ExExecs Podcast

Can you have work-life balance at the top? Three ex-executives on managing yourself: habits, inboxes and stress. John Newton, Tarek Anwar and Robin have run schools, banks and global businesses. This month they tackle the discipline none of them found easy: managing yourself. Between them they have coached dozens of senior executives, and more than half of those conversations end up in the same pl...

Disruption has stopped being the exception and become the job. Three former chief executives on how to lead through it. John Newton, Tarek Anwar and Robin are the ExExecs - three former executives from banking and education who talk honestly about what leadership actually demands. No guest this episode, just the three of them on the topic every exec is living right now. It's Monday morning. Tariff...

On 28 January 2011, Hania was COO of HSBC Egypt. She woke up to find her country had no internet and no mobile phones. Every number on her crisis-team list was unreachable. So she picked up an old phone book. For Episode 5, John, Tarek and Robin are joined by Hania for the inside story of running a bank through the Arab Spring and what came after. Robin knew the story from the regional COO seat in...

Most leaders say they delegate. Most leaders are lying to themselves. Three ex-executives - John, Tarek, and Robin - break down why delegation fails, what trust actually looks like in practice, and why the best leaders employ people brighter than themselves. Tarek shares the moment he told his chief of staff "No, send it" and watched her confidence transform. John confesses to the mistake every ne...

Having Difficult Conversations (with Empathy, Courage, and Preparation) Three former executives, Robin, Tarek, and John share lessons from decades in complex corporate environments, introducing difficult conversations. They discuss being both the instigator and recipient, with examples including an unexpected mediocre appraisal, redundancy conversations shaped by HR scripts, and a father-son momen...

Mastering Presentation and Storytelling: Insights from Ex-Executives Join three ex-executive officers, John, Tarek, and Robin, as they delve into the essential skills of presentations and storytelling in leadership. This episode covers practical tips for improving public speaking, from handling pre-presentation nerves and mastering the elevator pitch to the power of pauses and engaging your audien...

Lessons in Leadership: Insights from Three Former Executives Join three former executive officers, Tarek, Robin, and John, as they share their professional journeys, leadership lessons, and personal experiences in this insightful podcast episode. From navigating cultural differences in international banking to the importance of continuous learning and self-management, the trio provides valuable ad...