What makes a man?
It's the question every man and boy gets asked. Most never get a proper answer. Andrew ‘Bernie’ Bernard is a speaker, author and educator who works with schools, organisations and sports clubs to have the conversations that actually matter.
What Bernie does
Schools & Young People
Workshops and talks for students, teachers and pastoral staff on masculinity, healthy relationships, online safety and the pressures facing young men today.
Organisations & Sports Clubs
Bystander training, staff development and keynotes for businesses, charities and sports clubs who want to tackle misogyny and build better cultures.
Speaking & Events
Keynotes, conference talks and MC work for corporate events, charity dinners and professional conferences. Tailored to your audience through a conversation beforehand.
What people say
"The bell went for break and they were still just sat there staring at the screen. The best speaker we've ever had."
— Teacher, Balcarras School, Gloucestershire"You gave our Heads some real food for thought and so many tools to help them tackle the issues they are facing in school."
— S.B., Gateshead Education and Inclusion"My own son, currently in Year 11, told me last night that he thought your session was 'excellent and really informative' — an opinion shared by many of the pupils in his year group."
— Deputy Headteacher"Bernie's session: 100% Excellent."
— HCUK Tackling Harmful Sexual Behaviour in Schools Conference, 2024Andrew "Bernie" Bernard has been working with young people and organisations since 2006. Despite leaving Grammar School with an E and a U at A-level he decided to work in education after 17 years in the wrong jobs. He's since spoken to more than 170,000 people internationally, in schools, sports stadiums, Parliament and at The Royal Society.
After 18 years delivering enterprise and careers education, Bernie founded What Makes A Man Ltd in 2024 to focus on discussing masculinities, healthier relationships and ways to reduce violence against women and girls. He's a Fellow of the Professional Speaking Association, a TEDx speaker, former Director of National Careers Week, and has featured on Sky News, ITV, BBC Radio 5, The Times and the iPaper. In May 2026, he featured in a news report around his work in schools around the manosphere and incels for Sky News Education.
He's the author of two books: The Ladder (Crown House, 2021), a careers handbook for schools, and Masculinity, Relationships and Respect in Education (Routledge, Autumn 2026), a call to action on challenging misogyny in educational settings.
His Instagram account @_WhatMakesAMan_ has around 200,000 followers at the time of writing.
His work draws on his own life, exam failure, workplace bullying, surviving testicular cancer, fatherhood and the murder of his sister Sarah Gosling by her violent partner in 2012. He doesn't just talk about these topics. He's lived inside them.
About Bernie
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