Have you ever wondered if the best move in your career might be walking away?
On this week’s episode of The Courageous Leaders Podcast, I sat down with Josh Harris, CEO of Neverland London. Josh made the bold decision to step away from the security of corporate life and it turned out to be the best thing he could have done.

We talk about the emotional weight of leadership, the pressure to protect people, and the challenge of building a business that looks after purpose, people and profits together. Creating a culture that helped Neverland earn a spot as one of Campaign’s Best Places to Work 2024 and 2025.

We Cover:
01:15 – Leaving a stable job with a newborn during COVID

03:22 – Two breaking points that made walking away the only option

06:42 – Returning to work with new clarity on culture and fit

09:35 – The unexpected loneliness of becoming CEO

12:04 – Why investing in junior talent powers the whole business

15:45 – Protecting people first: cutting costs without cutting jobs

17:41 – Leading without a set path and keeping creativity at the core

21:35 – Why emotional intelligence is Josh’s most valuable leadership tool

28:02 – Balancing control with trust and creating psychological safety

31:19 – Working with founders without the ego clashes

36:46 – The challenges and freedom of an all-new leadership team

39:34 – “Ask forgiveness, not permission”

40:47 – The advice Josh’s future self would give him today

Don’t miss out on this powerful episode. 

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Ever made a decision under pressure that you instantly regretted?

Maybe it was to avoid conflict, keep the peace, or just make the discomfort stop.

I’ve been there and it nearly cost me my confidence as a leader.

In this solo episode of The Courageous Leaders Podcast, I open up about how pressure is the real test of your leadership.

We Cover:
01:14 – The two ways leaders make decisions under pressure

02:22 – The personal story that changed how I lead

03:51 – What actually triggers your pressure

04:53 – Reframing pressure as a privilege, not a burden

05:33 – The perspective trick every overwhelmed leader needs

06:43 – The biggest mistake leaders make when pressure hits

07:22 – Why trusting your gut can save you from costly decisions

07:37 – Quick recap of all four pressure-handling tools

08:00 – Why pressure makes you wiser, not weaker

08:35 – A message for every leader who’s navigating the hard days

Don’t miss out on this powerful episode. 

👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you!
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ


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If LinkedIn had a no-fluff filter…
 
How much content would survive?
We put Elisabetta Torretti, in the hot seat to find out,
🌍 The best and worst thing about starting over in a new country  
📊 Her blunt advice for anyone tying self-worth to metrics
📱  The habit she tells others to break… but can’t break herself
💌 And the weirdest DM she’s ever received

Watch the clip now and don’t miss the full episode for more curious moments.

📺 Elisabetta’s full Fast & Curious episode drops today on YouTube. Don’t forget to also check out her full Courageous Leaders interview while you’re there.

→ Join our newsletter for courageous leadership insights and advice.
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https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ


🚀 Elevate Your Leadership:
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How do you turn personal struggles into a platform that changes lives?

In this episode of Courageous Leaders Podcast, I’m joined by Elisabetta Torretti, founder and CEO of Mint and Lemon, who helps founders and teams show up online with clarity and confidence. From moving to London at 25 without speaking English, and overcoming an eating disorder, to growing 100k LinkedIn followers in a year, Elisabetta’s story is a masterclass in courage, reinvention, and building a personal brand that opens doors.

We Cover:
01:21 – Moving to London without English or connections

03:23 – The three teenage dreams that shaped her leap into the unknown

06:10 – From insecurity and imposter syndrome to starting self-belief work

09:29 – Discovering and confronting binge eating disorder

13:30 – Lessons from therapy and how they built her resilience

17:27 – From corporate to 100k LinkedIn followers and why visibility matters

22:18 – Navigating overwhelm, boundaries, and criticism online

26:12 – Why trolls are a sign of success and how to handle them

28:27 – Everyone has a personal brand and here’s how to start building yours

36:54 – One piece of advice for anyone scared to post online

39:30 – Where she still wants to be more courageous and why self-belief matters

Don’t miss out on this powerful episode.

👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you!
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🚀 Elevate Your Leadership:
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⏰ 6:07am. Twice a week.

That’s when Check Warner sets her alarm.

Why so precise? 👀

That’s just one of the things you’ll discover in this week’s The Fast & The Curious with Matt & Check, Co-Founders of Ada Ventures.

From parenting lessons to the startup ‘rules’ they ignored, this is the side of two highly successful founders you won’t find on Google.

🎧 Take a listen here: https://podcasts.apple.com/uk/podcast/the-courageous-leaders-podcast/id1594924295

📺 Watch now on YouTube, full Courageous Leaders Podcast episode also live.

👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you!
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What happens when two unlikely co-founders challenge everything about the venture capital world?

In this episode of The Courageous Leaders Podcast, I sit down with Check Warner and Matt Penneycard, the duo behind Ada Ventures. They open up about money, stress, parenthood, relentless rejection and what it takes to build a business from nothing but trust and audacity.

If you’ve ever wondered how to start a company with zero roadmap, navigate co-founder friction, or fundraise against the odds this one’s for you.

We Cover: 
01:40 – Check’s bold career pivot into VC with no finance background

04:46 – Matt’s courageous leap despite the financial and family strain

06:18 – Why Check didn’t believe Matt was “real” (and how that changed everything)

08:40 – Equal partnership: how they split everything 50/50 from day one

11:54 – Building Ada Ventures with no salary, no certainty, just vision

13:13 – How trust and shared risk carried them through tough times

15:25 – The first moment of friction (and the awkward feedback conversation)

18:35 – Leading with inclusivity, especially when no one else was doing this

29:47 – Did they ever think about quitting? Yes. Here’s how they didn’t.

32:10 – The viral “privilege” article and why Check had to speak up

Don’t miss out on this powerful episode. 

👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you!
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ


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What do penis pens, naked yoga and an erotic platform...

All have in common?

Lauren Spearman reveals in her The Fast & The Curious episode.

Cannes chaos to 9pm bedtimes

This one moves fast and nothing is off limits.

🙃 What did her family buy her that left her speechless?
 💸 Why have none of her invoices been paid this month?
 🍷 What’s her go-to hobby that involves wine and a fancy tablecloth?
 👀 And which platform would she love to collab with purely for fun?

You’ll laugh.
You’ll raise an eyebrow.
You’ll question your own morning routine.

📺 Full episode of The Courageous Leaders Podcast now live on YouTube.

👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you!
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ


🚀 Elevate Your Leadership:
Book a call for transformative leadership and team coaching:
Website: https://thechangecreators.com
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How to keep showing up and challenging yourself even when you have no confidence?

In this episode of The Courageous Leaders Podcast, I speak with Lauren Spearman, a Social Media consultant and content creator, about the raw and real journey of building confidence. From leaving a steady job with no plan B to showing up online at her lowest point, Lauren shares what it’s really like to let go of control, show up when you're unsure, and embrace uncertainty. 

Whether you're stuck in your career, struggling to speak up, or just tired of waiting for confidence to arrive, this one's for you.

We Cover: 

00:00 – Introduction
01:30 – The TikTok that changed her career trajectory
03:20 – A lifelong battle with self-worth and body image
05:00 – Why confidence is a wave you ride
08:00 – Quitting without a plan and what changed her mindset
10:30 – Confidence isn’t having all the answers
12:00 – You have to act first
14:00 – Raising standards changed everything
16:00 – Building a portfolio career by following energy
20:00 – Designing a dream lifestyle, not a dream job
34:30 – Getting curious and asking better questions

Don’t miss out on this powerful episode.

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🎧 Listen to the full podcast episode here:
https://thecourageousleaderspodcast.buzzsprout.com/

🚀 Elevate Your Leadership:

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What’s stronger, self-discipline or self-awareness?

Which one would you choose?

We put Ross Anderson in the hot seat for The Fast & The Curious.

From topless butler to mindset mentor,

He’s got stories, surprises, and a serious take on growth that’ll make you stop scrolling.

🧠 What’s the one tool he swears by for instant stress relief?

📺 Which guilty pleasure TV show does he watch on loop?

🏆 Which Guinness World Record does he want to break next?

🧊 And why ice baths don’t work for him.

📺 Watch Ross Anderson’s full Fast & The Curious episode now on The Courageous Leaders Podcast.

👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you!
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ


🚀 Elevate Your Leadership:
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What if your worst life chapters could become your greatest teachers? 

In this episode of The Courageous Leaders Podcast, I sit down with Ross Anderson, psychologist, founder of Beyond Baseline, and someone who turned chaos into clarity. Ross shares the pivotal moments that forced him to choose between staying broken or building something better.

We talk about the courage it takes to rewrite your identity, to walk away from the life you were handed, and to chase a version of yourself that doesn't yet exist. If you've ever felt stuck in your past or unsure of what’s next, this conversation will show you what’s possible when you believe in better.

We Cover:
01:35 – The moment Ross nearly faced two years in jail

02:55 – What addiction and panic attacks were doing to his life

05:33 – When Ross began listening to his real, authentic thoughts

09:29 – Why reinvention means letting go of who you used to be

10:26 – How to tell the difference between authentic and false thoughts

15:01 – What media consumption is doing to our sense of stillness

19:15 – The power of strong determination meditation

20:55 – How a psychologist changed the direction of Ross’s life

26:40 – Becoming the first in his family to go to college

31:30 – The three mentors who helped him avoid jail

33:14 – A powerful experiment that proves belief shapes behaviour

47:17 – Why we need to train the mind like we train the body

Don’t miss out on this powerful episode.

👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you!
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Does Ryan Gosling look like Rodney Trotter?

This is a debate I never thought I’d be having.

I love doing The Fast & The Curious with my guests…

But answering the questions myself? 
Way harder. And way more fun.

With my husband Kev firing the questions, I had nowhere to hide, just honest, candid, and occasionally ridiculous answers.

This teaser clip is just a taste of what we got into…

Watch the full episode on YouTube to find out:

😴 Do I snore?

🧠 Which leadership trait I'm still working on

🛗 Who I’d want to be stuck in a lift with

📺 My ultimate guilty pleasure TV binge

🍸 Which wins - Tiramisu or Espresso Martini?

🤷🏻‍♀️ Are Kev and I still married after this interview?! 🥴😂🥰

And when I think about it… has anyone ever seen Ryan Gosling and Rodney Trotter in the same room? 🤔

Let me know how you think you’d get on with questions like this from a loved one!
🎬 Catch the full episode now on YouTube

👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you!
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🚀 Elevate Your Leadership:
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If you’ve ever questioned your worth, your voice, or your path, this episode is for you.

For the first time on The Courageous Leaders Podcast, I’m not the one asking the questions. This time, it’s my husband Kevin behind the mic with myself in the ‘guest’ chair.

We unpack the moments that defined how I lead today: grief, pressure, burnout, and what it really takes to rebuild after walking away from a version of ‘success’ that wasn’t serving me.

We Cover:
00:00 – Introduction - Jo in the guest seat with her husband Kev as the host

01:22 – What I wish I knew before saying ‘yes’ to the dream job in Australia

03:45 – Why giving up my career to travel was the best decision I ever made

05:55 – What losing my dad at 18 taught me about courage, fast decisions, and leadership

09:10 – How grief drove me and nearly made me lose myself

11:45 – What I learned from making it to the board without a university degree

14:00 – Why chasing the title and pay cheque left me feeling empty

17:15 – What it took to rebuild my confidence after working in a toxic culture

22:00 – How one weekend helped me find my voice again

26:50 – What self-leadership actually looks like (when no one’s watching)

33:10 – The advice I’d give my younger self and what I still remind myself today

Don’t miss out on this powerful episode.

👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you!
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ


🚀 Elevate Your Leadership:
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What's the most unhumble thing you have done?

And what rule would you break? 

We put Stefanie Sword-Williams, founder of F*ck Being Humble, in the hot seat for our latest episode of The Fast & The Curious and let’s just say, her answers were as bold as her brand.

In just a few minutes, we found out:

👀 The rule she’d break if no one could stop her
📧 What she’s done saying sorry for
🎶 Her go-to confidence anthem before a big moment

This was a lot of fun to do.

Listen to the clip, then head to the full episode on YouTube for more unfiltered answers.

👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you!
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ


🚀 Elevate Your Leadership:
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What does it really take to step into your purpose, even when it scares you?

In this episode, I’m joined by Stefanie Sword-Williams, the fearless founder of F*ck Being Humble. She opens up about her journey from advertising to creating a global movement, what drives her, and why she’s not afraid to challenge the status quo. We explore courage, burnout, and how to find meaning when life throws you off track.

We Cover:
01:51 – How starting Fuck Being Humble was Stefanie’s boldest move

06:43 – Why she created her own stage instead of waiting for permission

09:20 – How Stefanie launched her first event and became a public speaker

15:52 – Rapid growth through word of mouth and community

20:44 – Learning to set boundaries after being overlooked

25:05 – Why scrappy events and strong storytelling worked

31:26 – What’s next: Stefanie’s new book and shifting into legacy work

34:56 – Helping people stuck in their careers find a new path

45:01 – How she’s learning to say no and trust what matters

55:31 – A traumatic moment in 2023 and the power of healing in public

Don’t miss out on this powerful episode. 

👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you!
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ


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Danny Dyer or Peter Crouch?

Negroni or Yorkshire Tea?

We put Leah Spears in the hot seat for our latest episode of The Fast & The Curious.

And her answers never disappoint 🔥

From bold picks to unexpected truths...

This one moves fast, and nothing is off limits...

👀 What would she name her racehorse?

🍽 Why would she say yes to being on First Dates?

🤯 What’s harder: being a mum or managing creatives?

🙋‍♀️ And what advice does she give to the next wave of bold women in business?

❌ No filters.
❌ No fluff.

Just a leader being fully herself and loving it.

For the full insight's check out the full story, which is live now on YouTube.

👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you!
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ


🚀 Elevate Your Leadership:
Book a call for transformative leadership and team coaching:
Website: https://thechangecreators.com
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What happens when you stay true to yourself even when the world tells you to change?

In this episode of The Courageous Leaders Podcast, I’m joined by Leah Spears, Head of Brand Strategy at Paddy Power. She shares the personal moments that shaped her leadership, from navigating judgement based on appearance to stepping into bold, visible roles. We explore confidence, curiosity, and what it takes to lead with integrity in an industry that doesn’t always make it easy.

We Cover:
01:22 – Why Leah joined Paddy Power and how she knew it was the right fit

04:08 – The judgement she faced based on how she looked and who she was

06:08 – The advice she regrets taking and how she quickly reclaimed herself

08:50 – How she turned being underestimated into her biggest strength

11:27 – Why being curious has helped her grow as a leader

14:13 – How she handles difficult conversations without fear

17:16 – Childhood ambitions and how they shaped her mindset

20:53 – Creating real connections in a digital, hybrid workplace

23:29 – What makes a great agency–client partnership work

26:20 – How she’s helping younger women in her team find their voice

29:21 – Why confidence starts with knowing you don’t have to know everything

Don’t miss out on this powerful episode. 

👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you!
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ


🚀 Elevate Your Leadership:
Book a call for transformative leadership and team coaching:
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In this episode of The Courageous Leaders Podcast, I share one of the hardest chapters of my leadership journey, being excluded, questioned, and broken down by the very people I was meant to lead alongside. I reveal the five lessons that helped me survive it and rebuild stronger. If you're stuck in a toxic dynamic, this episode is for you.

We Cover:
01:00 – The moment I realised I wasn’t wanted on the team

01:44 – What it feels like to be excluded and humiliated by peers

02:18 – The self-doubt spiral that nearly broke me

03:07 – How being excluded and humiliated reshaped my life and career

03:42 – Lesson 1: Stop trying to win them over

04:21 – Lesson 2: Find your allies, even if they’re outside the room

05:21 – Lesson 3: Set boundaries and call out passive aggression

06:42 – Lesson 4: Protect your mental space and reframe your thinking

08:27 – Lesson 5: Speak up when you see toxic behaviour on your team

Don’t miss out on this powerful episode. 

👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you!
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ


🚀 Elevate Your Leadership:
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Is your team's growth being silently blocked by toxic positivity, hidden politics, or a culture of avoidance? 

What if you could banish just one of these frustrations to unlock everyone's true potential?

I put that exact challenge to three brilliant leaders in a special 'Leadership Room 101' debate. I welcomed Nishma Patel Robb (Founder, Glittersphere) , Ete Davies (EMEA EVP, Dentsu Creative) , and Natalie Winford (Chief Solutions Officer, Jellyfish) to each nominate the one leadership flaw they believe does the most damage in business today. 

The resulting discussion is a masterclass in identifying the root causes of team friction and building a culture based on reality, not pretence.

We Cover: 
01:57 – The 'Good Vibes Only' Trap: When positivity becomes toxic. 

07:38 – A Leader's Most Powerful Tool: The choice to be vulnerable. 

08:28 – Nishma on how relentless positivity can silence your team 

12:46 – Exposing the Hidden Power Structure: The problem with organisational politics. 

17:10 – How "corridor meetings" create a parallel culture of mistrust. 

27:25 – Can you be a good person and good at politics? 

29:29 – Natalie’s argument for banning the phrase "it’s above my pay grade" 

35:07 – Why employees feel stuck: Is it evasion or a cry for help? 

39:43 – Should you do a task before you're promoted for it?

44:10 – The Final Verdict: The single most damaging leadership flaw is revealed.

Don’t miss out on this powerful episode. 

👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you!
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ


🚀 Elevate Your Leadership:
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In this powerful episode, I sat down with Abi Wright and Jen Toll, the inspiring founders behind Festival of The Girl. What started as a grassroots idea is now a powerful movement helping girls step into their power and challenge gender stereotypes from childhood.

We talked about how courage can grow from anger, why shrinking starts in childhood, and how both boys and girls benefit when we reframe what confidence, risk-taking and visibility really mean. If you’ve ever wondered how to raise or lead with more intention, this episode will change how you see the next generation.

We Cover:
00:36 – What does success really mean, and who decided it?

01:36 – Why Jen’s journey into feminism began with motherhood

02:42 – Abi’s wake-up moment while raising daughters

04:17 – Launching Festival of The Girl with no budget

06:35 – What courage looks like behind the scenes

08:45 – “We were angry. That’s what drove us.”

10:55 – The moment their daughters pointed out inequality at home

13:40 – Why girls fear ‘getting it wrong’ more than boys

14:53 – The real risks girls are afraid to take

16:42 – Confidence doesn’t just appear. It’s taught.

18:10 – Launching Festival of The Boy and what it means for boys 

Don’t miss out on this powerful episode. 

👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you!
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ


🚀 Elevate Your Leadership:
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“What’s the biggest bullshit in leadership?”

Chris Hirst answers without blinking. 

But you’ll have to watch to hear what he says.

In this Fast & The Curious episode,Chris, former Global CEO of Havas Creative goes from sharp insight to guilty pleasures in under six minutes.

☕ A very strong opinion on herbal tea

🎸 A Nickelback moment he didn’t see coming

🧦 And the one workplace trend he’d cancel forever

It’s short. It’s sharp. And it’s leadership with a side of dry humour.

📺 Watch now on YouTube and check out the full Courageous Leaders episode while you’re there.

👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you!
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ


🚀 Elevate Your Leadership:
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What happens when you’ve spent years inside a failing business, then asked to take over as CEO and turn it around?
For Chris Hirst, it wasn’t just a step up. It was a defining challenge that forced him to rethink everything he knew about leadership.
In this episode of The Courageous Leaders Podcast, I’m joined by leadership expert, award-winning author, and former Global CEO of Havas Creative, Chris Hirst. Known for transforming struggling companies from within, Chris shares what it really takes to lead under pressure and why clarity, courage, and conviction matter more than ever.

We Cover:
01:22 – Becoming CEO of a broken business, and why it felt like career suicide

04:00 – The Harvard moment that changed Chris’s mindset and life

05:50 – How to fix a failing company: honesty, clarity, and ruthless prioritisation

08:00 – Why commitment beats capability when it comes to business growth

10:23 – What makes a great CEO and how to build a high-performing culture

13:18 – Attitude vs. aptitude: the core of Chris’s new book Indispensable

16:49 – Workplace autopilot: why most people don’t show up with intention

20:24 – Leading 100 CEOs: spotting the difference between good and great

26:00 – Decision-making as a leadership superpower

30:50 – Chris’s personal demon and the advice he’d give his younger self

Don’t miss out on this powerful episode. 

👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you!
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ


🚀 Elevate Your Leadership:
Book a call for transformative leadership and team coaching:
Website: https://thechangecreators.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannahowes/

Many leaders still see empathy as a weakness.

This is shortsighted as empathy is one of the most powerful skills to drive trust, performance, and real connection.

In this episode, I explain what it means to lead with empathy and share three practical ways to integrate it into your leadership today. You’ll learn how empathy shifts behaviour, strengthens accountability, and builds a culture where people feel seen, safe, and motivated to give their best


We Cover: 
01:03 – What empathy in leadership really means

01:39 – Real story: How one CEO shifted outcomes with one question

02:24 – Why empathy is often misunderstood as “going soft”

03:14 – Leadership shift: Empathy as a strategy, not sentiment

03:41 – Tip #1: Always start with empathy

04:22 – Tip #2: How to practice active listening

05:02 – Tip #3: Check in regularly, beyond the task list

05:39 – Final thoughts: Why empathy is good for performance and for you


Don’t miss out on this powerful episode. 

👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you!
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ


🚀 Elevate Your Leadership:
Book a call for transformative leadership and team coaching:
Website: https://thechangecreators.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannahowes/

What can a grizzly bear in a denim jacket teach us about leadership?

More than you’d think.

In this week’s Fast & The Curious, Dave takes us from Hackney to Hollywood (almost) with his usual cheeky, sweary brilliance.

⚡ What leadership advice does he swear by?
⚡ Why pink paint is his power colour
⚡ And how he ended up designing a jacket for an 8-foot bear

It’s fast, funny, and full of the kind of wisdom only a rebellious artist can serve.

📺 Dave’s full Fast & Curious episode drops today on YouTube. Don’t forget to check out his full Courageous Leaders interview while you’re there.

👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you!
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ


🚀 Elevate Your Leadership:
Book a call for transformative leadership and team coaching:
Website: https://thechangecreators.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannahowes/

Naughty, and unfiltered – Dave Buonaguidi, ex-adman turned full-time artist, shares how he blew up a 35-year career, lost everything, and finally found joy. From co-founding iconic agencies like St. Luke’s and Karmarama to walking away from the industry (and his marriage) at 50, Dave tells it like it is – with plenty of swearing, sharp wit, and hard-won wisdom.

If you’ve ever wanted to throw out the rulebook and build life on your own damn terms, this episode is for you.

We Cover:
01:40 – “I just rebooted my life at 55” – The moment Dave walked away from it all

07:20 – Wearing a mask at work for 35 years

08:40 – Why he doesn’t see his past ventures as “success”

10:05 – The brutal reality of founding a business

12:00 – Ripping up the rulebook: doing things differently in advertising

15:00 – Starting over after losing his agency – and his marriage

18:20 – Going all-in with no plan B: the real reason he made it work

20:00 – “If you’re doing it for the money, f*ck off”

32:00 – Letting go: what Dave struggled with most

41:00 – “I jumped out the burning building” – on walking away from everything

42:20 – Why 2020 was the best year of his life

43:00 – Advice for anyone ready to change their life

46:40 – How a screen-printing class changed everything

Don’t miss out on this powerful episode. 

👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you!
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ


🚀 Elevate Your Leadership:
Book a call for transformative leadership and team coaching:
Website: https://thechangecreators.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannahowes/

Can three top leaders agree on what’s killing modern leadership?

What happens when you bring together a CEO, a president, and a CCO to tackle what’s dragging teams down and how to fix it?

In this special 'Leadership Room 101' edition of The Courageous Leaders Podcast, I sat down with Jessica Tamsedge (CEO, Dentsu Creative), Josh Green (CCO, House 337), and Conrad Persons (President, Grey London) for a sharp, honest, and funny deep dive into the biggest leadership traps and what they’d like to banish into Leadership Room 101.

We Cover: 
00:00 – Introduction: Welcome to Leadership Room 101

02:12 – Meet the guests: Jessica, Josh, and Conrad 
05:28 – The leadership habit Conrad wants to ban forever

09:45 – Jessica on why dabblers kill creativity and clarity

14:40 – Josh takes aim at the empty chase for growth

19:55 – Why leaders struggle to carve out time to think

27:30 – The guilt trait: why taking time feels selfish for leaders

33:12 – Closing arguments: which leadership trap should go into Leadership Room 101?

36:15 – Conrad’s take on the “black box” leadership style

37:23 – Jessica’s insight on “forcing time to think”

38:50 – Joanna’s decision: the one habit we all need to kill

42:45 – Final reflections + a thank you to the guests

Don’t miss out on this powerful episode. 

👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you!
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ


🚀 Elevate Your Leadership:
Book a call for transformative leadership and team coaching:
Website: https://thechangecreators.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannahowes/