The extra-Ordinary Leader with Dolly Waddell
The extra-Ordinary Leader is a show that takes a collaborative approach to uncover what it means to be a leader in the 21st century.
Through a series of open and honest conversations with a selection of top business leaders and leadership coaches, Dolly Waddell takes us on a journey to unravel the complex world of leadership in the 21st century.
The extra-Ordinary Leader with Dolly Waddell
S4 05: Leading with Systems, Truth, and Tough Love: A Conversation with Tasneem Bhamji
If you want a boost of inspiration for your leadership and management, this episode is for you. I sit down with the incredible Tasneem Bhamji — strategist, transformation leader, and founder of Office Real Talk — to unpack what it really takes to lead with impact in high-pressure environments.
Tasneem’s journey from journalism graduate to senior leader in banking and digital strategy has been marked by resilience, determination, and a refusal to let labels define her. Together we explore: navigating loneliness in leadership, why one-to-ones matter more than you think, how to build frameworks and systems that actually help, and the underrated skill of simply being easy to work with.
This is a conversation about leadership in the real world — one that blends strategy and humanity, and one that challenges you to stop working from someone else’s list and start building your own.
If you’re ready to uncover your own extra-Ordinary approach to leadership, tune in now.
Connect with Tas on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tasneem-bhamji-a1056390/
Office Real Talk - https://www.instagram.com/officerealtalk/
Inside This Episode
- Tasneem’s unconventional journey from journalism to banking
- What “Office Real Talk” is really about, and why tough love matters
- Why labels like “career woman” can be damaging — and what to do about it
- The underestimated power of one-to-ones and how to make them work
- Building systems and frameworks that stop you drowning in the to-do list
- How to balance strategy and humanity in leadership
- The underrated skill every leader needs: being easy to work with
- Why coaching doesn’t always mean big set-piece sessions — it’s in the daily interactions
- What to do when self-doubt creeps in, even as a senior leader
- Why leaving people (and places) better than you found them should be every leader’s goal
If you’re ready to go further, I coach executives and teams on precisely these challenges — systems, followership, performance, and culture. Reach out to explore coaching: info@dollywaddell.com
My book The extra-Ordinary Leader is available now: https://www.dollywaddell.com/store/p/the-extra-ordinary-leader