Super Powered: Leadership, Strategy, Decision Making & Peak Performance - Stories & Strategies from World-Class Performers for Executive Success

Ever feel overwhelmed when everything seems to be changing at once? Donna Dupont transforms that chaos into clarity using systems thinking. She spots patterns others miss and finds leverage points in complex situations that can transform how leaders make decisions under uncertainty. With over 25 years helping organisations navigate complexity—from H1N1 and Ebola responses to NATO climate security...

Ever wondered how barbers get complete strangers to open up within minutes? Tom Davies has mastered this art whilst cutting hair across continents. From serving in the military to building a loyal following as "Yorkshireman Abroad" on TikTok, he's learned to connect with everyone from closed-off Russians to addiction-struggling regulars. Working at an upscale English-speaking barbershop in Berlin—...

Ever wonder why some people can walk into any room and instantly connect with strangers? Ian Rowland has spent 40 years mastering this exact skill. As a professional explainer who's worked with everyone from the FBI to Google to Coca-Cola, he's discovered that most of us squander 99% of the potential in our conversations. From being a member of the Magic Circle to becoming a freelance writer with...

Ever wonder why some companies thrive with clear direction whilst others stumble despite having brilliant strategies? Alex Brueckmann has cracked the code on turning organisational purpose into measurable strategic advantage through his Nine Elements of Organisational Identity framework. As a Wall Street Journal bestselling author of "The Strategy Legacy" and strategy facilitator working with bill...

Ever felt stuck waiting for opportunities to find you? Andy Storch transformed his approach by recognising that career success isn't about going it alone—it's about strategically building relationships that open doors. From his first job at 15 through to becoming an author, speaker, and founder of multiple successful ventures, every major opportunity came through his network. Andy runs the Talent...

Ever wondered how fighter pilots handle multiple critical inputs simultaneously without crashing? Matt Gjertsen took that same ability to process complexity and applied it to leadership development. From instructing Air Force pilots to leading training at SpaceX, Matt discovered that great leadership boils down to three essential elements: building trust, giving feedback, and setting goals. With o...

Ever wonder how top sales professionals convince complete strangers to give them time? Mafalda Johannsen transforms cold outreach through her unique "professional stalking" framework - deeply researching prospects to create meaningful connections when they have no reason to care. Her approach has delivered extraordinary results, with one campaign increasing meetings by 100% and opportunities by 23...

Ever felt like you've lost touch with what truly makes you tick? Salima Saxton transforms leaders by helping them reconnect with their authentic voice. As a Moth MainStage storyteller, actor, and relational dynamics coach, she bridges the gap between performative speaking and genuine communication that resonates deeply with audiences. From forgetting what she liked during years of motherhood to no...

Ever wondered why some stories make the news while others get ignored? Josh Wheeler can spot a newsworthy angle where others see only corporate announcements. His superpower lies in finding the sweet spot between broadcaster needs, brand objectives and audience interests - transforming standard PR into stories that captivate radio and TV producers. From founding Be Broadcast with its 95% client re...

On this special birthday episode, I share my favourite listener challenges from past Super Powered conversations. From Yoela Palkin's contrarian thinking exercise that helped her step away from day-to-day operations and focus on strategic exits at 77 Labs, to Henry Kayser's simple networking strategy that generated countless meaningful connections during his career in sales, each habit offers prac...

Ever wished you had an expert in your pocket? Georgie Peake transformed from data strategist to AI learning pioneer by solving a universal problem: bridging the gap between knowledge and practical skills. As CEO of Rehearsable, she helps experts create AI-powered practice environments where learners can apply their training with immediate, personalised feedback. From building award-winning data so...

Ever wondered how elite marines handle chaos and fix problems that actually matter? Robert Heath Sr. brings military precision to leadership challenges, showing how to thrive in uncertainty rather than trying to control it. From commanding 400 Marines to saving millions for Fortune 500 companies as a consultant, Robert's journey proves his approach works. Starting as a teacher from Chicago's south...

Ever wondered why working harder isn't making you happier? Lindsey Frances transformed from a burned-out business consultant to becoming the architect of the Conscious Change Method, helping high-performers find joy in today rather than chasing tomorrow. Her counter-intuitive approach uses wearable health data to reveal what your body already knows: grinding isn't the path to success. As an ISF in...

Ever wondered what a medieval castle, Greek shield, or trench whistle could teach you about leadership? Sean Stewart transforms ancient artefacts into powerful decision-making tools. As "The Historian in the Boardroom," he helps leaders unlock wisdom from historical objects that serve as silent coaches during their toughest challenges. From designing award-winning exhibitions at English Heritage t...

Ever noticed a problem others seem blind to? Yoela Palkin turned that outsider perspective into three successful exits. From launching 30 iOS apps during the App Store's early days to challenging traditional VC wisdom, she spots inefficiencies insiders miss and transforms them into gold. With a track record of scaling MEA to $6 million with just 14 people and growing Baskit to $2 million ARR in 18...

Ever wondered how to make people take action after hearing your story? Dan Manning transforms complex ideas into compelling narratives that drive decisions. As a former fighter pilot who negotiated with Russian military and wrote speeches for top Air Force officials, Dan discovered the power of the "Story Pyramid" – a framework that's helped 800+ founders, executives and speakers create stories th...

Ever wondered why some businesses just seem to grow effortlessly whilst others hustle for every sale? Alex M H Smith strips away the strategic nonsense to reveal what actually creates leverage. As founder of Basic Arts and bestselling author of "No Bullsh*t Strategy," Alex helps businesses focus on creating unique value rather than copying competitors. Alex breaks down how 99% of businesses miss t...

Ever wondered how top companies handle 10x their workload without breaking a sweat? Irit Levi spots the systems gaps others miss - whether that's identifying redundant tasks that waste team hours or finding ways to make your customer journey seamless. She's the expert behind 13,697+ software recommendations that have transformed business workflows. From her early days as an instructional designer...

Ever wondered why some teams feel like family while others feel like strangers sharing an office? Luca Buchholz is a global community architect who has scaled communities from local meetups to worldwide movements. Her counter-intuitive approach reveals that true communities aren't accidental - they're intentionally designed around shared purpose. From scaling international tech communities at Camu...

"You work one year for one day." That's the reality of event planning. As creator of Present to Succeed, the world's largest presentation skills conference, Boris Hristov turned this pressure into opportunity, scaling from 3,000 online attendees to a hybrid event drawing thousands globally. Leading 356labs, Boris combines relentless attention to detail with presentation expertise to create transfo...

Ever wondered why some training creates lasting change while most is forgotten by the next day? Murray Cowell has spent 27 years discovering it's not about inspiring speeches or clever techniques - it's about creating the right environment for people to succeed. With experience training over 18,000 professionals across 35 countries, Murray has turned his counterintuitive approach into multiple sev...

Ever wonder how to turn your expertise into online influence? Jonny Whitlam transformed from a Berlin tour guide into the city's leading history creator, amassing over 50,000 followers by sharing fascinating stories about the German capital. His unique approach proves that deep knowledge and authentic storytelling can build a loyal following - even in traditionally offline industries. From managin...

Ever wondered how to make training actually stick? Greg Detre turned his PhD research on why we forget things into revolutionary learning products used by over 70 million people. From putting people in brain scanners at Princeton to building Channel 4's award-winning data science team, his rare combination of neuroscience and AI expertise has transformed how teams learn and grow. As co-founder of...

What's the single biggest mistake executives make when trying to command a room? They focus on appearances rather than authentic presence. After two decades in global C-suites and coaching hundreds of leaders, Peter McKenzie has identified the real formula: a precise balance of confidence, communication, and gravitas that can be systematically developed. Now General Manager at a major real estate...

Ever wondered what it takes to turn a struggling tech team into a high-performing engine of growth? Mike Jones has done it not once, but twice - taking uSwitch from a £5M acquisition to part of a £2B exit, and transforming Love Holidays into a travel powerhouse that sends more people abroad than Heathrow could handle in a month. But Mike's superpower isn't just technical expertise - it's understan...