LeadHERship Journeys

All good things must come to and end (or in this case a pause), and this is the last episode in this series of LeadHERship Journeys - But don't worry work is already underway on series two! It has been an incredible journey and our genuine hope is that you've learned a lot from our amazing roster of inspirational women. From car saleswomen, to cricket super stars, to women who lead teams to catch...

We all learn from our mistakes, that's part of being human. But how do you take something as damaging as working in a toxic environment and turn that to your advantage? Bianca Spruit worked as a leader in several roles before deciding to go it alone as a coach, one of those jobs almost broke her. But while she knew she had to leave that job, she didn't know what was next. It wasn't until she found...

The old saying goes that kindness costs nothing, but is it really possible that you can get to where you want to be in your career by being kind? Rebecca Oliver Mooney (or ROM for short) has 20 years experience in fast moving consumer goods and has worked for the likes of Mars, Nestle, Kellogg's and Muller. She is now head of commercial for Co -op and is also the founder of Raising the Glass. This...

It's natural and healthy for us to have ambition and dreams - but what happens when your dreams become a reality, and the reality is something you don't want? Holly Colvin was just 15 when she got a place on the England cricket team for an ashes test against Australia. She went on to play five tests, 72 one-day internationals and 50 20:20 internationals and was a member of the Women's World 20:20...

Simone Roche MBE is a big advocate of diversity. She is the founder and CEO of We Are PoWEr, who accelerate gender equality, inclusion and social mobility across the UK and beyond. She has an amazing story to tell. She started her journey in the Royal Navy, was given her MBE in 2018 for services to gender equality and went on to found her own organisation which now has a membership of over 100k wo...

Zoe Gascoyne is the woman who oversaw the Bernie Ecclestone tax fraud case, in which he pleaded guilty, was given a suspended prison sentence and paid a fine of almost £653m to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). Zoe's story is about being true to yourself, not conforming and not letting others judge your appearance. It's also about striving to be the best leader and person you can be. In this episode,...

Deborah Ogden is a personal branding and impact coach - Her CV is fascinating, she started her career as a lawyer and then moved on to help sportspeople get sponsorship deals. Deborah's journey is one of firsts, she was the first woman to be a professional media manager. Her story is also about achievement, she was brought up to not just take part but succeed. But it's not all about success and fi...

Rayhanneh Mazinani's journey from beauty sales to the second-hand car trade is one of self belief, business acumen and determination. As the managing director of vehicle sourcing company TRAYD, she a true pioneer. There are no other women doing what she is doing in the UK motor trade. Her story is about breaking through barriers, not just of gender but also race. As a woman in a man's world she fa...

Lauren York always wanted to work in TV but as a junior member of a production company she was told she didn't have what it takes. Today she is the owner of a nationwide business supplying locations to big budget productions. Her journey has not been easy. She came up against many blocks on her path but she knew what she wanted. But it took all of her focus, resilience and determination. In this e...

Dr Kathryn Scott is Chief Executive of Yorkshire Cancer Research. Science has been part of her DNA for most of her life, and at an early stage in her journey she was interested in biology. But her background and her roots are not those that are usually associated with Chief Executives - So how did she get there and is hers a story that illustrates anyone can do it? In this episode, Leona talks to...

What do you do when a war comes to your doorstep? For anyone faced with that scenario, survival is, of course, a priority. But once you are safe, is it possible to use that experience for a positive outcome? Are there lessons we can all learn? Yana Smaglo is a Ukrainian living in the UK. She fled the war in Ukraine when it began in 2023. She was already a successful fashion designer, but had to fl...

... Or can a world exist where softer, more feminine qualities prevail? Professor Beverly Alimo-Metcalfe is a psychologist who specialises in leadership. Her ground-breaking research into what it takes to be a great leader is seen as a benchmark. Beverly has a lifetime of experience looking at leadership and how women are perceived in the workplace. Her's is a story of determination and sheer will...

Siobhan Blake is the Chief Crown Prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service in the West Midlands and the National CCP Lead for the CPS on rape and serious sexual offence prosecutions. It's a huge and tough job, so how do you not let it creep and seep into your personal life? In a way, it's something we can all take heed of; we all have people and experiences in our lives that we probably should...

Lisa Shepherd is co-owner of the Biskery and a mum. They hand-make branded biscuits for businesses including Meta, Google and Lloyds Bank. This is a literal kitchen-table business that has grown and scaled, but that's not the point of the Biskery. They exist to make life fairer for working women, in a lot of ways they fly in the face of business convention. They are focussed on their staff and put...

What makes successful women tick? We all know that there are plenty of men filling some of the biggest jobs in the world, but what about the women? What did they have to do to get to the top? How did they face the obstacles that stood in their way? When did they decide that "no" wasn't an option any more? Psychologist and Author Leona Deakin is on a mission to explore what attributes female leader...