How do you respond when you’re caught off guard? Imagine holding a meeting but you don’t know how to respond to a situation. The way you react to your anxieties can negatively impact the outcome you want to achieve. It doesn’t have to be this way; you can be prepared. In this episode I am joined by Matt Abrahams, an expert in communication. He says there are ways of preparing yourself and then responding, which is achieved through changing your mindset and having structures to follow. He...

What impact do the biases you hold have on your work? Living and working in a more critical manner allows you to be more informed and less impacted by bias. This can have positive impacts on your work and those around you, just by challenging yourself to think differently. In this episode I am joined by Alex Edmans, author of May Contain Lies. He shares his deep knowledge of bias and how to think smarter and more critically. He discusses how he uses this within personal aspects of his life...

How well do you ask questions? Asking questions can be more than a way to elicit an answer. They allow us to form connections. Used in the right way they are a powerful tool for us to learn from each other. In this episode I am joined by philosopher, Dr Pia Lauritzen, who spends her life researching the art and science of question-making. This is becoming even more important as more organisations are opening up their approach to innovation, strategy and transformation, inviting people to...

Fixing problems is often seen as a slow, complex process but it doesn’t need to be this way. You can solve the hardest problems your organisation faces at speed; you just need to know how. In this episode I am joined by Harvard Business School professor Francis Frei. She talks about what it takes to build trust fast, and how to focus on the hard problems. She also shares how to scale an idea to create real change and how to build a more inclusive environment that enables it. Frances...

What is the culture in your organisation like? Culture is more popular and necessary for management to consider than ever. Talking about culture is one thing, improving it, evolving it into something better, more inclusive, and higher performing is quite another. In this episode my guest is Aga Bajer, a leading authority on culture. We talk about what it takes to develop a greater sense of belonging, and what that means and involves. She shares how organisations can develop and evolve a...

What type of stimuli helps you to think? Leaders often shy away from using visual stimuli as it can be seen as gimmicky. But knowing where, when, and how to use it can transform how problems are solved. My guest in his episode is Holger Nils Pohl, one of the best at using visual thinking to tackle complex problems. He discusses how to apply it, and the tools you can use to help you and your team use it in a meaningful way. He also shares how to avoid doing it badly, something many leaders...

How do you create purposeful success? As a leader it can be challenging to define what success means to you. To achieve this, you need master your inner journey by reflecting, collaborating, and reinventing yourself. My guest in this episode, Paolo Gallo, is an expert in developing leaders who do just this. We talk about the importance of foundational beliefs that guide how leaders think and behave. As well as how we should think about what success means, and what it implies for who you...

Are you considering a career transition? More people are. But it’s not an easy endeavour. It comes with a sense of excitement and fear. In this episode Herminia Ibarra gives insights into what it takes to transition careers. She discusses why having a grand plan is the wrong move, the importance of developing your own story and why practice makes perfect. She also explores the signals we can look for to know when we are making the right decisions, as well as what she has learned from her...

Is your company a responsible business? Taking the higher ground in business is integral to doing work ethically and with integrity. This is a necessity if you look at the systemic challenges we're facing, whether it's climate change, social inequality, or fragile geopolitics. My guest in this episode, Alison Taylor, shares her wisdom and recommendations on how to tackle this. We talk about how to take a longer view even when faced with urgent, difficult, and immediate pressures. She...

Have you ever suffered from anxiety? We all have anxiety. At best, it gives us energy, drive and ambition, but at its worst it can be debilitating. I haven't met or worked with a leader who isn't anxious. The problem is that not many talk about it privately or even publicly. My guest in this episode, Morra Aarons-Mele, is raising our consciousness, understanding and practices in all things anxiety. We talk about what causes anxiety, where it shows up at work and in life, and what you can do...

How do you rate your communication skills? Being able to communicate with creativity and conviction is something leaders need to encourage their teams to contribute more and give meaningful ideas. In this episode I am joined by Neil Mullarkey, comedian, actor and coach to senior executives. He is also a co-founder of the world-famous Comedy Store players in London, and he believes that improv is a key ingredient to being a great communicator. He shares his mindset practices before, during...

How do you view work life balance? For some it's an indulgence or luxury, for others, it's an essential, non-negotiable aspect of work and life. Whatever your view being more aware of what you want in life is surely an important step for all. In this episode I am joined by Dan Pontefract, who redefines and refrains it by calling it work life bloom. He argues that if we want to apply our best selves to our work, we need to be more human and curious and what it is that we want. He discusses...

How can you improve your customer and employee experience? People in the CSuite can forget customer and employee experience are linked. If you change how customers interact with products or services, your employees change the way they work too. In this episode I am joined by Tiffani Bova, a growth expert. Her research shows 80% of customer facing employees do not feel the technology they use works for the tasks they are given. The question is, if it doesn’t work for employees how can it...

How can you undergo digital transformation successfully? Too often, it is led without a clear vision by those at the top of the organisation who are just looking to launch technology pilots across the business. To do it well means you may have to challenge your thinking to inspire new ways of working. David Rogers is my guest in this episode, an expert in digital transformation who has been at the forefront of advising to and teaching companies how to do it well. He discusses the 5 critical...

What dictates meaning? Cultural engagement plays a critical role in influencing people to think and act differently. It can be the difference between meaningful or transactional relationships. To be successful in marketing we need to understand people's values and beliefs more deeply, and how we can then appeal to them. My guest in this episode is Marcus Collins, someone who has done this for a living for years working with some of the world's top brands, including Apple and Beyoncé. He...

What does it take to be a successful entrepreneur? Discipline for a start. Not just in your work but how you stay true to your values and the way you lead your life. It’s one of the reasons why Keaton Hoskins, my guest in this episode, has successfully scaled a number of multi-million dollar businesses. Keaton discusses how he identifies unmet needs to generate businesses and what it takes to scale them. He gives incredible insight into where you need to focus your time to be a successful...

Have you ever felt stale, overwhelmed or directionless?   You might be performing well, but something's missing. The voice inside your head is getting louder, asking you questions about what your purpose is in life, what you are here to do, and who you are here to serve. My guest in this episode is Tammy Gooler Loeb and she helps people find answers to be able to craft their job, career, and indeed life in a way that is more intentional and fulfilling.    Tammy has worked with executives on...

How should we be using AI positively and constructively? AI is part of our lives both personally and professionally whether you like it or not. Any senior executive or entrepreneur should be learning more about how best to use AI in their organisation, but there are many implications of its use that need to be considered. In this episode Juliette Powell and Art Kleiner share their wisdom, expertise and considerable research on this topic to give us a nuanced perspective of its use.  We talk...

What can we learn from our childhood? Imagine sailing around the world for 10 years starting from the age of seven, covering more than 47,000 nautical miles. You experience different cultures and enjoy some amazing sights, whilst also dealing with many hardships, including isolation, hunger, and a lack of education. That was Suzanne Heywood's childhood, which she captured in her brilliant book, Wavewalker: Breaking Free. In this episode, Suzanne shares the highs and lows of that childhood,...

What can we learn from Chinese entrepreneurs? China is home to some of the world’s most successful entrepreneurs and companies. Yet, much of the management thinking and practices we use comes from Western companies. This episode fills this gap by delving into what it takes for companies to thrive in this dynamic, unpredictable, and hyper-competitive market. Aldo and Sandrine share their collective experience of 60 years of working and living in China, outlining tactics strategic leaders can...

How do you connect in a virtual world?   The virtual world was thrust upon us all with the pandemic and it has since become a way of working life. That doesn’t mean everyone makes their virtual work engaging, inspiring and thought provoking. Robbie Samuels is the perfect guest to talk to about creating virtual events people will remember.   He talks about the challenges we all face working in virtual environments, from the sessions themselves to how we can have those sensitive conversations...

How does nutrition impact strategic leaders? This episode is all about feeding your brain and body with the right stuff. In other words, how can you enjoy a good nutritious diet, and why it matters for our performance and wellbeing at work, and indeed in life. Dana Chapman, a leading nutritional therapist joins me to share her advice on how to do this. Dana explains food’s role as a source of nutrients rather than a source of fuel and how understanding this has profound impacts on both...

How do you develop a reinvention mindset? Who better to talk with than Aidan McCullum, who's used this mindset as he's moved from being a professional rugby player, to commentator, to innovation leader, to transformational consultant, keynote speaker, and host of the successful Innovation Show.  He talks about what it takes to reinvent yourself, how to think about your mindset (your ‘software’) and how to look after yourself as you experience discomfort and anxiety. Aidan emphasises the...

How do you stimulate innovation? In this episode, Alex Osterwalder, CEO and Founder of Strategyzer, talks about what it takes to stimulate and pursue innovation in a difficult and dynamic context. He talks about why CEOs need to invest at least 40% of their time on innovation activities, how they should use new measures (AKIs that complement OKRs), and how to develop inclusive, high performing teams. Alex also talks about the implications for AI in innovation - how it can help develop...