TIE Unearthed

Meritocracy would be a nice idea, but there is no evidence that leadership selection is meritocratic. We live in a world where men succeed because of their incompetence, and women fail because of their competence. So, what does progress look like? It is not about making it easy for competent women to succeed. Instead, progress is making it harder for incompetent men to succeed in the first place....

Ever wondered about the unseen struggles that young girls face around the world when it comes to menstruation, especially in remote areas? 🌍 In this eye-opening episode of TIE Unearthed, I sit down with Sia Towo, the Managing Director of Femme International in Tanzania, to delve deep into the challenges around culture and periods. Sia, with nearly eight years of experience working on grassroots i...

We know people-first companies are more competitive. BUT, for that to be possible, we need the L&D bods to be confident, have a voice, and have a place at the table. This is the KEY to ensure that the culture of companies is heading in the right direction. So, who is getting the L&D people ready for the C-suit conversations? 🤔 Today I’m speaking with my friend Cathy Hoy, a seasoned learni...

I love mining companies – said no one, ever. This is a problem, right? These essential minerals have a critical role in the energy transition; but we don’t want them mined. And few people, as a result of this negative image, want to go into the industry. How is it ever going to evolve and be more sustainable? This is the conundrum we are talking about on today’s episode of TIE Unearthed. I am join...

Welcome to Episode 90 of the TIE Unearthed podcast! Today, I’m thrilled to feature Oliver Banks, an expert consultant who works with senior leaders to transform retail and consumer-facing businesses. Ollie's career began with designing intricate systems in engineering, driven by a childhood curiosity for how things work. Seeking a more dynamic and people-focused role, he pivoted to retail with...

Today I welcome Milla Chaplin Rae from Mumbai, who shares her transformative journey and the incredible experiences that have shaped her life and career. Listen as we explore her profound experience with the TIE Leadership program, and how it became the catalyst for her next life chapter and her compelling book. Milla opens up about the emotional depths of her time in Myanmar during the military c...

Many of us wrestle with self-doubt. Whether it leaves us exhausted by over-preparing for things, or feeling frustrated and unfulfilled because it's holding us back. Join me on this episode of TIE Unearthed as I engage in a conversation with Julie Smith, the bestselling author of 'Coach Yourself Confident.' Julie's journey from corporate life at Mars and PepsiCo to founding Talent S...

Welcome to today's episode where we embark on a journey with Pietra Mello-Pittman MBE, tracing her extraordinary path from the hallowed halls of the Royal Ballet School in London to the global stage of the Royal Ballet. But that's just the beginning. Get ready for a backstage pass into the mesmerising world of "Inala" – the Zulu Ballet, a Grammy Nominated sensation co-created by Pietra and her vis...

In an industry often dominated by relentless pursuit of profit and growth, Coffee and TV charts a different course, prioritising a deep-seated belief in the power of nurturing a supportive, family-like environment. Since its inception, this unique company has steadfastly refused to follow the conventional path laid out by corporations driven by financial metrics, choosing instead to grow at a pace...

Did you know that 90% of the world’s money is controlled and invested by white men? Did you also know that when women are at the table, investment returns are proven to be higher? This is a conversation that will bring to life how portfolios can predictably outperform the market. It also shines a spotlight on a truly broken system. Recognising the stark disconnect between philanthropic grant dolla...

This is a story that starts with a rogue trader. And then moves to what happens when you truly empathise with the other side of an equation. Today I speak with Christian Hunt, the founder of Human Risk, a Behavioural Science led Consulting and Training Firm, specialising in the fields of Ethics and Compliance. And Author of Humanizing Rules. After Christian started to “eat his regulatory cooking”...

When someone has lived around the world as a young person, what sort of job do they go into as an adult? And what happens when someone sees something that then impacts them on a visceral level? Today I speak with Lucy McCray, CEO at the Freedom Story. The Freedom Story is an organization that works to prevent child trafficking in Northern Thailand. As a child growing up, Lucy became very aware of...

Where should we first look to find solutions to a problem? What is one of the most effective ways to unleash a person’s potential? What happens when benchmarks disappear and new normals are created? Today’s episode is going to show you just what is possible when the right conditions are created for people to thrive. Barbara Soalheiro is the founder of Mesa Company and the creator of Mesa Method. M...

What is the power of giving someone a taste of possibility?  How has the advertising industry been incentivised to make ads that shatter gender stereotypes? And why is it so important to see your life and the world from a different perspective? Today I talk with my friend Senta Slingerland, who used to be the Director of Brand Strategy at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, is t...

What is the role of business in society? How can people’s perception with that then impact their experience at work?  How does it then impact how a business shows up when it relates to all of its stakeholders and its long-term success? Today we do a deep dive into all of this with Sarah Gillard, using examples from her 27-year career in fast-paced commercial environments at some of the UK’s larges...

What does it mean to create an environment for success at a company?   How do companies often get it wrong? What happens and what does that look like?  Psychological safety is a key ingredient for businesses and teams to be able to improve, innovate and progress. People need to feel free to speak honestly and feel supported enough to come up with new ideas; without that freedom, new innovative sol...

There is a problem in the communications and creative industries that few people are doing anything about.  It has to do with a senior ceiling that marginalised communities face when it comes to senior roles. There is a drain of really talented people that are leaving because they just don’t see a path for their progression in these companies. It not only doesn’t have to be that way, but business...

Can you do good and still be successful?  What is the true value of purpose? How are huge UK companies in the financial services sector currently struggling from a talent retention and recruitment perspective and what is the answer?  After a bit of a break, TIE Unearthed is back, and today I’m speaking with the first person that hired me when I moved to London in 2001, Chris Norman. Chris is the F...

What does it look like to build a company that not only outlives you, but also makes you feel good in the process? Can you make money and create a significantly positive impact on the planet at the same time? What is the return on being more human? Today I got to speak with Simon Rogerson, co-Founder and CEO of Octopus Group, a company that has invested $20 billion into many different companies in...

How is the law firm that took on the UK government with Article 50 and took on the Royal Family as Princess Diana’s divorce attorneys so successful? Is it because of their high-profile cases or is there another secret ingredient? I was keen to find out. So today, Elliot Moss, Partner and Chief Brand Officer at Mishcon, and Patrick Connolly, Director of the Mischon de Reya Academy, let us in on the...

Can you have purpose driven organizations without purpose driven leaders?  What does it feel like to be in service of something bigger than us?  And should it really come down to tax status to decide if people, or companies, are going to make a difference in the world? These are just some of the questions that get answered in today’s episode with Jon Duschinsky.  Jon is a global thought leader, so...

Is it possible to be a profitable and rapidly growing business and still put people first? What makes a company an incredible place to work? And what is the return on being a human centric company and a human centric leader? As many of you know, I’m in the final stages of writing my book Return on Humanity: The unexpected benefits of being more human in life and business. I’ve been speaking with p...

What is success?   Really, if you stop to think about it. What does it mean in the whole scheme of things?   We all know how easy it is to get sidetracked in life to what we think a successful life is.    But what happens if you reflect on when you feel fulfilled? What does that look like? Is it the same as what you imagined the definition of success to be?   Today I am speaking with Erik Fernholm...

Progress. Surely a sign of progress is that you make things cheaper, faster, and more efficient, while keeping the level of quality at least the same. If not better. But I think we can all agree things don’t seem to be heading in that direction when it comes to life as a customer. Would you say that the customer experience over the last 20 years has gotten better? I think we all agree the answer i...

What are the logistical financial challenges that a bereaved spouse faces when their loved one passes away? Is it possible for a bank to help someone who has dementia feel safe? What are the worries that people who are living with cancer have when it comes to their life-insurance policy? These are just a handful of the human concerns that people around the UK have voiced when it comes to their fin...