--- title: Cranfield Executive Development Blog | Dr Paul Hughes description: "Head of Praxis Centre\nThe Praxis Centre for\nLeadership Development, Cranfield School of Management\nBackground\n\nPrior to joining Cranfield, Paul was a Director in an international management consultancy. Originally from a legal background, Paul chose to move into a management role early in his career, holding a succession of increasingly senior managerial roles in Blue Chip organisations. He then moved to a career in consultancy in 2003 before joining Cranfield. \n\nPaul qualified in Law in 1992, holds an MBA, and was awarded his Doctorate in Business Administration in 2017.\n\n\nCurrent activities\n\nPaul was appointed Head of The Praxis Centre for Leadership Development in 2015, having joined Cranfield as an Executive Development Director in 2011. His work is strongly focused on leadership and management development, organisational change and supporting people, teams and organisations successfully implement or achieve strategies. \n\nDr Hughes is certified in the use of personal profiling instruments' e.g. MBTI, Wave, 16PF, Belbin Team Roles, Assess as well as a number of proprietal tools. Since 2003 he has conducted over 10,000 hours of 1:2:1 capability assessment, development and coaching activities. He has coached board level leaders as well as functional heads." --- [![Marques-SoM](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/Marques-SoM.png?width=85&name=Marques-SoM.png)](https://www.cranfield.ac.uk/som)   - [Home](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/knowledge) - Featured - [CEO Summit](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/knowledge/tag/ceo-summit-2021) - Categories - [Changing World of Work](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/knowledge/tag/changing-world-of-work) - [Digital Transformation](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/knowledge/tag/digital-transformation) - [Economics](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/knowledge/tag/economics) - [Entrepreneurship](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/knowledge/tag/entrepreneurship) - [Finance and Accounting](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/knowledge/tag/finance-and-accounting) - [Implementation](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/knowledge/tag/implementation) - [Leadership](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/knowledge/tag/leadership) - [Logistics and Supply Chain](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/knowledge/tag/logistics-and-supply-chain) - 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[Reflections](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/execdev/topic/reflections#topic) - [Mentoring](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/execdev/topic/mentoring#topic) - [Coaching](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/execdev/topic/coaching#topic) - [Impact](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/execdev/topic/impact#topic) - [Influence](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/execdev/topic/influence#topic) - [Management](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/execdev/topic/management#topic) - [Conversations](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/execdev/topic/conversations#topic) - [Talent](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/execdev/topic/talent#topic) - [Career](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/execdev/topic/career#topic) - [Back to Knowledge hub](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/knowledge#topic) ![The Rise of the ‘Accidental Leader’: Why Experience Alone Isn’t Enough (Until It Is)](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/hubfs/AdobeStock_1230262134.jpeg) ![](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/hubfs/ED_Blog_Live_Site_Files/Author%20biog%20images/Paul%20Hughes.jpg) By [Dr Paul Hughes](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/execdev/author/dr-paul-hughes) ## [The Rise of the ‘Accidental Leader’: Why Experience Alone Isn’t Enough (Until It Is)](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/execdev/the-rise-of-the-accidental-leader) ##### Workplace practices are fuelling a dramatic growth in people being promoted into leadership roles without the preparation they... *( read )* Tags: [leadership](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/execdev/topic/leadership), [LPE](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/execdev/topic/lpe) ![From High Performer to Leader of High Performers](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/hubfs/AdobeStock_1206475141.jpeg) ![](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/hubfs/ED_Blog_Live_Site_Files/Author%20biog%20images/Paul%20Hughes.jpg) By [Dr Paul Hughes](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/execdev/author/dr-paul-hughes) ## [From High Performer to Leader of High Performers](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/execdev/from-high-performer-to-leader-of-high-performers) ##### Three powerful insights to remember as you transition into a leadership role. *( read )* Tags: [leadership](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/execdev/topic/leadership), [LPE](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/execdev/topic/lpe) ![Opening up opportunities to enhance leadership skills](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/hubfs/AdobeStock_525703023.jpeg) ![](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/hubfs/ED_Blog_Live_Site_Files/Author%20biog%20images/Paul%20Hughes.jpg) By [Dr Paul Hughes](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/execdev/author/dr-paul-hughes) ## [Opening up opportunities to enhance leadership skills](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/execdev/opening-up-opportunities-to-enhance-leadership-skills) ##### Executive education designed to resonate in the real world. *( read )* Tags: [leadership](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/execdev/topic/leadership), [executive development](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/execdev/topic/executive-development), [article](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/execdev/topic/article) ## Talk to us about your world Call us on [+44 (0)1234 754500](tel:+441234754500) [Talk to us ↗](https://www.cranfield.ac.uk/som/executive-development/contact-us) [![cranfieldexecutivedevelopmentlogo](https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/cranfieldexecutivedevelopmentlogo.png?width=300&name=cranfieldexecutivedevelopmentlogo.png)](https://www.cranfield.ac.uk/som/executive-development)   - - - - - - © Cranfield Management Development Ltd - **[execdev@cranfield.ac.uk](mailto:execdev@cranfield.ac.uk)  ·  [+44 (0)1234 754500](tel:+44%20(0)%201234%20754500)**  ·  [Privacy Policy](https://www.cranfield.ac.uk/som/privacy-policy) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "VideoObject", "contentUrl" : "https://417879.fs1.hubspotusercontent-eu1.net/hubfs/417879/Knowledge%20Hub%20%2B%20Blog/CED_KH_v6.mp4", "dateModified" : "2023-05-12T11:14:23.676Z", "description" : "", "duration" : "PT1M13S", "height" : 1080, "name" : "CED_KH_v6", "thumbnailUrl" : "https://blog.som.cranfield.ac.uk/hubfs/Knowledge%20Hub%20%2B%20Blog/CED_KH_v6.mp4/medium.jpg", "uploadDate" : "2021-07-08T10:07:25.171Z", "width" : 1920 } ```