We believe crisis shouldn’t break people — it should build them
12 BEAR Secrets was born from a simple truth we couldn’t ignore: too many great results are lost in moments of crisis… and too many good people suffer because of it.
We’ve seen leaders carry impossible loads. We’ve seen teams push through uncertainty with courage but without the tools they deserve. And we’ve seen how pressure — unmanaged — can cost organisations their momentum and individuals their wellbeing.
So we created 12 BEAR Secrets to change that.
We’re David and Hazel Santineer, a husband‑and‑wife team who care deeply about helping people thrive through change — not just survive it.
Together, we’ve blended decades of experience in leadership, mathematics, education, transformation, and human behaviour into a system that helps leaders perform at their best without burning out the people they lead or themselves
David Santineer (Co-Founder and Lead Facilitator)
David has led both high‑performing and struggling teams across the private, public, and third sectors.
His work has ranged from multi‑billion‑pound programmes affecting millions of people to supporting small, local non‑profits.
He is certified in AQ (Adaptability Quotient) assessments and the Scared So What personal change model, and is an alumnus of the Oxford Scenarios Programme.
His background spans finance, data, digital, architecture, design, testing, and business change — but his passion is helping people navigate pressure with clarity and confidence.
(50) David Santineer | LinkedIn
Hazel Santineer (Co-Founder and Quality Assurance)
Hazel is a mathematician with a gift for making learning experiences meaningful, memorable, and enjoyable.
She has spent years designing upskilling programmes across the UK’s national STEM landscape. At 12 BEAR Secrets, she ensures every workshop is crafted with precision, care, and a deep understanding of how people learn best
Hazel is a Maths & Education graduate of the University of Loughborough.
Why we do this work
Because crisis is a universal experience — but suffering doesn’t have to be.
We’ve watched leaders lose sleep, confidence, and sometimes even their health trying to navigate and lead change.
We’ve seen teams disengage not because they don’t care, but because they don’t know how to adapt. And we’ve seen organisations miss out on extraordinary results simply because pressure distorted behaviour.
Our mission is to make crisis and change:
more effective
more profitable
more personally sustainable
…for leaders, their teams, and the people they serve
We Don’t Do This Alone
We’re grateful to collaborate with a talented team of guest presenters who share our commitment to helping people lead with strength, humanity, and resilience. Together, we bring diverse expertise — and a shared belief that people deserve better, easier tools for navigating uncertainty.
Our Heart, Our Values
Everything we do is rooted in:
Human dignity - every person deserves to feel seen, supported and capable
Economy of effort - great results shouldn't require constant self-sacrifice
Personally sustainable impact - success that lasts, not success that costs
Courage and compassion - because effective leadership requires both