Explore every episode of the podcast MAD Leaders Podcast: workplace culture, employee health and wellbeing
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budgets are tight, how do I choose the best health intervention with the biggest impact on employees? With NHS innovator Dr Lia Ali | 14 Sep 2025 | 00:20:15 | |
We've chosen Dr Lia Ali, neuropsychiatrist and digital health innovation strategist for the NHS, as a launch interviewee because of her immense knowledge of being able to pinpoint what actually works - and what WILL work - based on the evidence. She's faced this question numerous times, and talks us through how she tackled it - and her favourite model - the biopsychosocial one. You'll leave this podcast inspired, and so if you want to hear more of Lia - she's doing a key note at the MAD World Summit on 9th October in London. To find out more about the Make A Difference Leaders Club, click here. If you like this episode, please like and subscribe and - even better - share it with someone to keep the workplace wellbeing conversation going! And, if you have a burning issue you'd like discussed, or any feedback at all, email editor@makeadifference.media A quick summary of the conversation: 00:00 Introduction to the Leaders Podcast 00:44 Meet Dr. Leah Ali: Digital Health Innovation Strategist 01:41 The Bio-Psychosocial Model for Better Health Outcomes 04:39 Case Study: Occupational Health in Australia 06:42 The Importance of Preventative Interventions 09:41 Embedding Health Strategies Across Organizations 12:21 Inclusive Design and Health Inequalities 15:24 Concluding Thoughts and Future Conversations 19:36 Outro and Call to Action | |||
| A BIG drop in employee engagement in Health & Wellbeing? What to do with Stella Gavinho | 14 Sep 2025 | 00:27:03 | |
Stella Gavinho is Group Head of Wellbeing at Entain and we chose her as one of the launch interviewees for her honesty and warmth, as well as the energy and resilience she applies to problem solving. She talks us through dealing with a significant drop in employee engagement in employee health and wellbeing, with lots of practical and strategic insight. If you like this episode, please like and subscribe and - even better - share it with someone to keep the workplace wellbeing conversation going! And, if you have a burning issue you'd like discussed, or any feedback at all, email editor@makeadifference.media To find out more about the Make A Difference Leaders Club, click here. Key timings in the conversation: 00:00 Introduction to the Leaders Podcast 00:44 Meet Stella Gino: A Warm and Honest Wellbeing Leader 01:38 Setting the Scene: The Wellbeing Challenge 03:03 Facing the Wellbeing Crisis: Stella's Experience 04:42 Strategic Response: Data-Driven Solutions 08:57 Implementing Manager Training Programs 13:15 Results and Reflections: Positive Outcomes 19:12 Advice for Leaders: Embracing Wellbeing Initiatives 23:43 Conclusion and Final Thoughts | |||
| Leaders spill their biggest Culture, Health & Wellbeing problems - with MAD's Claire Farrow | 14 Sep 2025 | 00:20:51 | |
Our launch guest today - Claire Farrow - founded the Make A Difference Media Leaders Club. In her role as Global Content Director at MAD, she gets to hear leaders from all different sectors and industries open up to her about their biggest challenges. So, she has huge industry-spanning knowledge of what's going on and where the future of work is headed. Today she shares the struggles she hears most from leaders and what she thinks the industry can do to make the most impact going forward. If you like this episode, please like and subscribe and - even better - share it with someone to keep the workplace wellbeing conversation going! And, if you have a burning issue you'd like discussed, or any feedback at all, email editor@makeadifference.media Relevant links: Claire is currently organising the MAD World Leaders Summmit on 9th October in London. To find out more about the agenda and to register, click here. To find out more about the Make A Difference Leaders Club, click here. Episode timings: 00:00 Welcome to the Leaders Podcast 00:44 Introducing Claire Farrow 02:52 The Evolution of Workplace Wellbeing 05:31 Top Challenges in Workplace Wellbeing 12:05 The Importance of C-Suite Buy-In 14:47 Professionalization and Data-Driven Approaches 18:45 The Alien Question and Final Thoughts! | |||
| The MAD Leaders podcast in a nutshell 🥜 | 14 Sep 2025 | 00:01:33 | |
Workplace culture and employee health & wellbeing have never been more important — but leadership in the world of workplace wellbeing can feel lonely, messy and uncertain. On the Leaders Podcast, you’ll hear candid conversations with workplace pioneers, who are shaping the future of work. Here they'll pick apart the real problems they’ve faced, and the lessons they’ve learned - warts and all! This show is for you if you care about workplace health and wellbeing, whether you're in HR, Learning & Development, Health & Safety, DEI, Employee Engagement, Employee Experience, the C-suite or any role whose remit touches on culture and/or health and wellbeing. Subscribe now to hear the stories, insights and inspiration that can help you create healthier, more human workplaces and elevate this topic to its rightful place on the C-suite agenda. | |||
| How do I get the BEST out of my tech suppliers? With Microsoft's EMEA Benefits Consultant Karen Sancto | 22 Oct 2025 | 00:22:01 | |
Getting the best out of tech suppliers when you are juggling both legacy suppliers you've been with for ages, and the newer, agile tech start ups entering wellbeing, is no easy task. Karen Sancto, Microsoft's EMEA Benefits Consultant brings the benefit of her expertise here to this podcast, exploring this intricate process. She gives us practical, instantly useable advice and, in an increasingly automated world, underlines the importance of human relationships. Listen to the end to ensure you hear all of her strategies, and her answer to the 'alien question'! To join our Leaders Club click here: https://makeadifference.media/join-leaders-club/ Time line of conversation: 00:00 Introduction to the Leaders Podcast 00:35 This Week's Challenge: Legacy vs. Agile Tech Companies 01:24 Expert Insights: Karen Santo from Microsoft 01:43 Navigating Supplier Relationships 02:41 The Role of Technology and Data Privacy 03:54 Building Effective Partnerships 06:48 Cultural Considerations in Supplier Management 13:16 Measuring and Scaling Supplier Management 17:20 The Human Element in Supplier Relationships 17:59 Fun and Creativity in Benefits Management 19:15 Final Thoughts and Alien Scenario 21:22 Conclusion and Call to Action | |||
| Gulp! I’ve got imposter syndrome - what do I do? With Matt Wilson, UK Wellbeing Lead at Computacenter | 15 Oct 2025 | 00:20:39 | |
Matt Wilson, the UK Wellbeing Lead for Computacenter, talks candidly about the crisis of confidence he overcame working in the wellbeing industry. Not only because he felt, at times, insecure because he didn’t come from a traditional HR background, but also because he suffered a severe stammer. He talks with refreshing honesty about his experiences and gives practical advice to anyone else experiencing any kind of confidence issues that are affecting work. While his tips are applicable to everyone, his insight is particularly relevant to men who find it hard to talk about emotions or their struggles. He tells his story of how, after taking action, he ends up with more self-awareness and confidence, as well as a commitment to being authentic at work. The conversation also touches on the significance of demonstrating the ROI of wellbeing initiatives (and how this can boost your confidence), the importance of good communication strategies and the need for formal training in the field. 00:00 Introduction to the Leaders Podcast 00:35 This Week's Challenge: Navigating Wellbeing Without an HR Background 01:54 Guest Introduction: Matt Wilson, UK Wellbeing Lead 02:03 Matt's Journey: Overcoming a Stammer and Building Confidence 04:02 The Importance of Authenticity in Wellbeing Roles 04:53 Men and Therapy: Breaking the Stigma 09:41 Proving the ROI of Wellbeing Initiatives 12:05 The Role of Commercial Skills in Wellbeing 14:25 The Need for Formal Training in Wellbeing 16:42 Final Advice for Wellbeing Professionals 18:09 The Alien Question: Making the Case for Wellbeing Investment 20:03 Conclusion and Call to Action | |||
| Our people are burning out but slowing down in this economy is NOT an option… what do we do? With Mars' Dr Monika Misra | 07 Oct 2025 | 00:23:06 | |
Balancing high performance with health and sustainability is a huge topic in workplaces currently, especially when the economy is under such pressure. Dr Monika Misra, who is Group Head of Employee Health and Wellbeing at Mars knows this conundrum very well - so well, she’s even (co) written a book on it! It’s called ‘Healthy High Performance: unlocking business success through employee wellbeing’, with Sir Cary Cooper. In this podcast, packed with practical and strategic tips, she talks us through step by step how she got a 30% uplift in employees’ energy levels and unlocked high performance under pressure. And if you are listening when this podcast comes out - then you have two days to get yourself to hear her talk at the MAD World Leaders Summit in London on 9th October where she is doing a keynote on Healthy High Performance in an age of uncertainty. Go to madworldsummit.com for more info. To join our Leaders Club click here: https://makeadifference.media/join-leaders-club/ To see the agenda for MAD World Summit on 9th October in London where Monika is speaking, see here: https://madworldsummit.com/ Timeline of conversation: 00:44 Meet Dr. Monica Misra: Expert in Health and Wellbeing 01:28 Understanding Employee Burnout 03:45 Building the Business Case for Wellbeing 06:36 Implementing Evidence-Based Solutions 14:13 Measuring Impact and Sustaining Change 17:43 Final Thoughts and Key Takeaways 21:07 The Alien Question and Closing Remarks | |||
| How do I get people with INFLUENCE behind the Health and Wellbeing agenda? With Dr Sabrina Robinson | 01 Oct 2025 | 00:23:31 | |
It's great when employees are passionate and enthusiastic about spreading the Health and Wellbeing message. But - what do you do if they're not quite the right people you want driving the agenda? What if you need more influential people, especially those not working in Wellbeing or those who are personally invested to drive it? Today's brilliant guest Dr Sabrina Robinson, Chartered Psychologist and Wellbeing Lead at Essex County Council talks us through this exact problem today and reveals some cunning tricks of the psychological trade to help us on our way. And, of course, she answers the alien question in a truly novel way! To join our Leaders Club click here: https://makeadifference.media/join-leaders-club/ To see the agenda for MAD World Summit on 9th October in London where Sabrina is speaking, see here: https://madworldsummit.com/ Time line of conversation: 00:00 Introduction to the Leaders Podcast 00:45 Meet Dr. Sabrina Robinson 02:08 The Challenge: Ensuring Consistency in Wellbeing 03:08 Renewing the Governance Strategy 04:20 Leadership Buy-In and Accountability 05:49 Engaging the Right People 14:30 Formalising the Governance Strategy 17:32 Achieving Consistency and Employee Experience 19:07 Final Thoughts and Advice 21:33 The Alien Question 22:48 Conclusion and Farewell | |||
| My multigenerational team isn't gelling! With Patrick Dunne OBE | 24 Sep 2025 | 00:25:28 | |
We know the theory: difference leads to innovation and, ultimately, profitability. But, in practice, working in multigenerational teams can be really challenging and lead to a lot of tension. Patrick Dunne OBE has seen this situation numerous times in his vast experience of business and boards - he's also just co-written a book called 'Five generations at work; how we win together for good'. This conversation covers everything from a maximising mindset, empathic leadership, dealing with conflict, 'microwaved' relationships and even dad dancing. It's peppered with practical tips and real-life solutions he's seen work. To join our Leaders club see here For more information on Patrick's keynote at MAD World Leaders Summit on 9th October 2025, see here Time line of conversation: 00:00 Introduction to the Leaders Podcast 00:44 Meet Patrick Dunne, OBE 02:25 The Multi-Generational Team Challenge 03:42 Understanding and Communication Across Generations 05:46 Practical Tips for Managing Multi-Generational Teams 11:54 Conflict Management Techniques 20:18 The Importance of Trust in Teams 23:03 The Alien Question and Conclusion | |||
| Where do I start supporting neurodivergent employees? With BNP Paribas's Lauren Lunniss | 18 Nov 2025 | 00:28:13 | |
With neurodiversity talked about so much more today in the media than ever before, many employees are diagnosing, not only themselves, but their family members too. This, coupled with the long NHS waiting lists for formal diagnoses, means employees are increasingly looking to employers to bridge the gap. But what should they do? And is it reasonable to cover employees' family members too? This is what happened at BNP Parisbas and, in this episode, Health & Wellbeing Lead Lauren Lunniss explains what a 'wake up' call it was to discover so much demand - and how she systematically dealt with it. Lunniss is a self confessed lover of numbers and spreadsheets and, in this episode, shares some golden nuggets on this front on the link between uptake of services and productivity. Remember you can join our Leaders Club by emailling editor@makeadifference.media Time line of conversation: 00:00 Introduction to the Leaders Podcast 00:35 This Week's Challenge: Addressing Neurodiversity 01:19 Expert Insight: Lauren Lni's Experience 01:28 The Growing Awareness of Neurodiversity 01:48 Developing an Inclusive Program 04:11 Survey Insights and Initial Steps 07:18 Collaborating with Healthcare Providers 08:55 Creating a Comprehensive Support Pathway 09:47 The Importance of Follow-Up Care 13:58 Measuring Impact and Success 18:36 Building a Supportive Community 23:43 Final Thoughts and Future Plans 25:29 The Alien Question: Making the Case for Wellbeing 27:34 Conclusion and Call to Action | |||
| How do we balance profits and caring for people, when the proverbial poop hits the FAN?! | 05 Nov 2025 | 00:33:08 | |
Today is a very special episode because, for the first time, we have two brilliant guests answering this question not just one - both of them specialise in the legal industry, which is a hot bed for this scenario where managers are under pressure to perform and so, at times, deprioritise people and, even, can lack humanity as well as endangering their own wellbeing. One is Sam Jardine, Partner at Fieldfisher LLP and LawCare Chamption, and the other is Elizabeth Rimmer, CEO of LawCare, which promotes and supports good mental health in the legal industry across the UK and has just launched its latest report, Life in Law 2025. This is a fascinating wide ranging conversation, with loads of practical ideas and tips, as well as a bit of philosophy, AI predictions and even poetry. Check out the conversation breakdown below to see just how much ground is covered! 00:00 Introduction to the Leaders Podcast 00:35 This Week's Challenge: Prioritizing People in High-Pressure Environments 01:29 Expert Insights: Sam Jardine and Elizabeth Rimmer 02:10 The Legal Industry's Pressure Cooker Environment 05:31 The Impact of Empathy and Humanity in Management 07:43 Positive Management Stories and Their Impact 08:34 Valuing People Management in the Legal Sector 09.35 Results of the recent LawCare study 12.04 How could line managers be encouraged to focus on better people management 17.25 The challenge hybrid working brings 20:35 The Role of Self-Awareness in Effective Management 26:27 The Importance of Human Skills in the Age of AI 29.00 Measuring Kindness 30.00 The Alien Question, and wrap up | |||
| Why are young employees such SNOWFLAKES?! With Alex Smith | 29 Oct 2025 | 00:23:01 | |
Have you ever found yourself drawn into that trendy narrative that young people today are SO flaky, needy, impatient, demanding, challenging, obsessed with their mental health and not dedicated enough to their work? Or maybe the line managers you work with have said this to you? Well, this is definitely the episode for you as our guest Alex Smith, Global Lead for Lifestyle, Leisure, and Wellbeing at Unidays, shares his unique and at-the-coalface insight into the mindset of young people today. You will have 'aha' moments and relate to younger generations differently in future. Alex delves into the importance of self-awareness and understanding the different life experiences that shape team members' perspectives. He highlights practical strategies for fostering a supportive and inclusive environment. The discussion touches on the evolving nature of the job market influenced by AI and the importance of creating opportunities for diverse talents. The episode closes with the usual ‘alien question'! To join our Leaders Club click here: https://makeadifference.media/join-leaders-club/ Timeline of conversation:00:00 Introduction to the Leaders Podcast 00:35 This Week's Challenge: Managing a Multi-Generational Team 01:35 Guest Introduction: Alex Smith 01:48 Alex's Experience with Multi-Generational Teams 02:34 Understanding Generational Differences 03:43 Strategies for Effective Management 08:06 The Role of Empathy and Self-Awareness 09:32 The Impact of AI on Graduate Jobs 15:11 Addressing Mental Health in the Workplace 18:51 Final Thoughts and Takeaways 21:25 The Alien Question 22:22 Conclusion and Farewell
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| How do you create a consistent workplace culture with multiple sites & hard-to-reach employees? With Ruth Jackson | 29 Jun 2026 | 00:28:33 | |
In this episode, Ruth Jackson, Chief People Officer at The Gym Group, discusses workplace culture and how to engage frontline staff across 260 UK sites and over 2,000 employees - most of whom aren't desk based. She covers a raft of practical strategies such as centring on the employee life cycle, which is at the heart of the government's Keep Britain Working approach - of which the Gym Group is a vanguard. She also touches on communication formats and the importance of managers cascading messages and anchoring to company purpose. Time line of conversation: 00:00 Welcome to the podcast 00:44 The Multi Site Challenge 02:41 Reaching Frontline Teams 04:09 Managers as Comms Hubs 04:54 Female Health First Pilot 07:08 Grassroots Channels That Scale 09:38 Life Cycle Wellbeing Strategy 12:02 Running ERGs Across Sites 13:19 Face to Face and Tech Blend 14:49 Purpose Brought to Life 19:55 Measuring Culture and Retention 22:24 Mentoring and Reverse Mentoring 24:19 Future Culture Priorities 26:18 The Alien Question Finale 27:54 Wrap Up and Subscribe | |||
| How can employers boost social wellbeing at work? With Welcome Break's Nic Marshall | 02 Jun 2026 | 00:27:13 | |
In this latest MAD Leaders Club Podcast, Nic Marshall, People Director, shares how Welcome Break has cultivated connection between employees - especially different generations, and made people feel valued and recognised. She also explains the importance of employees getting behind the values and purpose of the organisation and how she's done this. And she covers why success depends heavily on approachable managers who recruit for attitude and guide younger workers while enabling reverse mentoring across generations. This focus on building social wellbeing has led to teams that have a sense of pride and camaraderie, and that work better together. She shares, too, how Welcome Break encourages employees to take part in community volunteering and how those that do are more engaged at work. Nic touches on practical steps she's taken to embed social wellbeing as well as reward and recognition. Time stamp of conversation: 00:00 Welcome to Leaders Podcast 00:44 The Connection Challenge 01:19 Meet Nic Marshall 03:32 Connection Through Purpose 05:17 Creating Space on Site 06:41 Recruiting for Attitude 07:59 Generations and Mentoring 11:27 Volunteering and Community 13:35 Peer Recognition Postcards 17:01 Little and Often Rewards 19:36 Unlimited Budget Ideas 21:17 Hybrid Work and Inclusion 24:09 Are We All Social 25:28 The Alien Pitch Finale 26:34 Wrap Up and Subscribe | |||
| How do I engage employees so they go the extra mile without burning out? With Jo Moffatt | 16 Dec 2025 | 00:26:14 | |
It makes sense that engaged employees are happier and more productive at work but - in this episode - you’ll hear concrete evidence that you can use in your business case that proves this link. Jo Moffatt, who is Advisory Board member for not-for-profit Engage For Success shares the findings of recent research which highlights the impact of Health and Wellbeing initiatives, and the benefits of listening to and valuing employees. Not only that, she gives you hard data (freely accessible) on the link between engagement and not only productivity but talent attraction, talent retention, reduced turnover, profitability and shareholder returns. But the big question is - how do you engage your employees to reap these benefits? Well, don’t worry, Jo shares her 4 most important actions to achieve this. She also lots of practical tips along the way, many of which don’t cost anything except effort and consistency. Timeline of podcast: 00:00 Introduction to the Leaders Podcast 00:35 This Week's Challenge: Engaging a Disengaged Team 01:06 Guest Introduction: Joe Moffitt from Engage for Success 01:39 Defining Employee Engagement 02:43 Engage for Success: UK Employee Engagement Survey 05:02 Key Findings from the Survey 11:23 The Four Enablers of Engagement 19:00 Survey Fatigue vs. Inaction Fatigue 20:35 Engaging Senior Management 25:32 Conclusion and Final Thoughts | |||
| Why doesn't the OLD way of doing employee engagement work anymore? With Adeife Onwuzulike | 02 Dec 2025 | 00:28:07 | |
It used to be enough to ask a couple of questions about how employees were feeling about their wellbeing in an annual, or twice yearly, survey and that was enough to assess 'engagement'. But those days are over. With hybrid working, geopolitical uncertainty, increasing desire for purpose and a host of other factors, employee expectations have shifted. To talk us through tackling this change, is Euromonitor's Global Director: Culture, Engagement and Inclusion, Adeife Onwuzulike, who is currently grappling with exactly this challenge. She covers a huge variety of topics with practical and strategic advice such as: the importance of co-design and collaboration; the multigenerational workforce; measurement; intersectionality and much more! One thing she makes crystal clear is that engagement today is all about participation two ways and employees want to be talked 'with' and not 'to'. She explains how she is doing this. She even sings at the end, so stay tuned for that, and, of course, the alien question.... Remember you can join our Leaders Club by emailling editor@makeadifference.media Time line of conversation: 00:00 Introduction to the Leaders Podcast 00:35 This Week's Challenge: Employee Engagement 01:44 Guest Introduction: Aade Zalucki 02:34 Designing a New Employee Experience Survey 03:51 Measuring Employee Experience 08:35 The Importance of Wellbeing and DEI 11:52 Building Trust and Collaboration 13:45 Generational Differences in the Workplace 18:48 Effective Communication Strategies 23:28 Conclusion and Final Thoughts | |||
| How & why senior dads must parent more visibly for true culture change, with Elliott Rae | 11 May 2026 | 00:29:35 | |
In this episode, we discuss how family-friendly employers can encourage senior dads to be visible as parents with Elliott Rae, Founder of Parenting Out Loud, Equal Parenting Week and Working Dads Summit. Rae argues senior leaders strongly shape workplace culture and dads’ willingness to take enhanced paternity leave or work flexibly, and explains how fear of judgement and presenteeism drives concealment of caregiving. He links equal parenting to reducing the motherhood penalty and gender pay gap, and outlines practical actions employers can take across policy, culture and leadership. This wide ranging conversation also touches on traditional masculinity, the ‘masculinity crisis’, creating safe spaces for male leaders through storytelling, and proposes societal investments such as shared parental leave, a four-day week, affordable childcare and cost-of-living reforms. Time Stamp of Conversation 00:00 Welcome to Leaders 00:49 The Senior Dads Challenge 01:55 Why Leaders Shape Culture 04:34 The Case for Equal Parenting 05:58 Policy Fixes That Work 07:38 Flexible Work Beyond Hybrid 09:21 Culture and Manager Influence 11:35 Why Men Stay Silent 13:11 Stories That Shift Leaders 17:08 Make the Business Case 18:39 Tailor and Measure Actions 21:11 Progress Takes Time 22:05 Is There a Masculinity Crisis 25:19 Alien Budget Big Ideas 28:56 Final Thanks and Subscribe | |||
| How can I make Rewards & Benefits something that changes culture, not just transactional? With BA's Josephina Smith | 14 Apr 2026 | 00:30:07 | |
If you’re in any doubt that Reward & Benefits can transform culture, or how, and looking for creative inspiration to replicate BA’s success at your organisation, then this episode is a must-listen. Josephina Smith is Reward and Recognition Director at the airline and has boundless enthusiasm for this topic. A former CPO, she sees herself as not a “reward professional” but as a “reward change professional”. This distinction informs the way she operates and, particularly, her drive to communicate the discipline’s strategic advantage across the company, from function to function. Time stamp of conversation: 00:00 Welcome to Leaders Podcast 00:44 This Week’s Challenge 01:06 Meet Josephina Smith 03:18 Reward as Culture Change 04:50 Cost Conscious Not Cutting 06:57 Trends Shaping Benefits 09:21 BA Global Benefits Overhaul 11:11 Trust Through Face Time 12:16 Reward Psychology and Creativity 13:18 Cross Functional Influence 14:54 Comms Clarity and Personalization 18:11 Personalized Total Reward Video 22:04 Digital Buzz and Suppliers 24:27 AI Powered Benefits Future 26:42 Advice for Reward Pros 28:04 The Alien Budget Question 29:28 Wrap Up and Subscribe | |||
| Working parents are more stressed than ever, but how can employers genuinely support them? With Carly Stanley | 25 Mar 2026 | 00:26:46 | |
New figures released on Parent Mental Health Day on January 30th confirmed the hunch that working parents are feeling the strain more than ever. (We wrote about the findings, here, on www.makeadifference.media). But it can be tricky for employers to know how to support working parents, and how involved to get. Today's podcast guest is trailblazing HR professional Carly Stanley, Chief People Officer at outdoor advertising company, JC Decaux. In this episode, she talks us through - with her trademark honest how her company - shifted from a hierarchical, presenteeism culture to one focused on psychological safety. As she explains, this starts with listening, building trust with leaders, understanding the business and using data plus coaching to unblock difficult conversations (something she believes employers who want to effect real culture change must embrace, however uncomfortable). She emphasises there is no 'magic pill' but shares her experience and the actions she's taken, including a raft of progressive benefits. 00:00 Welcome to Leaders Podcast 00:44 Working Parents Under Pressure 01:29 Meet Carly Stanley 04:29 Building Trust First 07:33 Listen Then Use Data 09:15 Coaching for Safety 11:15 Support in Practice 13:27 Policy Versus Culture 16:29 Fertility and Pregnancy Benefits 21:38 Return to Work Program 23:26 Milestones and Impact 24:16 The Alien Budget Question 26:07 Wrap Up and Subscribe | |||
| I need to understand our employees.... but what is the best way to REALLY do this? | 02 Mar 2026 | 00:28:57 | |
Our podcast guest today, Charles Alberts, Global Head of Wellbeing and People Experience at law firm Clifford Chance, tells us why his answer to this question is reverse mentoring. In this episode he explains, alongside his mentor Giulia, why reverse mentoring has been such a powerful experience for both of them, which has built their empathy and understanding of one another 'hugely'. In fact, it even gets quite emotional at times! If you've ever been curious about reverse mentoring, then this episode could be the nudge you need. Charles now describes it as one of the "genuine joys" of his career and it's clear how much he learnt from the experience which has helped him in his job. Remember you can find out more, and join the Make a Difference Leaders Club here: https://makeadifference.media/join-leaders-club/ Time line of podcast conversation: 00:00 Welcome and Leaders Club 00:35 This Week’s Challenge 01:19 Meet Charles and Giulia 02:17 What Reverse Mentoring Is 03:36 Nerves and First Impressions 05:48 Giulia’s Lived Experience 06:38 Building Psychological Safety 08:53 Intentional Structure vs Coffee 11:09 Key Learnings and Assumptions 16:32 Calling Out Behavior 17:50 Disability Inclusion and Language 19:48 How to Make It Work 22:27 Why Leaders Should Make Time 26:22 Alien question 28:06 Wrap Up and Subscribe | |||
| Help! Our employees have AI anxiety.... What do I do? | 17 Feb 2026 | 00:23:31 | |
AI is the biggest workplace behaviour change since the industrial revolution, says this week’s guest, Helen Matthews, former CPO of creative hot houses Weber Shandwick and Ogilvy UK. She’s just completed a qualification in Generative AI in Business from the University of Cambridge and admits to being fascinated by the topic and voraciously consuming anything that mentions it. For her, the biggest challenge she has encountered - which she talks through in this podcast episode - is how to create the psychological safety around AI to make people feel comfortable using it in the office. She describes the difference between safety levels at home compared to the office as the ‘adoption gap’. It falls to the CPO, often, to bridge this gap and take the pressure from CEOs who are increasingly investing in AI tech and want to see a return. In this conversation she discusses, not only psychological safety but also guardrails and ethics giving strategic, but also practical, advice. For instance, she covers how to leverage early adopters, how to ensure people get time to learn and make mistakes and why co-creation is so important in this space. As well as this, she also talks about what concerns her most about AI, now and going forward, and what we can all do to shape a better AI future. AI, and its impact on employee health and wellbeing and workplace culture is one of the hottest topics currently being debated and it's essential all businesses think about it now - that's why we're running a free webinar on Tuesday 17th March 9am - 10am, 2026. For more info and to register, see here: https://makeadifference.media/featured/ai-workforce-health-culture-risk-webinar/ Time stamp of conversation: 00:00 Welcome to the Leaders Podcast + How to Join the Leaders Club 00:44 Bonus: Free AI Workplace Webinar (March 2026) 01:29 The AI Adoption Gap: Leaders Under Pressure, Employees Anxious 03:15 Building Psychological Safety: Training, Guardrails & Safe Sandboxes 05:58 Why People Play with AI at Home but Avoid It at Work 07:33 Wellbeing Risks: AI Coaches, Therapy, Hallucinations & Human Checks 10:10 Creativity & Connection: Early Adopters, Communities, and Real Collaboration 12:56 Where to Start: Practical Steps, Governance, GDPR & Upskilling Options 15:29 AI and Creativity: Craft, Ethics, and Using AI Without Replacing Humans 17:11 The Next 5 Years: Agents at Work, Shaping the Future, Ethics First 20:27 The Alien Question + Sustainability: Invest in People, Don’t Humanize AI 22:52 Wrap-Up: Thanks for Listening, Share the Episode & Subscribe | |||
| How do you avoid bad managers damaging employee health and wellbeing and workplace culture? | 03 Feb 2026 | 00:22:30 | |
There’s a lot of truth in the old adage ‘people don’t leave companies, they leave bad managers’. Bad managers are terrible drains for business because they adversely affect employee engagement, productivity and wellbeing. Not only that, they can collectively impact the organisation’s entire workplace culture, regardless of what the C-suite says the company’s values are. So, how do you ensure you get good managers in place? And - perhaps a less common question in traditional career structures - how do you ensure those people who don’t want to progress via people management continue to have fulfilling alternative career paths? And what is the link between career fulfilment and wellbeing? Today’s guest Claire Burns, People Director at textile firm Abraham Moon and Sons, has got answers to these questions as well as highly practical solutions. For instance, she talks us through her innovative ‘try before you buy’ approach, as well as her strength-focused strategy to returning parents. We also talk about the undeniable, but sometimes overlooked, link between career fulfilment and employee health and wellbeing. Why not, like Claire, join Make A Difference Media's Leaders' Club - find out more here Timeline of conversation: 00:00 Introduction 00:44 The Challenge of People Management 01:36 Practical Solutions for People Management 02:48 Implementing the Try Before You Buy Approach 05:51 Career Progression for Skilled Employees 12:59 Honest Conversations and Employee Wellbeing 14:40 Flexible Working and Career Paths 16:33 The Link Between Career and Wellbeing 20:10 Final Thoughts and Alien Question 21:51 Conclusion and Goodbyes | |||
| What do you do if you are suddenly in the eye of a DEI storm? With Annisha Taylor | 21 Jan 2026 | 00:23:25 | |
Of all the different specialisms, within the wider arena of workplace culture and employee health and wellbeing, DEI has arguably found itself in the eye of a cultural and/or media storm most. And that means the people leading on DEI, or with a remit that touches on inclusion, have often found themselves - very suddenly - the one in the organisation that everyone is looking at to ‘fix’ a cultural problem. Obviously, this is a lot of pressure and can be extremely stressful. In this podcast Annisha Taylor, who is group head of equality, diversity and inclusion at Ofcom, talks candidly about this pressure she experienced in former roles and - crucially - how she responded to it. While undoubtedly stressful at the time, she reflects on these moments in this podcast and actually concludes that they have been pivotal in her career progression because she learnt so much from them. She generously shares exactly what in this chat. 00:00 Introduction to the Leaders Podcast 00:35 This Week's Challenge: Navigating DEI Crises 01:37 Guest Introduction: Anisha Taylor 01:58 Facing the DEI Challenge: Anisha's Experience 04:58 Lessons Learned and Advice for DEI Professionals 09:00 Implementing Lasting Changes in DEI 11:25 The Need for Proper Resourcing in DEI 12:35 The Challenge of Communication in Organizations 12:50 The Role of EDI Leaders 13:16 Understanding Different Perspectives 13:38 Navigating Senior Management 15:31 Building Relationships with Senior Leaders 16:55 Embedding EDI into Organisational Fabric 18:58 The Alien Question: Pitching for Wellbeing 21:25 Final Thoughts and Takeaways | |||
| How do you keep going in the face of resistance? With Sarah Churchman OBE | 06 Jan 2026 | 00:20:48 | |
When your work involves employee health and wellbeing, and you're trying to change culture, you often meet resistance. Sarah Churchman has a wealth of experience facing down taboos, stigma, stereotypes and internal resistance - she worked in HR roles at PwC for 20 years, latterly as Chief Inclusion, Culture & Wellbeing Officer. In this podcast, she talks us through how she does it - taking the menopause as an example. While this word, and its associated symptoms, are now talked about openly this is only due to trailblazing work from culture changers like Churchman. She talks about the traits needed to face resistance, and share some of her top practical tips. Also her advice on moving employee health and wellbeing to become a culture issue, taken seriously by senior management, as happened in her time at PwC. Podcast timeline: 00:00 Introduction to the Leaders Podcast 00:35 This Week's Challenge: Overcoming Resistance 01:30 Meet Sarah Churchman: A Trailblazer in Workplace Wellbeing 02:19 Facing Resistance: The Menopause Case Study 04:03 Connecting and Supporting Employees 06:38 Engaging Male Leaders and Overcoming Taboos 14:07 The Role of Intuition and Data 16:13 Future Challenges and the Importance of Human Leadership 18:23 Conclusion, Final Thoughts and, of course, the Alien Question! | |||
| Leading with Humanity in an AI-Driven Workplace: Wellbeing, Fear & Burnout with Cisco’s Global Wellbeing, People & Communities Head | 29 Jul 2026 | 00:30:46 | |
With AI transforming the workplace so rapidly, it has huge implications for not only employee productivity, but also health and wellbeing. For this week’s episode we’re joined by Sheila Champion-Smeeth, Cisco’s Global Head of Wellbeing, People, and Communities, who calls on professionals to “take a beat” and consider these implications carefully. She argues AI should build capability and free time, but leaders and individuals must consciously use that space for strategy, skill-building, wellbeing, and human connection, rather than simply producing more. She also talks about burnout - a topic close to her heart, having suffered personally - as well as the need for leadership role modelling and balancing automation with key human skills. Fear of AI taking jobs is also addressed, with many practical tips for managers on how to lead constructive conversations. 00:00 Welcome to the podcast 00:35 This Week’s AI Challenge 01:06 Meet Sheila from Cisco 02:48 AI as Capability Builder 04:00 Using Freed Time Wisely 07:53 Recovery Like Athletes 09:51 Fear and Mindset Shifts 13:15 Automation vs Augmentation 17:38 Protecting Human Connection 21:44 AI and Burnout Risks 24:57 Hiding Struggle at Work 26:31 Happiness Summit Takeaways 28:10 The Alien Budget Pitch 29:57 Final Thanks and Wrap Up | |||