What do feminist leadership, circus skills and the future of charity leadership have in common?
In the second episode of series two of The Leader to Leader Podcast, Irene Sobowale, former chief executive of Brainkind, passes the baton from her conversation with ACEVO chief executive Jane Ide to interview Lee Webster, deputy chief executive of Respect, the national organisation working to stop perpetrators of domestic abuse.
Drawing on more than two decades of experience across charities of different sizes, Lee reflects on how leadership has become increasingly complex. From funding pressures and rising demand to the interconnected challenges facing communities, she argues that leaders need to look beyond organisational boundaries, remain curious and recognise that the solutions to society's biggest problems rarely fit into neat boxes.
But what does good leadership look like in practice?
For Lee, leadership shouldn't start at the top. She talks about the importance of creating organisational cultures where people at every level have the confidence and authority to make decisions, learn from mistakes and contribute to a shared purpose. She also reflects on her relationship with Respect's CEO and how trust, honesty and shared responsibility can help prevent the isolation often associated with senior leadership.
A committed feminist throughout her career, Lee explores what feminist leadership means to her and why it remains so relevant. From challenging traditional hierarchies and using power responsibly to prioritising equality, care and accountability, she makes the case for a more human-centred approach to leading organisations.
And then there's the circus.
Lee offers a memorable analogy for the realities of charity leadership: juggling competing demands while hoping none of the glass balls fall, walking the tightrope between scarce funding and growing need, and occasionally becoming a trapeze artist, achieving things that once seemed impossible. It's a reminder that, despite the pressures, charity leaders can bring hope, joy and meaningful change to people's lives.
The conversation also explores the future of leadership, including how remote working might affect the development of tomorrow's charity CEOs, the importance of building diverse leadership teams, and the need for greater collaboration and innovation across the sector.
Lee shares her thoughts on the challenges facing infrastructure organisations, the search for more sustainable funding models and why resilience depends on people, purpose and money. She also offers a more personal perspective on what helps her stay grounded when the pressures of leadership become overwhelming.
Throughout, Irene and Lee return to the importance of working together, staying connected to the people around us and keeping sight of why we do this work in the first place.
And as the baton passes once again, Lee introduces her next guest, Danielle Bridge, chief executive of Black Minds Matter, and the question she hopes to explore with her about strategy and keeping it alive within organisations.
Listen for an honest, thoughtful and hopeful conversation about feminist leadership, navigating complexity and finding new ways to lead in a changing world.
