Practical support for the shift from doer to leader.
Most leaders are promoted because they're great at the job. Leading people takes a different set of skills. FirstUp helps new and frontline leaders make the shift — with confidence.
Promoted for the work. Unprepared for the people.
Every day, strong operators step into leadership roles. They know the work — but they've never been shown how to lead people.
Without support, many new leaders:
- Fall back into doing the work instead of leading
- Struggle to prioritise and get pulled in too many directions
- Avoid or delay the difficult conversations
The cost of unsupported leaders.
Research shows most new leaders receive little to no formal leadership training in their first year — yet their decisions have an immediate impact on people, performance and culture.
Engagement drops, mistakes increase, issues go unaddressed, and good people quietly disengage or leave.
Built for people stepping up.
New leaders
People stepping into leadership for the first time.
High performers
People about to move into leadership.
Experienced leaders
In the role a while, but never had formal training.
Organisations
Businesses wanting to set their leaders up for success.
Three ways to step up.
Start with a one-day reset, go deeper with the full programme, then keep it alive in the Network. Pick the step that fits where you are.
Stage 1 · One-day reset
FirstUp Essentials
$799 + GST
- One day in the room — in-person or virtual
- One 1:1 coaching session
- The FirstUp Essentials Toolkit
- 2 months in the Leaders Network
Stage 2 · Go deeper
FirstUp Leadership Programme
$2,650 + GST
- Three practical workshop days
- Three 1:1 coaching sessions
- The FirstUp Leadership Toolkit
- Practical application project
Stage 3 · Ongoing
FirstUp Leaders Network
$49 / month · or $99 / 3 months
- Monthly facilitated coaching circles
- Masterclasses & skills practice labs
- A library of tools and resources
- A community of leaders who get it
Led by Heidi Lance.
FirstUp is designed and led by Heidi Lance through Real Learning, specialists in leadership and culture change. The approach is simple and practical: learn it, try it, come back better.
This isn't theory. It's leadership you can use the next day at work — built from years of supporting leaders across construction, infrastructure, manufacturing and services.
“FirstUp gave me practical tools to lead without authority. It helped me take a step back to reassess how I contribute, and gave me valuable perspective and clarity to realign my priorities — along with tools to recognise different communication styles. It's made a real difference in how I influence and collaborate.”
“Since completing the FirstUp programme, Nena has developed a stronger ability to adapt her communication style to suit different audiences. She's shown greater initiative and ownership in her role, and her growth has had a positive impact on team outcomes and collaboration. Nena was already a star — but she now shines even brighter!”
Trusted by organisations across New Zealand & Australia
Great leaders aren't born ready.
When leaders step up with confidence, teams and organisations thrive. Tell Heidi where you're at, and she'll help you find the right place to start.