The Courageous Leaders Podcast aims to inspire leaders to step into their courageous zone, be the leader they know they can be and discover the mindset skills and behaviours to take their leadership to the next level.
So listen in, get inspired on how you can grow your leadership impact. Leave a legacy you can be proud of, and build an environment for future leaders to thrive.
Who is Joanna Howes?
Joanna Howes is an award-winning international coach, behavioural expert, specialising in leadership and performance coaching and No 1 best selling international co-author.
Her focus is to help individuals and teams activate their full potential, so they can step into their courageous zone to maximise their influence, build their resilience and take the action needed to become high performers and future-ready leaders.
Joanna is a unique phenomenon within her industry, with over 20 years’ experience working internationally with some of the world's most awarded advertising agencies and leading them to operational and leadership success. Her blend of both innovative operational and transformative change solutions empowers organisations to create environments that are supportive and fearless for their employees.
Career Advice For People Who Feel Lost | Career Panel Discussion
Episode 205
Thursday, October 1, 2026 • Duration 51:40
Do you feel lost in your career? Been made redundant, or thinking about changing jobs or starting something new? In this special panel episode of The Courageous Leaders Podcast, I sit down with three experts to challenge the biggest myths about work and share how to build a career that actually fits your life.
I'm joined by Andrew Bloch, founder of Andrew Bloch & Associates, long-term publicist to Lord Alan Sugar of The Apprentice, and one of the world's most influential PR entrepreneurs; Lydia Amoah FRSA, CEO of Backlight, author of the Black Pound Report, and Entrepreneur of the Year 2026; and Lauren Spearman, Careers Creator and social media consultant known for championing salary transparency and better hiring. Together, we get honest about ambition, success, redundancy, and reinvention. If you've ever felt stuck, behind, or unsure what "success" even means anymore, this conversation is for you.
What We Cover: 00:00 Trailer 01:02 The biggest lie we’ve been told about careers 01:29 Can ambition be a trap? 05:36 Redefining success: money, time, and independence 08:15 How small attempts build real confidence 11:55 Why “is this fun?” is a serious career question 13:33 Advice if you feel lost but still want to be employed 19:56 “Choicefulness”: why you’re less trapped than you think 27:21 Why your network matters more than you realise 34:10 What “careering” really means, and building a personal brand 36:15 Facing the fear of redundancy 38:28 How to reinvent yourself or change direction 42:08 Andrew’s wake-up call 46:40 What to do first if you’ve just been made redundant 49:09 How will you know you “careered” well?
Key Career Insights:
• Why the biggest lie is that everyone else has it figured out
• Why a sideways or backward move can be the best career decision you make
• How to redefine success around time, values, and independence, not just title and salary
• Why confidence is built through small attempts, not waiting to feel ready
• Why your network, not just your CV, opens the next door
• What to actually do in the first days after redundancy
• Why courage, not confidence, is what careers really require
👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ
Formula E CMO: How Do You Drive Change Without Causing Chaos?
Episode 206
Thursday, September 17, 2026 • Duration 47:43
Can you challenge everything without breaking it? Ellie Norman, Chief Marketing Officer of Formula E, calls herself a “safe rebel,” and in this episode of The Courageous Leaders Podcast she explains what that really means for anyone trying to drive change without blowing things up.
With over 25 years shaping some of the world’s biggest brands, including Formula 1 under Liberty Media and Manchester United, Ellie shares how to challenge assumptions while protecting what works, why she measures her worth by curiosity rather than titles, and how she quietened the “what will people think?” voice when she left F1 for Formula E.If you lead through change, wrestle with feeling “good enough,” or want to modernise something built on legacy, this conversation is full of practical wisdom.
What We Cover: 00:00 Trailer 01:04 What Ellie means by being a “safe rebel” 03:45 Why you can be safe and a rebel at the same time 04:12 The childhood that made her curious and fearless 06:39 How to lead people who are too afraid to try 07:57 The 70/20/10 framework for safe experimentation 11:24 The “good girl” people-pleaser, and its hidden cost 15:05 The difference between being liked and being respected 17:31 Where her “not feeling good enough” comes from 18:37 Proving yourself vs knowing you’re already enough 21:13 Why we shouldn’t need to “stack evidence” to feel enough 23:21 Why confidence is a journey, not a fixed state 27:04 Her process for reframing when thoughts spiral 28:30 Protecting time and space to think clearly 30:46 The underlying courage beneath the self-doubt 33:00 Leaving Formula 1 for Formula E: “What will people think?” 34:31 The two traits leaders ignore: discipline and self-accountability 40:42 How her team keeps up with her pace 43:46 Why constraints drive innovation for a challenger brand 45:08 How she sets clear expectations about the way she works
Key Leadership Insights: • How to challenge assumptions without knocking the whole house down • Why a leader’s job isn’t to have the answers, but to create the environment for better ones• The 70/20/10 rule: protect what works, optimise the next slice, experiment with the rest• Why being kind means being clear, even in hard conversations• How to reframe “proving yourself” into “what can I learn here?”• Why courage plus discipline, not confidence, is what carries big career leaps• Why the moment you feel comfortable is the most dangerous place to be
How To Be Successful At Work & Be A Great Dad
Episode 204
Thursday, September 3, 2026 • Duration 49:48
Can fathers build a successful career and be fully present at home? In this episode of The Courageous Leaders Podcast, I’m joined by Dr Anna Machin, a world-renowned evolutionary anthropologist and fatherhood researcher, and Steve Cardwell, founder of Deliberate Dad and coach to ambitious fathers, to explore one of the biggest challenges men never talk about: how becoming a father changes you, and what workplaces get wrong about it.
We get into the “supercharged dad brain” and the real hormonal and psychological changes new fathers go through, why the first three months back at work are a make-or-break retention risk, why paternity support has to be built specifically for men, and the practical steps both leaders and dads can take. If you lead a team, manage new fathers, or are becoming one yourself, this conversation will change how you see the role.
What We Cover:
00:00 Trailer
01:13 The biggest problem facing fathers at work today
03:13 Why the first three months back at work are so critical
04:18 What’s changed: dual-income homes, and dads stepping up
06:56 Why Steve left a seven-figure business to become “Deliberate Dad”
08:23 What being a “deliberate” dad actually means
10:18 The “supercharged dad brain”: how fatherhood boosts performance
13:09 Three things a CEO should do when a new dad returns
15:01 The fears that stop dads from speaking up at work
19:11 Dads’ guilt, and the hidden risk of paternal depression
21:14 Why supporting fathers has to start at the top
24:43 How real change happens: dads speaking up, not just policy
26:08 The conference moment that bonded a room full of fathers
29:12 Three tips for dads to succeed at work and at home
Ogilvy CEO: Why Creative Leaders Need A Culture Of Disrespect | James Murphy
Episode 203
Thursday, August 20, 2026 • Duration 01:05:59
James Murphy, CEO of Ogilvy Group UK and co-founder of New Commercial Arts, joins me on The Courageous Leaders Podcast for an honest conversation about building creative cultures that don’t rely on hierarchy. James co-founded adam&eve, which became one of the most awarded agencies in history, and he has spent decades proving that great leadership starts with bold ideas and the right environment to grow them.
We talk about why he encourages a “culture of disrespect” where the best idea wins no matter who it comes from, why hierarchy and process quietly kill creative energy, why leaders aren’t there just to make people happy, and why momentum beats the paralysis of perfection. If you want to build a culture where great work actually happens, this conversation is full of hard-won lessons.
What We Cover: 00:00 Trailer 00:57 What courageous leadership means to James 04:26 His relationship with fear and decision-making 05:47 Why a strong culture needs both trust and high standards 06:37 Why hierarchy and process kill creativity 09:57 The “culture of disrespect”: letting the best idea win, whoever it comes from 16:53 How to change a hierarchical agency, starting with your next brief 24:29 The pressure clients are under, and why problems are inevitable 25:54 Why problems should be surfaced, not hidden 27:17 What an F1 team taught him about blame and accountability 30:30 Why the best creatives don’t always make the best leaders 37:50 Is the advertising industry ageist? James’s honest answer 40:50 Why fewer people want to be leaders now 46:06 The job rejection that told him he “wasn’t ruthless enough” 49:50 What a leader needs before they can be courageous 53:17 Why stepping back from work felt dangerous to him 57:07 James’s three pieces of advice for leaders 1:00:21 From wine-delivery van driver to a job at Ogilvy
Key Leadership Insights: • Why momentum and course-correction beat waiting for the perfect answer• Why a strong culture needs both openness and clear standards• How a “culture of disrespect” frees the best ideas from hierarchy• Why surfacing problems openly is a strength, not a weakness• Why you should measure and reward the team, not the individual• The difference between a brilliant practitioner and a brilliant leader• Why perseverance, not ruthlessness, is what success actually requires
How to build one culture across 100 companies and 40 countries
Episode 202
Thursday, August 6, 2026 • Duration 01:00:08
Sergio Lopez Ferrero, Global CEO of Omnicom Production, joins me on The Courageous Leaders Podcast for an honest conversation about leading global transformation and what it really costs the person at the top. Sergio leads the global production portfolio for Omnicom Group, with over 20 years in the industry and more than 400 awards to his name, including 73 Cannes Lions.
We talk about what it takes to transform businesses spanning 100 companies and 40 countries, why leaders are humans, not superheroes, the moment he realised he'd stopped doing the work he loved, and how he separates smart failure from negligence. If you lead through change, pressure, or uncertainty, this conversation is full of hard-won lessons from someone doing it at a global scale.
What We Cover:
00:00 Trailer
00:54 Leading global transformation in a changing industry
03:19 The pressure of being a CEO: leaders are human, not superheroes
05:54 The leadership skills Sergio had to learn the hard way
08:15 Why every leader must understand the financials first
11:29 How to build one culture across 100 companies and 40 countries
13:03 Making tough decisions when people resist change
16:07 Separating who you are from the role you have to play
21:40 Moving from hands-on creative work to leading the businesS
29:14 Smart failure vs negligence: when it’s okay to fail
32:30 How to navigate uncertainty as a leader
35:13 Systems thinking and giving teams freedom within a framework
45:16 Where courage has carried Sergio through his career
48:05 Sergio’s three pieces of advice for future leaders
50:22 The eight things every CEO must be willing to do
5 Bad Leadership Behaviours Every Leader Should Avoid
Episode 201
Thursday, July 23, 2026 • Duration 05:29
What are the bad leadership habits that quietly hold a team back? In this solo episode of The Courageous Leaders Podcast, I share the five leadership behaviours driving me crazy right now, and what to do instead if you want to lead well over the next few years.
Consider it a rant with a purpose. From leaders who struggle to manage stress to the ones avoiding hard conversations, burning out and calling it “high performance,” or making everything about themselves, I break down why each habit damages a team and the honest shift each one needs. If you lead people, this is a wake-up call worth five minutes.
What We Cover:
00:00 The five leadership behaviours driving me crazy 00:06 No self-management: reacting and offloading stress onto your team 01:01 Avoiding difficult conversations (and the time it wastes) 01:33 Not looking after yourself, and what “high performance” really means 02:42 Getting a coach but doing none of the work 03:32 Being too self-focused, and why that isn’t leadership 04:08 Why leadership needs empathy and compassion 04:20 Leadership takes daily effort, not just a title
👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ
Is Ruthlessness the Price of Reaching the Top? | A Leaders' Panel Discussion
Episode 200
Thursday, July 9, 2026 • Duration 51:26
What’s the one toxic leadership behaviour you’d banish forever? In this special Leadership Room 101 episode of The Courageous Leaders Podcast, three industry leaders each argue to banish one leadership behaviour for good: busyness, fear-based leadership, or pay-to-play culture. I’m joined by Katy Wright (Chief Client & Business Officer, AMV BBDO), Sergio Lopez Ferrero (Global CEO, Omnicom Production), and Sachini Imbuldeniya (Co-Founder & CEO, House of Oddities).
Each leader gets around ten minutes to make their case, and at the end I pick just one to send into Room 101. The debate is honest, funny, and at times a little controversial, and each argument says something real about how leadership and the creative industry work today.
What We Cover: 00:00 Trailer 00:50 The Leadership Room 101 concept, and meet the three leaders 01:50 Katy's nomination: Busyness as a badge of honour 06:20 Is being "busy" really pride, or is it fear? 10:20 The fear of not looking busy enough 12:50 The link between rest, sleep, and real creativity 19:50 Sergio's nomination: Fear-based leadership 21:50 Why blaming an unnamed "head office" erodes trust 24:50 Can a little fear actually be healthy in leadership? 27:20 Why "alpha" leadership is over, and vulnerability is rising 27:50 The uncomfortable debate: do CEOs have psychopathic tendencies? 40:50 Sachini's nomination: Why pay-to-play is rigging the industry 45:50 Awards and access: is success bought or earned? 47:50 How pay-to-play shuts out great creative work 48:50 My verdict: which behaviour goes into Leadership Room 101
Key Leadership Insights: Why “busy” has become a status symbol, and what it often hides How to hear what your team are really telling you when they say they’re busy Why a small amount of healthy fear can sharpen accountability Why vulnerability now makes leaders more followable, not less How pay-to-play systems in awards and pitching hold the industry back Why fixing fairness at the top can change a whole company culture
Part debate, part masterclass, and a lot of fun. By the end you’ll be deciding which leadership behaviour you’d banish too.
Why It's Okay to Upset People When You Lead | Joanna Howes
Season 1 · Episode 199
Thursday, June 25, 2026 • Duration 05:18
Why is avoidance the biggest killer of performance in teams?
In this solo episode of The Courageous Leaders Podcast, I explain why it’s okay to upset people, and why giving honest feedback without fear is a skill every leader needs.
Most leaders tiptoe around their teams, scared of upsetting someone. But avoiding hard conversations doesn’t protect people, it holds them back. I share why we waste so much energy “mind reading” how others will react, how that robs them of the chance to grow, and how to deliver tough feedback while staying calm, present, and human, even when someone gets upset.
What We Cover: 00:00 Why it's okay to upset people 00:40 You can't control how someone reacts (the "mind reading" trap) 01:30 Why avoiding it is really about protecting yourself 02:00 My personal story: the feedback that changed everything 02:55 How to give feedback without it feeling like an attack 03:25 How to stay present when someone cries or gets angry 04:19 Why backtracking is the worst thing you can do 04:38 Show up for them, even when it's uncomfortable
👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ
Esther Marshall on Grief, High Achievement, Emotional Resilience & Holding It All Together
Episode 198
Thursday, June 11, 2026 • Duration 57:19
Some people don’t just achieve, they achieve as though their life depends on it. In this deeply honest episode of The Courageous Leaders Podcast, I sit down with Esther Marshall, former global gender diversity leader at Unilever and founder of Sophie Says, to ask a question so many of us avoid: who are you when achievement isn’t enough?
This is a conversation about grief, high achievement, emotional resilience, and the pressure of holding everything together when life refuses to cooperate. Esther shares her story with extraordinary openness: losing her sister Rebecca to suicide, caring for grandparents through Alzheimer’s, a miscarriage during IVF, and losing her mother to pancreatic cancer, all while building a business and refusing to stop proving herself. It is also the story of the breakthrough that finally let her stop failing quietly and start succeeding loudly. If you have ever tied your worth to what you achieve, this one will stay with you.
If you or someone you know is affected by anything discussed in this episode, you can contact Samaritans free, 24/7, on 116 123 or at samaritans.org.
What We Cover: 00:00 Intro 01:30 Why "High Achiever" Can Tip Into "Never Enough" 04:41 Climbing the Ladder at Unilever, and Being "Hard to Manage" 10:14 Leading a Team When Your Standards Are Sky High 11:37 The Maternity Leave Project That Became Sophie Says 14:29 Losing Rebecca to Suicide 16:34 The Book Written the Night She Passed Away 20:21 The Rainbow, and Learning to Let People In 21:29 Carrying a Legacy, and the Weight That Comes With It 23:08 Alzheimer's, and Grief That Wouldn't Stop 24:18 IVF, Miscarriage, and Learning to Keep Going 25:48 The "Miracle" Baby, and a Mother's Pancreatic Cancer Diagnosis 30:13 Why She Chose to Run a Marathon the Day Her Mum Died 34:52 The Therapy Breakthrough That Changed Everything 38:46 "I'm Failing Quietly, but I Want to Succeed Loudly" 41:00 Building Sophie Says Into a Movement for Generational Change 48:53 Learning to Walk Before Running Again 50:13 A Message for Anyone Sitting in Fear, Ready to Begin51:40 What Courage Really Means to EstherKey Reflections:• Why high achievement can quietly become a form of self-harm• Why grief isn't something you "get over," and why returning to normal too quickly often makes healing harder• How to separate your self-worth from your achievements and results• Why asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness• How changing the way you frame a failure can completely reshape your life• Why children need emotionally safe parents, not perfect onesEsther’s honesty is a reminder that courage isn’t the absence of pain, it’s getting up and showing up through it. If this episode moves you, I’d love to hear your biggest takeaway in the comments.Find out more about Sophie Says: https://www.sophiesaysofficial.com/Follow Esther Masrshall:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sophiesaysofficial/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thegrievingfounder
Why a ‘C’ in your Title Doesn’t Automatically Make You an Executive Leader | Leadership Coach Joanna Howes
Episode 197
Thursday, June 4, 2026 • Duration 04:26
Why are so many executive teams underperforming?
In this solo episode of The Courageous Leaders Podcast, I break down the biggest leadership mistakes I see inside executive teams today, from social loafing and siloed thinking to oversized leadership teams and “Game of Thrones” behaviour at the top of organisations. I explore why executive leadership is about far more than titles, why leadership teams must operate collectively instead of protecting departments, and why CEOs need the courage to reshape teams when they are no longer serving the business. If your leadership team feels political, disconnected, slow, or overly comfortable, this episode will challenge how you think about executive leadership.
What We Cover: 00:00 – Why executive teams lose effectiveness 00:52 – Why titles do not equal executive leadership 01:24 – The danger of oversized executive teams 02:24 – Executive teams acting like working groups 02:42 – “Game of Thrones” leadership behaviour explained 03:07 – Why the executive team must become the first team 03:52 – Why CEOs need the courage to challenge comfort
Key Leadership Insights • Executive teams shape what becomes acceptable in company culture • Leadership titles do not automatically create leadership capability • High-performing executive teams think collectively, not territorially • Oversized leadership teams slow down decision-making and accountability • CEOs must be willing to challenge comfort and restructure leadership teams • The behaviour at the top becomes the standard for the entire company
Reflection Questions for Leaders • Is my executive team truly operating as one team? • Where are politics or silos damaging decision-making? • Have titles become more important than impact? • What difficult leadership change am I avoiding right now?
🎧 Listen to the full episode for the best practical leadership coaching: https://thecourageousleaderspodcast.buzzsprout.com/ 🚀 Ready to elevate your team and leadership? Book time for transformative coaching and training:Website: https://www.thechangecreators.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannahowes/👍 Stay inspired – subscribe, leave a comment, and help us build a community of courageous leaders across the UK.→ Want honest leadership insights in your inbox?👉 Sign up to the newsletter: https://the-change-creators.kit.com/1a5f3c9e54#ExecutiveLeadership #LeadershipTeam #CompanyCulture #CEO #CourageousLeaders
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👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ
👍 Stay inspired – subscribe, leave a comment, and help us build a community of courageous leaders.
→ Want honest leadership insights in your inbox?
👉 Sign up to the newsletter: https://the-change-creators.kit.com/1a5f3c9e54
👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ
👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ
👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ
👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ
👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ
👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ
