Leaders in Conversation with Anni Townend

In this conversation, I share the importance of Minding the Gap.  Many, many years ago, I had the privilege of meeting and hearing Marguerite Patten, the British Home Economist, Chef, food writer and broadcaster, share her life and leadership story. At the end, one of the audience asked her, “What would be your top tip to people?” and she replied, “Mind the Gap”. She was at this time in a wheelcha...

ABOUT THE SHOW Welcome to Leaders in Conversation with me, Anni Townend. The podcast that helps you to grow your confidence and courage as a leader. I created this series of candid conversations for leaders to share their inspirational leadership stories, weaving together the threads of their life, offering valuable insights and rich experience to help and inspire you on your own unique leadership...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE In this episode I am delighted to be in conversation with Louise Barnes, Louise is Founder of Team-HOi, dedicated to helping people identify how to regain control over their own health. We delve into: How precious Time is and how investing in ourselves is within our control when we plan our time.  The importance of human connection and community in which people help each other....

ABOUT THIS EPISODE In this episode I am delighted to be in conversation with Anna Reddy.  We delve into: How following your heart in times of uncertainty can really help you find your passion and your purpose;  How managing your energy to win personally and professionally is key to performance and productivity;  The impact on women of demands made of them in the workplace and the challenges that t...

ABOUT THIS EPISODE –  In this episode I am delighted to be in conversation with Nathan Blair. Nathan is the founder of The Somatic School; dedicated to training people in body-oriented coaching - helping leaders to become more conscious of their own embodied experience in relating to self and others in new ways, including using our bodies for strategic decision making and in leading for the whole....

In this episode join Anni in conversation as she discusses turning shoulds into coulds, and priorities into choices Many years ago I trained in the theory and practise of Transactional Analysis and as with most trainings there are often one or two things which stand out and stay with me, and become part of who I am. One of these things was a simple exercise called 'Turning Should into Could&a...

Deeds not words from International leading women's rights activist Helen Pankhurst In this episode I am in conversation with Helen Pankhurst an international leading women’s rights activist, an experienced advocate and passionate collaborative campaigner for social justice.  We delve into how Deeds not Words matter, why we must choose to challenge, to connect and dialogue with each other – lo...

In this episode join me, Anni Townend, as I share the power of a walk and talk conversation. For many years, and for as long as I can remember I have loved walking. I grew up in West Yorkshire and every Saturday walked with my family through fields and woodland close to where my father's mother lived in a rented cottage on a farm with her sister.  These afternoons were the highlight of my wee...

About this Episode In this episode I am delighted to be in conversation with Karen Ellis. Karen is founder of an amazing membership organisation for new mums to build a body they feel strong and confident in after they have had a baby and to be able to go on awesome adventures with their children. We delve into who and what inspired Karen to create the membership package for new mums to feel stron...

In this episode Anni discusses how on a recent walk she encountered a friend who had been very unwell and in fact, the walk as their first time out of the house.  Anni talks about how important being well met is when meeting people, not just for the first time, but every time particularly when facilitating a team or a group.  Anni said that “One of the ways in which I do this is to ensure that eve...

How to find your spark, tell your story and position your brand ‘you’ In this episode I am in conversation with Taryn Weeks. Taryn is the Founder of Sparkz Marketing, helping people and businesses find their spark through building their brand and telling their story. We delve into her years of experience and Taryn shares how important having the right people on your support team, people who champi...

In episode 3, series 2 of Leaders In Conversation Anni was delighted to be joined by Julia Yule Co-Founder and Director of Bloom and Blossom , an award winning British business that provides natural routine led, solution focused skincare for the whole family. The experiences that shape you  Julia starts the episode discussing her greatest leading influence was her parents. She highlights that they...

In episode 2 of our second series of Leaders in Conversation, we are delighted to be joined by Bradley Pritchard. Bradley has had an exciting career in football and has gone onto to become the founder of The Sporting Way. A social enterprise which educates and inspires young people to fulfil their potential. From Zimbabwe to the UK  Bradley shares his experience of being born and raised in Harare,...

In this first episode in the second series of Leaders In Conversation, we are delighted to welcome back Scott Sherwood. Back in 2021, Anni had the pleasure of being in conversation with Scott and his then 7-year-old daughter Sophie Harvey Sherwood who shared her experience running to celebrate inspirational women. Scott participated in the Just Running It challenge, a 365 mega challenge in which h...

For episode 27 of the Leaders in Conversation podcast, Anni talks to sustainable business leader, adventurer and proud family man Dougal Fleming. Dougal talks passionately to Anni about sustainable business and manufacture practices and how his family and community values, alongside a love of the natural world, have shaped his leadership. He also talks openly about the evolution of his professiona...

To coincide with the COP26 UN Climate Change Conference, for episode 26 of the Leaders in Conversation Podcast, Anni welcomes passionate nature campaigner Tor Lawrence.  For almost 25 years, Tor has developed a successful career in wildlife, conservation, the environment and community engagement and is now Chief Executive Officer of Sussex Wildlife Trust. She talks to Anni about her evolving love...

'We are our biggest source of inspiration' For the 25th Leaders in Conversation podcast, Anni talks to the wonderful Elif Köse, a fashion designer and entrepreneur who is passionate about raising women’s confidence. Originally from Turkey, Elif came to the UK in 2009 on what was initially a year-long trip to learn the English language. However, as she explains “the opportunities come whe...

Anni Townend talks to celebrated Chef, best-selling author and low-carb campaigner, Giancarlo Caldesi, who is on a mission to help people combat type two diabetes to live a happier, healthier life.  Born in Montepulciano in rural Tuscany in the early 50s, Giancarlo came from humble roots, growing up in a farming community.  He reflects on this “formative” period and how it has impacted his life, r...

For the Leaders in Conversation Podcast episode 23, Anni talks to Fi Macmillan, adventurer, coach, supervisor, entrepreneur and founder of Wild Leadership. “Life is the most blessed experiment. So let's experiment and see what happens.” As a leadership coach, Fi specialises in helping her clients to connect through nature and what she defines as “outdoor intelligence”.  She talks to Anni abou...

' See change as an opportunity, not a burden' For episode 22, Anni talks to the inspirational Marshah Dixon-Terry, a leading Career Coach and Organisational Development Consultant. Over the past 20 years, Marshah has helped senior leaders through transformational change in a range of settings and is passionate about helping people to reach their potential. Talking to Anni, she shares wha...

In this episode Anni talks to Dawn Whittaker, Chief Fire Officer and CEO of East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service , as well as NFCC lead for Drowning Prevention and Water Safety. Anni and Dawn talk about how early experiences ignited Dawn’s passion for safety and why as a leader she is committed to nurturing both physical and psychological safety. Background and career influences Growing up on a far...

‘Never give up, keep going and always have fun’ advice from a 7 year old runner For the 20th Leaders in Conversation Podcast episode, Anni talks to the amazing Sophie Harvey Sherwood, a seven year old girl from Glasgow who is running to celebrate inspirational women. On the week of International Women’s Day (08 March 2021), Sophie joined her dad Scott Sherwood on his Just Running It challenge, a 3...

The trauma, abandonment and privilege of boarding school with Thurstine Basset “We have had to overcome that sense that if you complain, you're just a privileged whinger, and that nobody wants to hear from privileged whingers,” Thurstine Basset For the latest episode of the Leaders in Conversation Podcast with Anni Townend, Anni talks to Thurstine Basset, a boarding school survivor, author an...

The power of vulnerability and open conversations with Annabel Venner The latest guest on the Leaders in conversation podcast is Annabel Venner, an expert Marketing Consultant and Chair of The Marketing Society Fellow. Having carved a successful 25+ year career in marketing, Annabel has worked for well known brands including Coca Cola and Hiscox before more recently moving into consultancy. Anni a...

Ahead of the Scottish Parliaments elections on 06 May, Anni talks to Andrew Kerr, Chief Executive of The City of Edinburgh Council. This episode is packed with discussions as Andrew talks openly about everything from leading through a pandemic to the importance of family, community and working as a team. He also reveals his career inspirations and how an ex-miner from Ayrshire helped him to become...