Against the Tide

Zoe Brough is an HR leader in professional sport. Her career has taken her from financial hardship in Yorkshire to senior leadership and running her own sobriety consultancy. Along the way, she has challenged assumptions about class, opportunity and what success can look like.  In this conversation with Jo, Zoe reflects on the shame of growing up poor, the resilience inspired by her Mum, and...

Saima Ashraf is Deputy Leader of Barking and Dagenham Council and Cabinet Member for Community Leadership and Engagement. Her journey spans countries, cultures and personal adversity. Moving from France to the UK unable to speak English, raising three children alone and rebuilding her life after domestic violence, Saima transformed hardship into a commitment to public service.  In this conver...

Steph Taylor is the CEO of Leeds Community Foundation and a respected leader across philanthropy, funding and social change. Her leadership has been shaped by working-class roots, strong women and a deep belief in inclusion.  In this conversation with Jo, Steph reflects on growing up in a diverse community in Leeds, navigating class and leadership, and the challenge of staying authentic in ro...

Leeds based Elly Nettleton is the co-founder of Boost Talent, a purpose-led recruitment business helping hidden talent access careers in tech while reinvesting profits back into the local community. In this conversation with Jo, Elly reflects on entrepreneurship, motherhood and building a values-led business in a challenging economy. She shares her journey from the beauty industry into tech recrui...

Anna Allerton is an executive coach and former broadcast journalist, whose career was dramatically reshaped by her experience of early perimenopause. At just 38, while juggling a demanding role and young children, Anna found herself confronting a reality rarely spoken about at work.  In this conversation with Jo, Anna shares her personal story of perimenopause and ultimately, reclaiming her v...

Jen is a former elite athlete and workforce development lead in professional football, with a career shaped by an unshakeable commitment to wellbeing and cultural change in sport. Her journey has been anything but linear, moving across roles and disciplines as she’s followed what matters to her.  In this conversation with Jo, Jen reflects on her career path, her deep belief in helping people...

Minoti is a community artist and the founder of TPL Experiences, a values-led consultancy helping organisations build inclusive cultures. Born in India as the third of three daughters, Minoti defied expectations, becoming a Master of Ceremonies and a car rally TV presenter before moving to the UK.  In this conversation with Jo, Minoti reflects on failure and the lifelong process of proving yo...

Penny is the Chief Executive of the Fawcett Society, the UK’s leading membership charity campaigning for gender equality and women’s rights. A lifelong feminist, her leadership is grounded in pragmatism and realism.  In this conversation with Jo, Penny explores what feminism means today, the growing backlash against it, and the realities of leading a legacy organisation in a complex political...

Amy is an art teacher, accidental entrepreneur, and co-founder of Grow with Iris, a purpose-led business transforming how families with allergies feed their children. Her journey began with her daughter’s life-threatening diagnoses and a system that offered no solutions.  In this conversation with Jo, Amy shares how frustration, love and determination fuelled her leap into entrepreneurship. S...

Aida is the Chief Executive of Thrive at Five, with a career spanning law, leadership and children’s advocacy. Her path to purpose was shaped by personal loss and a moment of reckoning that forced her to stop and rethink everything.  In this conversation with Jo, Aida shares her journey from commercial law to social impact, and the experiences that helped her reconnect with her values. She re...

Natsayi is a CEO whose work is rooted in justice and lived experience. Growing up in 90s Essex in a Black, working-class, single-parent family shaped her worldview and her determination to challenge systems that perpetuate inequality.  Natsayi talks to Jo about how her upbringing, politics and passion for activism intersect. She speaks candidly about power and what it means to lead at a time...

Dr Sarah Hughes is the CEO of Mind and one of the UK’s most influential leaders in mental health. From starting her career at a local Mind at 18 to leading the national organisation, her journey is rooted in community, compassion and social justice.  In this conversation with Jo, Sarah reflects on growing up in North London, navigating leadership as a working-class woman, and her own experien...

Welcome to Against the Tide - the podcast where extraordinary social changemakers share   Against the Tide is a celebration of courageous women who defy expectations to create lasting impact by daring to forge their own paths their stories and their wisdom. We’ll dive into powerful themes such as:  the complexity of identity and how it influences the choices we make;  embr...

Beth Goddard is a facilitator, coach and learning programme developer. Beth is known for her creative and playful approach, working in partnership with others to create impactful learning experiences.  Throughout her career, Beth has focused on developing people in leadership and transition points, helping them navigate their journeys with confidence and clarity. At the same time, she’s exper...

Lindsey Burrow is a proud Yorkshire woman, a physiotherapist and the devoted wife of the late rugby league star, Rob Burrow. She's a pillar of strength and resilience, supporting Rob through his battle with motor neurone disease (MND) while raising awareness about the condition.  Throughout their journey, Lindsey showed remarkable courage and unwavering dedication to Rob. Her story is one of...

Tanya Arnold is a trailblazing sports journalist and presenter. She played a pivotal role in getting more women on screen in a space long dominated by men. During Tanya’s time at BBC Look North, she wasn’t just the only woman – she was often the only sports journalist. That level of isolation could have been crushing, but Tanya carved her own path with grit, professionalism and pure talent. ...

Holly Dannhauser is a strategist, facilitator, and professional coach, known for her work in money mindset mentoring. She is passionate about helping others break free from limitations to build rich, fulfilling lives. As the owner of Moon & Mountain, Holly brings a wealth of experience from the health and statutory sectors to help shine a light on what matters to her clients.   In th...

Bex Wilson is a Deputy Headteacher and the founder of Zarach, a charity committed to tackling child bed poverty. As a dedicated educator in a Leeds primary school, Bex saw firsthand how poverty affected children's ability to learn. After a pupil confided that he didn't have a bed to sleep in, Bex felt compelled to act.  Determined to make a difference, she launched Zarach to provide beds and...

Bindi Basan is a values-driven leader who excels at empowering others. She works with founders and CEOs to drive strategic growth, build high-performing teams, and achieve global expansion. But Bindi’s talents don’t stop at executive leadership.  When she’s not shaping global businesses, you can find her on the dance floor or lifting very heavy weights. She's constantly pushing the limits of...

Caroline Leo is a communications strategist on a mission to transform workplace culture. After launching her own communications agency five years ago, she’s worked with brands from Hyatt Hotels to Smart Works, helping them craft values-led stories and integrated campaigns. In this episode, Caroline shares the findings of her recent report, We Need to Talk About Culture, which asks if culture is so...

Fozia Naseem is transforming personal trauma into a force for good. As a partnership manager at GiveBradford, she fosters a culture of giving and belonging in the city. Drawing from her own experiences of abuse and therapy, she has found strength in sport - empowering young women and girls through cycling to build confidence and challenge cultural norms. In this important conversation, Fozia share...

In this episode we meet two ambitious academics pushing boundaries in the world of elite sport. Dr. Jenn Gandhi, is a Chartered Psychologist and the lead for mental health and wellbeing at the Football Association and Dr. Jennifer Lace, also a Chartered Psychologist, focuses on performance psychology. Most recently, Dr Lace led on psychology for the Football League Managers Association.   Tog...

Councillor Abigail Marshall Katung’s inspiring journey is a testament to how swimming against the tide can lead to both individual and collective change. Abigail the 130th Lord Mayor and the first woman of African heritage to hold this prestigious position in Leeds, draws inspiration from her father and her faith. She is also an accomplished athlete and coach, a governor at Leeds City College, and...

In this episode, we’re joined by Isabelle Fielding, research and coaching psychologist, and Danielle Bodicoat, a statistician and social researcher. Both embody a spirit of empowerment and together they’ve tackled big challenges like homelessness and mental health in sport, blending innovation and evidence-based approaches to drive lasting change.  Known for their generosity in leadership and...

Welcome to Against the Tide - the podcast where extraordinary social changemakers share their stories and their wisdom. More than a podcast, Against the Tide is a celebration of the courageous women who defy expectations to create lasting impact by daring to forge their own path. We’ll dive deep into powerful themes such as: embracing discomfort for transformative change; how your past needn’t det...