The SAFE Leader with Mark McBride-Wright

In this episode of The SAFE Leader Podcast, Mark sits down with Enoch Adeyemi for an open conversation about resilience, belonging, and humanity. From childhood in a tough Nigerian boarding school to building community and inclusion in Scotland, this discussion explores what it means to grow through adversity and to lead with empathy. It’s a story of learning that strength comes not only from endu...

In this episode of The SAFE Leader Podcast, Dr Mark McBride-Wright sits down with Paul Bailey, Chief Executive Officer of the Engineering Council, to explore what it truly means to lead with authenticity in today’s engineering world. From his early career influences to his reflections on trust, ethics, and inclusion, Paul shares insights into how values-driven leadership shapes teams and builds co...

In this episode of The SAFE Leader Podcast, host Mark McBride-Wright sits down with Adam Torres, global speaker, best-selling author, and co-founder of Mission Matters. Adam shares his journey from nervous first-time podcaster to leading one of the most influential media platforms in business podcasting. With honesty and warmth, he opens up about fear, growth, and what it means to create spaces wh...

In this episode of The SAFE Leader Podcast, Mark McBride-Wright sits down with Alex Knight, an award-winning engineer, social entrepreneur, and founder of STEMAZING. From a self-described “shy ginger kid” who avoided the spotlight to a national role model for women in STEM, Alex shares her deeply personal journey of courage, visibility, and purpose. She talks about leaving behind a secure engineer...

In this episode, safety leader David Garner joins host Mark McBride-Wright to share his remarkable journey from growing up in a world where safety didn’t exist to leading cultures that put people first. Drawing on decades of hands-on experience across manufacturing, architecture, and the military, David reflects on what it takes to move beyond the outdated “name, blame, shame, and retrain” mindset...

What does it take to step away from a successful corporate career and build something more meaningful? In this episode of The SAFE Leader Podcast, host Mark McBride-Wright sits down with Trisha Daho, Founder and CEO of Empowered, to explore her journey from Big Four partner to cultural change leader. Trisha shares how a single question reshaped her path, why she built her business around a covenan...

Natalie Desty, founder of STEM Returners, joins Mark McBride-Wright to share her inspiring journey of tackling inequality in engineering and creating pathways back into STEM for professionals after career breaks. From leaving a director-level role to launching what many thought was a risky idea, Natalie reveals how she turned personal challenges into a movement that has already helped hundreds of...

In this episode of The SAFE Leader Podcast, host Mark McBride-Wright sits down with Callum Thomas, founder and CEO of Thomas Thor, a global leader in workforce solutions for the nuclear industry. Callum shares his journey from discovering a lifelong passion for business to dedicating his career to building a diverse and resilient talent pipeline for one of the world’s most vital sectors. From the...

In this episode of The SAFE Leader Podcast, Mark McBride-Wright sits down with executive coach and leadership strategist Yosi Kossowsky to explore a remarkable journey of growth and transformation. From starting out with no clear plan, to discovering a passion for computers and technology, Yosi shares the twists and turns that shaped his early career. He reflects on the challenges of moving from t...

In this episode of The SAFE Leader Podcast, host Mark McBride-Wright sits down with physicist, entrepreneur and emotional intelligence advocate Randy Lyman. From early success in engineering and business to a profound personal transformation, Randy shares how uncovering and releasing hidden emotional baggage reshaped his approach to leadership and life. Their conversation explores the link between...

In this episode of The SAFE Leader Podcast, Mark McBride-Wright sits down with Barry LaBov, two time Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year, celebrated author, and founder of LaBov and Beyond. From unloading parcels at 3am and chasing dreams in a rock band to building a nationally recognised marketing and communications firm, Barry shares the resilience and creativity that shaped his journey. He...

Abi Hird joins Mark McBride-Wright to share her journey from unexpected career beginnings to becoming a leader in innovation. From early dreams of being an art teacher to navigating academia and industry, Abi speaks candidly about embracing challenges, following opportunities, and finding her place in shaping how organisations think about growth and change. Her story highlights the importance of c...

In this episode of The SAFE Leader Podcast, Mark McBride-Wright sits down with Francie Jain, Founder and CEO of Terawatt, to explore her journey from Wall Street to wellness and the creation of a platform dedicated to making professional coaching accessible and impactful. Francie shares how her work connects head, heart, and gut to help individuals and organisations unlock potential, whether throu...

In this episode of The SAFE Leader Podcast, host Mark McBride-Wright is joined by Angelo Ponzi, seasoned brand strategist, fractional CMO, and author of The Strategy Blueprint. With over 30 years of experience helping businesses grow through data-driven insights, Angelo shares what it really takes to move from scattered marketing tactics to clear strategic impact. From understanding your customer...

What does it really take to create teams that are not only high-performing, but also human-centred and resilient? In this episode, Mark McBride-Wright sits down with Jade Garratt, Director of Education at Psychological Safety, to explore the role of psychological safety in transforming how we work, learn, and lead. Drawing on her background in education, leadership, and yoga, Jade unpacks the diff...

In this episode of The SAFE Leader Podcast, Dr. Mark McBride-Wright is joined by Linda Carlisle, a seasoned communications and culture strategist with over 30 years of experience helping organisations navigate moments that matter. From her early career in brand strategy to her deep dive into internal communications, Linda shares powerful insights into how culture is shaped by the behaviours we mod...

In this episode of The SAFE Leader Podcast, Dr Frank L. Douglas shares his remarkable journey from growing up in Guyana to breaking barriers in the global pharmaceutical industry. A distinguished physician, scientist and author, Dr Douglas opens up about the discrimination he faced early in his career and how those experiences shaped his philosophy of reframing challenges into opportunities. He ta...

In this episode, Mark McBride-Wright sits down with Iain McKechnie to explore the human side of engineering, where values like safety, care, and inclusion take centre stage. Drawing on years of experience across academia and industry, Iain shares stories of mentorship, bold career shifts, and the importance of designing systems not just for efficiency, but for the people who use them. From assembl...

In this episode, I sit down with Karen Aitchison, Global Head of Wellbeing and Partner at ERM, who brings heart, humour and honesty to the centre of the workplace conversation. From tackling imposter syndrome to rethinking how curiosity can drive stronger connections, Karen shares deeply personal insights and practical tools for creating cultures where people feel safe to show up as themselves. We...

Adriènne Kelbie CBE joins The SAFE Leader Podcast to unpack the reality of leadership beyond titles and job descriptions. From her early experiences navigating personal hardship to becoming Chief Executive of the UK’s nuclear regulator, Adriènne shares a raw and honest account of what it means to lead with resilience, emotional intelligence, and courage. She reflects on the cost of poor leadership...

In this special minisode of The SAFE Leader Podcast, host Mark McBride-Wright reflects on the journey so far, sharing personal insights behind the creation of The SAFE Leader framework and the motivations driving his mission. From moving to New York and building new community, to piloting The SAFE Leader Training Course with Rolls-Royce SMR, Mark explores the critical role of psychological safety,...

In this episode of The SAFE Leader Podcast, we explore what it truly means to lead with integrity, empathy, and long-term vision. Our guest, Dame Judith Hackitt, shares a compelling personal journey from growing up in a mining village surrounded by industrial risk to becoming a key voice in national safety reform. We discuss how core values should anchor leadership, and why embedding health and sa...

What does it really take to lead with strength and humanity? In this episode of The SAFE Leader Podcast, Mark McBride-Wright is joined by Urs Koenig, UN and NATO peacekeeper, ultra-endurance athlete, executive coach, and bestselling author of Radical Humility. Urs shares his powerful philosophy of being tough on results and tender on people, drawing on deeply personal stories from the battlefield,...

In this episode of The SAFE Leader Podcast, Mark McBride-Wright sits down with Malcolm Staves, Global Vice President of Health and Safety at L’Oréal, to explore what it means to lead with purpose, care, and conviction. Malcolm shares the story of the hummingbird, a simple but powerful metaphor that has come to define his approach to leadership and culture change. From global safety systems to gras...

In this episode of The Safe Leader Podcast, Mark McBride-Wright sits down with Antonio Zappulla, CEO of the Thomson Reuters Foundation, to explore what it really means to lead with purpose in uncertain times. From his early days in a newsroom during 9/11 to navigating the challenges of running a global organisation through COVID-19, Antonio shares how decisiveness, curiosity, and a refusal to acce...