Adam Pacifico

The Leadership Enigma

Business EN ↓ 256 episodes

For 30 years I've uncovered the best and worst of human behaviour and endeavour. Now it's time to truly understand what we mean by leadership in a chaotic world. I've delivered live events to over 60,000 around the world as a leadership expert, author, opinion columnist and barrister. Each week I'll explore the power and potential of the human being with global experts, academics, rising stars, ambitious upstarts and disruptors across sectors, disciplines and geographies as we explore 'The Leadership Enigma.'Whether you are an entrepreneur, business owner or seasoned corporate executive, this...

Author

Adam Pacifico

Category

Business

Latest episode

Jul 6, 2026

Where to listen?

Podcasts in the app Replaio Radio Coming soon

Podcasts are coming to the app soon. Install now and be the first to see a whole new take on podcasts

Get it on Google Play Install for free Android 5M+ downloads · 4.8 rating iOS soon

Episodes

232: Leading London: Tobias Crosbie: A Modern Dad | Episode 7 19.08.2025

Leading London is a series of interviews with founders, entrepreneurs, disruptors and leaders all making an impact in London and beyond. The interviews were filmed at Vorboss (the internet for London business) during Tech Week from their new offices overlooking Liverpool Street. In this episode I chat to Tobias who is dad & Founder, CEO of Making Moves www.vorboss.com www.makingmoveslondon.co.uk H...

231: Leading London: Paul Gibbs: Don’t ask, don’t get | Episode 6 18.08.2025

Leading London is a series of interviews with founders, entrepreneurs, disruptors and leaders all making an impact in London and beyond. The interviews were filmed at Vorboss (the internet for London business) during Tech Week from their new offices overlooking Liverpool Street. In this episode I chat to Paul who is head of Sales for Voip Unlimited www.vorboss.com www.voip-unlimited.net Hosted by...

230: Leading London: Rob Leigh-Bramwell: British, Hand Made | Episode 5 01.08.2025

Leading London is a series of interviews with founders, entrepreneurs, disruptors and leaders all making an impact in London and beyond. The interviews were filmed at Vorboss (the internet for London business) during Tech Week from their new offices overlooking Liverpool Street. In this episode I chat to Rob who is the co-founder of Bramwell Brown Clocks. www.vorboss.com www.bramwellbrown.com Host...

229: Leading London: Jose Paris: Bouncing Back | Episode 4 31.07.2025

Leading London is a series of interviews with founders, entrepreneurs, disruptors and leaders all making an impact in London and beyond. The interviews were filmed at Vorboss (the internet for London business) during Tech Week from their new offices overlooking Liverpool Street. In this episode I chat to Jose who is the Head of Operations for Streetscope www.vorboss.com www.streetscope.com Hosted...

228: Leading London: Ben Jaconelli: Supercar to E bike | Episode 3 30.07.2025

Leading London is a series of interviews with founders, entrepreneurs, disruptors and leaders all making an impact in London and beyond. The interviews were filmed at Vorboss (the internet for London business) during Tech Week from their new offices overlooking Liverpool Street. In this episode I chat to Ben who is the Founder of Fully Charged www.vorboss.com www.fullycharged.com Hosted by Simplec...

227: Leading London: Sarah Skelton: Relentless | Episode 2 29.07.2025

Leading London is a series of interviews with founders, entrepreneurs, disruptors and leaders all making an impact in London and beyond. The interviews were filmed at Vorboss (the internet for London business) during Tech Week from their new offices overlooking Liverpool Street. In this episode I chat to Sarah who is the Founder and Managing Director of Flourish www.vorboss.com www.helloflourish.c...

226: Leading London: Diptesh Patel: The Humble CEO | Episode 1 28.07.2025

Leading London is a series of interviews with founders, entrepreneurs, disruptors and leaders all making an impact in London and beyond. The interviews were filmed at Vorboss (the internet for London business) during Tech Week from their new offices overlooking Liverpool Street. In this episode I chat to Diptesh who is the Founder and CEO of UBDS www.vorboss.com www.ubdsdigital.com Hosted by Simpl...

The Human Centred Medic - Iris Loew-Friedrich 13.07.2025

In this powerful episode of The Leadership Enigma, I am joined by Iris Loew-Friedrich, former Chief Medical Officer at UCB and current global board advisor, for a deeply human and honest conversation about leadership in an uncertain, fast-moving world. Iris flew to London specially for this conversation — and it shows. Her insights are raw, real, and full of wisdom earned across decades of experie...

224: Being mum to Myles Lewis-Skelly: Marcia Lewis 01.07.2025

What does it take to raise a football star while staying grounded in love, learning and loyalty? In this powerful and personal episode, I sit down with Marcia Lewis, proud mum and agent to Myles Lewis-Skelly—Arsenal and England’s 18-year-old sensation and one of the most talked-about young players in football today. But this conversation isn’t about hype. It’s about humanity. Marcia shares the rea...

223: Being Basil Fawlty | Adam Jackson-Smith 15.06.2025

What happens when John Cleese personally selects you to play Basil Fawlty in the West End revival of one of the most iconic sitcoms in TV history? If you're Adam Jackson-Smith, you say yes… and then quietly panic. In this special episode of The Leadership Enigma, we go behind the curtain with the man trusted to resurrect Basil on stage. Adam shares the rollercoaster ride from virtual auditions (co...

222: Olivier Award for 'Giant' | Mark Rosenblatt 01.06.2025

In this powerful and timely episode, Adam sits down with Olivier Award-winning director-turned-writer Mark Rosenblatt, the creative force behind Giant, the searing and sensational play that explores the genius and the darkness of Roald Dahl. Starring the legendary John Lithgow—who also took home an Olivier for Best Actor—Giant dives deep into the tangled web of brilliance, grief, controversy, and...

221: Tariffs, wars, inflation & money | Tom Stevenson 18.05.2025

In this episode, I am joined by Tom Stevenson – Investment Director at Fidelity, respected columnist, and broadcaster – for a wide-ranging and brutally honest look at the global economic storm we’re all trying to navigate. From tariffs and Trump to inflation, war, and AI-driven disruption, Tom unpacks why we’re entering a new era of unpredictability – one where the calm of the past few decades has...

220: Why I bought a football club | Spencer Gore 04.05.2025

In this powerful episode, I welcome Spencer Gore, the dynamic CEO of Gorely Group and owner of Chelmsford City FC. A serial entrepreneur with seven ventures under his belt, Spencer shares the raw truths of leadership, innovation, and purpose-led business. 💡 Key takeaways for leaders and entrepreneurs: Turn Neurodiversity into a Superpower: Spencer opens up about discovering his dyslexia later in...

219: The Accidental CEO | Josh White 20.04.2025

In this raw and powerful episode, Adam sits down with Josh White, the accidental CEO and co-founder of Cano Water – the eco-conscious drinks brand shaking up the industry. Josh opens up about his journey from addiction, ADHD, and mental health struggles to building a brand that’s now selling 15+ million cans a year and backed by global icons. From school dropout to DJ, from rock bottom to rehab, J...

218: The Dean of Dumbassery - Garry Ridge 06.04.2025

The Dean of Dumbassery Returns to The Leadership Enigma In this energising episode, Garry Ridge, former Chairman & CEO of WD-40 (yep, that iconic blue and yellow can with a red top), returns to the Leadership Enigma – flying in from the West Coast to London just for this chat! 🔥 Garry shares powerful lessons from his new book “Any Dumb Ass Can Do It”, drawn from 25 years of scar tissue, leadershi...

217: Reflections of a CEO: Tiger Tyagarajan 24.03.2025

In this captivating episode, we dive deep into the remarkable leadership journey of Tiger Tyagarajan, former CEO of Genpact, who led the company from a humble team of 20 to a global powerhouse of 130,000 employees with over $5 billion in revenue. Tiger's story is one of curiosity, humility, adaptability, and relentless growth. 🚀 Key Leadership Insights: 1. Curiosity as a Superpower:Tiger emphasiz...

216: Branding the Iconic - Charl Bassil 09.03.2025

Charl Bassil is the BBC’s first-ever Chief Brand Officer, tasked with developing a unified brand strategy to engage global audiences, strengthen loyalty, and drive digital growth. With a background in marketing and leadership, Charl, originally from South Africa, brings a fresh, external perspective to one of the world’s most iconic institutions. The BBC, founded in 1922, has been at the heart of...

215: To Infinity & Beyond | Kelly Latimer 23.02.2025

Kelly Latimer is no ordinary pilot. A former NASA, Virgin Galactic, and Boeing test pilot—and a combat veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan—Kelly has spent her career navigating high-stakes environments, from military command to the outer edges of space. As Virgin Galactic’s first female test pilot, she stepped into the role after the tragic VSS Enterprise crash in 2014, helping push the bou...

214: Ai -vs- Humanity | Greg Orme 09.02.2025

Greg Orme is a global educator and author of Business Book of the Year, "The Human Edge." 'The Human Edge' focused on the fearful narrative that was and is growing around the use and development of AI. If we challenge AI on it's own ground we will certainly lose, Greg explains. Greg's book researched how leaders can differentiate themselves in this world of AI and digitisation. He constructed the...

213: Space, the Final Frontier | Dan Hart 26.01.2025

Dan Hart left his 34-year career at Boeing to embark on a new adventure as CEO of Virgin Orbit. Working for Richard Branson’s startup was the opportunity of a lifetime during the heyday of new space, and the company enjoyed a string of successes before the company filed for bankruptcy in April 2023. The 1969 moon landing had a big impact on Dan in his early years and he simply cold called NASA to...

212: The Master of Disaster | Dr Thom Mayer 13.01.2025

Doctor Thom Mayer has been a leader in times of crisis for over 25 years, navigating some of the most significant challenges imaginable. He is the Medical Director for the NFL Players Association, as well as an emergency physician-sports medicine leader of international renown. He served as the Command Physician at the Pentagon Rescue/Recovery Operation on 9/11, Incident Commander for the inhalati...

211: Ding Dong Avon Calling: Angela Cretu 19.12.2024

211: Angela Cretu is the former Global CEO of Avon. She is now an active Board Member, Beauty Industry Advisor, and Angel Investor. Angela took over as CEO just before the pandemic but had worked for Avon for 25 years starting her career in Romania. Growing up in a communist country meant that life was quite predictable, equality was standardised and the right to self expression was non existent....

210: Winning the World Cup, Mandela & Me: Bob Skinstad 24.11.2024

Bob Skinstad represented South Africa Rugby at all levels. Having captained the under 21 Springbok side in 1996 and 1997, he ascended to the adult team as a replacement on 29 November 1997 against England. He would go on to play 42 tests for the Springboks, scoring 11 tries – and captained the national side to its second Rugby Union World Cup in 2007, before retiring. Bob is now a Partner at the c...

209: Where The Evidence Takes Us | Kevin O' Leary 10.11.2024

This episode was filmed in front of a live studio audience at Vorboss in central London. Kevin O'Leary spent 30 years as a police officer with the Metropolitan Police retiring as a Chief Superintendent. Kevin was also, now famously, episode No.1 of The Leadership Enigma which started during the pandemic. This episode is a fascinating insight into the world of crime and punishment including underco...

208: The CEO Mindset | Tom Monahan 29.10.2024

Tom Monahan took on the role of CEO of Heidrick & Struggles in 2024. He came to Heidrick & Struggles with a decades-long career of building and leading innovative technology, data, and services companies and as a long-time Heidrick & Struggles client. Most recently, Tom was president and CEO of DeVry University, where he led the university to digital innovation, sustained growth, outstanding stude...

Listen to the The Leadership Enigma podcast in Replaio

Radio and podcasts in one app - free, with no sign-up. Install today and do not miss the launch

Get it on Google Play

Replaio is not a podcast publisher; show names, artwork and audio belong to their authors and are distributed through public RSS feeds.