Explore every episode of the podcast Leadership BITES
Dive into the complete episode list for Leadership BITES. Each episode is cataloged with detailed descriptions, making it easy to find and explore specific topics. Keep track of all episodes from your favorite podcast and never miss a moment of insightful content.
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Title
Pub. Date
Duration
The Complexity of Human Behaviour with Margaret Heffernan
09 Nov 2025
01:01:46
In this episode I sit down with author, entrepreneur and thought-leader Margaret Heffernan to explore two of her seminal ideas: the hidden dangers of conforming to systems that blind us to obvious truths (from her book Willful Blindness) and the vital importance of embracing uncertainty, especially through the lens of writers, artists and creatives (from her latest work Embracing Uncertainty).
We talk about how organisations and individuals get stuck in the comfort of predictability, why innovation is not merely incremental improvement, what creative people can teach business leaders about sensing the future and navigating chaos, and the critical role of agency, curiosity and courage even when outcomes are uncertain.
It’s a conversation designed for senior leaders, coaches, team-effectiveness practitioners and anyone who wants to see beyond the status quo.
00:00 Introduction & technical note 02:15 Who is Margaret Heffernan: career, context and influences 08:45 Exploring Willful Blindness: what it means, in business and culture 17:20 Why systems and institutions encourage willful blindness 23:30 The trigger for the next book: from Uncharted to Embracing Uncertainty 29:08 Join to second recording – framing the shift to artists, music, creativity 31:00 What does “embracing uncertainty” really mean in today’s world 38:40 COVID, anticipation and why the future unsettled so many organisations 45:50 Creatives, artists and the ability to sense the future ahead of others 52:12 Divergent thinking vs incremental improvement: defining “innovation” 56:22 Leadership and agency when certainty is not possible 01:03:15 How context, character and culture interact in enabling creative agency 01:10:00 Practical take-aways for senior leaders and coaches 01:15:30 Closing thoughts: system change, individual mindsets, human skills
To find out more about Guy Bloom and his award winning work in Team Coaching, Leadership Development and Executive Coaching click below.
In this episode of Leadership Bites, Mita Mallick shares her journey from being a bullied child to becoming a champion for inclusion in the workplace. She emphasizes the importance of consistency and discipline in achieving success and discusses how creating inclusive cultures starts at home. Mita highlights the need for respectful conversations in the workplace and the role of leaders in fostering psychological safety. She also introduces her new book, 'The Devil Emails at Midnight,' which explores the archetypes of bad bosses and encourages self-reflection among leaders.
Takeaways
Mita is on a mission to fix what's broken in workplaces.
Consistency and discipline are key to success.
Everyone has experienced a time when they didn't belong.
Creating inclusive cultures starts at home.
We need to disagree with kindness and respect.
Psychological safety is crucial for open conversations.
Leaders must take ownership of their impact on others.
Understanding intent versus impact is vital in communication.
Self-reflection is necessary for effective leadership.
Mita's new book explores bad boss archetypes and encourages growth.
Sound bites
"I'm on a mission to fix what's broken."
"Consistency is my underrated superpower."
"We all have one toxic habit."
Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 02:58 The Importance of Consistency and Discipline 05:53 Mita's Origin Story and Journey 09:03 Creating Inclusive Cultures Starts at Home 11:52 The Hijacking of Inclusion Conversations 14:38 The Need for Kind and Respectful Conversations 17:40 Psychological Safety in Conversations 20:20 The Role of Leaders in Inclusion 23:19 Understanding Intent vs. Impact 26:24 Mita's New Book: The Devil Emails at Midnight 29:27 Exploring Bad Boss Archetypes 32:26 The Importance of Self-Reflection in Leadership 35:30 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
To find out more about Guy Bloom and his award winning work in Team Coaching, Leadership Development and Executive Coaching click below.
In this episode of the Leadership Bites podcast, Guy Bloom interviews Brad Englert, who shares his extensive career journey from Accenture to becoming a Chief Information Officer at the University of Texas at Austin.
They discuss the importance of building authentic business relationships, the role of trust in influence, and strategies for effective networking. Brad emphasizes the need for intentionality in professional relationships and the significance of customer retention for business success.
In this conversation, Brad Englert discusses the importance of understanding goals and aspirations in leadership, the significance of building relationships and managing expectations, and the necessity of creating a culture of openness and communication. He emphasizes the art of apology and accountability in leadership, and shares practical strategies for managing expectations effectively. The dialogue highlights the value of discretionary effort and the importance of fostering trust and collaboration within teams.
Takeaways
Brad Englert has over 22 years of experience at Accenture.
He transitioned from a successful career to a CIO role at a university.
Building a culture of transparency and customer focus is crucial.
Trust is the foundation of effective influence in business.
Networking should focus on long-term relationships, not just transactions.
Intentionality in relationships leads to better outcomes.
Understanding others' goals is key to successful collaboration.
Repeat customers are a sign of successful relationship management.
Mentorship and continuous learning are vital in career development.
Authentic relationships can withstand the test of time. Understanding goals and aspirations is crucial for effective leadership.
People are not mind readers; communication is key.
Building relationships requires vulnerability and openness.
Discretionary effort comes from genuine care and interest in team members.
Creating a culture of communication helps in managing expectations.
The art of apology builds trust and accountability.
Managing expectations is an ongoing process, not just annual reviews.
Using techniques like 'Whoa' can help in managing urgent requests.
Introverts can be encouraged to engage through structured processes.
Fostering a supportive environment allows for innovation and challenge.
Sound Bites
"Be strategic and intentional."
"Networking is longevity of relationship."
"Use your words."
"People are not mind readers."
"Discretionary effort is the difference."
"It's a muscle memory."
"You can still be somebody that people trust."
"I will get to the bottom of it."
"You have to wipe the slate clean with me."
"Just saying whoa gives the space and time."
To find out more about Guy Bloom and his award winning work in Team Coaching, Leadership Development and Executive Coaching click below.
Joel Nielson, Chief of Section (Leadership Development) at UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency
23 May 2021
00:44:42
Joel is an experienced adult educator, organizational development consultant and project manager with 20 years of progressive international experience from the UN, NGO and consulting sectors.
His role is the oversight, delviery and instigation of leadership development. This was a great episode to hear his approach, midset and focus.
The UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is a global organisation dedicated to saving lives, protecting rights and building a better future for people forced to flee their homes because of conflict and persecution.
They lead international action to protect refugees, forcibly displaced communities and stateless people.
Delivering life-saving assistance, helping safeguard fundamental human rights, and develop solutions that ensure people have a safe place called home where they can build a better future. Working to ensure that stateless people are granted a nationality.
They are active in 130 countries, using their expertise to protect and care for millions.
The UNHCR recognises that its greatest asset is their workforce.
These are passionate, talented and creative individuals who want to use their skills for good. Thanks to people like this, they can develop solutions that enable people who have been forced to flee to restart their lives and build better futures.
To make contact with Guy Bloom directly: Click Here
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Why do leaders have to keep learning? Because according to Reg Revan, "Learning must be equal to or greater than the change that is going on around you". That seems to make sense, you are never done learning, not as an individual, a team or an organisation:
Why leaders have to learn
Tame and Wicked learning cultures
The 'interview questions' on learning
Thinking beyond the event horizon
Understanding wisdom as a leader
This was a LIVE Linked in stream so look out for those and the full video is live on the YouTube Channel. You can see all links below.
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Carmin Romanelli is one of the my favourite people that I never get to hang out with. He is one of those characters that is a character and has character. They don't alway go to together, however they do with Carmin.
Carmin is the VP for Global Sports at Getty Images has a hugely succesful track record of working in the sports industry including NBA, Sports Illustrated and Getty Images. He is a vastly experienced professional skilled in Digital Strategy, Content, Licensing, Business Development, Integrated Marketing, Media, Advertising, and Business Management.
Why do I like him? Well, I like his peronal transparency and take on the world, he sees the truth in situations and is able to verbalise them in a manner that makes sense to those in the room.
Carmin is to use a familiar phrase: "A straight shooter".
We talk about leaderhip, culture and what leadership looks and feels like.
To make contact with Guy Bloom directly: Click Here
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The story is not what you think. REEBOK wasnt born in the US. It was in fact born from a Bolton familly in a terrace house.
This is a story of working hard, spotting the opportunity, never stopping, stepping up to the plate and frankly making your own luck.
Joe was born on 18 May 1935 and shared a birthday with his grandfather Joseph William, who had set up sports shoe manufacturer J.W. Foster & Sons, in Bolton, in 1900.
Joseph William died around 18 months prior to Joe's birth but was a pioneer in his day, especially in the use of spikes on the bottom of running shoes. His shoes were worn by the likes of Harold Abraham and Eric Liddell, eventually being immortalised in Academy Award-winning film Chariots of Fire.
"He learned the best way to sell his shoes was to have influencers," Joe said.
"He was giving shoes to leading athletes and in the 1920s he was supplying all of the Olympic teams, it was amazing. He was supplying the bulk of football leagues as well."
"Back then, the shoes weren't for the street, they were pure performance."
Talking about how he named REEBOK:
"I just opened the dictionary on R because I thought it was a good, strong letter. I came across Reebok and thought 'fantastic', it was a small South African Gazelle and with us being a running company, it fit nicely."
Joe talks about how "then we heard about this thing called Aerobics..."
Hollywood stars such as Sigourney Weaver and Cybill Shepherd went on to wear Reebok shoes in Aliens and at the Emmy Awards respectively.
This is a great story and a great episode.
To make contact with Guy Bloom directly: Click Here
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Andy Holmes is the Global Head of Welbeing at reckitt and he has has one of those roles that seems easy to say. However is laden with the complexities of understanding the nuances of the 'wellbeing' agenda in different countries and contexts.
How do you actually make wellbeing resonate for people?
As the Global Head of Wellbeing at reckitt, Andy has a role that spans many truths and his role is to help leaders make sense of it for themselves and others.
To make contact with Guy Bloom directly: Click Here
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Darrell 'Flash' Gordon, Working with those that need it most
28 Mar 2021
00:41:40
Darrell 'Flash' Gordan, CEO & President at Wernle Youth & Family Treatment Center & Owner & President at Gordon Enterprises, LLC and Author.
Darrell is responsible for turning around a multi-million dollar non-profit residential and community base treatment agency.
He oversees all aspects of philanthropy, marketing, public relations, finance, operations, quality control, human resources, customer relations, business development and strategic planning in accordance with Board directives and corporation charters.
Recipient of the 2005 Achievement of Excellence, Non-Profit of the Year.
Mike Friday is one of the world's leading International 7's coaches having coached the most successful teams ever for England, Kenya and USA.
A former professional rugby player, for London Wasps, who successfully balanced the demands of playing premiership rugby with the pursuit of a successful professional career as a chartered surveyor.
Mike is a great character, he speaks candidly and his journey is testament to the complexity of life and that getting whee you need to go is often not a straight line.
We talk rugby, training, teams and life.
To make contact with Guy Bloom directly: Click Here
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Daniel Burrus, Technology Futurist, Disruptive Innovation Expert
15 Mar 2021
00:39:54
Over the past three decades, futurist keynote speaker Daniel Burrus has established a worldwide reputation for accurately predicting the future of technological change and its impact on the world of business.
With over 1,000,000 followers, Daniel was hand picked by LinkedIn as one of the worlds most influential innovative thinkers.
He is a strategic advisor to executives from Fortune 500 companies, helping them to accelerate innovation and results by developing game-changing strategies based on his proven methodologies for capitalizing on technology innovations and their future impact. His client list includes companies such as Microsoft, Lockheed Martin, Verizon, Merck, American Express, FedX, Deloitte, Procter & Gamble, VISA, KPMG, Honda, and the Department of Defense.
He is the author of seven books, including The New York Times and Wall Street Journal best-seller Flash Foresight, and his latest book The Anticipatory Organization.
He is a featured writer with millions of monthly readers on the topics of innovation, change and the future and has appeared in Harvard Business Review, Wired, CNBC, and Huffington Post to name a few.
He has been the featured subject of several PBS television specials and has appeared on programs such as CNN, Fox Business, and Bloomberg, and is quoted in a variety of publications, including The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, Fortune, and Forbes.
He has founded six businesses, four of which were national leaders in the United States in the first year. He is the CEO of Burrus Research, a research and consulting firm that monitors global advancements in technology driven trends to help clients profit from technological, social and business forces that are converging to create enormous, untapped opportunities.
In 1983 he became the first and only futurist to accurately identify the twenty technologies that would become the driving force of business and economic change for decades to come. He also linked exponential computing advances to economic value creation.
Specialties: Hard Trend Methodology, Anticipatory Business Model, Technology-Driven Trends, Disruptive Innovation, Strategic Advising and Planning, Business Keynote Presentations
To find out more about Guy Bloom and his award winning work in Team Coaching, Leadership Development and Executive Coaching click below.
Against all the odds Penny Mallory made her childhood dream come true when she became the first woman in the world to compete in a World Rally Car for Ford in the World Rally Championship. She remains the only woman to have achieved this.
Not bad considering she was teenage runaway and spent 3 years homeless in London. Penny attributes her success to having learned how to build and harness Mental Toughness.
She now teaches her Mental Toughness formula to help peoople develop confidence, resilience, commitment, determination and focus so that they can build powerful, successful teams and organisations. Teams will be able to meet insane targets, crazy deadlines and thrive under extreme pressure.
Penny Mallory is a leading authority on Mental Toughness and is one of the UK’s top female motivational speakers, drawing on her experience from her years in Motorsport as a Rally Driver. Penny is living proof that building and developing Mental Toughness are vital if you are to thrive in this world.
The Mentally Tough prosper and succeed in today’s fast pace of crisis, change, uncertainty and innovation. Increasing resilience, focus, confidence and attitude transforms performance, productivity, profitability and wellbeing.
With increased Mental Toughness we can learn to manage the stress and pressures we all face, every day. When we can better manage extreme pressure and stress, our performance, happiness and quality of life all rise.
Penny has worked inside and alongside many world class teams (including F1), and with individuals across many sectors, to improve team performance and results.
To make contact with Guy Bloom directly: Click Here
To find out more about Guy Bloom and his award winning work in Team Coaching, Leadership Development and Executive Coaching click below.
Lieutenant Freddy Caceres is a serving police officer in Miami. He is also the author of the book Second Naturue Leadership. We talk about the nature of the role Freddy inhabits and the frame of reference he brings to the being a leader in that space.
Honest, self effacing and willing to hold space on his ideas, Freddy is a great guest on this episode of LeadershipBITES.
To find out more about Guy Bloom and his award winning work in Team Coaching, Leadership Development and Executive Coaching click below.
James Gwinnett- A Story Of Redemption And The Lessons Learned
15 Jun 2025
00:58:57
"A tackle gone wrong left me with a fractured vertebra in my neck and an emptiness as I was told I could no longer play the game I so loved. Feeling worthless and devoid of purpose, my attempts to fill the hole with drinking led to a three-year spiral into depression and alcoholism."
In this episode of Leadership Bites, Guy Bloom interviews James Gwinnett, who shares his journey from a semi-professional rugby player to sobriety and mental fitness. James discusses his book Ready Set Life and the importance of identity, purpose, and mindfulness in overcoming life's challenges. He emphasizes the significance of building a support network and the role of self-reflection in personal growth. The conversation also touches on the lessons learned from endurance sports and the importance of enjoying the journey rather than fixating on the destination.
Takeaways
James Gwinnett's journey highlights the importance of mental fitness.
Sobriety can be achieved through discipline and structure.
Identity can be fluid and should not be solely tied to one aspect of life.
Mindfulness practices can help build resilience.
Overcoming challenges requires a supportive network.
Self-reflection is crucial for personal growth.
The journey is more important than the destination.
Small steps can lead to significant changes.
Sharing problems can lighten the burden.
Finding joy in the process is essential for happiness.
To find out more about Guy Bloom and his award winning work in Team Coaching, Leadership Development and Executive Coaching click below.
Ismail Amla, is a Senior executive (Chief Growth Officer / Managing Partner / CEO / CHRO) with 20 years’ international experience in High Tech and Technology-Enabled Business Services, Software and Consulting organizations. He has managed businesses of scale with P&L responsibility for revenues of up to $7bn and teams of 15,000.
A deep experience defining innovative transformational strategies to deliver complex large-scale change across businesses, workforces and capabilities both within business services organizations and for clients across a broad range of industry sectors including financial services.
Ismail is the author “From Incremental to Exponential: How Large Companies Can See the Future and Rethink Innovation”.
He is on the Board of Govenors for the University of East London and a Board Member for UK Sport.
To make contact with Guy Bloom directly: Click Here
To find out more about Guy Bloom and his award winning work in Team Coaching, Leadership Development and Executive Coaching click below.
Emma Freivogel, Radical Recruit, Crowdfunding to tackle homelessness, one person and one job at a time
15 Feb 2021
00:59:53
Let me introduce you to Emma Freivogel the founder and powerhouse behind Radical Recruit. Radical Recruit is a not for profit recruitment consultancy that exists to excite, agitated and shake things up in the recruitment industry!
They represent the UKs most diverse ‘hidden’ talent, help employers do recruitment better and create real and lasting social change.
They are currently piloting Radical Futures, a recruitment project in partnership with homeless charity, St Mungo’s.
Together, they are working against the clock to ensure that no homeless person who has been temporarily housed by government (at the Camden Stay Club) during lock-down is forced back onto the streets through lack of employment.
They believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to work, support themselves and build futures that they love, whatever their background.
Whether your business operates in catering or construction, administration or finance, hospitality or hygiene services we can help with introductions to London’s most diverse hidden talent who have been expertly risk-assessed and are ready to work.
So, if you’re an employer who wants to take advantage of our free recruitment service, create real social impact and make a lasting difference in the lives of people who experience homelessness we want to hear from you!
For more info, connect with Emma on LinkedIn or via the website to organise an obligation free chat.
Remember … it won’t cost you anything, but it’ll change everything.
To find out more about Guy Bloom and his award winning work in Team Coaching, Leadership Development and Executive Coaching click below.
L. David Marquet is a retired United States Navy captain and bestselling author of Turn the Ship Around and Leadership is Language. He was the commander of the submarine USS Santa Fe. He turned the submarine from the worst in the fleet to being the most successful by using a leader-leader model of leadership. He became captain of the submarine in 1999 and since his retirement the submarine has continued to win awards.
Since then he has worked as a leadership expert and he speaks to audiences globally about creating workplaces where people are healthier and happier because they have more control over their work. He taught previously at the Columbia University School of professional studies.
To find out more about Guy Bloom and his award winning work in Team Coaching, Leadership Development and Executive Coaching click below.
Mark Bayer of Bayer Strategic Consulting helps scientists, engineers, and organizations get funding, gain influence and build relationships with their most important stakeholders, including Members of Congress, investors, and the public, with custom-crafted, true-to-life training and government relations services.
Mark is an international keynote speaker and consultant specializing in legislative strategy and the art and science of persuasion.
Former Chief of Staff in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives during a 20-year career working in Congress, Mark designs and delivers interactive, true-to-life training that gives scientists and engineers proven, powerful tools for effectively navigating the policy environment in Washington, DC.
Mark teaches scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs the same methodology he used in Congress to rapidly distill complex policies, craft strategies to advance high-profile initiatives, and concisely explain them to Members of Congress and journalists from leading media outlets, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, USA Today, The Boston Globe, CNN, MSNBC, PBS, AP, and many others.
Mark has been touted in Politico for his "decades of superlative experience" serving as a Congressional staff member. His work on how to combat alternative facts has appearedin Science and The New Yorker. Mark has been featured in IEEE-USA's "Lessons on Leadership" column, and he serves as a guest lecturer in the Science Policy Bootcamp course at Cornell University's Meining School of Engineering.
Host of the weekly podcast When Science Speaks, Mark explores communications, science policy, and career issues affecting grad students, PhDs, and Postdocs in engineering and the natural and social sciences.
Mark is a magna cum laude graduate of Cornell University, where he was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. He earned his Master in Public Policy at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government.
To find out more about Guy Bloom and his award winning work in Team Coaching, Leadership Development and Executive Coaching click below.
As CEO of WD-40 Company since 1997, Garry Ridge has helped re-ignite excitement and create cultures that foster break-through innovation in companies and workplaces in over 62 countries.
His first-hand experiences in transforming a global brand with a market cap of $2.3 billion, as well as his deep, profound commitment to creating workplace cultures that support the individual passions of all who work there, have attracted the recognition of today’s most influential thought leaders.
As part of his lifelong commitment to helping others learn and develop, Garry is an Adjunct Professor at The University of San Diego (Talent Management & Succession Planning).
To make contact with Guy Bloom directly: Click Here
To find out more about Guy Bloom and his award winning work in Team Coaching, Leadership Development and Executive Coaching click below.
Colin Jellicoe, Group Human Resources Director, M Group Services
17 Jan 2021
00:58:41
Colin is a hugely experienced HR Director with a vast experience of insight, value creation and enabling of businesses through high value HR interventions.
He works is the Group HR Director for M Group Services. M Group Services delivers a range of essential infrastructure services within the water, energy (retail and infrastructure) transport and telecommunication in UK & Ireland, they employ circa 9,000 skilled specialists working from 100 locations, operates a divisional structure aligned with its end markets.
To find out more about Guy Bloom and his award winning work in Team Coaching, Leadership Development and Executive Coaching click below.
Commanding General John Evans, US Army Cadet Command & Fort Knox
10 Jan 2021
00:54:24
Major General John R. Evans, Jr. was commissioned in 1988 as a Distinguished Military Graduate from Appalachian State University. He was assigned to the Aviation Branch and completed flight school in 1990.
Major General Evans previously served as the commander of the United States Army Special Operations Aviation Command (Airborne).
He was first assigned as an Attack Platoon Leader in C / 1-82nd Aviation Battalion, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, NC where he served until 1995. He then served his first of three tours with the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) which included duties as A Company Platoon Leader and Operations Officer, A Company Commander, Battalion Operations Officer, 1st Battalion; Regiment S3, Regiment Operational Assessment Element Commander, Regiment Deputy Commander; and Battalion Commander, 2nd Battalion; Fort Campbell, KY.
Other assignments include: Deputy Commanding Officer of the Combined Forces Special Operations Component Command – Afghanistan, Kabul Afghanistan; 160th SOAR Regiment Commander, Fort Campbell, KY; Chief of Staff of the Army Senior Fellow at The Brookings Institution, Washington, DC; and the Deputy Commanding General – Support for 2nd Infantry Division / Republic of Korea - US Combined Division in the Republic of Korea.
Major General Evans is a graduate of the Armor Advanced Course, the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College and the U.S. Naval War College. He holds a Master of Arts in Adult Education from Kansas State University, and a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College.
Major General Evans' military awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters, Bronze Star with three oak leaf clusters, the Air Medal with V device and numeral 2, Combat Action Badge, Master Aviator Badge, Master Parachutist Badge and Air Assault Badge.
To find out more about Guy Bloom and his award winning work in Team Coaching, Leadership Development and Executive Coaching click below.
David Pendleton, Professor of Leadership, Henley Business School
30 Dec 2020
01:08:19
Professor David Pendleton is a Professor in Leadership at Henley Business School, where he works extensively in executive education.
David completed a doctorate in psychology at Oxford University and devoted the first half of his career to research and teaching in doctor-patient communication.
David is also a business psychologist, educator, consultant and author. He has published extensively on medical communication in healthcare and on organisational leadership. His most recent book, authored with Professor Adrian Furnham of UCL and Jon Cowell of Said Busness School, University of Oxford, is titled 'Leadership: No More Heroes' and is in its third edition (published by Palgrave Macmillan, London, 2020). He is currently writing a new book for leaders which is a novel approach to work-life balance and suggests a means for evaluating the impact of work to maximise its benefits.
David is a member of the Trustee Board of the Royal College of General Practitioners and is an Associate Fellow of the Said Business School at Oxford University and Green Templeton College Oxford.
To find out more about Guy Bloom and his award winning work in Team Coaching, Leadership Development and Executive Coaching click below.
Ryne Sherman, Chief Science Officer, Hogan Assessment Systems
14 Dec 2020
00:41:54
Ryne Sherman is the Chief Science Officer at Hogan Assessment Systems. As an international authority in personality assessment and consulting, Hogan has over 30 years of experience helping businesses dramatically reduce turnover and increase productivity by hiring the right people, developing key talent, and evaluating leadership potential.
The Hogan assessments predict job performance by assessing normal personality, derailment characteristics, core values, and cognitive reasoning ability. The assessments are grounded in decades of research and evaluate every major job family from bank teller to CEO.
Hogan was founded by Drs. Robert and Joyce Hogan in 1987. The Hogans are widely credited with demonstrating how personality factors influence organizational effectiveness.
To find out more about Guy Bloom and his award winning work in Team Coaching, Leadership Development and Executive Coaching click below.
Wendy Addison's act of reporting corruption at LeisureNet Ltd in South Africa in 2000 began one of the biggest corporate disasters in South African history. Standing up for her principles and values, Wendy showed courage and a willingness to endure danger and the potential of losing both her livelihood and life, by taking a moral stand against bribery and corruption.
She was ousted as a whistleblower. On one side were the wrongdoers, still with the credibility and authority of their positions and a wealth of resources behind them. On the other side Wendy was discredited in the public's eyes, unemployed, unemployable (because of the notoriety of the case), running out of money, receiving death threats and having lost the support of friends and family.
Wendy's story is one of courage and endurance, of hope and justice. It covers ambition, corporate greed and skulduggery, telling the truth and alienation from a society that misguidedly applauds coveted wealth. It's about how life can dramatically shift from success to begging on the streets of London without warning.
The players in her story are many and varied: from the corporate world to the judiciary, governments and the UN.
Wendy's battle has been for what's 'right' and along the way she has exposed much of what is 'wrong' in the world. It's about Truth or Dare or rather 'Daring to tell the truth.
Wendy is a critical thinker and a powerful speaker with fresh insights that both entertain and inspire.
She has spoken to thousands of people across three continents with past engagements including Tedx Tokyo, the United Success Women's Entrepreneurial Symposium in Amsterdam, the CFA Institute's Annual Travelling Conference in Africa and Mauritius as well as numerous corporate speaking engagements and university lectures.
To find out more about Guy Bloom and his award winning work in Team Coaching, Leadership Development and Executive Coaching click below.
In this conversation, Guy Bloom discusses the importance of viewing leadership as a craft and the necessity of proactive learning for personal and professional development. He emphasizes the significance of being aware of one's learning journey, the flow state of competence, and the need for tools and techniques to navigate challenges effectively. Bloom encourages leaders to take ownership of their development and to seek resources beyond their organizations to enhance their skills.
Takeaways
Leadership should be seen as a craft.
Proactive learning is essential for effective leadership.
Self-funding learning opportunities can be beneficial.
The world offers many free resources for learning.
Being in a flow state is crucial for competence.
Recognizing when your usual approach isn't working is key.
Consciously competent leadership is necessary in challenging situations.
Having tools and techniques is vital for effective leadership.
Reflecting on experiences helps improve future performance.
Reliance on oneself is a strong indicator of future success.
Sound Bites
"Leadership as a craft is crucial for development."
"You can learn just about anything for free."
"You need a tool, a process, a mechanism."
To find out more about Guy Bloom and his award winning work in Team Coaching, Leadership Development and Executive Coaching click below.
Jamil Qureshi, Performance psychology and high performing teams
29 Nov 2020
00:48:49
Jamil Qureshi is one of today’s foremost practitioners of performance enhancing psychology and is an expert in high performing teams. Jamil has enjoyed working with a rich diversity of the most talented business and sports people and teams in the world, helping six individuals get to World Number 1.
In 2006, he was appointed as the first-ever official psychologist to work with the European Ryder Cup team by captain Ian Woosnam. They made history in winning by a record-equalling margin.
Jamil has worked with 22 golfers inside the top 50 in the world, including Lee Westwood, Paul McGinley, Graeme McDowell, Darren Clarke, Paul Casey, Thomas Bjorn, Sergio Garcia and two world number one’s.
Ranked among the most influential figures in British sport in 2009, Jamil was voted in the top 100 most powerful men in golf 2008 by his international peers.
He has worked successfully with 3 English Premiership football clubs, one of which reaching a record position from its halfway point in the season, as well as 2 Formula 1 racing drivers, David Coulthard and Eddie Irvine and the 2009 England Ashes winning cricketers.
In business and industry, Jamil has worked from CEO and board level to middle management in a variety of sectors. He has worked with business leaders and companies in over 24 different countries, helping teams to fulfil their potential by orchestrating change and performance programmes.
He has developed and delivered management and leadership programmes at board level for Coca Cola, Hewlett Packard, Emirates Airlines, Serco, Marks and Spencer, and Royal Bank of Scotland. He has worked across Lloyds Banking Group on their ‘Journey to World Class’.
He has led teams responsible for change management in several high profile areas, such as Lloyds Banking Group’s substantial integration strategy, and with The Post Office to create The Post Office Way as they separated from Royal Mail.
Jamil is also a world recognised speaker on all aspects of the psychology of performance, psychology of leadership, leadership attitudes, improving people, cultural change techniques, and team performance.
Interestingly;
He is one of only a few external psychologists ever to be allowed to study astronauts on the 2008 NASA Space Programme.
Jamil has talked to an audience that included two former US presidents at the K Club in Ireland!
Jamil’s versatility is illustrated by the fact he has talked at NASDAQ in Times Square where he shared a stage with General Peter Pace, Head of Joint Chief of Staff, the highest ranking military officer in the US armed forces, and next day did stand up in front of a celebrity audience at the Groucho Club!
Jamil use to be a regular at London’s prestigious Comedy Store and spent two years working with TV’s award winning mind reader, Derren Brown!
Jamil also lectures on the prestigious WorldProgram, in the US, UK and China through Ashridge and Fordham Business Schools and Qing Dao University.
To find out more about Guy Bloom and his award winning work in Team Coaching, Leadership Development and Executive Coaching click below.
Bo Brabo, From the Battlefield to the Whitehouse to the Boardroom
21 Nov 2020
00:51:59
Throughout his career, Robert “Bo” Brabo has always focused on the people, helping them tackle their challenges as if they were his own. Since retiring from the U.S. Army as the Chief of HR Operations with the White House Communications Agency and as a Presidential Communications Officer for President George W. Bush and President Barack Obama, Bo has served in several executive positions, and today Bo is an inspirational keynote speaker, career / leadership / executive coach, and business consultant.
Bo previously co-founded a consulting agency that assisted government contractors in HR strategies and contract proposal efforts.
Bo received his MBA from the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business, is the co-host of The Bo & Luke Show podcast, and is committed to lifelong learning and sharing, to make us all stronger.
To find out more about Guy Bloom and his award winning work in Team Coaching, Leadership Development and Executive Coaching click below.
Kevin Green has a new book called Performance Leadershp 2.0. Kevin is an integral part of the Living Brave delivery team and soneone I have had the pleasure of knowing for some 20 + years.
In Performance Leadership 2.0, Kevin Green presents ideas and practical solutions for achieving exactly that.
The ideas and approaches in this book have been assembled from over 15,000 interactions and conversations with the people that Kevin has engaged with during a lengthy career as a performance consultant.
The methods offered are presented in an easy to understand structure and then brought to life using many stories of practical application from time served in many operational environments.
This book is split into two key parts.
Firstly, it examines the need to be a worthy role model so that others will want to belong to your team and feel invested in something, and somebody worth following.
The second part switches the lens and focuses on what the Manager can do to boost performance from the team.
Even if you are a seasoned Manager of teams, you are bound to find something new in this fresh, and very practical, approach to improving performance at work.
To find out more about Guy Bloom and his award winning work in Team Coaching, Leadership Development and Executive Coaching click below.
I was asked to do a video for a leadership project for young people involved in 'Make a Wish' - Ireland by John Doran. It got a very positive response:
"Your talk is absolutely super . Talk about hitting the nail on the head!
I played it to my students today and they really engaged with it. In particular the question you pose about how do people experience you.
We can’t thank you enough , it will really make a difference."
So I thought I'd share it.
The question that I was asked to address was basically:
"What would you offer youngsters that are starting out in life?"
So of course they don't have to be 18 years old, any age would work.
Anyway, I thought I'd share.....Hope it adds value.
To find out more about Guy Bloom and his award winning work in Team Coaching, Leadership Development and Executive Coaching click below.
Duke Stump, Nike, Lululemon, Lime, Seventh Generation
02 Nov 2020
00:49:15
Duke Stump blew me away in this episode. I am rarely affected by a persons manner, insight and personal characterists. Duke has 'something', that I put down to honesty. He is honest with himself and then with you. Duke's hoensty though comes from a place of consciousness, he is purposeful, there is intent in his life and his conversations. He appears to me to be an explorer that wants you to join him on the quest.
His new project Bonfire With Soul is a revelation. YOU HAVE TO CHECK IT OUT.
Cited by Forbes as one of the top 50 Game-Changing CMO's, I have spent the last 30+ years as an inspired protagonist helping to build iconic global brands (NIKE, Seventh Generation, Lululemon). Duke loves building bonfires with soul: powerful, emotionally charged brands that stand for something meaningful in the world.
In addition, he has served in BOD and mentor roles with The Biomimicry Institute, 21c Hotels, Unreasonable Group, Healthy Child Healthy World and Love Your Brain.
A lover of nature, slow food, horsemanship and yoga, Duke and his family live on a small ranch in idyllic Ojai, CA along with horses, dogs, cats and chickens. Intoxicated with culture, empathetic leadership and strategy. Unique bonfire brand philosophy and strategy that goes against the grain of conventional thinking.
His inspirations come from a diverse range of sources including but not limited to nature, horsemanship, Buckminster Fuller, Jiddu Krishnamurti, introverts, yoga and music.
To find out more about Guy Bloom and his award winning work in Team Coaching, Leadership Development and Executive Coaching click below.
Jack Zenger is a bestselling author, speaker, and a national columnist for Forbes and Harvard Business Review. With more than five decades of experience, Jack is considered a world expert in the field of leadership development and organizational behavior.
He is the author and co-author of 13 books including including How To Be Exceptional: Drive Leadership Success by Magnifying Your Strengths, The Extraordinary Leader, Turning Good Managers into Great Leaders and The Inspiring Leader: Unlocking the Secrets of How Extraordinary Leaders Motivate, along with his newest book Speed: How Leaders Accelerate Successful Execution (McGraw Hill, 2016)
To find out more about Guy Bloom and his award winning work in Team Coaching, Leadership Development and Executive Coaching click below.
Major General Paul Nanson CB CBE (Retired) has recently left the British Army officer he served as Commandant of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and was Director Recruiting and Initial Training Command.
Paul was commissioned into the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers. He became commanding officer of the 1st Battalion Royal Regiment of Fusiliers in 2006 and was deployed to Iraq.
Paul went on to be chief of staff for 1st (United Kingdom) Armoured Division in Germany in 2008, commander of the 7th Armoured Brigade in March 2011 and Director (Army) at the Joint Services Command and Staff College in April 2014.
After that he became Commandant of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in September 2015.
He was given the additional appointment of General Officer Commanding Recruiting and Initial Training Command in 2018, a post which he has continued in after finishing his 5 year term at the Royal Military academy, Sandhurst as commandant.
Paul is now a consultant and focusing on leadership development and in particular enabling youth.
Check out more content and what we do at Living Brave.
Spencer Holt, PhD, Head of Commercial Learning Innovation Centre at AstraZeneca
08 Oct 2020
00:50:36
I am joined by the amazing Spencer Holt, PhD, Head of Commercial Learning Innovation Centre at AstraZeneca. We got to talking about leadership, culture, talent and a whole lot of over things.
Charlie Brackley And Steve Phillip, Mental Health At Work
31 Mar 2025
00:57:12
This conversation delves into the critical topic of mental health in the workplace, featuring insights from Steve Phillip (The Jordan Legacy) and Charie Brackley. They share their personal experiences and professional backgrounds, emphasizing the importance of open discussions about mental health, the impact of corporate responsibility, and the need for supportive environments. The dialogue highlights the alarming statistics surrounding suicide and mental health issues, urging companies to take meaningful action rather than merely ticking boxes. The speakers advocate for genuine engagement and training to foster a culture of care and understanding within organizations. This conversation delves into the significance of vulnerability in leadership, the duty of care that managers have towards their employees, and the importance of creating a supportive workplace culture. The speakers discuss the need for frameworks to enhance employee wellbeing, the challenges of measuring engagement, and the universality of mental health issues. They emphasize the necessity of having difficult conversations and applying training beyond the workplace to foster genuine connections.
Takeaways
Mental health conversations are vital in the workplace.
Personal experiences shape our understanding of mental health.
Suicide rates are disproportionately higher among men.
Companies often fail to grasp the connection between mental health and productivity.
Creating a supportive work environment is essential for employee wellbeing.
Isolation in certain roles can exacerbate mental health issues.
Intent and tone matter in conversations about mental health.
Training is necessary for effective communication about mental health.
Corporate responsibility should go beyond superficial measures.
Leadership plays a crucial role in setting the tone for mental health discussions. Vulnerability is a strength in leadership.
A duty of care is essential for managers.
Investing in employee wellbeing yields significant returns.
Caring for employees should be simple and genuine.
The workplace culture impacts employee engagement.
Mental health issues affect everyone, regardless of rank.
Difficult conversations are necessary for growth.
Training should be applicable in all areas of life.
Creating a safe space for conversations is crucial.
Cultural integration of mental health discussions is vital.
Sound Bites
"We try and make it far simpler than it is."
"Be strong enough to be vulnerable"
"Caring about our people is simple"
"We have a duty of care"
"For every one pound invested, four pound return"
"It's about the culture and the environment"
"We need to talk about things that are real"
"Navigating difficult conversations is essential"
"If it's true, it's probably true everywhere"
To find out more about Guy Bloom and his award winning work in Team Coaching, Leadership Development and Executive Coaching click below.
This is the companion to the Clara Min episode where amongst other things we discuss headphones, new phones, disposable technology and of course the fabulous Clara Min.
I am joined by the great and powerful Kevin Green.
To find out more about Guy Bloom and his award winning work in Team Coaching, Leadership Development and Executive Coaching click below.
Bill Hutchinson, Director of Customer Experience, DROPBOX
07 Sep 2020
00:48:09
I have Bill Hutchinson, Director of Customer Experience at DROPBOX with me this week. Bill is someone I have worked with in the past and is a living, breathing advocate on CX (Customer Experience).
Bill has had a fascinating journey to the role he is in now, via consultancy where I met him and even Rynair with a great story on his first meeting with the infamous Michael O'Leary.
Dropbox is a cloud storage service that lets you save files online and sync them to your devices. You can use Dropbox links to share files and folders with other people without sending large attachments.
To find out more about Guy Bloom and his award winning work in Team Coaching, Leadership Development and Executive Coaching click below.
We have Mandy Hickson. Mandy was the second woman to fly the Tornado GR4 operationally, completed three tours of duty and flew 45 missions over Iraq.
Mandy learned not to shy away from failure. After two unsuccessful attempts at the RAF flying aptitude tests, reaching the limit of times that they can be taken, her goals appeared to be unattainable. Undeterred, Mandy went on to join the RAF as an Air Traffic Controller and continued to make her case for becoming a pilot throughout her officer training. Finally, the RAF decided to offer her pilot training as a test case, having observed her skills in the real world.
The only female aircrew, Mandy trained on the Firefly, Tucano and Hawk aircraft, and was awarded many prizes for leadership. She was the second woman to fly the Tornado GR4 operationally, and completed three tours of duty and flew 45 missions over Iraq.
This is a great insight into her journey, the hurdles that would have stopped most people in their tracks and an insight into what it is to operate in this world.
To find out more about Guy Bloom and his award winning work in Team Coaching, Leadership Development and Executive Coaching click below.
This is the companion episode to the main episode with Dave Ulrich. I am joined by Kevin Green and Phillippa Hurrell part of the Living Brave Leadership delivery team. It all starts with rustling paper and goes from there.
To find out more about Guy Bloom and his award winning work in Team Coaching, Leadership Development and Executive Coaching click below.
Clara Min, Global Head of Franchise Sales, Adidas HQ
03 Aug 2020
00:50:28
Clara Min is the Global Head of Franchise Sales for Adidas. She is a smart, engaging, funny and has absolute clarity about her own life journey which I personally found fascinating. Clara talks about the differences that exist between cultures and the way she frames life.
Clara is also making a big announcement, on her future journey, the reasons that have led to this decision and how she is facing into the future.
One of my favourite episodes to date.
To find out more about Guy Bloom and his award winning work in Team Coaching, Leadership Development and Executive Coaching click below.
I came across Craig Brookes when one of his videos popped up on my LinkedIn timeline talking about furloughs and another about mental health issues, it made me pause as this is not about 'double glazing'.
What struck me was honesty, transparency and being able to see the real person. He engendered trust, in a way top end marketing often doesn't even get close to.
So I reached out! This is the episode.
"Correct Choice are on a mission to change the double glazing industry for the better. No waffle, No pressure, just the highest quality products at affordable prices for everyone".
To find out more about Guy Bloom and his award winning work in Team Coaching, Leadership Development and Executive Coaching click below.
On this episode I am thrilled to be joined by David Ulrich he is a university professor, author, speaker, management coach, and management consultant and co-founder of The RBL Group.
He has written over 30 books that have shaped the HR profession, defined organizations and shown the impact of leadership on customers and investors.
He has been ranked the #1 Management Educator & Guru by Business Week, selected by Fast Company as one of the 10 most innovative and creative leaders, is one of 21 people in the Thinker's Fifty Hall of Fame, and named the most influential thinker in HR of the decade by HR magazine.
That as they say is a resume!
To find out more about Guy Bloom and his award winning work in Team Coaching, Leadership Development and Executive Coaching click below.
This is a big one. Can organisations really be socially responsible? Does the reality of making money and keeping your job allow people to be genuinely human and if so can they make it in this 'show me the money' environment.
It is the BIG question and one that is ever increasing as the millennial starts to push back against the contradictions that exist in the values and the actions of many organisations.
I offer the idea of 'cumulative way of behaving' being the reference point what a culture is and what is will tolerate.
I am joined on this episode by Stu Trevena and Kevin Green.
To find out more about Guy Bloom and his award winning work in Team Coaching, Leadership Development and Executive Coaching click below.
This is a conversation about the Lucinda Pullinger episode. Listen to the full podcast, the episode prior to this one to discover our thoughts, reflections and thinking about that episode.
On this episode I am joined by Kevin Green.
To find out more about Guy Bloom and his award winning work in Team Coaching, Leadership Development and Executive Coaching click below.
This is a conversation about the Cath Possamai interview. Listen to the full podcast, the episode prior to this one to discover our thoughts, reflections and thinking about that episode.
On this episode I am joined by Stu Trevena.
To find out more about Guy Bloom and his award winning work in Team Coaching, Leadership Development and Executive Coaching click below.
In this episode of Leadership Bites, Guy Bloom and Erik Korsvik Østergaard discuss the evolving landscape of leadership in the context of future trends as set out in Erik's book Anticipatory Leadership, particularly focusing on the implications of technology and AI. They explore the importance of futures literacy, emotional engagement, and the need for organizations to foster agency among their teams. The conversation emphasizes the significance of involving individuals in the planning process to create a sense of ownership and confidence, ultimately leading to a more adaptive and resilient organizational culture. In this conversation, Erik Korsvik Østergaard discusses the importance of strategic foresight and futures thinking in navigating the complexities of modern leadership and organizational change. He emphasizes the need for leaders to be responsive and anticipatory, integrating futures literacy into their strategic planning to better prepare for uncertainties. Through his books, he explores the traits of effective leadership and the necessity of storytelling in mobilizing teams towards a shared vision of the future.
Takeaways
Erik helps leaders understand future trends and their implications.
Organizations need to think about multiple futures, not just one.
AI will require leaders to be more tech-savvy in the future.
Emotional responses to trends are crucial for engagement.
Creating agency among team members fosters ownership and confidence.
Involvement in planning leads to a sense of purpose.
Wholeness and self-leadership are essential in modern organizations.
Short-term and long-term planning must coexist.
Adaptability is key in navigating future challenges.
Regularly discussing trends can build futures literacy in teams. Organizations are currently more short-sighted than long-sighted.
China's strategic planning is generational, unlike Western approaches.
Innovation in Europe is being stifled due to current challenges.
Futures thinking should augment existing strategic planning.
Futures literacy is essential for critical thinking about the future.
Storytelling is crucial for mobilizing teams around a vision.
Leaders must be responsive to navigate complexities.
Any day can be a fresh start for change.
Futures thinking can apply to immediate and long-term scenarios.
Engaging younger talent in futures thinking is vital for adaptability.
Sound Bites
"I help leaders understand future trends."
"AI will require leaders to be tech savvy."
"The future is unevenly distributed."
"Hope, ownership, confidence, and agency."
"Doctors are shifting their identity."
"Plan your way out of problems."
"It's a thousand little adaptations."
"China plays chess while we play drafts."
"It's all about mobilization."
"Any day is day zero for change."
To find out more about Guy Bloom and his award winning work in Team Coaching, Leadership Development and Executive Coaching click below.
In this episode Lucinda talks about being a Global HRD in lockdown and how she drives commercial outcomes through the people and cultural agenda.
Lucinda is the Global HRD for the Instant Group. They source worplaces, large and small. You want an office in a central location, walking distance to a gym and a train station, you want this to represent your brand and increase performance because of the feel of the place. They can help you build it or source it.
Exciting! Then comes COVID and the lock down. Everyone is re-evaluationg their property porfolio and their relationship with the workplace......this where The Instant Group lead the pack.
To find out more about Guy Bloom and his award winning work in Team Coaching, Leadership Development and Executive Coaching click below.
Imagine being in charge of recruitment for the British Army. Imagine a role that has oversight from the government, military, the company that employs you, the general media and social media.
That is the role that Cath stepped into, from navigating all these "interested parties", to the infamous "Snow Flake " campaign to eventually achieving a goal that many thought unobtainable.
Cath Possamai , CEO, Recruitment Group at British Army truly took on a role that many would baulk at and dare I say it fail at....this is a great episode of the leadership podcast Leadership Bites.
To find out more about Guy Bloom and his award winning work in Team Coaching, Leadership Development and Executive Coaching click below.
This is a conversation about the Paul Foreman interview. Listen to the full podcast, the episode prior to this one to discover our thoughts, reflections and thinking about that episode.
On this episode I am joined by Kevin Green
To find out more about Guy Bloom and his award winning work in Team Coaching, Leadership Development and Executive Coaching click below.