‘What It's Taken’ by David and Jenny Harkin

In this episode, we’re joined by Johnny Yates , a Music & Sound Award–nominated composer whose work spans award-winning documentaries, television series and global brands. From Silverback , Virgin Island and Poison Water to projects with Formula 1, Amazon, Bentley and McLaren, Johnny has built a career creating music that brings stories to life. His score for Silverback earned industry recogni...

In this episode we’re joined by Adam Ramsay - Peaty OBE , Olympic champion, world record holder, and one of the most dominant athletes the sport of swimming has ever seen. Adam’s journey began at a small swimming club in Uttoxeter before moving to the City of Derby Swimming Club at the age of 14, where he was coached by former Olympian Mel Marshall. What followed was a rise that would redefine wha...

In this episode we’re joined by Anita Gleave , one of the most influential and forward-thinking leaders in independent and international education. With nearly four decades of experience across classrooms, headships and global school groups, Anita has built a reputation as a pioneering force in the sector - someone unafraid to challenge traditional models and rethink what education can look like f...

In this episode we’re joined by Agnes Cserhati , internationally recognised leadership strategist, keynote speaker, and author of the bestselling book The Performance Advantage . With more than 25 years of global experience across over 100 countries, Agnes has worked with Fortune 500 companies, UN agencies and global institutions to help leaders and organisations perform at the highest level. Agne...

In this episode, we’re joined by  Aatif Hassan , the founder and chairman of  Dukes Education , whose story moves in that quiet, surprising way where one decision changes the entire direction of a life. Aatif grew up in West London, navigating school with dyslexia and ADHD, feeling the familiar frustration of a system that didn’t quite know what to do with him. Everything shifted when his father m...

In this episode, we sit down with  Sally Orange MBE , someone who somehow manages to be both utterly extraordinary and completely human at the same time. A former British Army Major, world record–breaking endurance athlete, mental health campaigner and fundraiser, Sally has built a life around service, resilience and a kind of stubborn optimism that pulls people in. She’s completed some of the tou...

In this episode, we’re joined by  Edwina Dunn OBE , one of the most influential leaders in data and a pioneer of transformational change. Edwina helped revolutionise the world of retail and consumer goods when her company Dunnhumby developed Tesco Clubcard and global loyalty programmes that reshaped how brands understand and serve customers. Today, she is the Founder and Chair of  The Female Lead...

This episode, we are joined by twins Julius and Fabian Cowdrey, boys from the Cowdrey cricket family. With backgrounds spanning entrepreneurship, music, professional sport, and even reality TV, the Cowdrey brothers have channelled their diverse experiences into a new shared mission as co-founders of Joyna - a community platform built to help people connect, grow, and find joy in an increasingly di...

We kick off the new season of What It's Taken, with Sue Atkins - internationally recognised parenting expert, bestselling author, broadcaster and leading voice in modern family life. A familiar face on ITV’s This Morning , Good Morning Britain , Jeremy Vine on 5 and BBC Radio, Sue has spent her career empowering parents to raise happy, confident and resilient children, without judgement or pre...

In this special wrap-up episode of  What It’s Taken , hosts  David and Jenny Harkin  reflect on the incredible journey of  Series 1  - a collection of nine conversations with extraordinary guests from around the world and from all walks of life. Across entrepreneurs, educators, creatives, and leaders, one message rang loud and clear: the power to  lean in to challenges, opportunities, and even the...

🎙️ In this episode of  What It’s Taken , we’re joined by  Tom Munday  – entrepreneur, storyteller, and one of the founders of  LUX Rewards , a tech start-up in the payment-linked rewards space. Tom helped scale LUX from £0 to over  £600k MRR , playing a pivotal role in its growth and ultimate acquisition. Known for outmanoeuvring larger sales teams with creativity, persistence, and genuine human c...

🎙️What It's Taken – Episode 008: Jeroen van de Waal – 'Work-Life Flow' In this episode of  What It s Taken, we’re joined by  Jeroen van de Waal  – mechanical engineer turned global CEO, and now a passionate  ocean conservationist, educator, and CEO and founder of the BlueBeat Group . After a decade leading multinational companies in Asia, Jeroen took a bold step away from conventional...

In this episode of  What It's Taken , we’re joined by Hugo Mitchell-Heggs MBE, Royal Navy Marine Engineering Officer, submariner, and founder of HMS Oardacious – the fastest serving military team to row across the Atlantic Ocean. With 15 years spent operating nuclear reactors and ship systems on submarines in some of the world’s most extreme environments, Hugo’s story is one of extraordinary e...

🎙️ What It's Taken – Episode 006: Tom Whittle, Founder of Mission – 'Becoming Incredibly Comfortable With Failure ' In this episode of  What It's Taken , we’re joined by  Tom Whittle , the record-breaking adventurer and founder of  Mission  – the natural energy drinks brand fuelling everyone from Premier League clubs to Formula One drivers. Tom’s story is far from ordinary. He left...

🎙️ What It's Taken – Episode 005: Chris & Jess Woodward-Jones, Co-Founders of Vizzy – ‘Polite Persistence’ In this episode of  What It's Taken , we’re joined by  Chris and Jess Woodward-Jones , the dynamic husband-and-wife team behind  Vizzy  – a platform transforming the way early career talent is seen and hired. With backgrounds in consultancy, marketing, and change management, Chris...

 What It's Taken – Episode 004: Sir Clive Woodward – 'Passion for Knowledge' In this episode of  What It's Taken, we sit down with  Sir Clive Woodward , the visionary coach who led England to their historic 2003 Rugby World Cup victory. A former international player turned pioneering leader, Sir Clive shares insights into the mindset, preparation, and innovation that propelled his...

🎙️ What It's Taken – Episode 003: Dr Sherylle Calder, Sports Scientist – “Maintain Forever Learning” In this episode of  What It's Taken , we speak with  Dr Sherylle Calder , renowned sports scientist and creator of  EyeGym  – a groundbreaking programme that trains visual and cognitive performance for athletes and professionals alike. A former international hockey player with a PhD in visu...

🎙️ In this episode of What It's Taken , we're joined by The Right Honourable the Baroness Morgan of Cotes (Nicky Morgan) – a former Cabinet Minister, trailblazing MP, and now a member of the House of Lords with a portfolio career spanning the public and private sectors. 🚀 Baroness Morgan brings a wealth of experience to the conversation. She served in the Cabinets of both David Cameron an...

🎙 Welcome to What It's Taken! If you're passionate about uncovering the key traits that define extraordinary leaders, you're in the right place! 🚀 In our very first episode, we’re joined by Emma Watkinson , the powerhouse behind a global fashion brand SilkFred that has shipped over 300 million items to 85+ countries . Emma takes us through her incredible journey—navigating the highs a...