The Strategic Leader

What happens when doing the right thing for your department is not the right thing for the organisation? Senior leaders regularly face decisions where functional priorities clash with enterprise-wide objectives. Navigating these tensions effectively is a critical leadership skill. At the top table, leaders wear several hats. One of them represents their functional expertise and accountability, whe...

We explore how senior leaders can better understand their leadership impact, communication style and executive presence, particularly when operating at the top table. Paul Kinkaid brings lessons from 20 years as a British Army officer and his work in leadership consultancy to explore his concept of “forensic leadership”, understanding the positive and negative traces leaders leave through everyday...

Stepping into a senior leadership role is not just a promotion, it is a fundamental identity shift that reshapes how we think, act and contribute. The move from functional expertise to enterprise leadership demands a broader perspective, where success is no longer defined by one area alone but by the performance of the whole organisation. We explore the critical balance between depth and breadth,...

Feeling stuck in back-to-back meetings yet still not moving the business forward? This explores why senior leadership teams struggle to think strategically and how to reset that balance. Strategic leadership, team effectiveness and decision making all depend on creating space to think beyond the day-to-day. The reality is most teams are pulled into operational detail. Even experienced leaders can...

What does strategy actually look like when you’re juggling running projects, leading teams and sitting at the executive table? In this episode we explore that question with Nicola Tilbury, Director at construction consultancy Potter Raper. Drawing on more than 30 years in the industry, Nicola shares how her own strategic capability evolved, often before she realised that was what she was doing. We...

What actually changes when you move from operational leadership into the strategic conversations at the top table? In this episode we explore that question through the lens of COO leadership with our guest, Divinia Knowles. Drawing on her experience as a COO, CEO and now a coach to operational leaders, she shares what she has learned about the shift from execution to strategic contribution. One of...

If you have ever left an exec meeting feeling frustrated by how people behaved rather than what was decided, this episode will change how you see senior teams. Being strategic at the top table is not only about functional expertise or enterprise thinking. It also depends on how you show up behaviourally and how your behaviour interacts with others in the room. This episode explores why behavioural...

Getting a seat at the senior table is one thing. Knowing how to use it well is something else entirely. This series demystifies what senior leadership really involves, We set out the core focus for the series: understanding what it truly takes to operate effectively at executive and senior leadership level. Rather than talking about strategy in theory, we explore the lived reality of sitting aroun...

We explore six Christmas wishes for the year ahead - and each one gives you something to think about as you step into 2026 with intention. Performance management  - we challenge the language we use and frame performance in a fresh way that you can apply immediately. Pay transparency  -  the real opportunity we can leverage from the EU directive. AI in the workplace  - Gemma shares her biggest conc...

Is being ‘nice’ at work doing more harm than good? Many of us equate niceness with being a good leader. But we suggest that when we soften messages, it is more about avoiding discomfort and tiptoeing around conflict. We explore why ‘being nice’ can often lead to unclear expectations, unspoken issues, and missed opportunities for growth, both for individuals and the organisation as a whole. Instead...

If you’re wondering why the number of women in senior roles remains low despite all the progress we think we’ve made, this episode unpacks what’s really going on beneath the surface. We talk to Geraldine Gallacher - CEO, coach, author and president of the City Women’s Network - about the deep-rooted systems that continue to hold women back in leadership. She shares her wealth of knowledge, and exp...

Pay transparency is no longer just a nice-to-have. We explore why it’s fast becoming a legal and cultural expectation. We talk about the EU Pay Transparency Directive, what it requires, and why even UK-based organisations can’t ignore it. Gemma explains the four core areas of the directive: recruitment transparency, clear pay structures and progression criteria, employees’ new rights to pay inform...

Tired of being told to “be more strategic” with no real guidance on what that means? Chief People Officer Indy Lachhar shares her real-world perspective on how HR can think and act more strategically without relying on textbook definitions or theory. She reframes strategy as a daily mindset, focusing on staying aligned to the real goals of the business, building trusted relationships, and focusing...

Is hybrid working better than being fully remote or fully in-office? Frankly, that's the wrong question. This episode explores how decisions about work location are often based on personal opinion rather than data, and why that leads to poor outcomes. Dr Gemma Dale shares insights from her academic research, showing how deeply held beliefs about productivity and presence still drive leadership beh...

The year 2030 may feel like the distant future, but it's just five years away, and the skills we need by then are already shifting. Drawing on the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025 , we explore which capabilities will matter most for individuals, teams, and organisations. Unsurprisingly, AI and big data dominate the list, but what stood out to us was how essential human-centred ski...

AI is already reshaping work, and HR has a perfect opportunity to take the lead. In this episode, we speak with Naureen Hussain, a privacy, data governance and responsible AI specialist, to explore how HR can lead the AI revolution. We talk about why HR can and should be a core voice in shaping organisational AI strategy, and how to practically assess the impact of AI across roles, talent developm...

Performance is a word we throw around easily in work and HR conversations, but do we actually agree on what it means? In this episode we challenge the assumptions and complexity behind a term we think we all understand. Starting with the uncomfortable truth that most organisations operate without a shared definition. And we explore the consequences of trying to reward or manager performance withou...

Performance ratings spark strong views – some see them as essential for clarity and motivation, others as outdated, divisive, and unhelpful. In this episode, we go beyond the usual debate to ask whether ratings can still play a constructive role in modern performance management, or whether they need a complete rethink. We’re joined by Anna Rasmussen, CEO and Founder of OpenBlend , who brings over...

Strategic thinking isn’t about having the strongest opinion in the room – it’s about knowing how to take a step back and ask better questions. In this episode, we talk about what it really takes to move from personal opinion to a more strategic viewpoint, especially when you're dealing with big, complex topics that people often feel strongly about. We explore a simple approach: start by getting so...

Do you ever think about how to make every team gathering intentional, strategic, and worth the investment? In this episode the hosts look at how meetings, away days, training sessions, and team coaching each require distinct approaches to be truly effective. They reveal why they think team building can be a bit random, and not always address the key needs of a team to be truly effective. They talk...

We explore what makes a high-performing team, the difference between individual and collective performance, and a seven-part model for building effective, cohesive, and successful teams. Fiona shares insights from her work in leadership and team coaching, highlighting how individual brilliance does not automatically create a high-performing team. They introduce a seven-part model from Lucy Widdows...

We discuss the challenges and strategies when you move from team member to team manager, Drawing on personal experiences and coaching insights, we have a natter about the unique challenges this shift can pose. What's your new leadership identity? How do you balance team dynamics? How do you ensure you fulfil what the organisation needs of you in this new role? Fi shares a candid anecdotes about on...

Discussing the complexities of making decisions as a team. The hosts examine how group dynamics, diverse perspectives, and unclear roles can hinder effective decision-making. A central theme is the importance of defining the decision-making process - understanding roles, responsibilities, and accountabilities - before tackling the decision itself. The conversation highlights the RACI framework (Re...

A behind-the-scenes festive chat to reflect on The Strategic Leader podcast journey over the past year. From how it all began to the highs, lows, and lessons learned, we’re spilling the mulled wine and sharing it all! We also sprinkle in some reflective coaching questions to help you look back on your own year and plan for the next. Use these questions to spark your thinking: What are you most pro...

How do you create high-performing teams in lightning speed? Drawing on the rapid teaming model developed by David Clutterbuck, the hosts discuss how high-performing teams can be created without the sometimes lengthy stages of traditional models like forming, storming, norming, and performing. Fiona draws on her Team Coaching experience and explains the four core principles of the rapid teaming mod...