The Unlikely Executive – Details, episodes & analysis
Podcast details
Technical and general information from the podcast's RSS feed.


You know there’s more in you—more to explore, more to give, and more to live.
Welcome to The Unlikely Executive Podcast, a bi-weekly show for those who want to make a difference—whether they’re already doing good, don’t know where to start, or are simply curious about what’s possible.
This podcast is designed especially for New CEOs of nonprofits who feel they’re in the right place but wonder, Now what? Those at a crossroads, unsure if they have what it takes to craft a meaningful career doing what they love.
Curious minds seeking inspiration and clarity about the art of the possible.
Every episode, host Barbra Carlisle, Founder of Glee Coaching Ltd, Accredited Coach, and Mentor, brings you candid conversations with people like you who are now leaders making a significant difference. These are people whose journeys to where they are today were far from textbook. Challenges, self-doubt, and surprising turns all play a part. Yet, they’ve emerged with a sense of purpose, passion, and a desire to contribute positively to our wonderful and complex world.
Through inspiring stories, actionable tips, and heartfelt moments, each guest reveals how they stepped into the unknown, discovered their purpose, and made a difference.
If you’re ready to unlock your potential, challenge yourself, and take steps toward creating the impact you dream of, this podcast is for you.
Subscribe now to start your journey of discovery, and together, let’s build a better future—one purposeful step at a time.
Visit www.gleecoaching.com to learn more.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Recent rankings
Latest chart positions across Apple Podcasts and Spotify rankings.
Apple Podcasts
🇬🇧 Great Britain - management
11/04/2026#80🇬🇧 Great Britain - management
06/04/2026#97🇬🇧 Great Britain - management
05/04/2026#85🇬🇧 Great Britain - management
15/03/2026#92🇬🇧 Great Britain - management
08/03/2026#97🇬🇧 Great Britain - careers
10/04/2025#61🇬🇧 Great Britain - careers
18/01/2025#50🇬🇧 Great Britain - careers
07/01/2025#67🇬🇧 Great Britain - careers
06/01/2025#34🇬🇧 Great Britain - careers
05/01/2025#16
Spotify
No recent rankings available
Shared links between episodes and podcasts
Links found in episode descriptions and other podcasts that share them.
See all- https://expect.org.uk/
4 shares
- https://www.innovateher.co.uk/
3 shares
RSS feed quality and score
Technical evaluation of the podcast's RSS feed quality and structure.
See allScore global : 79%
Publication history
Monthly episode publishing history over the past years.
Pivot for a Passion
Season 1 · Episode 1
vendredi 3 janvier 2025 • Duration 29:19
Michele Afif pivoted her career- From being a full-on consultant paediatrician with a Medical Law Masters, to being the CEO of The Brain Tumour Charity.
What made her switch in mid-life? Hear how Michele is deeply committed to driving groundbreaking research and advocating for the brain tumour community. Her personal experience caring for children with brain tumours ignited a lifelong passion for improving outcomes and addressing inequalities in care.
Michele joins the podcast to share her inspiring journey and vision for creating lasting change in this vital field.
For more information, you may find this via the links below:
Website- https://www.thebraintumourcharity.org/
LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/in/micheleafif/
Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/thebraintumourcharity
Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/thebraintumourcharity/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Finding Downtime as a CEO
Season 1 · Episode 2
vendredi 17 janvier 2025 • Duration 25:11
Marg Ollivier came back home to the North after carving a career out in HR and governance in London. She came back, to be closer to family, to be closer to her beloved Liverpool Football Club and to look for work.
Six years later she is now CEO of Expect Ltd, whose mission is to help to deliver person-centred support to people with a disability, promoting and enabling their independent choice and integration into the community. A mission close to Marg’s heart.
Did she plan this? No.
Find out how Marg became CEO and what she thinks about her success in the latest podcast of The Unlikely Executive.
For more information, you may find this via the links below:
Website- https://expect.org.uk/
LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/in/marg-ollivier-20b228281/
Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/ExpectLimited
Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/expectltd/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Female Empowerment within the Tech Industry
Season 1 · Episode 7
vendredi 28 mars 2025 • Duration 33:15
Chelsea has dedicated her work to achieving gender equality within the tech sector. Her direct experiences of inequality within her previous roles inspired her to start InnovateHer, a social enterprise who are on a mission to get girls ready for the tech industry and the industry ready for girls. With her team, Chelsea plans for InnovateHer to become a pioneering industry-led STEAM education provider, inspiring teens to reach their potential and create a more inclusive future in tech, with a community of 1 million globally.
In other work, Chelsea has supported many organisations and government bodies on their digital strategies, as well as Inclusion, Social Enterprise, Digital Marketing, Brand and Business operations.
For more information, you may find this via the link below:
Organisation Website- https://www.innovateher.co.uk/
LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelsea-slater-ab548131/
Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/innovateherUK/
Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/innovateheruk/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
From the Pitch to Purpose
Season 1 · Episode 6
vendredi 14 mars 2025 • Duration 21:52
All Nick ever wanted to do was to play football... he was half decent too, playing for Stockport County as a teenager. However, he didn't make the grade and moved through job roles and ending up being Head of Operations, a stressful full-on job.
This eventually took a toll on him, suffering a severe stroke in 2012. As a stroke survivor, Nick felt that there was a lack of support, information, guidance and HOPE for people like him, so he started a blog and set up a charity.
Driven by a passion to build a charity that employs stroke survivors, listen to Nick talk about motivation and challenges in this week's episode of The Unlikely Executive.
For more information, you may find this via the links below:
Website- https://www.strokeinformation.co.uk/home/
LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-clarke-%F0%9F%92%9A-a2b6371/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Managing Grief
Season 1 · Episode 5
jeudi 27 février 2025 • Duration 19:10
Along with his wife, Rob Lapsley set up Love, Jasmine in 2016 to provide peer support to families bereaved by the loss of a child. This was due to their own experiences following the loss of their daughter Jasmine who was just 6 years old when she died.
Before the loss of Jasmine, being a charity leader was the last thing on Rob’s to do list – in this podcast episode Rob shares his thoughts on the journey to being an authentic leader in a charity that is very personal to him.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
From Admin to CEO- The Motivation for Change
Season 1 · Episode 4
vendredi 14 février 2025 • Duration 25:28
Sean died in 2019. He wanted help, he wanted to get better. The type of support he needed didn't exist. There was nowhere men could go to to feel good about themselves. His sister Debbie, felt a fire in her to create change, so that men, like her brother, didn't take their own liives. Five years later, Debbie - who previously worked in school administration, has ensured that Sean's Place is a thriving mental health service for men.
Debbie shares her leadership journey, and gives insight into how to be a leader in a new and growing non-profit organisation which supports over 400 people a week.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Transformation Comes in Many Ways
Season 1 · Episode 3
vendredi 31 janvier 2025 • Duration 31:32
Cohan follows his purpose with a very clear passion. A passion to increase diversity within the Tech sector. Cohan had experienced the sector and knew that there was more diverse talent that could be tapped into to accelerate the tech sector as well as the careers of highly talented individuals. After being made redundant he bit the bullet and set up Equity in Tech, to support others to excel.
In our latest podcast Cohan talks to us about how mental wellness impacted his decisions, and how, as a start-up, there are lots of arrows to be throwing all at the same time and in different directions!
For more information, you may find this via the link below:
LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/in/cohanleondaleyuk/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.









