LEAP Listens

In this episode of LEAP Listens, Sara and Roger are joined by internal communications and change specialist Rachel Tolhurst to explore why empathy should sit at the heart of organisational change. Drawing on more than 30 years of experience, Rachel shares practical lessons from leading change programmes across a range of organisations, explaining why understanding employees' emotions is just...

In this episode of LEAP Listens, Sara and Roger are joined by organisational anthropologist Dr Alex Gapud to explore what organisations can learn when they look beyond surveys, spreadsheets and engagement scores. Drawing on his work studying workplace cultures from the inside, Alex explains why understanding people's lived experiences is essential for building authentic employee value proposi...

In this episode of LEAP Listens, Sara and Roger are joined by internationally recognised HR thinker and transformation expert Perry Timms to explore the idea of the 'polymorphic organisation' a business designed to adapt, shift and evolve as the world around it changes. Drawing on decades of experience across HR, organisational design and change, Perry explains why companies need to bala...

In this episode of LEAP Listens, Sara and Roger are joined by communications and change specialist Howard Krais to challenge one of the workplace’s biggest assumptions: that employee engagement scores actually tell us anything useful. Drawing on decades of experience in internal communications and organisational change, Howard explains why leaders obsess over metrics that rarely lead to action, an...

PR isn’t usually the first channel that comes to mind in employer branding, but maybe it should be. In this episode of LEAP Listens, Jules Fisher from Merchant joins Sara MacGregor and Roger Cayless to explore how PR can play a much bigger role in shaping how organisations are seen by potential candidates, especially those who aren’t actively job hunting. From uncovering stories already sitting wi...

Psychological safety is often talked about as a cornerstone of healthy workplace culture. But what does it actually look like in practice, and why do so many organisations still struggle to create it? In this episode of LEAP Listens, Barbara Phillips, founder of Brownstone Communications, joins Sara MacGregor and Roger Cayless to explore how AI could help employees, managers and HR navigate workpl...

Crisis rarely gives you notice. In this episode of LEAP Listens , communications consultant Sarah Farrow joins Sara MacGregor and Roger Cayless to share what internal comms teams need in place before the worst happens. Drawing on her experience leading communications through the sudden closure of a government-funded organisation, Sarah explains how to prepare for the crisis you hope never comes, f...

We’ve all been to internal conferences that promised transformation… but delivered coffee, croissants, and one too many PowerPoint slides. This week, we’re joined by Abi Humayun, co-founder of People Activation, who’s on a mission to change that. Abi shares how her team creates internal events that don’t just engage the room, they change minds and shift behaviour. Think: employee-led storytelling,...

In this episode of LEAP Listens, Sara and Roger speak with Deon Pillay, an award-winning marketing leader and long-time diversity advocate, about what happens when success stops feeling meaningful. Dion shares why he left a secure corporate role to start a coaching practice in response to a deeper sense of misalignment. He walks through the mindset shift that made change possible, the questions th...

In this episode of LEAP Listens, Sara and Roger are joined by seasoned TA specialist Steve Betts to unpack a part of recruitment we rarely talk about candidate profiling. From outdated job specs to one-click apply chaos, Steve explores how hiring teams can go beyond the CV to truly understand who they’re looking for and how to find them. He shares why profiles need to evolve with the role, how to...

In this episode of LEAP Listens, Sara and Roger speak to Jennifer Sproul, CEO of the Institute of Internal Communication, about how internal comms is evolving, and what that means for organisations today. Jen shares practical insight on how the function is shifting from content delivery to creating meaningful connection, and why listening is becoming just as important as messaging. They discuss th...

In this episode of LEAP Listens, Sara and Roger are joined by Jess Heagren, founder of Careers After Babies, to explore the uncomfortable truth about working parenthood, and why it’s not just a personal issue, it’s a business one. From a defining moment in the boardroom to building a framework now used by leading employers, Jess shares why organisations need to move beyond policies and start addre...

In this episode of LEAP Listens, Sara MacGregor and Roger Cayless are joined by neuroscientist and author Dr Marcia Goddard to explore why inclusion isn’t about box-ticking, it’s about performance. From team trust to psychological safety, Marcia unpacks the brain science behind belonging, and why diverse teams only thrive when people feel safe enough to show up fully. LEAP Listens is brought to yo...

In this episode of LEAP Listens, Sara MacGregor and Roger Cayless are joined by Amit Parmar, CEO of Cliquify, to explore how AI is reshaping employer branding and what it means for authenticity, ethics and trust. From deepfakes and data to organic content vs "processed" comms, Amit shares where technology helps, where it hinders, and how the future of storytelling is changing with AI.  L...

In this episode of LEAP Listens , Sara MacGregor and Roger Cayless are joined by Jessica Burns from Placed, to talk about how employers can get more bang for their recruitment buck. From programmatic advertising and real-time algorithms to reaching passive candidates while they're scrolling, Jess shares how brands can spend smarter, not harder, and still attract the right talent. Yes, the rob...

In this episode of LEAP Listens, Sara MacGregor and Roger Cayless sit down with Jay Middleton, founder at The Animation Guys, to explore the unique power of animation in employer branding and internal comms. From forklift safety with a Monty Python twist to personalised campaigns inspired by Spotify Wrapped, Jay shares how animation offers more control, more creativity and, sometimes, a deeper emo...

In this episode, we’re joined once again by Mark Horley, Co-Founder at Tonic, to talk about the balance between data and creativity in employer branding. From a worried teddy bear to a twitter powered vending machine, Mark shares why emotional connection still matters, even in a data led world. LEAP Listens is brought to you by LEAP Create, an award-winning people communications agency.  Find out...

 Hiring at scale isn’t just about getting people through the door, it’s about attracting the right talent without compromising on quality. In this episode, Sara and Roger chat with employer branding expert Priti Soni, who helped lead a mass, global hiring campaign at WTW, bringing in over 3,000 employees in just three years. She shares the strategies that made it work, the challenges they faced, a...

TikTok isn’t just an app for dance routines, it’s changing the game for employer branding. But how can companies actually make it work? In this episode, Sara and Roger chat with employer brand and content expert Alex O’Connor, who led the launch of a major bank's recruitment marketing TikTok channel. She shares her experiences of creating engaging content with employee advocacy, and figuring...

Gen Alpha grew up asking Alexa for answers, so what will they ask of their future employers? Join Roger and Sara in this episode as they chat with Pia Malherbe, Chief Branding Officer at 10 Days, about why organisations need to start thinking about Gen Alpha now. Pia shares expert insights on what this next generation will expect from work, how their values and preferences differ from previous gen...

Want to find out how a simple breathing exercise can help you manage stress at work? In this episode of LEAP Listens, Roger and Sara chat with Karen Farrell, a qualified Breathwork coach about how something as simple as having proper breathing practices can make a massive difference in managing stress at work. Karen shares her top tips and even demonstrates a breathing exercise you can try right n...

In our first episode of Series 6 of LEAP Listens, Roger and Sara chat with Rich Gordon about his experience of creating an alumni network at King. Rich shares how these networks help keep former employees connected, making it easier to re-engage them later. He also explains the benefits of maintaining strong relationships with alumni, from retaining loyalty to creating opportunities for rehiring....

In this episode of LEAP Listens, hosts Roger Cayless and Sara MacGregor welcome employer branding expert James Ellis, all the way from Chicago. James shares his insights on how businesses of all sizes can develop a minimum viable employer brand, attract top talent, and move beyond "post and pray" hiring strategies. Tune in for a conversation packed with actionable tips and strategic insi...

In this episode of LEAP Listens hosts Roger Cayless and Sara MacGregor welcome employer branding expert Hassan AlHindwan, all the way from Dubai, as they talk about ways to secure senior leadership buy-in. Hassan offers practical tips on how to effectively communicate with the C-suite, tackle common challenges, and engage key stakeholders. If you're looking for straightforward strategies to s...

In the latest episode of LEAP Listens, hosts Roger and Sara chat with Sean Allen about the benefits of hiring return-to-work talent. With over 16 years of recruitment experience, Sean delves into how this approach can enhance workplace diversity and why organisations should embrace it. He also discusses the challenges these candidates face and how businesses can support them effectively. Don’t mis...