing potential partners and developing long-term value accretive partnerships. The content, in particular the Partnership Lab GPT's, make it fool proof, simple and fast for anyone who is wanting to develop new partnerships and doesn't know where to begin or feels their current approach is stale or continually missing the mark. The opportunity to work with others across a vast array of industries and share experiences during the course, is a major plus, and Coach Phil's pragmatic and authentic approach means you are fully supported. I would recommend this course to anyone who is looking to step change their approach to creating long term value creating partnerships.

The Leadership Letter

Get one piece of clear, honest thinking on leading at CEO level. Every Wednesday, from someone who has spent 20 years in the seat you're sitting in. Practical enough to use. Human enough to matter. Join 20,000+ leaders who read it every Wednesday.

Subscribe free
Sarah Collingwood avatar
Sarah Collingwood
CEO, Four Winds Vineyard
The Wednesday Partnership newsletter has broadened my understanding of what a partnership can be and how it can evolve to support our business. Hearing real examples from both large and small businesses has been incredibly valuable. I’d definitely recommend it to anyone looking to grow through collaboration.
Tim Jack Adams avatar
Tim Jack Adams
CEO | GreenX7
Sometimes we get so caught up being busy, heads down in our lane, that we forget collaborations and partnerships can 10X our business. Phil’s Wednesday Partnership newsletter isn’t just a reminder of that; it’s a practical guide to confidently navigate the somewhat turbulent waters of leadership and alliance-building. Thanks to Phil, we are growing faster and smarter.
Melissa Rosenthal avatar
Melissa Rosenthal
Executive Coach
As seen in his recent TEDxMonash talk, Moving Beyond Hope in Women’s Health, Phil is an incredibly compelling speaker. His passion, commitment and deep expertise are undeniable. His relaxed yet professional delivery belies the rich investment he undoubtedly makes in preparing for each speaking engagement.
Rebecca White avatar
Rebecca White
CEO Humans United By Business
Phil was our guest for HUBB Conversations and he was the standout speaker for the year. He was articulate, persuasive, and inspiring, and he readily answered questions with generosity and empathy. Phil was representative of the direct, authentic, and motivating business leaders of calibre we invite to be keynote speakers.
Megan Flamer avatar
Megan Flamer
Principal Consultant, Excited Adults
Just when I'm about to give up, one of these amazing newsletters arrives in my inbox and always has the perfect advice to get me through the next week. I love how clear, practical, and effective they are -- and as a business owner, they help me feel less alone.
Phil is amazing. He opened our eyes to the real power of partnerships, not just as a channel, but as a strategic lever to unlock distribution, scale, and long-term value. His guidance helped us see that this was the missing piece to accelerate our path to market. What I’ve appreciated most about our conversations is how grounded, generous, and practical his advice has been. Phil doesn’t just talk theory, he challenges your thinking, shares real-world insights, and helps you build partnership muscle in a way that’s actionable and sustainable.
Dr. Alberto Chierici avatar
Dr. Alberto Chierici
I make sure AI works for you and not against you | PhD in Computer Science @NYU | Tesla alumni | 3x founder
linkedin
This tool is pure gold. Thanks for sharing your wisdom, Phil!
Mel Rosenthal avatar
Mel Rosenthal
Executive Coach
This week's newsletter delivered one of those "it's like he's listening to my conversations moments, and giving me tips to make the next one better" - thanks Phil
Erica Kreismann MD avatar
Erica Kreismann MD
Executive Coach for Healthcare leaders.
linkedin
Finally, someone breaking down how to speak with clarity instead of just saying be clear. This post is a mini masterclass! 🤎

The Leadership Letter

Get one piece of clear, honest thinking on leading at CEO level. Every Wednesday, from someone who has spent 20 years in the seat you're sitting in. Practical enough to use. Human enough to matter. Join 20,000+ leaders who read it every Wednesday.

Subscribe free
Elizabeth Loughlin avatar
Elizabeth Loughlin
Co-Founder at RebateRight
Joining The Partnership Lab has been an incredibly rewarding experience. The content is thoughtfully designed and super easy to follow, even if you're new to building partnerships. Everything is presented in a clear, structured way that makes it simple to put ideas into action right away. One of my favourite parts is the weekly syncs — they're relaxed, welcoming, and a great opportunity to connect with others in the same boat. It's such a supportive space to share challenges, swap ideas, and feel like you're not alone in the journey. Phil, our partnership coach, is fantastic. He's approachable, knowledgeable, and genuinely invested in everyone’s growth. Whether you’re stuck on something or need a sounding board, he’s always there to help in a down-to-earth, practical way. If you want to grow your partnership strategy with clarity and community, The Partnership Lab is the place to be.
Rochelle Fittler avatar
Rochelle Fittler
The newsletter is packed full of absolute gold! When we came to formalising our business partnership, we soaked up all of Phil’s excellent guidance. We were able to answer the tricky questions we really needed to confront (but didn’t know to ask), and came up with a model that was right for us. We moved forward with confidence that we were aligned and ready to tackle the challenges and pursue the rewards of really powerful collaboration. Thanks Phil! Rochelle Fittler (The Expert Leader) and Lynn White (Mind You Services)
Working with Phil was an outstanding experience! Phil's expertise and coaching on partnerships was the secret ingredient we needed to successfully close our latest partnership. Highly recommend Phil to anyone looking to win a new partnership while also strengthening their internal expertise.
Dr Ginni Mansberg avatar
Dr Ginni Mansberg
Phil is personable, reliable, intelligent and experienced. He also has a very commercial lens. Helped us with an important partnership deal, and we all felt his involvement helped us hone the purpose and the process.
Maureen Bower avatar
Maureen Bower
It has been wonderful to be able to talk freely about a new venture and the accompanying challenges to Phil, someone who has navigated such paths before and who can translate experiences that are relevant in my situation. The practical advice and suggestions enabled me to make a great start before further explorations and progress along the way. In less than 6 months we have advanced beyond what I thought was possible. My confidence has increased to the point where I believe we will land this initiative! Thanks for your guidance, Phil. I would highly recommend you to colleagues/friends.
The Partnerships newsletter is a must read for me and often im finding myself searching up a previous newsletter for nuggets of gold to either apply within my business, or share it with a coachee or contact. The tips and suggestions are both highly practical while sometimes counter intuitive - gently challenging my attitude, mindset and default reactions to building and nurturing relationships.
Christopher Smith avatar
Christopher Smith
EVP & MD APAC, Civica
Phil delivers a compelling, engaging approach to partnerships, focussing on material value being created for both parties being the basis for a relationship. Super refreshing as usually people talk about the relationship being the focus. He brings value from the outset. Definitely get him in front of your team.
David Iverach avatar
David Iverach
Director
The newsletter always prompts me to think about some aspect of my life: business, investing or friends and family. It's an easy and quick read.
Paul R. Witkay avatar
Paul R. Witkay
Phil has a wealth of personal experience building successful businesses and generously shares his insights & secrets to help us identify the right partners and create alignment and win-win relationships. I always learn something in his weekly newsletters.

The Leadership Letter

Get one piece of clear, honest thinking on leading at CEO level. Every Wednesday, from someone who has spent 20 years in the seat you're sitting in. Practical enough to use. Human enough to matter. Join 20,000+ leaders who read it every Wednesday.

Subscribe free
Sarah Collingwood avatar
Sarah Collingwood
CEO, Four Winds Vineyard
Our business has worked with Phil for over six years, and he has a talent for spotting partnership opportunities in the most unexpected places. These connections, both big and small, have had a meaningful impact on our success.
Mohammad Chamanpara avatar
Mohammad Chamanpara
I recently attended a Partnership Lab session and found it extremely valuable. Phil brings a wealth of knowledge that truly helps entrepreneurs and businesses get off the ground and succeed. He was especially helpful in shaping our pricing strategy, making the transition into our platform easier and more seamless for customers. I’d highly recommend Phil to any founder or team looking for practical, impactful guidance.
Charlie D avatar
Charlie D
I met Phil through a workshop he gave in a cohort we’re both a part of. I was immediately drawn to his clear and straightforward teaching style. Afterwards, I reached out to connect further and get a bit more help on a business process. He was warm, inviting and instantly made me feel like we were old friends. During our call he took me step-by-step through what I was struggling with, and answered any questions I had. Our call was scheduled for half an hour, but Phil was gracious enough to give me almost an entire hour of his time. The way he thinks about how to take both you and your audience from confusion to clarity, and make sure your customer gets insane value is top tier. His ability to communicate complex concepts and business processes in a way that makes them feel accessible is truly a gift. I would highly recommend Phil to any executive or founder. You may think you know what your bottleneck is, or what direction your business is going - but give Phil a few minutes and he’ll open your eyes to countless new possibilities and explain them in a way that makes perfect sense. I’m so thankful to have someone like Phil in my network!
Meenu Tabassum avatar
Meenu Tabassum
Business Development Manager
linkedin
Your insights on the critical role of partnerships in driving growth are spot on, Phil. The practical tactics you’ve outlined are invaluable for founders looking to navigate these challenges successfully. Thank you for sharing your expertise and for championing effective collaboration.
Cameron Saunders avatar
Cameron Saunders
Founder @ Youngry
linkedin
Confidence isn’t something you wait for. It’s something you build with systems that drive results. The Partnership Lab isn’t about hype, it’s about deals, momentum, and growth you can repeat.
James M avatar
James M
Head of Operations
Leadership letters consistently offers fresh ideas and insights against challenging topics. Phil’s way of posing questing and offering a perspective is both contemporary and necessary for leadership in the ever changing context businesses find themselves in.
Doug P avatar
Doug P
I really look forward to the weekly newsletters. Phil’s work is reliably and consistently top shelf. He writes well, provides clarity, his perspectives offer value to the reader and he unfailingly provokes worthwhile discussion.
Simone Henderson-Smart avatar
Simone Henderson-Smart
Head of Marketing and Communications
Phil possesses almost superhuman Emotional Intelligence. Lucky for us, not only does he see clearly, he is also able to articulate clearly. Reading his weekly Leadership Letter is so insightful and full of absolute gems that make you want to go out there and be the best version of yourself ever. I look forward to every edition!
William Crowe PhD avatar
William Crowe PhD
CEO, HEO
Phil provided the most fundamental lesson for founders: by nature, each challenge and stage at a startup is transient. This means moving through the challenges at speed and bringing those around you at speed as well is the key to a more happy and healthy experience. Phil is always there to pick up the phone and map out next steps when it feels like everything is going wrong. He maintains a fantastic presence and ensures it's all about helping you and solving your problem. I'd recommend working with Phil to all founders looking to make a huge impact on the world, especially when it's your first time on the founder journey.

The Leadership Letter

Get one piece of clear, honest thinking on leading at CEO level. Every Wednesday, from someone who has spent 20 years in the seat you're sitting in. Practical enough to use. Human enough to matter. Join 20,000+ leaders who read it every Wednesday.

Subscribe free
Dr Kate Burbury avatar
Dr Kate Burbury
Chief Executive, Tasmanian Health Service (Hospitals South)
The journey of CEO can be incredibly isolating, especially in massive and complex systems of tertiary healthcare, which is why having Phil in my corner has been in short a game-changer. He creates a safe, constructive space to unpack complex challenges. … He doesn't just coach you on business metrics, he coaches the whole person and a person as a member of a team and an ecosystem. … I highly recommend him for anyone, at any stage in their journey, who is striving to revitalise, grow or build a thriving business or organisation with balance and vision and without burning out.
David Simpson avatar
David Simpson
Chief of Strategy and Partnerships
Phil is one of the most engaging, articulate, and compassionate people I've had the privilege of meeting. As a coach who has been a CEO, who can seamlessly traverse front line operations and enterprise strategy, he combines this with an incredible ability to connect with people, create energy in the room, and guide deeply meaningful conversations with both authenticity and purpose.
Alison Covington AM avatar
Alison Covington AM
Founder & Managing Director
I'd been following Phil Hayes-St Clair for close to a decade because everything he shared seemed to resonate with me. His perspective on leadership, business and life just made sense. So when I found myself facing one of the most difficult periods of my career, reaching out to him felt like the right decision. In just a month of working together, Phil has had a profound impact on the way I think and lead. He didn't offer a one-size-fits-all coaching framework or simply tell me what I should do. Instead, he asked the right questions, challenged my thinking and helped me find clarity when everything felt uncertain. What I valued most was how hands-on he was. At a time when my mind was clouded by the situation, Phil didn't just listen and offer advice; he stepped in and helped carry the load. He drafted important correspondence when I struggled to find the words, connected me with trusted experts when specialist advice was needed, and helped me think through complex decisions with a level of calm and objectivity that I simply couldn't access on my own. Looking back, I'm not sure I would have come through that period in the way I did without his support. More importantly, I don't think I would have arrived at the positive place I'm in today. The options I was considering at the outset were shaped by the pressure and emotion of the moment. Phil helped me slow down, regain perspective and make decisions that aligned with my values, my leadership and the future I wanted to create. What sets Phil apart is that his guidance comes from genuine business and life experience. He understands the weight of leadership because he's lived it. That means his coaching goes far beyond asking good questions; he becomes a trusted thinking partner who's prepared to step in when you need practical support as much as strategic advice. If you're a CEO, founder or executive facing complex challenges, I can't recommend Phil highly enough. His guidance has made a lasting difference to me, not only professionally but personally, and I'll always be grateful for the role he played during one of the most challenging chapters of my career.
Alison Covington AM avatar
Alison Covington AM
Founder & Managing Director
In just a month of working together, Phil has had a profound impact on the way I think and lead. He didn't offer a one-size-fits-all coaching framework or simply tell me what I should do. Instead, he asked the right questions, challenged my thinking and helped me find clarity when everything felt uncertain. … He didn't just listen and offer advice; he stepped in and helped carry the load. … Looking back, I'm not sure I would have come through that period in the way I did without his support.