Curiosity separates good leaders from great ones. Are you asking the questions to truly understand how work gets done across your organisation?
Sue Thexton, Group Leader at Harris Computer is a seasoned business leader with decades of experience guiding teams and organisations across the UK, Europe, and beyond.
Sharing her insights on the power of curiosity in leadership, Sue explains how asking the right questions, observing processes, and learning from every situation can uncover opportunities for growth and improvement. She offers the practical advice you need to engage your teams, understand your customers, and approach challenges with an open mind.
Curiosity is a tool. Discover how you can use it to better understand your teams, your customers, and the opportunities that will take your leadership further.
PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT IN AN AI-DRIVEN WORLD.
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17th March 2026. Get your ticket here.
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Welcome to our series of bite-sized episodes featuring favourite moments from the Leading for Business Excellence podcast series.
In this minisode, Richard Best, Director of Improvement at University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, shares how standardising work across 42 admin teams unlocked not only financial savings but also happier teams, reduced stress, and faster patient outcomes.
Listen to the full episode here: https://pmi.co.uk/knowledge-hub/inside-nhs-leadership-driving-everyday-excellence/
PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT IN AN AI-DRIVEN WORLD.
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Welcome to our series of bite-sized episodes featuring favourite moments from the Leading for Business Excellence podcast series.
This minisode features Hayley Glasby-Ringham, Associate Partner at KPMG, as she shares how her organisation navigated a “Transformation with a capital T" - a full-scale, end-to-end change across processes, systems, and culture.
Listen to the full episode here: https://pmi.co.uk/knowledge-hub/leading-transformation-in-the-age-of-ai/
PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT IN AN AI-DRIVEN WORLD.
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What happens when Continuous Improvement is led from the frontline, not just the boardroom?
In this episode, Alex Donaldson and Ben McCready, Process Improvement Managers from Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) share how their BQF award-winning ‘Perform’ programme is equipping managers to lead change in one of the world’s fastest growing electricity networks companies.
You’ll hear how Perform helps teams build habits around daily huddles, structured problem-solving, and critical behaviours like accountability and empowerment, bringing to life a culture of ownership and Continuous Improvement. Alex and Ben open up about the early resistance they faced, the tools that helped shift mindsets, and the operational gains that followed, from faster response times to increased productivity and staff engagement.
If you’re looking to embed improvement across diverse, distributed teams - especially in high-pressure, high-change environments - this episode will give you practical, people-focused lessons that deliver lasting results.
Listen now to discover how behavioural change became the foundation for operational excellence at SSEN.
PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT IN AN AI-DRIVEN WORLD.
The Goals to Results Conference is back!
17th March 2026. Get your ticket here.
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Welcome to our series of bite-sized episodes featuring favourite moments from the Leading for Business Excellence podcast series.
In this minisode, Richard Best, Director of Improvement at University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, shares how his teams use improvement huddle boards to build skills, share learning, and boost coaching confidence - proving that with structure and respect for time, 15 minutes can be enough to make real progress.
Listen to the full episode here: https://pmi.co.uk/knowledge-hub/inside-nhs-leadership-driving-everyday-excellence/
PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT IN AN AI-DRIVEN WORLD.
The Goals to Results Conference is back!
17th March 2026. Get your ticket here.
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Welcome to our series of bite-sized episodes featuring favourite moments from the Leading for Business Excellence podcast series.
In this minisode, Anu Kalia shares how Continuous Improvement has become part of the fabric at Tesco. From onboarding new colleagues to embedding CI in transitions and day-to-day operations, he explains how a culture of improvement is built from the start, and sustained through visible impact.
Listen to the full episode here: https://pmi.co.uk/knowledge-hub/culture-by-design-how-tesco-made-ci-everyones-business/
PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT IN AN AI-DRIVEN WORLD.
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Welcome to our series of bite-sized episodes featuring favourite moments from the Leading for Business Excellence podcast series.
In this minisode, experienced board director Helen Mahy shares practical advice on what non-executive directors focus on to understand an organisation’s health. From financial control to executive quality and early signals that a growing business needs a board, Helen offers candid guidance for aspiring and seasoned non-execs alike.
Listen to the full episode here: https://pmi.co.uk/knowledge-hub/what-makes-an-effective-non-executive-director-steering-ftse-companies/
PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT IN AN AI-DRIVEN WORLD.
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Welcome to our series of bite-sized episodes featuring favourite moments from the Leading for Business Excellence podcast series.
In this minisode, Tony Tielen, former Group Director of Operational Excellence at Smiths Group plc, shares how data-driven decisions, talent incubation, and inclusive behaviours are helping shape a more balanced future.
Listen to the full episode here: https://pmi.co.uk/knowledge-hub/podcast-the-leadership-blueprint-for-a-continuous-improvement-culture/
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What does it take to embed improvement into the fabric of a global organisation?
Anu Kalia, Global Process Excellence Lead at Tesco, shares how a long-term commitment to Continuous Improvement is delivering impact at scale, earning them the 2025 BQF Award for Excellence in CI Culture (Service).
From onboarding and talent attraction to leadership behaviours and daily huddles, Anu explains how Tesco’s CI culture has evolved over seven years, and why it’s far more than a series of projects.
You’ll hear how the team has generated over 15,000 ideas, the strategic shifts that kept momentum high, and how performance boards, process mining, and AI are shaping the next chapter. Anu also shares his ambition to build Tesco’s best-in-class in-house consultancy, and the role of senior leaders in making improvement a non-negotiable.
Whether you're starting your CI leadership journey or scaling across a complex organisation, this episode offers real-world insights on sustaining improvement culture in every corner of the business.
Listen now to hear how everyday excellence is being brought to life at Tesco.
PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT IN AN AI-DRIVEN WORLD.
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17th March 2026. Get your ticket here.
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Welcome to our series of bite-sized episodes featuring favourite moments from the Leading for Business Excellence podcast series.
In this minisode, PMI’s Rich Seddon challenges traditional thinking on productivity, arguing that old models no longer serve today’s societies. From economic systems to resource scarcity, he explores the critical role of improvement in creating value with fewer inputs.
Listen to the full episode here: https://pmi.co.uk/knowledge-hub/maximising-inputs-fuelling-growth-balancing-value/
PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT IN AN AI-DRIVEN WORLD.
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17th March 2026. Get your ticket here.
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Welcome to our series of bite-sized episodes featuring favourite moments from the Leading for Business Excellence podcast series.
In this minisode, experienced board director Helen Mahy shares a candid take on what’s really changing in boardrooms, from true diversity of thought to the powerful role of the chair. Plus, why being the “best fit” isn’t always best for business.
Listen to the full episode here: https://pmi.co.uk/knowledge-hub/what-makes-an-effective-non-executive-director-steering-ftse-companies/
PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT IN AN AI-DRIVEN WORLD.
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Welcome to our series of bite-sized episodes featuring favourite moments from the Leading for Business Excellence podcast series.
In this minisode, Jason Hill, founder of Hill Helicopters, shares why product innovation should start with a deep understanding of customer need, not just a good idea. Hear how decades of listening, refining, and real-world insight fuelled his 30-year journey to reimagine private aviation.
Listen to the full episode here: https://pmi.co.uk/knowledge-hub/podcast-how-did-hill-helicopters-revolutionise-the-aviation-industry/
PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT IN AN AI-DRIVEN WORLD.
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Are you ready to navigate the changing landscape of transformation where AI is more than a buzzword?
Hayley Glasby-Ringham, Associate Partner at KPMG, shares practical insights from the frontline of large-scale change. Hayley explains how AI is reshaping the way organisations approach transformation, and why technology alone won’t deliver success.
This episode focuses on the human factors that often get overlooked: leadership behaviours, building trust, and creating conditions where change lasts beyond the initial hype. Hayley highlights the role of leadership in sustaining momentum, common pitfalls that derail progress, and the importance of clear communication and alignment in complex environments.
Whether you’re leading digital change, embedding new ways of working, or striving to keep improvement alive, this conversation offers grounded, practical wisdom from a leader who understands the balance between technology and people.
Listen now to sharpen your transformation approach and lead change that lasts.
PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT IN AN AI-DRIVEN WORLD.
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17th March 2026. Get your ticket here.
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Welcome to our series of bite-sized episodes featuring favourite moments from the Leading for Business Excellence podcast series.
In this minisode, Steve Vaid, CEO of Money Advice Trust, shares insights from his first 90 days in leadership. From meeting every employee to fostering a culture of problem-solving, Steve discusses how listening, data, and empowering teams are driving improvement within the organisation.
Listen to the full episode here: https://pmi.co.uk/knowledge-hub/customer-centric-leadership-insights-from-charity-to-commerce/
PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT IN AN AI-DRIVEN WORLD.
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Welcome to our series of bite-sized episodes featuring favourite moments from the Leading for Business Excellence podcast series.
In this minisode, PMI’s Managing Partners challenge us to think beyond quick wins, explaining why true sustainability relies on systems thinking, thoughtful design, and equipping people with the skills to evaluate impact.
Listen to the full episode here: https://pmi.co.uk/knowledge-hub/maximising-inputs-fuelling-growth-balancing-value/
PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT IN AN AI-DRIVEN WORLD.
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Welcome to our series of bite-sized episodes featuring favourite moments from the Leading for Business Excellence podcast series.
In this episode, former Global Head of Process Experience at Tesco, Laura McLaren shares why successful change is about understanding people as much as it is about managing projects. From Oyster cards to neuroscience, she explores what it really takes to embed lasting change that people actually adopt.
Listen to the full episode here: https://pmi.co.uk/knowledge-hub/driving-sustainable-improvement-in-a-global-organisation/
PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT IN AN AI-DRIVEN WORLD.
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Featuring Richard Best
Director of Improvement, University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust & Deputy Director of Quality Improvement for Specialised Commissioning, NHS England
What’s getting in the way of real, lasting improvement in your organisation? Is it time? Buy-in? Or just too much variation in how your teams are led?
From streamlining thousands of admin processes to embedding Leader Standard Work into the everyday, Richard reveals how sustainable routines like daily check-ins and meaningful one-to-ones can make a big impact. Not overnight, but over time.
He speaks candidly about leading through dips in enthusiasm, and why simplicity, structure, and visibility are often the most undervalued tools in a leader’s kit. This is grounded, honest insight from someone who’s spent years working alongside teams, unpicking complexity, and helping improvement take root.
If you’re trying to build momentum, create alignment in leadership, or embed lasting improvement, you won’t want to miss this. Listen now and discover how better routines lead to better results.
Related content:
PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT IN AN AI-DRIVEN WORLD.
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Welcome to our series of bite-sized episodes featuring favourite moments from the Leading for Business Excellence podcast series.
In this episode, Neurodiversity Trainer and Consultant Rosie Brighty shares practical advice on how standardised processes can be made more inclusive for neurodivergent team members. From visual cues to logical file structures, Rosie highlights the balance between necessary structure and flexible thinking, showing how inclusive process design doesn’t mean compromising on performance.
Listen to the full episode here: https://pmi.co.uk/knowledge-hub/understanding-variation-in-our-people-not-just-our-processes/
PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT IN AN AI-DRIVEN WORLD.
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Welcome to our series of bite-sized episodes featuring favourite moments from the Leading for Business Excellence podcast.
In this minisode, Jason Hill, Chairman and Chief Engineer at Hill Helicopters, discusses the art of designing processes that evolve with a business. From manufacturing every component in-house to managing data and workflows, Jason shares how his team builds systems that are both structured and adaptable.
Every start-up feels broken at times, but how do you create processes that grow with you rather than hold you back? Listen to the full episode here: https://pmi.co.uk/knowledge-hub/podcast-how-did-hill-helicopters-revolutionise-the-aviation-industry/
PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT IN AN AI-DRIVEN WORLD.
The Goals to Results Conference is back!
17th March 2026. Get your ticket here.
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Welcome to our series of bite-sized episodes featuring favourite moments from the Leading for Business Excellence podcast.
In this minisode, PMI's Susannah Clarke, Kate Smith and Rich Seddon explore the risks of digital transformation without a clear purpose. Are businesses falling into the trap of letting technology drive the process, rather than the other way around? And how can organisations ensure digitisation truly adds value?
Listen to the full episode here: https://pmi.co.uk/knowledge-hub/maximising-inputs-fuelling-growth-balancing-value/
PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT IN AN AI-DRIVEN WORLD.
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Is your transformation strategy energising your people, or exhausting them?
Transformation expert and BQF Non-Executive Director Laila Iftikhar-Ali shares practical insights for leaders looking to drive meaningful change without leaving their teams behind.
Drawing on years of cross-sector experience, Laila explores how to build psychological safety, unlock individual motivation, and create the conditions where change sticks long after the spotlight moves on. She shares real-world examples of identifying internal influencers, navigating change fatigue, and leveraging technology whilst prioritising human intelligence.
Whether you're balancing the pressures of daily delivery with the need for innovation, or integrating tech without losing touch, you’ll want to hear this. Listen now to discover how purpose, empowerment, and culture are the real drivers of transformation success.
PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT IN AN AI-DRIVEN WORLD.
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Welcome to our series of bite-sized episodes featuring favourite moments from the Leading for Business Excellence podcast.
In this minisode, Helen Mahy, Chair of the NextEnergy Solar Fund and Non-Executive Director at SSE plc and Gowling WLG, shares why modern boards must go beyond the boardroom. How do great leaders balance strategic oversight with on-the-ground understanding?
Listen to the full episode here: https://pmi.co.uk/knowledge-hub/what-makes-an-effective-non-executive-director-steering-ftse-companies/
PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT IN AN AI-DRIVEN WORLD.
The Goals to Results Conference is back!
17th March 2026. Get your ticket here.
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Welcome to our series of bite-sized episodes featuring favourite moments from the Leading for Business Excellence podcast.
In this minisode, Jamie Bowen, Head of ESG and Improvement at Chevron Group, shares insights into overcoming challenges when scaling business improvement across a growing organisation. How do you sustain Continuous Improvement and share knowledge as your company evolves?
Listen to the full episode here: https://pmi.co.uk/knowledge-hub/integrating-esg-and-business-improvement/
PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT IN AN AI-DRIVEN WORLD.
The Goals to Results Conference is back!
17th March 2026. Get your ticket here.
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Welcome to our series of bite-sized episodes featuring favourite moments from the Leading for Business Excellence podcast.
In this minisode, Jason Hill, Chairman and Chief Engineer at Hill Helicopters, discusses the critical role of leadership in driving innovation and business growth. What does it take to keep your team on track while scaling your business?
Listen to the full episode here: https://pmi.co.uk/knowledge-hub/podcast-how-did-hill-helicopters-revolutionise-the-aviation-industry/
PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT IN AN AI-DRIVEN WORLD.
The Goals to Results Conference is back!
17th March 2026. Get your ticket here.
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Welcome to our series of bite-sized episodes featuring favourite moments from the Leading for Business Excellence podcast.
In this minisode, join Laura McLaren, Global Head of Process Excellence at Tesco, and PMI’s Susannah Clarke as they discuss the benefits of gamification. How can you bring your improvement initiatives to life in a way that engages and excites your team?
Listen to the full episode here: https://pmi.co.uk/knowledge-hub/driving-sustainable-improvement-in-a-global-organisation/
PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT IN AN AI-DRIVEN WORLD.
The Goals to Results Conference is back!
17th March 2026. Get your ticket here.
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Cultivating Curiosity to Become the Leader You Aspire to Be - with Sue Thexton, Harris Computer
41:53
Minisode #95: Why Standardising Work Matters
3:49
Minisode #94: Transformation With a Capital 'T'
5:13
Empowering Teams Through Behavioural Change: Inside SSEN’s CI Journey
35:49
Minisode #93: The Power of a 15-Minute Huddle
3:52
Minisode #92: CI Starts on Day One
1:59
Minisode #91: What Boards Look For in Organisational Health
4:05
Minisode #90: Driving Inclusion Through CI Leadership
3:42
Culture by Design: How Tesco Made CI Everyone’s Business – with Anu Kalia, Tesco
31:27
Minisode #89: The Productivity Problem
4:04
Minisode #88: Boardroom Balance
4:57
Minisode #87: Flying Starts with Listening
4:05
Leading Transformation in the Age of AI - with Hayley Glasby-Ringham, KPMG
45:10
Minisode #86: Leadership in Action - The First 90 Days as CEO
3:54
Minisode #85: Improvement Meets Sustainability
2:59
Minisode #84: Change Management - From Resistance to Routine
3:17
Inside NHS Leadership: Driving Everyday Excellence - with Richard Best, NHS
39:53
Minisode #83: Flexible Thinking, Rigid Goals - Make Your Processes Inclusive By Design
3:22
Minisode #82: Building Agile Processes - Learning as You Grow
3:14
Minisode #81: Digital Transformation - Purpose Before Technology
3:36
Transform with Purpose, Lead with People - with Laila Iftikhar-Ali, BQF
39:46
Minisode #80: The Modern Boardroom Mindset
4:32
Minisode #79: Scaling Improvement in Growing Businesses
2:57
Minisode #78: Leadership Driving Innovation
3:19
Minisode #77: Energising Improvement with Gamification
3:28