Contributors

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Host

Caroline Esterson

Caroline Esterson has been making learning fun, sticky and unignorable for 25+ years, long before it was trending on LinkedIn.
She’s worked with 22,000+ people across 253 organisations, helping brilliant-but-overlooked people get ideas heard, confidence back and careers unstuck. Whether she’s designing a leadership accelerator, coaching mid-career pros or energising a room of sceptical execs, Caro is all in.

A self-proclaimed “learning addict with a flipchart fetish,” she’s built a career by asking bold questions, challenging lazy assumptions, and turning corporate chaos into something simple, smart and energising.
You’ll find her at her kitchen table (surrounded by three rescue dogs and a pile of laundry she’s ignoring), obsessing over how to make learning land, with glitter glue, lollypop sticks, or a killer question that makes someone say: “Holy cow, I’ve got this.”

She doesn’t do sugar-coating. She does honesty, action and a whole lot of heart.

https://www.inspireyourgenius.com

Guests

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Bill Esterson

Behind every sharp-tongued career strategist is a dry-witted man reading listener dilemmas like he’s narrating the news from 1953. Billy is Caroline’s long-suffering husband, chief cheerleader, and reluctant voiceover star of "What Would Caro Do?", the voice behind the jingles and Game Show host.

A senior political figure with a black belt in deadpan delivery, Bill brings the perfect counterbalance to Caroline’s fire. Expect understated sarcasm, moral clarity, and the occasional eyebrow raise that says, “Really? Is that your plan?”


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Chris Mooney

Chris's career began in learning and development 25 years ago, and his journey into wellbeing and mental health started in 2012 when he established his business.

 

For over a decade, he has had the privilege of helping thousands of people develop a stronger mindset and build their resilience through training and solution-focused coaching.

 

When the pandemic struck, it gave him the opportunity to pursue his passion for helping people on a deeper level through therapy.

 

He is a therapeutic counsellor with a humanistic integrative approach, incorporating Person-Centred, Transactional Analysis and Gestalt theories.

 

This might sound like an unusual mix, but it means he is not confined to one theoretical approach; instead, he can draw from various theories to best support you in the moment.

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Christine Reynolds

Christine Reynolds believes most HR software gets it wrong- too rigid, too generic, too disconnected from the messy reality of talent management. With over 20 years’ experience leading HR transformation across tech, retail, and the creative industries, she’s lived the frustrations first-hand: succession plans lost in mismatched spreadsheets, development plans buried in forgotten Word docs, and credibility eroded by clunky manual processes.


Passionate about helping HR professionals ditch the admin and unlock people’s full potential, Christine brings a mix of sharp insight and lived experience to every conversation.

https://www.dothings.io/

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Declan Allen

Declan has spent over 30 years in the automotive industry, holding senior roles across engineering consultancies and motorsport before leading the development of HORIBA MIRA for the past decade. Known for his focus on exceptional delivery and building high-performing teams, Declan has driven strong business growth and innovation throughout his career.


At HORIBA MIRA, they specialise in delivering world-class vehicle engineering and testing services, helping customers enhance capability through technology innovation or boost capacity through complete vehicle programmes. Drawing on over 75 years of test and development expertise, his teams optimise, integrate, and verify cutting-edge technologies into real-world applications with a clear purpose: to improve lives by developing people, technology, and partnerships that make a real difference.

Learn more at www.horiba-mira.com

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Gary Keogh

Gary Keogh holds an MBA from the University of Bath and a Masters (MSc) in Coaching and Behavioural Change from Henley Business School. 


His 27-year career in two FTSE100 and two family-owned businesses in FMCG and services industries, includes 11 years on various boards. He has grown global brands despite challenging economic circumstances, and he has also reversed two decades of decline on Drambuie, delivering three consecutive years of growth (Source: IWSR).


Today he dedicates his efforts to supporting leaders build psychological safety, unlocking the potential within individuals, teams and organisations. He is currently working with FMCG, creative industry, professional services and elite sporting businesses. 


For more information visit GK Executive Coaching.

 

 

https://www.gkexeccoaching.com/

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Jon McLeod

Jon specialises in regulatory policy challenges and has advised businesses and individuals on political relations, corporate governance, dispute resolution and reputation management. 


Bringing connections across political parties, the law and industry sectors, as well as particular knowledge of communications challenges arising from competition and anti-trust matters, where he has worked alongside leading legal firms in a wide range of transactions and investigations, Jon leads DRD’s competition and anti-trust practice. 


In 2021, Jon delivered the launch of the Business Banking Resolution Service (BBRS).


Clients counselled include those in sports business, media, heavy industry, raw materials, technology, life sciences, leisure, trade and professional services.

https://www.drdpartnership.com

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Nash Vracas

  • Autocar Great Women Vehicle Development Winner 2025
  • IMechE Women Engineers: Past, Present and Future 2025
  • Greenpower Education Trust: Community Business of the Year 2025
  • Motorsport UK: Inspiring the Next Generation 2023
  • British Science Film Festival: BBC Focus Award 2017
  • SUPA Video Contest 1st Place 2014
  • The Lancaster Award 2013
  • STEMTech Conference: Keynote Speaker 2012
  • Arkwright Scholar, Royal Navy: 2007-2009
  • Young Engineer Club of the Year Winner 2006
  • Young Engineer Club of the Year Winner 2005


According to AI: 

"Nash, the high-octane visionary in the automotive and sports engineering arena, combines the precision of a scientist with the flair of an artist. With a penchant for innovation and relentless pursuit, this aerodynamicist hurdles challenges with the grace of a seasoned athlete."

https://nashvracas.com/

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Paul Dawson

Paul Dawson, CEO of Agena Group, boasts 18 years of executive experience at Capita. He’s known for driving performance, spotting market opportunities, fostering excellence, and championing diversity. 


Key projects include the Criminal Records Bureau, TfL congestion charging, Capita’s IT services, and Ministry of Justice’s Electronic Tagging. Paul excels in dynamic business settings, emphasising growth, innovation, and organisation development. He’s passionate about empowering individuals for business success. 


Beyond work, he’s a family man, resides in Wirral, enjoys mountain walks, coaches junior football, and embraces new challenges.

https://agenagroup.com/

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Sonia Allen

Bright mind, bold heart. Sonia is the kind of woman who rolls up her sleeves and makes things better, wherever she goes. From global volunteering adventures to local impact, she brings energy, empathy, and no-nonsense smarts to every project.

Professionally, she is a skilled education consultant, recognised for her sharp thinking, calm leadership, and ability to accomplish tasks with grace and grit. At other times, she’s off making magic happen through international volunteering, community mentoring, and advocacy work.

A magnetic role model with a wicked sense of humour, Sonia leads with purpose, gives generously, and leaves people (and places) better than she found them.

Smart. Sassy. Seriously inspiring.

http://allhandsandhearts.org

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Wendy Gannaway

Wendy Gannaway is the kind of person who asks “How are you?” and actually listens. With 25 years in learning and development, she’s a natural storyteller—swapping fairytales for real-world flashes of insight that make people sit up and say, “Ohhh, that’s me.” As Chief Performance Officer at Inspire Your Genius, she brings heart, humour, and a no-nonsense lens to the learning process. Her golden rule? Keep it easy, or it won’t stick. (She's the Easy Police, and she will check your overcomplicated baggage at the door.) Whether she’s coaching, running marathons, playing the viola, or serving humble pie on the badminton court, Wendy’s gift is helping people unlock their hidden talents. She spots the cracks before you stumble and gently nudges you toward your best self, with a hug, a sharp question, and a hell of a lot of heart.

https://www.inspireyourgenius.com

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