Curious Not Furious
The power of disagreeing well.
In these increasingly polarised times, many of us struggle to connect and engage with people who think differently. We will give you the skills to be curious without fear of judgement, to listen without prejudice, and to have calm conversations about really difficult topics. These skills will help build genuine connections and create an environment where difference, instead of becoming a point of tension, is something to be celebrated.
What we offer
Training
Practical training that helps teams, schools and organisations disagree well. We give people simple tools to handle differing opinions with more confidence, curiosity and respect — helping disagreement become a catalyst for stronger relationships, better ideas and healthier cultures.
Facilitation
When teams feel stuck, tense or divided, we create the space and structure needed to move conversations forward constructively. Through calm, thoughtful facilitation, we help people explore different viewpoints openly, uncover shared understanding and find clearer ways forward together.
Coaching
One-to-one coaching for leaders and individuals who want to navigate disagreement, uncertainty or challenging conversations with greater confidence. Practical, reflective sessions that help people stay grounded, communicate clearly and approach tension with curiosity rather than defensiveness.
Why we do what we do
We met while working for BBC Sport in the late 1990s, a world of tight deadlines, strong opinions and big personalities. As producers of live shows and documentaries, our jobs demanded clarity, teamwork and the ability to disagree constructively, skills that have proved remarkably transferable.
​After many years in broadcasting, we both moved into teaching and training. Alex focused on leadership and innovation, supporting organisations to think strategically and act with confidence, while Vernee specialised in education and inclusion, helping institutions to build cultures where everyone feels respected and heard.
​Working in quite different sectors, we noticed similar patterns:
Intelligent, thoughtful, well-intentioned people were holding back
Fear of saying the wrong thing was stifling creativity and innovation.
A commitment to diversity did not always extend to diversity of thought.
Colleagues with differing views were finding it harder to connect.
​We came together to create Curious Not Furious: a practical, research-informed approach to helping teams disagree well. We work with organisations to replace fear with curiosity, defensiveness with thoughtful challenge, and awkward silences with conversations that actually lead somewhere useful.
Disagreement isn’t a threat to innovation or inclusion. Managed well, it drives both.
Have Questions? Get in touch
Send us a quick note and we’ll get straight back to you.