The Courageous Leaders Podcast

In this episode, I take you through an exploration of personal transformation, building on the success of our previous episode. I dive deeper into practical strategies for becoming the leader you want to be. The key areas we cover to help you are: The 3 fears everyone has How to be the boss of your mind How to build certainty in yourself and grow in confidence. My practical advice and personal ane...

Feeling lost or low on confidence?  Patrick Jeffery, MD of Contagious, shares his journey of overcoming self-doubt and embracing the power of being a generalist.  Patrick reveals how he turned his fear of failure into a driving force for success, drawing inspiration from sports legend Roger Federer on the importance of resetting and letting go. Whether you're at a career crossroads or looking...

In this episode, we sit down with Alex Grieve, CCO at BBH, who shares his transformative journey from a creative role to a leadership position. Alex opens up about the challenges he faced in his early career, navigating a highly competitive and alpha-male dominated industry.  He discusses the immense pressure to constantly prove himself and deliver exceptional creative work, which often led to sel...

In this episode, Emma Harris, CEO of Glow London, shares how a life threatening cardiac arrest transformed her perspective. After being saved by three nearby doctors, she moved from a mindset of constantly needing to ‘have more’, ‘be more’, and ‘earn more’ to prioritising what truly matters and preserving her energy to be present. Key timestamps 00:00 - Leaving a successful career at Eurostar. 04:...

In this episode, we dive into the parallels between rugby and the workplace to uncover how competitive spirit and teamwork in sports can drive exceptional performance in professional settings. I was joined by the brilliant Arran Cruickshanks, Managing Director at mccglc and former professional rugby player, to explore these concepts in depth. Key Questions Discussed: How can we use the competitive...

Jade Tomlin - ECD at Huge Inc and previously Group CD at AKQA. Tune in to hear what it takes to truly stand for what you believe in, lead as an introvert and have the persistence to make great work (especially when everyone else has given up). Listen to podcast here: https://thecourageousleaderspodcast.buzzsprout.com/ Register to join Leaders Connect Roundtables here: https://thechangecreators.com...

"A key to achieving success is to know who you want to be and to take steps every day to move closer to that vision." According to a study in Positive Psychology only about 20% of people feel they are living up to their full potential.  In the latest solo episode of the Courageous Leaders Podcast, I break down the steps I’ve taken to move me closer to the person I want to become. This is...

In this powerful episode, Jo engages in a candid conversation with Nishma Patel Robb, Founder and CEO of Glittersphere who shares her life experiences, career journey, and the importance of embracing vulnerability.  Nishma opens up about her struggles with racism, exclusion, and the societal pressure to fit in. She recounts the pivotal moments that led her to make significant life changes, includi...

This episode was truly inspiring; Kate Tancred is one of the most courageous leaders we have had on the podcast. Kate’s journey, experiences, and the choices she has made demonstrate what true courage looks like in leadership.  Join us as we explore finding the courage to do what is right for you even when it’s one of the hardest things you will do.  I am so grateful for Kate's openness in sh...

It can be hard work to navigate tension between team members and with your clients.   There is a lot of wasted energy and time that can be avoided. In this weeks episode I share the 3 key areas to focus on to help reduce tension to be able to focus on delivering great work.    I share practical actions for you to implement so please take a listen and let me know your thoughts. Key highlights: 00:0...

Every time I speak with Tom Jarvis, MD at Wilderness - The Social Media Agency, I leave feeling calm, inspired and bursting with ideas for my business and I know you will feel the same after you listen to his experience. Tom's blend of success and humility shines through as he shares invaluable lessons from his entrepreneurial career I could talk to him for hours. Key discussion points: How a...

Have you fully stepped into your leadership identity?  In this episode, I delve into the common challenge faced by leaders struggling to empower themselves and embrace their evolving identity. I share key insights from Check Warner and Harjot Singh, who were part of our panel at Courageous Leaders LIVE, and inspired a whole room to back themselves.  Key Discussion Points: Understanding the identit...

In this week’s episode, I get to talk to the brilliant Claire Humphris, CEO of Iris Worldwide. Claire was one of the founders of Iris and she openly shares the highs and lows of running an agency over the last 25 years. We explore Claire's initial resistance to becoming CEO and the challenges of putting yourself out there for all to see.  Key discussion points: The challenge of stepping up as...

In today's episode, we delve into a common pattern observed in leadership roles.  Many leaders find themselves overly involved in their team's activities, often due to a natural desire for control and involvement.  However, effective leadership requires recognising when to step back and empower your team to reach their full potential.  Join us as we explore the pitfalls of reliant leader...

I’m so grateful to Michelle Booth, Head of Growth and Innovation at Lloyds Bank for her bravery in sharing her story of seemingly having it all yet feeling deeply unhappy and suicidal.  To discover what was important to her and not conforming to what society says you ‘should do and have’. Michelle's story is a testament to the importance of authenticity and self-discovery in the pursuit of ge...

In this week’s episode, I talk with the brilliant Karen Boswell. Join us as we delve deep into the vital significance of purpose in both individual and business success.  I am so grateful for Karen’s transparency in sharing her career highs and lows and shedding light on topics often hidden behind a facade of success. Key discussion points:  Overcoming feeling excluded and having self-doubt follow...

In this week’s episode of the podcast, I’m going all in on fear. How do we get to a place where we can manage our fear versus letting fear manage us? In this episode, join me as I discuss this topic and how you can begin to allow yourself to be free from fear as a leader. I also discuss the importance of self-awareness and recognizing the barriers in your life that might be holding you back. Key t...

In episode 102 of the podcast, I speak with Polly McMorrow, CEO of McCann London. Join us as we discuss the amount of pressure many leaders put on themselves to succeed and the delicate balance of self-imposed pressure against the backdrop of industry expectations. We also discuss the contagious nature of fearless leadership and why it’s so important for CEOs to have patience, positivity, and tran...

In this week’s episode of the podcast, I’m covering the difference between an achiever and a performer, a topic I often cover in my self-leadership trainings, which tends to resonate with many people. Join me as I explore the key differences between being an achiever and being a performer, and what you need to understand about these roles to become an effective leader. I also discuss the importanc...

In episode 100 of the podcast, I speak with Ian Millner, Co-founder and Chair of Iris. Join us whilst we discuss the importance of culture and having an employee brand that is exciting and visceral and that makes employees feel like they are a valuable part of the organisation. Ian also shares the 3 pillars of effective leadership and what it means to lean into these principles as leaders. Key tak...

In this week’s episode of the podcast, I’m talking about the art of backing yourself as a leader. This is a topic that is very close to my heart and I wanted to spend some time discussing it today. I’m debunking the myths surrounding self-assurance and arrogance and why backing yourself isn’t arrogance, it’s actually caring for yourself, celebrating what you're able to do, and loving who you...

In episode 98 of the podcast, I speak with Conrad Persons, President of Grey, London. Join us as we discuss the importance of sharing your ideas with your team first to make sure they’re on the same page as you and want to jump out of the “plane” alongside you. He also shares the hard lessons learned from when your team stays on the plane instead of following you. Conrad also discusses how we spen...

In this week’s episode of the podcast, I’m going solo to discuss the topic of excessive resilience—a challenge I've personally grappled with, nearly breaking me in the process. Join me as I delve into the seven components of resilience and offer some helpful insights into cultivating resilience for yourself or your team members. I'll also be sharing my own experiences of placing immense...

In episode 96 of the podcast, I speak with Melissa Chapman, CEO of Jungle Creations. Join us as we discuss how to effectively overcome resistance to change within your organisation by approaching it in a way that makes people feel like you are all in it together. Melissa also discusses the challenges of having ADHD when it came to her habits as a leader and why giving herself permission to be her...

In episode 95 of the podcast, I am diving into the need to understand other people. Have you ever found yourself getting frustrated with others for not understanding what you’re trying to say? It may make perfect sense to you but they just aren’t getting it. This is because we all think differently and the way you understand things isn’t necessarily the way other members of your team do. When we t...