What makes a true leader?

Is it a title – or the courage to inspire change?

Mark Francis explores leadership lessons inspired by his work with elite athletes and high performers in business. At the core is Sporting Intelligence (SpQ) which captures his four essential traits of great leaders: Positive Intention, Self-Command, Thin-Slicing, and Tribal Fire. Together, they build confidence, sharpen decision-making, and unite people behind a shared purpose.

Through powerful leadership stories from athletes, entrepreneurs, and changemakers, Francis shows how leadership is not a role but an ethos – an intention to act with vision, empathy, and resilience.

The Captaincy is a call to embrace these lessons, step forward with courage, and carry the spirit of captaincy into every arena of life.

Open these pages and discover how you, too, can step into your own captaincy – and lead with impact, on and off the field.

Author Biography

Mark Francis’ leadership journey began unexpectedly when he became the first-ever Captain of King’s College School, Wimbledon, despite being shy and heavily dyslexic. At Lancaster University, he served as Athletic Union President, sparking a lifelong interest in guiding teams and leading organisations.

He built a successful corporate career in fast-moving consumer goods and global HR, culminating as Vice President of Global Human Resources at JTI, overseeing 14,000 staff. In 2002, he founded Augmenta Ltd, a consultancy dedicated to developing confident, skilled leaders, with multinational clients including Danone and Edwards Lifesciences.

Alongside his professional life, Mark has coached women’s rugby since 1982, including 30 years at Richmond Rugby Club.

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