Heidi Lance · Aotearoa New Zealand
Leadership that works the next day

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.

Heidi Lance leading a FirstUp Day One leadership workshop
The leadership gap

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
Diagram of the leadership gap between doing the work and leading people
The impact of leadership on team outcomes
Why it matters

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.

Who FirstUp is for

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.

The FirstUp pathway

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

Early bird · open now $699
  • One day in the room, in-person or virtual
  • One 1:1 coaching session
  • The FirstUp Essentials Toolkit
  • 2 months in the Leaders Network
Explore Essentials

Stage 2 · Go deeper

FirstUp Leadership Programme

$2,650 + GST

Early bird · open now $2,350
  • Three practical workshop days
  • Three 1:1 coaching sessions
  • The FirstUp Leadership Toolkit
  • Practical application project
Explore the Programme

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
Explore the Network
Not sure where to start? FirstUp Essentials is a single day to get the foundations, the easiest way in, and a natural lead-in to the full Programme.
Heidi Lance leading a FirstUp leadership session
Why FirstUp

Led by Heidi Lance.

FirstUp is led by Heidi Lance, a specialist 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.”
Nena Amani, KiwiRail
“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!”
Jodi Shapcott, Nena's leader, KiwiRail

Trusted by organisations across New Zealand & Australia

Auckland TransportFletcher LivingFletcher Building2degreesTVNZPernod RicardNZ PoliceTradelinkBNZWorkSafeZ Energy
Where to start

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.