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If any one part of Gary Teper’s business goes wrong, on any given day, somebody could find themselves sleeping rough. In the first two of Gary’s three careers, the consequences of failure were far less apparent… and far less immediate.  As Managing Director of The Housing Network, he’s responsible for a team of 330, who house several thousand people every single night. For them, purpose is far mor...

We talk often about the mentors that change your career. This week, we have the pleasure of speaking to one closely entwined with Dave’s journey - John Zweig. Many of Dave’s tenets in leadership can be traced back to John, whose own journey is laden with huge roles, like those at Procter & Gamble, and WPP. The perspective that this offers him is utterly unique - John’s path equips him with a p...

The Lost Gardens of Heligan are beloved by so many, from those who visit to the staff who uphold it. So what happens when a new CEO swoops in to enact change on a place steeped in such history? David Harland’s background includes stepping into the CEO role at Eden, working alongside the indomitable Sir Tim Smit. He’s no stranger to the art of bringing together a sound financial background with amb...

It’s impossible to doubt Emma Dagnes’s commitment to Alexandra Palace. As CEO of Alexandra Park and Palace Charitable Trust, she oversees a multi-faceted organisation that sees over 5 million people interact with it each year. ‘Ally Pally’ is about more than just the building - with an ice rink, a pub, an events venue, and a huge park to manage, the survival of Alexandra Palace relies on a monumen...

Forbes has labelled Matt Strain as the ‘AI Whisperer’.  But what connects him to the world is not the technology he uses, but the people he keeps closest. Matt is a man of great ambition, always willing to leave comfort in search of something new - his departure from prestigious roles at Apple and Adobe should be proof-enough of that… For leaders trying to find the balance between the safe play an...

Walking into something you don’t understand is not a punishment. It’s a gift. One of Kevin O’Neill’s formative roles was an epiphany… That everything you know for certain, can actually be false. With a long and remarkable career in Executive Search, Kevin’s dedication to unlocking the full potential of today's leading organisations is unparalleled. This is despite - in his words - missing lif...

Sport runs deep in Ricky Paugh’s blood. Beyond his time as a baseball player, he’s the Founder of 1440 Sports, and an entrepreneur whose values are driven by the psychology of team sports. Selfless relationships, measured emotion, and the power of a great coach. All of these qualities make a great athlete.  They also forged Ricky’s incredible career, which now see him as an essential part of some...

On the surface, it took just two lengths of an Olympic swimming pool to change Duncan Goodhew’s life. But as any elite athlete will tell you, success like Duncan’s isn’t about what you do on the day.  What counts is the person that you - and those around you - shape yourself to become before you even compete. The parallels between sport and business are easy to draw, and through the Swimathon Foun...

Catherine Day is a guest with a journey unlike any other we’ve explored.  After over a quarter of a century at the heart of the UK government, advising 8 Prime Ministers, she’s come to a vital conclusion - there MUST be a better way. Catherine is Co-Founder of the National Strategy Project, a movement born from her lifelong desire to play her part in life.  What happens when you follow your values...

We’ve established across the mini-series so far that businesses in the Nordic region have their own, innate perception of how we do business - one which differs from the rest of the world.  The question we’re yet to answer is: How does Nordic leadership hold up when it’s applied at a global scale? Scatec is the perfect case study for a Nordic business who refuses to sacrifice its values, or operat...

The Nordic region is rethinking healthcare, cementing its standing as the gold standard. It's more digital. More connected. Closer to the patient. Thor Medical is a pivotal player in the story that's being written. They're world leaders in using alpha emitters for cancer therapy.  In other words, their innovation stands at the forefront of a world in which healthcare systems are und...

Watch on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/SvXkoskJtvw?si=z7iLdUAOz1y7bDgH The Nordics stand at a defining crossroads.  Geopolitical instability, energy security concerns, AI driven disruption and intensifying global competition continue to threaten the status quo. The real question is not whether change is coming - that much is certain - it's how Nordic leaders will shape it. At the forefront o...

What’s at stake if you fail in business? For some, it's a reputational risk. For others, it's a financial risk. But if Fredrik Ruben’s company fails, millions of disadvantaged families will no longer be able to communicate with their loved ones. Failure is not an option for Fredrik and Dynavox - commerciality is key, and such an ultimatum might make some leaders try to be heroes. Fredrik...

What does it mean to make your own luck? Dan Vahdat’s persistence planted the seeds in people’s minds that healthcare can change, and that Huma is the business to lead the revolution. He saw through his vision until it rained, and those seeds became growth - Huma’s $1bn valuation is driven by a bold embrace of calculated serendipity. Dan challenges the standard CEO playbook, navigating the pivot p...

Did you know what career you’d be in when you were in 9th grade? Alan Whitman did. He’s a dreamer who challenges convention. He’ll embark on a mission to make things happen, even when the path can’t be seen. He spent nearly 8 years at Baker Tilly’s CEO, transforming it into a global advisory powerhouse - and at the heart of that transformation is his radical leadership philosophy. Whether it’s his...

Lucy Knill is Anthropy’s newly-branded CEO, but at what point on her journey did she become the great leader that she’s proving to be? It could be nature - evident from her relentless, meticulous mindset throughout her time in the events industry. It could be nurture - from the role models that taught her radical collaboration and the value of the bigger picture. Whatever the balance, if you’re a...

Tómas Sigurðsson’s greatness comes from small beginnings.  The self-described ‘accidental CEO’ has been measured and methodical. He’s not blinded by chasing quarterly goals - he’s patient. He’s prudent. He builds for the long-term… The skills on display throughout his career often stem from innocuous moments - those same talents combined with invaluable early experience see him lead one of Iceland...

Dr Kyle Grant-Talbot is a self-described: ‘washed up astronaut’.  Don’t let his humility fool you, though - his talents and innovations continue to leave their mark among the stars for NASA and SpaceX. Kyle’s intelligence in Engineering Biology was matched by the ambition to tackle an industry which has shocking, high-stakes ripple effects through hospitality and healthcare - industrial laundry. T...

What makes a leader in 2026? Modern leadership isn’t shaped by perfect plans, but by pivotal moments, adversity, curiosity, and ultimately by authenticity. We’re stepping back from the individual stories we’ve explored on Pivot Points so far, to explore these deeper themes that emerged across our conversations with some of the world’s most fascinating leaders. Key takeaways from this episode: Lead...

Being a good person and being a great leader are not mutually exclusive, and Nigel Branker is perfect proof. His leadership is grounded in empathy. He’s not afraid to shy away from money in order to nurture trust and invest in brand equity. Nigel’s path to becoming Securian Canada’s CEO wasn’t perfectly choreographed, but his values have shone through at every pivotal step. Meet the man who dares...

Robyn Scott exemplifies leadership without conventional boundaries.  Her formative experiences instilled a sense of global responsibility, a drive she has consistently channeled into impactful initiatives. Robyn is a many-time Co-Founder, and this journey is marked by insights into celebrating unsung leaders and inciting tangible change on a monumental scale. Join us on Pivot Points, as we explore...

Carolyn Starrett’s purpose-led career has strategically pivoted from changing how the world connects, to changing how the world lives... She took the reins of Flatiron Health amid a turbulent leadership transition where much of the senior team departed. How do you survive navigating such instability? Her masterful ability to bring teams on a journey. She's an ‘accidental CEO’, whose intention...

The path to success is rarely linear, and if anyone can help chart a course to the top, it’s Ordnance Survey’s CEO, Nick Bolton. Nick’s unconventional career path - from software developer to product manager, marketing director and ultimately CEO - highlights the importance of adaptability, continuous learning and seizing unexpected opportunities.  In this episode of Pivot Points, Nick and Dave un...

Kristi Henderson's career is a masterclass in empathy-driven leadership, and the power of starting on the frontline. She began as a bedside nurse in a trauma center. Now, she’s become the CEO of Confluent Health, with the single-handed power to influence the law itself. Kristi’s path is a testament to the idea that true innovation comes from understanding the people you serve, and the best le...

Christian Mazzi has lived a life of constant motion, learning to "sink or swim" from the very start of his life. He moved countries frequently, bringing a cultural awareness, and an impressive ability to learn & adapt quickly. This superpower is the lynch pin of Christian’s monumental pivot, from the life of a doctor to the high-stakes world of business Emotional intelligence bleeds...