The Unlikely Executive

Alan Adams was told that he wouldn't amount to much by his teachers. He is now leading a charitable organisations that delivers the UK's largest flower show - Southport Flower Show every year, as well as managing one of the North West's premier outdoor event spaces - Victoria Park. Listen to him talk about his journey and what he thinks makes a good leader. For more information, please visit: Comp...

Jacqui Gavin BEM is an internationally recognised and award-winning leader in Diversity and Inclusion (D&I), celebrated for her transformative leadership across both the public and private sectors. With a career marked by strategic roles in high profile organisations, Jacqui has consistently delivered cultural change, advancing inclusivity, equality, and wellbeing at all levels of business and...

Leah Godfrey is a distinguished leader with 30 years of international commercial and community-building expertise across multiple sectors. As Chief Operating Officer of Neurodiverse Sport, founder of L2 Foundry and Alt Elle, and Head of Events and Campaigns at BAMREF, she leads transformative approaches in women's sports and organisational development. Her strategic consulting spans diverse sector...

Matt Cliff is transforming lives by teaching vital living and mobility skills to people navigating sight loss. But this isn’t just about support—it’s about empowerment. As Director of Bradbury Fields, Matt has turned his own challenges into fuel, building a vibrant community hub where others with similar barriers can live boldly and confidently. “If I’m honest, I didn’t want to be disabled. I didn...

"This is a new journey that has taken me on a wild ride", just one of, Founder of Supersmith, Tom Morgan's reflections on trying to change the disability market. Tom started his career in automotive manufacturing, which in itself is an interesting tie back to what he finds himself doing today. Operational improvement and supply chain management gave Tom a breadth of skills and space to develop his...

Chelsea has dedicated her work to achieving gender equality within the tech sector. Her direct experiences of inequality within her previous roles inspired her to start InnovateHer, a social enterprise who are on a mission to get girls ready for the tech industry and the industry ready for girls. With her team, Chelsea plans for InnovateHer to become a pioneering industry-led STEAM education provi...

All Nick ever wanted to do was to play football... he was half decent too, playing for Stockport County as a teenager. However, he didn't make the grade and moved through job roles and ending up being Head of Operations, a stressful full-on job. This eventually took a toll on him, suffering a severe stroke in 2012. As a stroke survivor, Nick felt that there was a lack of support, information, guid...

How does grief shape the way we lead? Jasmine's powerful story shows how personal loss can be transformed into compassionate, purpose-driven leadership that changes lives. 🔑 In this episode, you'll learn: • How personal experiences shape leadership style • The power of compassionate leadership in the workplace • How grief and loss can fuel purpose and drive • Why emotional intelligence is a leade...

Sean died in 2019. He wanted help, he wanted to get better. The type of support he needed didn't exist. There was nowhere men could go to to feel good about themselves. His sister Debbie, felt a fire in her to create change, so that men, like her brother, didn't take their own liives. Five years later, Debbie - who previously worked in school administration, has ensured that Sean's Place is a thri...

Cohan follows his purpose with a very clear passion. A passion to increase diversity within the Tech sector.  Cohan had experienced the sector and knew that there was more diverse talent that could be tapped into to accelerate the tech sector as well as the careers of highly talented individuals. After being made redundant he bit the bullet and set up Equity in Tech , to support others to excel. ...

Marg Ollivier came back home to the North after carving a career out in HR and governance in London. She came back, to be closer to family, to be closer to her beloved Liverpool Football Club and to look for work.   Six years later she is now CEO of Expect Ltd, whose mission is to help to deliver person-centred support to people with a disability, promoting and enabling their independent choice an...

Michele Afif pivoted her career- From being a full-on consultant paediatrician with a Medical Law Masters, to being the CEO of The Brain Tumour Charity.  What made her switch in mid-life? Hear how Michele is deeply committed to driving groundbreaking research and advocating for the brain tumour community. Her personal experience caring for children with brain tumours ignited a lifelong passion for...