Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast 'On the Balcony' with Simon Lamb

In this episode, Simon sits down with his first podcast guest, Jo Whitfield, a highly accomplished retail executive whom Simon has worked with for nearly a decade. 

Simon and Jo explore the human reality behind the polished surface of senior leadership, and why the so-called "soft stuff" is so often the hardest, and most important work a leader will do. 

Jo then traces three moments that shaped her life and career, each revealing a set of values that anchored her choices and decisions over the years. Together they explore the quiet themes that run beneath a life at the top of organisations - the tension between holding high standards and giving people room to thrive, the courage it takes to protect balance, and the difference between being on the dance floor and stepping onto the balcony.

The conversation then turns outward to the challenges leaders are wrestling with right now, from resilience in a volatile world to the questions AI is forcing every organisation to confront about talent, humanity and what we choose to emphasise and to protect. Finally, Jo offers an inspiring advice to anyone standing at the start of their own leadership journey.

Jo Whitfield is a Non-Executive Director at ASDA since April 2025. A qualified accountant, she chairs Asda's audit committee. Jo previously spent eight years with Asda and George from 2008, holding a number of senior leadership positions across the business. After this, she joined the Co-op, where she was Chief Executive of Food for five years from 2017 and was awarded the CBE in 2021 for her work during the pandemic. Until 2024 Jo was the CEO at Matalan, leading a business turnaround strategy and a refocus on value. Outside of her executive responsibilities, Jo’s activities are mainly focused on inclusivity, mentoring and networking. One of Jo’s key achievements was pioneering a network for the grocery industry called Grocery Girls. She is also a Non-Executive Director for Factory International.

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Contact Simon at hello@purposefulchange.co.uk.

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In this inaugural episode, the tables are turned. 

Simon is the one being interviewed, by Jaroslav, his longtime collaborator, who has worked on and off with Simon for over fifteen years. The episode is an origin story as much as an introduction. It's a deep dive into the experiences, turning points, and questions that shaped both Simon as a person and the work he does today.

Simon traces three defining moments in his life, each of which forced him to reinvent himself and ultimately, led to the founding of Purposeful Change. The moments reveal the red thread running through all of his work - the belief that identity is not fixed, that we always have a choice in how we show up, and that real transformation begins when we're willing to identify and step through our deepest assumptions.

The conversation also covers Simon's work today, working alongside organisations to develop leaders, design cultures and spark innovation. Finally, Simon shares a vision for where he wants to take his work next including this podcast, his first book, live online events and building a community of practitioners of his work. 

All in service of one central question - how to scale our work to help more people intentionally shape their identity and author their future?

Visit Simon's LinkedIn profile here.

Contact Simon at hello@purposefulchange.co.uk.

Learn about Purposeful Change here.

Attend Simon's live event and stay up to date with all his activities here.

In this episode, the tables are turned once again as Simon becomes the coaching client. Rather than explaining his Refframe framework in theory, Simon invites Jaroslav to coach him through it live, exploring a deeply personal experience from his own life.

Together they unpack a moment of tension following his wife Monica’s second cancer diagnosis, revealing how fear, love and old survival patterns can shape even our best intentions. As the conversation unfolds, Simon reflects on the hidden stories that drive our behaviour, the role of historic adaptive strategies, and why true personal growth isn’t about leaving our past behind but giving it its rightful place.

The conversation explores identity, compassion, emotional triggers and the courage to face ourselves honestly. Along the way, Simon demonstrates that leadership is not about having all the answers, but about continually learning to respond with greater awareness, presence and humanity.

In this special coaching episode, listeners experience Refframe in action rather than as a model or theory, offering a rare behind-the-scenes look at how Simon applies the framework to his own life. Through vulnerability, reflection and real-time coaching, the episode shows that the work of reframing is never complete. 

It is a lifelong practice of understanding ourselves so that we can better connect with others. 

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Contact Simon at hello@purposefulchange.co.uk.

Learn about Purposeful Change here.

Attend Simon's live event and stay up to date with all his activities here.

In this episode, Simon sits down with Charlie Cannon, leadership coach, resilience specialist and longtime collaborator, for a deeply personal conversation about what it really means to come home to ourselves.

Together they explore the hidden forces that shape our lives and leadership, from childhood experiences and identity to the stories we inherit from our families. Charlie reflects on the journey from performance to presence, why true strength and sensitivity belong together, and how healing ourselves changes the way we lead, parent and connect with others.

The conversation spans resilience under pressure and the search for meaning, to faith, surrender, indigenous wisdom and the importance of authentic human connection in an increasingly disconnected world. Throughout, Simon and Charlie return to one central idea: that leadership begins not with changing others, but with the lifelong adventure of knowing ourselves.

Charlie has spent more than twenty-five years helping leaders and teams perform under pressure while navigating change with greater resilience and awareness. Drawing on backgrounds in elite sport, leadership development, depth psychology and contemplative practice, Charlie works with leaders and organisations to achieve high performance and facilitate deep personal growth. 

His work is grounded in the belief that lasting transformation comes through presence, courage and meaningful human connection.

Find out more about Charlie at www.charliecannon.com.

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Contact Simon at hello@purposefulchange.co.uk.

Learn about Purposeful Change here.

Attend Simon's live event and stay up to date with all his activities here.

In this episode, Simon is joined by Nicole, Vice President, Leadership Development at Shell whose work sits at the intersection of human potential and the systems we live and lead within. What follows is a rich conversation, part dialogue and part coaching, exploring how we navigate complexity, uncertainty and change.

Nicole reflects on the volatility we all are navigating right now, and together with Simon, they explore the different "masks" we carry through life. The ones that once served and protected us in the past, may limit us today. The conversation moves through vulnerability, paradox, and the power of reframing our inner stories when they no longer reflect who we are becoming.

Along the way, Simon and Nicole examine what it takes for leaders to stay on the balcony and the dance floor at the same time. To hold optimism in the face of gloomy reality, and to lead through the unknown by having the courage to admit they don't have all the answers. Nicole also reflects on her own journey of exploring belonging, to truly understand one's self-worth.

Dr Nicole Cunningham-Snell is a Chartered Psychologist and Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society. She has built her career at Shell, working across a wide range of businesses and geographies. As Vice President of Leadership Development, she leads Shell's approach to developing leaders at every level and shaping a culture that is playing to win. Her work brings together psychology, neuroscience and organisational development, with a particular interest in the mindsets and conditions that enable people, teams and organisations to grow, adapt and perform at their best.

The views shared in this episode are Nicole's own and do not necessarily reflect the views of her employer.

Visit Simon's LinkedIn profile here.

Contact Simon at hello@purposefulchange.co.uk.

Learn about Purposeful Change here.

Attend Simon's live event and stay up to date with all his activities here.