Optimising Leader Brilliance: Enabling Calm, Confident, Strategic Leadership

I dive into the fascinating parallels between familydynamics at the Christmas table and the behaviours we see in meetings and the boardroom. Drawing from real-life coaching experiences and powerful psychological models, I’ll help you recognise old patterns, understand your triggers, and give you practical tools to handle difficult people both at homeand at work.   What You Will Learn: 💡 Discover...

The first time I saw Andrew Whitehead, he was accompanying Sarah Walker-Smith, on the piano. It was lockdown and Sarah was singing from her office cabin she affectionately called the ‘shed’. As Senior Partner and CEO of Shakespeare Martineau, they were lifting the spirits oftheir colleagues. What struck me was the bravery, beauty and authenticity of their performance. Doing something totally diffe...

You know those people who seem to do it all? My next guest does just that: five children, a partner, four dogs, and three books, plus she’s built a beautiful home on Lake Windermere. She now runs The Heaning Estate, a beautiful collection of dwellings she renovated, which you can stay in. How does she make it all possible? Deborah shares the secrets to her success: bravery, dream-driven ambition,...

Content warning: This episode discusses suicide &mental health challenges. Leadership coaching often raises one tough question: How doI handle this difficult conversation & what do I say because I fear rejection? Imagine the courage it takes to tell your family you’re gay. I’m joined once again by the inspiring Neil Jinks. Following the overwhelmingly positive response to his last podcast,...

As a leader or business owner, do you ever find yourself running out of ideas for driving business growth? And are your bored of, or in need of, some non-AI, business development inspiration? Daniel Jarvis, a Product Group Manager at Plastribution, anorganisation renowned for their innovation, have ripped up the rule book on how to develop deeper client relationships, which ordinarily take months...

In this episode, I sit down with my own coach, Simon Edwards- a PGA performance coach, tournament director, and all-around expert in helping people unlock their true potential. We dive into the mindset, stories, and strategies that have shaped Simon’s journey from playing in the OpenChampionship to coaching winners and transforming lives, including my own. Whether you’re a golfer, a leader, or jus...

Why is it that we must be taken to the very edge of asituation to wake up and realise we need to make a change, before it’s too late? In this episode, I open up about two life-changing wake-upcalls - one that nearly ended my marriage and another that resulted in a trip in an ambulance. I share the lessons these moments taught me about perspective, resilience, and the importance of consciously choo...

Philippa climbs mountains, swims in the wild and consistently pushes her comfort zone both personally and professionally, even when her heart pumps a little faster! She’s incredibly humble about her achievements, but her drive to expand her comfort zone is infectious – so much so, that I’ve agreed to go wild swimming too!    Philippa chairs the CIPD branch in Cumbria as a volunteer -and her volunt...

Content warning: This episode discusses suicide andmental health challenges. If you’re affected, please reach out to a mental health professional or confidential helplines. UK: Samaritans 116 123; US: 988. If you’re in another region, please contact your local crisis line. Have you ever come across someone who makes a profoundimpact on you, the very first time you meet them? This is Martin William...

I catch up with coach, Gemma Hogan to discuss what it means to be resilient and how to bounce back and thrive in challenging times. We have a candid conversation about overcoming imposter syndrome, navigating career pivots, and finding your flow - both professionally and personally. Gemma shares the momentous moments that shaped her, and the practical tools she uses to help others break through th...

In this episode I sit down with the incredible Neil Jinks - a top legal influencer, brand ambassador, and champion of diversity and inclusion. We dive deep into Neil’s personal journey, from overcoming imposter syndrome to embracing his unique strengths and daily routines that fuel his success. Neil shares candid stories about his upbringing, the impact of his parents, and the life lessons that ha...

In this episode, I interview Rachel Rainbow, a seasoned HR professional with 16 years of experience across multiple industries. Rachel shares her journey into HR, her passion for authenticity and integrity in leadership, and practical advice for managers and leaders. The conversation covers the evolution of HR, the importance of psychological safety, tips for handling underperformance, and the shi...

Alex Wickens is fearless, positive, and resilient. She embodies these mindsets when facing challenges - on stage, in high-adrenaline sports, and through personal trials like recovering from cancer and losing a parent in the same year. She shares her stories with infectious humour and positivity. Alex is a true multi-hyphenate: interior designer, lecturer, senior business surveyor, community first...

In this episode, I dive into Chapter 10 and wrap up my bestselling book  Inner Brilliance: Outer Shine, 10 Antidotes to Imposter Syndrome, Workaholism & Stress.  I reflect on the importance of self-care, managing energy, and not letting work or stress steal our joy. I use personal stories, client examples, and research to highlight how our habits around food, sleep, movement, and self-compassi...

In this episode, I dive into Chapter 9 of my bestselling book  Inner Brilliance: Outer Shine, 10 Antidotes to Imposter Syndrome, Workaholism & Stress.  I share how learning to handle life’s rough seas can shape our journey, both personally and professionally. I discuss the importance of managing our state of mind, processing emotions, and usingpractical tools to build resilience and find joy,...

In this episode, I dive into Chapter 8 of my bestselling book  Inner Brilliance: Outer Shine, 10 Antidotes to Imposter Syndrome, Workaholism & Stress, which focuses on how to develop an inner captain and take charge of your thoughts. Key Topics Covered: I explore how to develop an “inner captain” to take charge of your thoughts and beliefs. I share personal stories, including my experience wit...

In this episode, I dive into Chapter 7 of my bestselling book  Inner Brilliance, Outer Shine: 10 Antidotes to Imposter Syndrome, Workaholism & Stress. I share practical strategies for running a tight ship in both your work and personal life. I open up about my own journey with boundaries, time management, and the lessons I’ve learned from clients and personal experience. If you’re ready to sto...

In this episode, I dive into Antidote #6 from my book, "Inner Brilliance, Outer Shine" which is about offloading excess baggage. Key Topics Covered: I share personal stories from my coaching practice, highlighting how emotional baggage can hold us back in both our work and personal lives. I introduce you to Havening, a technique that has transformed not only my clients' lives but mine too. I expla...

In this episode of the Optimising Your Brilliance Podcast Idive into Antidote #5: Navigate to Destination Joy. Discover how to move from feeling stuck or overwhelmed tofinding true fulfilment in work and life. Through real-life stories, practical strategies, and personal reflections, I share how setting a clear vision, aligning your goals with your values, and taking small, consistent steps can he...

I’m reading Chapter 4: Align Towards Your Stars from my bestselling book, Inner Brilliance · Outer Shine: 10 Antidotes to Imposter Syndrome, Workaholism & Stress . I’m sharing all 10 chapters from my book as a way to support your summer growth and personal development.   The goal of this chapter is to help you tune into every thing that is brilliant about you and important to you, so that you...

Hello there! In this episode, I read Chapter 3: Understand What Causes You to Sink from my bestselling book, Inner Brilliance · Outer Shine: 10 Antidotes to Imposter Syndrome, Workaholism & Stress . I’m sharing all 10 chapters from my book as a way to support your summer growth and personal development.   The goal of this chapter is to help you understand the root cause of your stress, workaho...

Hello there!   In this episode, I read Chapter 2: Captain Your Ship from my bestselling book, Inner Brilliance · Outer Shine: 10 Antidotes to Imposter Syndrome, Workaholism & Stress . I’m sharing all 10 chapters from my book as a way to support your summer growth and personal development.   The goal of this chapter is to help you realise you have more control over your conscious and unconsciou...

Hello there! In this episode, I read Chapter 1: Know Your Co-ordinates from my bestselling book, Inner Brilliance · Outer Shine: 10 Antidotes to Imposter Syndrome, Workaholism & Stress . I’m sharing all 10 chapters from my book as a way to support your summer growth and personal development. The goal of this chapter is to help you establish where you are right now, so you can start reflecting...

Hello there! I’m so excited to re-launch my podcast under a new title: Optimising Your Brilliance . To celebrate, I’ve received permission from my publisher to share from my bestselling book, Inner Brilliance · Outer Shine: 10 Antidotes to Imposter Syndrome, Workaholism & Stress . I thought it would be a great way to support your summer growth. In this first episode, I read the introduction to...

Roz very kindly endorsed my book, Inner Brilliance · Outer Shine: 10 Antidotes to Imposter Syndrome, Workaholism and Stress . We trained together as coaches 18 years ago and what’s always impressed me about her, is that she makes a success of whatever she turns her hand to. She’s been a partner in a firm of patent attorneys in Derby, run a coaching business and is now an award-winning crime author...