Life Beyond The Numbers (Susan Ni Chriodain)

"a lot of the research ... was based around lessons learned. And one of the key things that came out of it is businesses, organisations, almost have a blueprint now. They've got something in place whereby if something did happen again, they would be prepared." Julian Roy

 

Julian Roy joined me to chat about research he undertook for his MBA thesis on the challenges faced by leaders during the pandemic. The common thread running through his research is empathy. Some leaders were forced into becoming more empathetic and had to learn how to do so. And as Julian says, the only way we become empathetic is by building trust and authentic relationships. We chatted about how middle and senior managers, in particular, just had to crack on, often forced to put on a brave face. We covered aspects of corporate culture, communication, connection and community. We talk about the benefit of hindsight, learning what matters most / what motivates people, office interactions and a hybrid work-life. He also found one thing that encompasses much of the research: if you look after your people, they will look after the numbers.  

 

Julian Roy is a Personal Development Consultant and Sales Trainer. He has recently completed an MBA at Salford. For his thesis his research focused on the challenges faced by sales leaders during the pandemic. Julian provides clients with tailor made training, guidance, mentoring and support and the necessary tools and support for them to broaden their perspective and open their minds, enabling goal achievement. Empowering others to realise their own self-worth and self-belief is a career driver for Julian.  

 

Connect with Julian

On LinkedIn

 

Resources Mentioned

Start with Why by Simon Sinek 

"We're not as young as some people who move internationally, which is one thing I think that I've learned a lesson from. And that's one of the harder things here, is that you've left almost your network and everything you've built up in your 25 years experience. You've almost gotta park that to one side and say, well, that was that country - now I have to start again." Kery Boucher 

 

Kery Boucher moved from South Africa to Ireland having never even visited Ireland previously. We talk about the cultural differences you encounter when you move internationally. And what it is like to adapt to a new work environment as well as build a new network. When it comes to networking Kery talks about the importance of connecting on a human level. Kery encourages everyone to take risks and embrace new opportunities. She explains the challenges of living in Johannesburg, including social inequality, lack of basic services, and high crime rates. She also highlights the beauty and potential of the city. 

 

Kery Boucher is an experienced CA(SA) with a demonstrated history of working in multiple industries including financial services, asset based finance and pharmaceutical. She is a passionate facilitator who works in adult education equipping candidates with improved financial and sustainability tools and skills. 

 

Connect with Kery

On LinkedIn

"There is a huge shift in thinking from being customer success to being people success. Because if you look after your individual people as well as the people in your customers, whether that's B2B or B2C, then you are going to be the most successful and impactful that you can." Kellie Lucas

 

Kellie Lucas discusses the importance of a people-first approach to business. We talk about balancing extreme capitalism with a more supportive approach to work, the impact of purpose and culture on individuals and organisations, and the need for personal and social responsibility in the workplace. Kellie emphasises the value of listening to others, being open and flexible, and finding what motivates individuals. We also discuss the ripple effect of conscious choices and little impacts, which can grow exponentially into a big impact. Kellie encourages better business practices for global good including a balance between technological innovation and maintaining a human element in business.

 

Connect with Kellie:

LinkedIn profile: Kellie Lucas

LinkedIn business pages: The Customer Success Pioneer and Inspiring Future Leaders 

 

Resources Mentioned:

Book: The Customer Success Pioneer by Kelly Lucas

Podcast: Inspiring Future Leaders Podcast 

"Coherence is not relaxation. It's a state between activation and relaxation, which is optimal for your performance. So you feel calm and focused. You can do stuff. You can think, you can engage in things." Gavin Andrews. 

 

Gavin Andrews introduces us to the HeartMath system - a system that combines technology with ancient wisdom. We talk about the techniques of connecting with our own hearts to tap into the powerful information source; how to breathe in a slow, deep and balanced way and about emotional self-regulation - as Gavin says being human is about emotion and we are feeling creatures. He also introduces us to the science that validates these techniques and explains the biofeedback technology HeartMath designed. We touch on anxiety and stress, mindfulness and meditation, appreciation and compassion, flow and optimal performance and happiness. 

 

Gavin Andrews is MD of HeartMath UK and Ireland, a Resilience, Wellbeing and Stress Management business. He is also a co-founder of The Syntropy Partnership, a digital art business creating audio visual relaxation aids and breath pacers. And he is the founder of WeAddHeart, a global heart-focused meditation movement. He is passionate about helping people and businesses connect with the heart of who they REALLY are. 

 

Connect with Gavin:

HeartMath

info@heartmath.co.uk

 

"So yeah, that sense of making connections, which your brain does all the time. And writing enables you to capture that." Alison Jones

 

Alison Jones and I talk about writing as a way to think. Thinking might seem like a luxury that many of us don't have time to do but Alison makes a case for lightweight, affordable and accessible writing as a thinking tool - all you need is six minutes and a big scruffy A4 pad. Alison shares some techniques such as free-writing and mind-mapping and we chat about the hand-brain connection, the power of visual, storytelling, reading and using writing for communication. We also cover reflective practice, self-coaching metaphors and creativity. 

 

Alison Jones is founder of Practical Inspiration Publishing, a pioneering publishing partner for businesses, and host of The Extraordinary Business Book Club, a podcast and community for writers and readers of extraordinary business books. A veteran of the publishing industry, she worked for 25 years with leading companies such as Oxford University Press and Macmillan. She regularly speaks and blogs on the publishing industry, is on the board of the Independent Publishers Guild and Head Judge of the Business Book Awards. She has written and edited several books, most recently This Book Means Business (2018). 

 

Connect with Alison

Through her website

and her WriteBrained (28-day exploratory writing adventure) wait list

and Practical Inspiration Publishing

or tune into her Extraordinary Business Book Club Podcast

 

Resources Mentioned

Reflective Practice Writing and Professional Development by Gillie Bolton

Doughnut Economics: Seven Ways to Think Like a 21st-Century Economist is by Kate Raworth

The Art of Enough: 7 ways to build a balanced life and a flourishing world by Becky Hall

 

"Susan, I've taken enough time with these questions. Firstly, I just want to say, I'm thankful that I've met you. And two, this is an absolutely brilliant book and I love it." Matt Phelan

In this episode I celebrate the launch of my new book Leading Beyond the Numbers: How accounting for emotions tips the balance at work. The book was launched during a LinkedIn Live on Monday May 13th with the help of Matt Phelan, who wrote the foreword to the book, and Dr. Susanne Evans. The book has already achieved bestseller status in three Amazon categories in the UK. We explore the key themes, some takeaways and personal reflections including the creative process, navigating self doubt and what I hope the legacy of the book will be. Please do purchase, read and review the book to help spread its impactful message.

 

Matt Phelan is a dad, founder, business adviser & keynote speaker as well as being a proud geek (his words!) and supporter of decent people. He believes that the future of tech is human and co-founded The Happiness Index to try and positively shape the future of work in a small but important way. Matt has written two books ‘Freedom to be Human: The business case for happiness’ and most recently ‘The Happiness Index: Why today's emotions equal tomorrow's business success.’ He also hosts the insightful ‘Happiness and Humans’ podcast.

 

Dr Susanne Evans creates change, one story at a time. She is on a mission to change the way transformations are managed in organisations. She founded Feldspar Consulting in 2007 to help her clients lead change in a more human, effective way through her work as an organisation change consultant, trainer, coach and researcher. Susanne is a storyteller and is writing ‘ChangeStories: How to have powerful conversations, tell inspiring stories and build engagement for transformation’ which is due to be published in November and is the host of the engaging ChangeStories podcast.

 

Resources Mentioned 

Follow this link to purchase Leading Beyond the Numbers: How accounting for emotions tips the balance at work

If you would like to read a preview of this book follow this link.

If you would like to watch the LinkedIn Live click here

"Don't be funny, be human -  you don't have to force it. Have a sense of humour. Have the ability to look at situations and see the humour that you do when you're outside of work. How often do you go home from work and you're sitting at the dinner table saying to your partner, or your family, you just wouldn't even believe what happened today..." Beth Sherman

 

Beth Sherman and I place a lens on the transformative power of humour in our work-lives. Beth shares insights from her career as a comedy writer and stand-up comedian, illustrating how humour can be a powerful tool for leaders to build trust, reduce tension and foster team dynamics. We touch on practical applications such as using humour to make interactions more human, make connections in diverse environments and improve workplace resilience. She emphasises the importance of self-awareness and authenticity in using humour effectively. Beth believes humour is a love-language, it can be used like a seasoning and that there is a lot of truth in humour. 

 

Beth Sherman is a speaker, comedian, and seven-time Emmy Award-winning Hollywood comedy writer who's written for the biggest shows in American television, including Late Show with David Letterman, The Tonight Show With Jay Leno, Ellen, and the Academy Awards. As a speaker, she helps individuals and organizations harness the power of humor to create meaningful connection and genuine engagement with clients, colleagues and audiences.

 

Connect with Beth

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beth-sherman/

Website: https://www.bethsherman.com/ 

 

Resources Mentioned:

Professional Speakers Association

Victor Borge

"If there's one huge piece of advice I can give, it's pick your lane and stay in it .... Don't worry about what anyone else is doing, just decide what you want, decide how you're going to get that and focus." Sally Oddy

 

Sally Oddy, an established entrepreneur, shares insights about her journey from being an employee to become a successful business owner. We delve into the details about her experience with burnout in a corporate environment which led her to change her career path and start a marketing consultancy. She shares how she transitioned from this to teaching others to do their own marketing. Sally outlines detailed advice for anyone planning to start a business, highlighting the importance of thorough planning, getting the basics right, and making strategic decisions based on long-term rather than short-term goals. Sally also shares her views on the challenges faced in the online business world and the misconceptions around 'quick success' in this field. The concept of 'membership' and 'mastermind' programs are explained with their respective benefits. If you are thinking about starting your own business or in a start-up phase this episode is one you won't want to miss.

 

Sally Oddy is a Strategic Powerhouse who shares no-nonsense systems, tactics and strategies that will completely transform how you operate your business! Working with Self-Led Soulpreneurs, she pours over 20 years experience into their hearts, minds and businesses and turned running an online business into a simple and clearly defined system enabling you to make a consistent income online and have the confidence, tools and skills to make it happen! She is on a mission to inspire you to fulfil your potential, live life to the full, and impact thousands of lives along the way!

 

Connect with Sally:

Through her website

On LinkedIn and Instagram

 

Resources Mentioned

Episode 76 Limitless with Emma O'Brien

 

"So instead I thought, well, what about four weeks? What if I do it in four weeks? And actually that works out perfectly because there. 13 sets of four ... 13 fours is 52." Susan

 

I turned 49 a couple of weeks ago and so began my 50th year on this planet. This led to some reflections on the last 49 years as well as thinking about the future and setting an intention for the next year. I wanted a system that might work for me so rather than thinking for the whole year I broke my year into streaks - and came up with a plan for 13 four-week streaks. Will this work? As the Irish would say 'go mbeirmid beo ag an t-am seo aris' or 'may we be alive at this time again' and if we are we'll find out! 

 

Connect with me:

Send me a message on LinkedIn, Instagram, or Twitter

Or go ahead and send me an email - I'd love to hear from you

 

Resources Mentioned:

Seth Godin Akimbo

Alison Jones: Practical Inspiration Publishing and The Thousand Days Lesson, Episode 276, of Extraordinary Business Book Club Podcast

Inc Magazine Article - 13 Hard to Learn Skills

Atomic Habits by James Clear

 

"If they're not applying creative and intuitive thinking in addition to critical and judgmental thinking, then they're not creating new knowledge for the organisation. They're just taking old knowledge and rearranging it. And for me, that's not adding value." Jackie Eaton

 

Jackie Eaton shares her unique career path from obtaining a mathematics degree to working in operational research for NATO. She discusses her affection for solving complex problems, her initial struggles to discover a career-fit and the compelling nature of public service. Jackie and I chat about gender dynamics in the workplace, the challenges and rewards of working in a male-dominated, multicultural environment, the importance of effective communication, the role of psychology in leadership and the impact of AI on analytical work. Jackie shares insights on maintaining optimism and tips for those aspiring to work in organisations like NATO. 

 

Jackie Eaton works at NATO. She is a specialist in analysis of public sector issues including defence and health sectors or anything else messy and complex with excellent communication and interpersonal skills. She describes herself as an eternal optimist, smart problem solver, data geek and psychology nerd. She is also a mentor, trainer and ray of sunshine in the office.

 

Connect with Jackie

On LinkedIn

 

Resources Mentioned

NATO

Leading Beyond the Numbers by Susan Ní Chríodáin 

 

"One of the challenges this year that I loved was one of my friends created a book and she had 40 questions and I had to answer each question with a picture. And really good questions about reflecting about life, about my past, about my present, about where I want to go." Diego Adame

 

Diego Adame turned 40 during 2022 and decided to take on 40 challenges with friends and family as a way of celebrating the year. This included a variety of physical, fun and creative challenges, like skydiving, trying 40 different types of cheese, dressing up as an ant in Mexico City with friends and swimming 40km during the year with his siblings. Some of the challenges led him to reflect on his life and even revise some of his long-held beliefs about his childhood. Diego works at The Lego Foundation and we talk about our experiences with play in the workplace, and how it helps to create a psychologically safe environment, build relationships, and increase creativity. We conclude this episode with a reflection on how we can always find the time for things that are important to us.

 

Diego Adame, at 28, was scared of becoming old and turning 30. He thought adulthood started at 30 (now he knows it starts at 50). Whenever he approaches an age with a multiple of 10, he feels the need to question his life. He climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro on July 2012 and, without planning it, started a tradition of celebrating birthdays with challenges. Diego has worked in the development sector for almost 15 years and is currently based in Denmark with The Lego Foundation as Senior Director Team Lead of Inclusive Learning. 

 

Connect with Diego

Read his blog "This is (not) a midlife crisis"

 

Resources Mentioned

The Lego Foundation 

 

"We chose the term mental fitness because in our mind, it's positive because we think of it in connection with our physical fitness. And our hope is that one day we consider going to a psychotherapist in exactly the same way as we wouldn't think twice about going to a personal trainer." Kirsty Ritchie

 

Kirsty Ritchie and I chat about mental fitness. Kirsty says our ability to be the best person we can be requires autonomy and our own self power. We chat about how living our values is key in order to be who we are. And we chat about bringing back humanity and human conversations to the workplace and making sure that workplaces are psychologically safe places to be, allowing us to thrive. Kirsty goes through some of the signs of toxic workplaces and kindly shares her own experience of bullying and harassment at work where, she says, there was ignorance and tolerance of poor behaviours. And we talk about trust and Kirsty introduces a trust equation. 

 

Kirsty Ritchie FCCA MNCS Accred. started her working life as an office junior at Pringle of Scotland and after 10 years in manufacturing finance roles, she moved to Edinburgh and into financial services. Her last corporate position was in banking, where adapting to change had become a critical skill. She saw through the global crisis and witnessed the aftermath on people’s mental health and careers. After personally experiencing bullying and harrassment in the workplace, Kirsty had a strong desire to support people in crisis leading her to retrain as a psychotherapist. She now combines this with her corporate experience. Kirsty still tutors students and coaches Financial Services Apprenticeship Programme participants. She also supports the charity Place2Be, supporting primary school children in crisis.

 

Connect with Kirsty:

Mind and Mission website

On email kirsty@mindandmission.com

And on LinkedIn

 

Resources Mentioned:

Leaders in Lockdown by Atholl Duncan

 

"For me this concept of embodiment is very related to being in alignment. So an alignment between what I feel, what I think and what I do." Ana Bernardes

 

Ana Bernardes and I discuss the concept of embodiment and how it relates to being in alignment with our thoughts, feelings, and actions. Anna shares her personal experience of discovering her superpower through an embodiment exercise, where she explored different shapes and movements of her body. We explore ways for listeners to start expanding their own awareness of their body and emotions and how crucial it is to reduce dissociation between our mind and body. Ana emphasises the importance of bringing embodiment work to how we work together and we chat about inner leadership and how it relates to connecting with oneself and others in the workplace. 

 

Ana’s core work is to create spaces where people can grow. She guides learning journeys towards the development of inner leadership using awareness-based tools. By accessing body wisdom through conscious movement, somatic awareness and human connection, each person can promote the connection with oneself, improve the quality of relationships and rediscover creativity. Ana holds a degree in Psychology and is trained in Holistic Dance and Movement Pedagogy, Social Presencing Theater and Embodiment, which she combines with her experience of working in Business Consulting, Corporate Training, Event and Experience Design and Game Design, as well as 20 years of teaching social dances. Her path made her a believer that only by bringing more consciousness into organisations we can create a lasting impact in living a purposeful and balanced life, both individually and collectively.

 

Connect with Ana:

Through her website 

On LinkedIn

 

Resources Mentioned:

Gabor Mate

Frederic Laloux

"I love uncertainty. But most people don't. There's this kind of innate thing about humans that we want to be in control. We like to think we're in control. We like certainty. And if nothing else the pandemic has shown us that life is totally unpredictable and uncertain. And it is moment by moment." Lisa Milnor 

 

Lisa Milnor began her career immersed in numbers. She talks about how at age 40 she began to wonder what else was out there. She left her FD role and ran a ski chalet for three years at the same time as setting up her business, Shaping Clarity. Lisa shares her stories about yoga, mindfulness, TRE, herbal medicine and more. We take a deep dive into awareness, what it is and how do you know if you have it. We apply it to the workplace. And we talk about emotions and the intelligence of our bodies including why we have tear ducts! Lisa shares plenty of stories and insights from her work-life, including one about donuts and nettles.

 

Lisa Milnor has a business background in Finance and Accountancy. She undertook three years of yoga teacher training and qualified as a British Wheel of Yoga teacher in 2012. Through her own practice and teaching she came to realise and experience the transformational healing power of yoga and in 2012 had a total career change and undertook training as an integrated Yoga Therapist and then as a Mindfulness Teacher. She has also completed training in TRE (Tension and Trauma releasing exercise).  

 

Connect with Lisa:

Her website is Shaping Clarity

 

Resources Mentioned:

Heather Church website

Cathy Mae Karelse Clear Mind International

Sarah Beck website

Set Free: A Life-Changing Journey from Banking to Buddhism in Bhutan by Emma Slade 

The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk

Eckhart Tolle https://eckharttolle.com

Steve Haines, episode #10 and #47 of Life Beyond the Numbers and TRE The Body College

Andi Lonnen, episode #29 Life Beyond the Numbers

 

 

 

 

"Insights" is a compilation episode that explores themes of resourcefulness, inner resources, and personal responsibility in accessing those resources.

 

Through excerpts from previous episodes in 2024, you are introduced to various perspectives on living vibrant lives, self-leadership, the significance of listening to one's inner voice, and taking personal responsibility for one's joy and mindset. 

 

Insights includes excerpts from:

02:30 Karina Rook, Episode 159 Freedom to be Human

05:45 Claudia Anghel, Episode 161 All Roads Lead to Centre

09:30 Nathan Simmons, Episode 167 A Future Possibility

13.45 Caroline Tanja Banz, Episode 158 Wake Up!

17.45 Beth Stallwood, Episode 165 WorkJoy Formula

19:15 Andy Brown, Episode 166 Emotional Overdraft

22:00 Karina Rook, Episode 159 Freedom to be Human

 

 

"Innovation …. it's going to be meaningfully unique .... new and different. And new and different means people are going to be getting ‘that sounds crazy’, ‘that sounds mad’, ‘we can't do that’.… How we attend to this question of fear … how we encourage learning, how we fuel collaboration these are jobs of the leader and a leader that has humility. And …. this is in the deep tissue of leading. It's the fabric of leadership. It's what makes a leader really a leader in my view, at least in the context of innovation." Philip Oliver

 

Philip Oliver describes his work-life as having two themes - adventure and innovation. And we go on an adventure from Singapore to South Africa, including diving for diamonds on the Coast of West Africa, to working in business improvement and innovation in the oil and gas industry in Scotland. We talk about what innovation means, really. Philip says there is no lack of literature on the subject, most of it is worthy of contemplation but actually not particularly helpful. Innovation has to be meaningfully unique (new and different) to you/your team, the organisation and the customer. We talk about the three conditions necessary for innovation (i) a creative spark (ii) diversity of thought and (iii) absence of fear. And we talk about how do might attend to this question of fear, how to encourage experimentation and learning and how to fuel collaboration. It is a question of leadership ... and leading with humility. Philip has many stories and examples from his own work-life, including his childhood. 

 

Connect with Philip

Eureka Europe website

On LinkedIn

Or email: philip.oliver@eureka1europe.com

 

Resources Mentioned:

Purposeful People: Business Leaders Making A Difference by Chris Paton

Future, Engage, Deliver: The Essential Guide to Your Leadership by Steve Radcliffe

Doug Hall Eureka! Ranch

Helen Potter Eureka Europe

 

 

"If instead you just take small action, you not only get the rush of courage from having taken the action and the satisfaction that you've actually done something, but you have negated that building of resentment and regret. So it's a double benefit if you take the tiny action today." Robbie Swale

 

Robbie Swale explains that courage is a key part of achieving our goals. And with small, repeated actions you can overcome fears, conquer resistance or procrastination and make progress. And often the confidence you need to do something and the competence required to do it is on the other side of doing it. You first need the courage to act - one of the most admirable qualities that humans can ever personify. Robbie talks about his 12-minute method and his four books which help people understand and apply some of what we discuss, and encourages people to take action now.

 

Robbie Swale is a leadership coach, author and podcaster whose work focuses on creativity, leading with honour and the craft of coaching. He is the host of two podcasts – The Coach’s Journey Podcast and The 12-Minute Method Podcast – and the author of The 12-Minute Method series of books, including How to Start When You’re Stuck and How to Create the Conditions for Great Work.

 

Connect with Robbie:

Learn more about Robbie from his website and the coach's journey.

Buy the 12-Minute Method Books here

On LinkedIn

On YouTube

On Twitter

Facebook

Instagram

Robbie's 100 podcast episode challenge

 

Resources Mentioned:

Episode 78: It's All About Relationships with Travis L. Scott

James Clear on Warren Buffett blog

Robert Holden

Jennifer Garvey Berger

Stephen Pressfield The War of Art

Liz Gilbert Big Magic

Roger Bannister on Seth Godin blog

The Burnout Fix Dr Jacinta Jimenez

 

"And if you don't understand the language and the financial impacts of the words being used in that language you're completely in the dark, right? No wonder people are dead scared and have this fear.  So we want to remove the fear of the language and empower people to speak finance confidently."  Mark Samowitz.

 

We chat about the fear non-finance people often experience when it comes to working with accounting and finance teams or when they deal with numbers.  Although non-finance people can be completely intimidated, threatened or scared by financial jargon they might 'nod and smile'.  Mark tells us about his unique, gamified, interactive discovery-learning methodology and approach to teach accounting and finance to non-finance people.  Participants acquire the language of finance and accounting so they can tell the story of their numbers, interpret that story and be empowered to have better financial conversations.  

 

Mark Samowitz is the CEO and founder of Accounting Made Easy. He qualified as a Chartered Accountant in (SA) in 2004. He then pursued a music career in New York where he lived as a musician/entertainer for three and a half years.  Accounting Made Easy combines Mark's love for entertaining with his passion for making accounting come alive. It is a perfect marriage of Mark's accounting knowledge and his ability to connect with people, empower and transform them. 

 

Connect with Mark:

On LinkedIn

www.accountingmadeeasy.co 

Email: mark@accountingmadeeasy.co

 

I am thoroughly enjoying reading "Wayfinding: The Art and Science of How We Find and Lose Our Way" by Michael Bond and have drawn from it to put together this episode. The parallels between how we do this out there in the wild and within the daily confines or our work-life struck me. 

I've used excerpts from this book, in particular the psychology of being lost, for this episode and added some of my own thoughts, stories and poems. 

Please note that I will be taking a break for the month of August. Until September .... happy wandering!

 

Resources Mentioned

Wayfinding: The Art and Science of How We Find and Lose Our Way by Michael Bond

 

"We always stand for something. And fulfilment and success [ ] is gonna come from actively choosing that thing that you stand for. We are not neutral. [ ] The way I translate that into the work I do is by helping the people I work with to work out what they stand for. I'm politically agnostic about what they choose to stand for. It's about them [ ] It's about knowing what you stand for. Deciding what you stand for." Phil Dorman

 

Phil and I talk about that point people reach in a leadership trajectory where they need to actively choose and define what they stand for. And how many people allow external factors, such as societal expectations and professional success, to define their identity and values. We talk about the importance of developing self-awareness and raising levels of consciousness. We touched on the tension between having a holistic view of the world and the narrower focus required to drive progress. According to Phil, the route to fulfilment starts from within. And for him fulfilment is a journey towards making a positive impact on the world and leaving it better than we found it.

 

 

Phil Dorman is a leadership coach and founder of Not Neutral. He partners with rising leaders in fast growth companies to unlock their potential. Through 1 to 1 coaching he supports them in building strong performance that drives business results. His work is grounded in the belief that by building deep and true connections to ourselves, to our colleagues and to the context in which we operate, each and every one of us has the capacity to deliver meaningful impact in the world and find fulfilment and joy in the process. Prior to founding Not Neutral, he worked as an entrepreneur and innovator in the media, marketing and management consulting sectors. He lived and worked in China for 16 years before relocating to the UK in 2017. 

 

Connect with Phil:

Through his website 

On LinkedIn 

 

Resources Mentioned:

Plum Village and Thich Nhat Hanh

Paulo Freire

 

"Let's say somebody listening to that, is like, wow, I do that too. And that helps them develop their insights. So listening to people's stories is another wonderful way of developing insights." David Lee

 

In this episode Dr Susanne Evans, David Lee and I discuss the importance of finding work that aligns with one's values and interests. We share personal experiences of how our childhood interests and mentors influenced our career paths. We chat about the importance of being self-aware and recognising when something isn't bringing joy or fulfilment to your work-life. We share some resources that have helped us in own journeys of self-discovery and finding our niche in the world. We encourage listeners not to stress about finding the perfect job and to be open to exploring different paths that unfold. 

 

Dr Susanne Evans is an organisation change consultant, trainer, coach and researcher on a mission to change the way that transformations are managed in organisations. She founded Feldspar Consulting in 2007 to help her clients lead change in a more human, effective way. As well as writing and speaking about organisation change, Susanne hosts open storytelling workshops, supporting organisations and individuals in writing a compelling story for themselves, and she is the host of the popular ChangeStories podcast.

David Lee is a coach, consultant, workshop facilitator, keynote speaker, and author, who loves creating a win/win/win relationship between people and the organizations they work for. He helps leaders and leadership teams learn how to become "people whisperers", and by doing so, increase their ability to make their organization THE choice for "A List Talent" and inspire the best in their people.

 

Connect with Susanne

On LinkedIn

Through her website: Feldspar Consulting

Listen to Change Stories podcast

 

Connect with David

On LinkedIn 

Through his website Human Nature at Work

 

Resources Mentioned:

Video version

Episode 122 What Matters Most

Episode 113 Psychological Safety

Your You-est You Podcast with Julie Reisler 

Myers-Briggs personality test and Clifton Strengths assessment

The Power of Story by Jim Loehr 

The Great Work of Your Life by Stephen Cope 

Callings by Greg Lavoy 

Reflected Best Self Exercise 

Evolving Leaders podcast 

 

"From a business point of view, you need to have the willingness to continuously learn and remain open and then be willing to pivot. And this is where I see a lot of people fail so often as they fixate on a framework of what success looks like to them. And when they come up to a blocking point they don't know how to just pivot and change". Kevin Ashley.

 

Kevin Ashley is one of the founders of Java House, an East African coffee house and diner. We talk about the early days of Java House and the first ten branches in the first 10 years. We also cover the further growth and diversification to eventual buy-outs by private equity firms. Kevin says that building Java House was really a HR story - one about purpose and dignity at work - while a lot of people think work is about showing up at Java they instilled in staff that while they were at work they were actually there to serve a bigger thing than themselves. Kevin believes that dignity of work and a sense of purpose is the key for the future of humanity to have a functioning society.

 

Kevin Ashley is a serial entrepreneur. His early career was as a humanitarian worker with World Food Program and Christian Aid. In the 90s he co-founded an aviation business, 748, and then  a coffee house Java House. Java House, commonly referred to as ‘Nairobi Java’, opened its first store in 1999 at Adam’s Arcade in Nairobi with the aim of introducing gourmet coffee drinking culture in Kenya. The brand evolved to an American diner style restaurant. There are also two sister brands Planet Yoghurt and 360 Degrees Pizza. 

 

https://www.javahouseafrica.com 

 

"I realised, okay, so I've done all this left-brain clever stuff, you know, like accounting, finance, languages, strategy, marketing, dah, dah, dah. I feel suicidal. So clearly I am missing something.  My father was in sales, my brother is in sales and I realised there were people who were far less academic than me who were leading much happier lives and were not trying to kill themselves." John Purkiss. 

 

John finds himself drawn to anything that helps change the world in a positive way including in business, photography and writing books. Working as a headhunter John uses his training in banking and finance every day and shares the value of going beyond that to be far more effective.  We talk about being present, the power of letting go and how letting go does not mean giving up but helps you become more powerful.  Work-life balance John believes is a misnomer - how can you balance one thing that is part of the other?

 

John Purkiss studied economics at Cambridge University and has an MBA from INSEAD. He began his career with The First National Bank of Chicago, Mercury Asset Management and OC&C Strategy Consultants. John then co-founded a software company and worked in sales and marketing, in the UK, Belgium and France. He joined Heidrick & Struggles, where he set up and ran the CFO Practice in the London office and was promoted to partner. John is now a partner with August Leadership. He is the author of How To Be Headhunted, Brand You and The Power of Letting Go. www.johnpurkiss.com

 

Connect with John

LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram Resources:

http://www.johnpurkiss.com/books/ 

http://nithyananda.org  

A Rich Man's Secret: An Amazing Story For Success, Ken Roberts

The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment, Eckhart Tolle

https://www.headspace.com/ - Meditation and Sleep Made Simple

 

 

**Please note that the episode that went out on Oct 14th was a repeat of episode 102. This was my mistake - apologies. This is now the correct version of episode 148

 

"Difficult conversations by definition are difficult, but the relationship, just like in anything in life between skill level and how much courage it takes, the more skill, the less courage you have to summons." David Lee

 

In this episode David Lee is asking the questions - well it is more of a riff about constructive conversations, creative, courageous conversations, psychological safety, etc. We both share stories and insights on addressing difficult topics, separating the behaviour from the person, creating cues of safety and a psychologically safe environment for open and honest communication. We also explore strategies for emotional self-regulation, the significance of silence and the impact of body language and non-verbal cues. 

 

David Lee is a coach, consultant, workshop facilitator, keynote speaker, and author, who loves creating a win/win/win relationship between people and the organizations they work for. He helps leaders and leadership teams learn how to become "people whisperers", and by doing so, increase their ability to make their organization THE choice for "A List Talent" and inspire the best in their people.

 

Connect with David

On LinkedIn 

Through his website Human Nature at Work

 

Resources Mentioned

David Whyte

Don't Bite the Hook: Finding Freedom from Anger, Resentment, and Other Destructive Emotions by Pema Chodron

Polyvagal theory and Dr Stephen Porges

Fierce Intimacy by Terry Real

Margaret Heffernan 

Lisa Feldman Barrett

Approaching Difficult Conversations, the Polyvagal Way | Psychology Today by David Lee

Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking" by Susan Cain

Permission to Feel by Professor Mark Brackett and the "How We Feel" App

"Engaging in activities like walking as compared to faster forms of transportation or doing yoga or things that really slow down the body are important but it's active things that slow down the body. In other words, not just laying on the sofa, which we all like to do at the end of a hard day of work, but it's active slowing down." Giana Eckhardt

 

Giana Eckhardt and I chat about some of her research into the concept of deceleration or people's desire to slow down. Giana explains that deceleration involves three elements: embodied deceleration, technological deceleration, and episodic deceleration. We share some experiences of walking the Camino de Santiago. We chat about the benefits of deceleration and the positive impact it can have on our lives. The conversation then shifts to how businesses are responding to these needs. We also touches on ethical consumer behaviour, such as the slow fashion and slow travel movements, and the surprising benefits of inconvenience in bringing meaning and joy to people's lives.

 

Giana M. Eckhardt is Professor of Marketing and Vice Dean, Executive Education and Engagement, at King’s Business School, King’s College London, and a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences. Giana is a leading expert in the field of consumer behavior, consumer culture, consumer ethics, branding and the sharing economy, publishing regularly in journals such as Harvard Business Review, Journal of Marketing, Journal of Marketing Research, and Journal of Consumer Research. She is co-author of The Myth of the Ethical Consumer (Cambridge University Press) and co-editor of Handbook of the Sharing Economy (Edward Elgar). She is past co-chair of the Consumer Culture Theory conference, and current co-chair of the Association for Consumer Research conference. Giana is Associate Editor of Journal of Consumer Research, and is on the editorial review board of Journal of Marketing. Her research has won awards and has been featured in outlets such as The Wall Street Journal, The Economist, The Atlantic, Fortune, Vogue, Scientific American, The BBC, and on National Public Radio. She teaches brand management to MBA and executive MBA students.

 

Connect with Giana

On LinkedIn

 

Resources Mentioned

Craigberoch Business Decelerator

The Myth of the Ethical Consumer by DeVinney Timothy, Giana M. Eckhardt, and Pat Auger

 

"That's the performance paradox at play. It's through dedication. We're trying to do the best that we can, but it's just so easy to let go of what we know restores us and gives us energy in that quest to keep going. And the more we do that, the more disconnected we are from what gives us energy. That's what I mean by the performance paradox." Kerry Cullen

 

Kerry Cullen explains the concept of "the performance paradox". To break the performance paradox, she suggests bringing awareness to the body and challenging some of our assumptions with compassion. We go on to discuss embodiment coaching which she describes as enlivening awareness about the resources and wisdom in the body that we are born with but may lose connection with during our life. We also touch on the nervous system and Kerry talks about her work with polyvagal theory and how understanding the nervous system can be a game changer in helping us to connect and collaborate better. 

 

Kerry Cullen is a charted business psychologist (BPS) who has been coaching for 20 years. She aspires to create a coaching environment where people can come home to themselves. Her works spans the public and private sector and she works internationally. She loves exploring new edges in coaching, and discovering and training in polyvagal theory felt like coming home to herself.

 

Connect with Kerry

Through her website

 

Resources Mentioned

TED Talk: Confessions of a bad exerciser by Christine Carter (TEDx)

Microsoft Research Proves Your Brain Needs Breaks

Polyvagal Theory by Stephen Porges

Deb Dana Polyvagal Guided Living

Nancy Kline, Time to Think

 

"Basically it's books that we recommend a lot or books that have really changed our practice." Dr. Susanne Evans

 

In honour of World Book Day and the value of reading Dr. Susanne Evans, David Lee and I recorded a conversation that explores a wide range of reads that have significantly impacted us including personal development, reflective practice, storytelling, neuroscience and touching on historical events such as the Rwandan Genocide. We each share insights on books that have changed our life, practice, or perspective, accompanied by anecdotes and a deeper look into the themes and lessons of selected works. This conversation offers listeners a rich tapestry of knowledge and a massive list of 'must-reads' for anyone looking to expand their understanding of themselves and the world through literature. 

 

The following titles are included in our conversation

The Right Questions by Debbie Ford

The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz

Presentation Zen by Garr Reynolds

Frequency by Penny Pierce

Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl

The Joy of Appreciative Living by Jacqueline Kelm

Reflective Practice in Medicine by John Launer

On Being Certain Robert A. Burton

Don't Bite the Hook by Pema Chodron

Season of Blood by Fergal Keane

Bittersweet by Susan Cain

The Long Win by Cath Bishop

The Soul's Code by James Hillman

Time to Think by Nancy Klein

Quiet by Susan Cain

Prayer to the Great Creator by Julia Cameron

Dealing with a Difficult Co-Worker by David Lee

Leading Beyond the Numbers by Susan Ni Chriodain

ChangeStories by Dr Susanne Evans

 

Dr Susanne Evans is an organisation change consultant, trainer, coach and researcher on a mission to change the way that transformations are managed in organisations. She founded Feldspar Consulting in 2007 to help her clients lead change in a more human, effective way. As well as writing and speaking about organisation change, Susanne hosts open storytelling workshops, supporting organisations and individuals in writing a compelling story for themselves, and she is the host of the popular ChangeStories podcast.

 

David Lee is a coach, consultant, workshop facilitator, keynote speaker, and author, who loves creating a win/win/win relationship between people and the organizations they work for. He helps leaders and leadership teams learn how to become "people whisperers", and by doing so, increase their ability to make their organization THE choice for "A List Talent" and inspire the best in their people.

 

Connect with Susanne

On LinkedIn

Through her website: Feldspar Consulting

Listen to Change Stories podcast

 

Connect with David

On LinkedIn 

Through his website Human Nature at Work

 

"How do we start to understand ourselves enough that we can say our expectations might be realistic to the situation we're in, but they mightn't be the optimal expectations that we could have of ourselves." Paul Karvanis

 

Paul Karvanis and I talk about how to have a good life well lived. A former corporate lawyer, Paul shares his journey from feeling unhappy with his life to pursuing a satisfied and contented one. We delve into the concept of personal potential and how it's already within oneself. Personal growth is not about becoming someone new but rather about flipping the coin and looking at the other side of oneself. We also talked about the importance of self-compassion and realistic expectations. Paul emphasises that choosing less is more important than choosing more, and choosing what matters most is key to success. 

 

Paul Karvanis is a lawyer turned coach committed to living life all-out and without regret. He spent long portions of his life being miserable, and so he has made it his life's mission to be content and to fully live life. He is also doing his best to make a difference broadly and in the lives of others. And he is a Runner, Reader and Proud Nerd. 

 

Connect with Paul:

Through his website Leader Rising

 

Resources Mentioned:

Episode 121, Courage with Robbie Swale

Giovanni Marsico Archangel 

Nick Wignall's weekly newsletter called "The Friendly Mind"

James Clear's Atomic Habits

"The Artist's Way" by Julia Cameron

Behold Retreats 

"Leadership [....] it's a lot about trying to create environments where people could thrive and facilitate people being successful and therefore the team, the agenda and the organisation being successful." John Fairhurst

 

John Fairhurst and I discuss his leadership style and philosophy. He emphasises the importance of facilitating and enabling people to be successful. He reflects on the changing nature of the private sector and development sector. And we talk about the crucial need for voices from different sectors, including the private sector, in advocating for change and addressing global challenges. We touch on the importance of not being solely reliant on key individuals in driving change. And we discuss the importance of well-being in the workplace and the need for a broader assessment of what it means to have a thriving workforce.

 

John Fairhurst is the head of Private Sector Engagement at the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. John has worked in both the private and not-for-profit sectors. Prior to joining the Global Fund John was Executive Director at UBS Optimus Foundation and COO at the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN). He was involved in the establishment and management of the portfolio of programmes of one of the largest international development private foundations, the Children's Investment Fund (CIFF). He oversaw development and humanitarian programs for Oxfam in various geographies including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, and Afghanistan.

 

Connect with John

On LinkedIn

 

Resources Mentioned

The Global Fund

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

"Every conversation we have is co-created with other people."

 

In this solo episode I reflect on the influence of creative thinking in daily life. The World Economic Forum's top 10 skills of 2023 highlights creative thinking as the second top skill. Although creativity is often linked to monumental achievements or works of art, creativity emanates from all humans in our everyday activities. It is the ability to bring something into existence that didn't exist before.  Acknowledge the creativity you exhibit in your daily lives, from creating meals to creating conversations.

 

Resources Mentioned:

The World Economic Forum Top 10 Skills

Michael Neil 

Aengus Fletcher on ChangeStories

“Feelings aren't a beacon of eternal truth. They're a negotiation. They're always real because they are a perception inside of you, but it doesn't mean that they are accurate, useful, or true they're things that need to be negotiated. We can reframe them and construct them differently.” Steve Haines

Steve Haines takes us in-depth on the transformative power of learning to connect with our bodies with the use of some great metaphors. He explains that the biggest decision we're making in a moment is “Am I safe or not?”  Steve explains that everybody gets triggered but we can learn how to reframe our feelings - how to have a feeling rather than the become a feeling. Steve says that the biggest predictor to a happy and healthy life is movement and the good news is “the best exercise, is exercise you're going to do”. 

 

Steve Haines has been a bodyworker for over 20 years, runs regular clinics in London and Geneva and teaches all over the world. He is the author of the award winning ‘Anxiety Is Really Strange’, part of a series of graphic books that includes ‘Pain Is Really Strange’, ‘Trauma Is Really Strange’ and 'Touch is Really Strange". Understanding the science of pain and trauma has transformed his approach to healing. He has studied Yoga, Shiatsu, Craniosacral Therapy, and Trauma Releasing Exercises TRE®.

 

Connect with Steve: https://bodycollege.net/ +

https://www.facebook.com/bodycollege/ +

On Twitter and on Instagram

And have a listen to episode 47

 

“But what I think we've got to remember is. You’re never the finished model of anything, you know, you, you're always the sort of prototype of yourself.” “Well, people used to say that you're only good as your last job, but that sounds so negative like that. You know, you're always a prototype of yourself”.  Gary Cox.

In Part II Gary and I continue our discussion on feedback and talk about managing stress and excitement. We talk about continuous learning and how the world is your oyster with a finance qualification.  Gary explains his approach to work-life balance and tells us what he is up to now.  

Connect with Gary: LinkedIn @ Gary Cox

His Website

 

"So even in that dynamic of a relationship, how can I have a growth mindset and see my mother or father in the way they are now? How can I have conversations that may have triggered me in the past? But now I know I'm an adult, not that child reacting, to build my parent in the future. It's the same with organizations. It's the human dynamics." Tasneem Virani

 

Tasneem Virani and I speak about the critical need for maintaining human connection in an increasingly AI-dominated world advocating for a balanced integration of technology and human qualities in leadership. We discuss the integral role of emotional intelligence, the neuroscience behind human behaviours, and the importance of reflective and conversational intelligence in leadership. We talk about Tasneem's book 'Human Touch Leadership' and the value of nurturing human potential, fostering creativity, and the transformative power of positive human interactions in enhancing organisational performance. 

 

Tasneem Virani is a dedicated proponent of a more human-centred approach to the workplace. She published Human Touch Leadership and developed a programme: "The Human Touch Leadership Accelerator Programme." Through this, Tasneem collaborates with companies to introduce the principles of "human touch leadership," striving to create meaningful changes in people, performance, and profits. Tasneem's focus is on partnering with senior leaders and professionals, aiding them in discovering clarity and purpose. Her skill set encompasses Leadership Development, Change Management, Organizational Coaching, Facilitation, Mediation, and Career Management.

 

Connect with Tasneem

Through her website: https://clariscoaching.com/home

 

Resources Mentioned

Human Touch Leadership by Tasneem Virani

Conversational Intelligence by Judith E. Glaser

Leading Beyond the Numbers by Susan Ni Chriodain

 

Episode #181

"I think if we did ask each other: Does what you do make you happy? It does stop someone in their tracks to go well, why am I pursuing a certain path? Is this the right reason for me to pursue it? Because I think we're much better in delivering our gifts and talents when we're in a space of happiness and joy." Glin Bayley.

 

Glin Bayley went into accounting and finance because it was something she was really good at it. Over time she began to recognise that finance didn't feed her soul. A series of incidents, personal and professional, led her to examine her life and follow her heart. She shares what that was like and the realisation that in 17 years of striving to be a CFO nobody had ever asked her would it make her happy. She aligned her head and her heart, took risks, and now helps others to do the same. She talks us through her H.E.A.R.T. framework: Hope, Energy, Action, Resilience and Trust. We also talk about comparison being a guide to joy, vulnerability as a superpower, The Wizard of Oz, and I learn a new word: sonder (and a new swear word). 

 

Glin Bayley is a heart centred leader who has a passion for performance while being a strong advocate for wellbeing. She recognises that when leaders are doing work aligned to their desires, capabilities and vision they are happier, healthier and business performance accelerates as a result. She had a 17 year career as a senior commercial finance executive for some of the world’s leading blue-chip companies. Now as the founder of Heart of Human, she helps female leaders to consciously create a life they love and be unstoppable by being themselves at their best.

 

Connect with Glin:

On LinkedIn

Heart of Human is her website

And Unstoppable Woman her podcast

 

Resources Mentioned:

Unstoppable Woman, Glin Bayley

Healing After Heartbreak, Glin Bayley  

 

"We are, the first international mentoring scheme for public finance, the first, scheme to be totally virtual for public financial by management." "I see public finance by women as being a powerful network to try and influence the status quo and change the status quo." Gillian Fawcett.  

 

Throughout her career, Gillian has focused on making public services more efficient and more effective on a local, national and international level.  We discuss the impact she wants to have on the world and the impetus for starting Public Finance by Women. The organisation has two key objectives (1) to support women in their career development  (2) to advance gender equality in public financial management.  She explains that the organisation is international and inclusive - as although the focus is on women men are also involved. Globally out of 188 ministries of finance only 39 have women ministers of finance so there's a real need to promote gender equality and change the status quo.  We discuss mentoring, skills development versus career development and the role of finance professionals in public finance. Gillian shares a fantastic example about snow and the impact of gender budgeting in Sweden as well as some other stories from Vietnam, Philippines and Belize.     

 

Gillian Fawcett is a co-founder of Public Finance by Women (PFW), an international non-profit organisation focused upon supporting women working in public finance to fulfil their career potential by providing mentoring and other support, as well as promoting the advancement of gender equality. Previously, she was head of international at the Chartered Institute of Public Finance & Accountancy (CIPFA), head of public sector at ACCA Global, a senior fellow at the Office for Public Management (OPM), head of policy at the Audit Commission and head of finance at the Scrutiny Unit in the House of Commons. In January 2019 she was appointed as a member for the Cifas local government anti-fraud and corruption advisory board and joined the board of Friends of the Earth Charitable Trust in February 2019.

 

Connect with Gillian:

on LinkedIn

Website: https://www.publicfinancebywomen.org/ 

Twitter https://twitter.com/publicfinanceb1 

 

Resources:

Invisible Women: Exposing Data Bias in a World Designed for Men by Caroline Criado-Perez

Time to Think by Nancy Kline

"You can hear the silence emerging in the room. You can hear the sound of silence. There's a peace that comes with, a harmony that comes from it. It offers an opportunity for more sharing, more cooperation, less competition. So it's very generative." Carissa Bub

 

Carissa Bub and I explore the transformative power of silence in leadership and life. We dive into the paradox of silence - how it can feel awkward or even frightening, yet hold the potential for profound connection and insight. We discuss how cultivating stillness can unlock deeper awareness, relational intelligence, and a new level of courageous leadership. By tapping into stillness, leaders can listen more deeply, respond with empathy, and foster psychological safety within teams. Carissa shares her journey of embracing silence as a resource, not just as a practice but as a way of being that enhances presence, influence and authentic leadership. We also discuss the role of reflective practices, playfulness, and trusting in life’s unfolding mystery.

 

Carissa Bub is a Leadership and Systems Coach on a mission to re-humanise organisations. With one foot firmly in the business world and the other gently planted in the earth, she enables leaders and teams to navigate complex change with dignity and agency. For 25 years, she's partnered with C-suite leaders to build stronger connections - from the boardroom to the marketplace - bringing strength and heart to strategic dialogue. As a seasoned facilitator now trained in nature-based practices, she invites her clients to take off their shoes, both physically and metaphorically, deepening their trust in life and empowering them to use their gifts for the benefit of all life. What sets Carissa apart is her unique blend of systemic coaching expertise and her background as a BBC journalist turned media trainer. She creates spaces where authentic communication catalyses real change, helping leaders develop both their inner presence and outer voice to shape lasting impact. As faculty at CRRGlobal and Six Team Conditions, she helps coaches and consultants develop their practice in systemic transformation. A TEDx speaker, Carissa challenges organisations to think differently about leadership and change, cultivating environments where people and performance naturally thrive.

 

Connect with Carissa:

Through her website: www.carissabub.com

On LinkedIn 

 

Resources Mentioned:

Conclave – an example of silence and uncertainty in leadership moments.

Atomic Habits by James Clear 

The Sound of Silence by Simon & Garfunkel 

Marcel Marceau – influenced Carissa’s fascination with silence

Brother David Steindl-Rast – for his work on gratefulness and trust in life.

Eckhart Tolle – someone who embodies playfulness and presence.

Brahma Kumaris (BKs) – their practice of “Just a Minute” silence.

London Writers’ Salon – silent writing sessions.

Center for Awakening – Monday silence gatherings.

On Being with Krista Tippett – Yo-Yo Ma’s discussion on the space between musical notes.

Unlimited Futures - Episode 193 Life Beyond the Numbers 

Until the end of August '23 there will be a slightly different format to Life Beyond the Numbers episodes. 

As I'm focusing on a specific writing project I needed to free up space and time. So, instead of the regular format I am sharing a brief update on the week - the progress, struggles and insights as well as a short story, or speech, that I wrote during my time at Toastmasters - these will focus on different aspects of work-life. 

These episodes will be on average about 15-20 minutes duration. It is up to you whether you come along on this brief detour or not. And we will be back in September with the regular format. 

Until the end of August '23 there will be a slightly different format to Life Beyond the Numbers episodes. 

As I'm focusing on a specific writing project I needed to free up space and time. So, instead of the regular format I am sharing a brief update on the week - the progress, struggles and insights as well as a short story, or speech, that I wrote during my time at Toastmasters - these will focus on different aspects of work-life. 

These episodes will be on average about 15-20 minutes duration. It is up to you whether you come along on this brief detour or not. And we will be back in September with the regular format. 

"I always think about the work joy formula as how do you actually go from where you are to getting more joy in your life?" Beth Stallwood

 

Beth Stallwood highlights the importance of personal responsibility for one's joy in a work environment. She talks us through her journey of discovering joy in her work. She cleverly contrasts work joy from work gloom. We cover the three key components of work joy: Engagement, Energy, and Experimentation. Beth also highlights the importance of self-awareness and responsibility in creating happiness at work. She proposes the concept of 'squads' that you build from your network, and discusses six roles they can play in your career. She further suggests tracking joyful moments at work to build a more joyful experience. 

 

Beth Stallwood is a consultant, facilitator, podcast host, author and qualified executive coach with over 15 years’ experience. Her mission is to help people create and cultivate more WORKJoy. Beth’s coaching style balances support and challenge in equal measure, enabling people to empower themselves to achieve their goals. With experience across commercial, public sector and not-for-profit environments, Beth’s diverse background has allowed her to be highly agile in her approach, adapting to fit the context, culture and needs of each person on the WORKJoy Way programme. With a focus on the UK market, she has honed her skills in developing future leaders who can adapt, contribute and lead in an ever-changing world. 

 

Connect with Beth: 

Through her websites: Beth Stallwood and Create WorkJoy

On LinkedIn

 

Resources Mentioned: 

WORKJoy: A toolkit for a better working life by Beth Stallwood

Resources to download from Beth's website

WORKJoy Jam Podcast

Episode 128, Alignment, Ana Bernardes

 

"I was completely transfixed by the idea of these very tiny teapots and these tiny tea cups that were serving small amounts of tea." James Thirlwall

 

James Thirlwall and I explore the connection between tea and creating connection. I venture out of my usual space to record in a delightful and intimate setting: a tiny teahouse in East Oxford. We delve into the world of Japanese tea ceremonies as well as discover how Chinese tea ceremonies cultivate mindfulness and bring people together in a shared, intentional experience. James, who jokingly describes himself as 'a big man in a tiny teahouse', takes us through his journey from living in Japan, his interest in Buddhism and practicing Chinese medicine to opening his tiny teahouse. He shares insights about creating a space that encourages connection and reflection, the role of sensory experiences in evoking memories and emotions and how tea can foster better workplace dynamics. James Thirlwall is a tea lover, former acupuncturist, UKTA certified tea sommelier and educator who uses tea to bring people together. tinyteahouse events are designed to promote fellowship, harmony and inclusion - the values of a traditional Asian tea house culture. James has been working in hospitality for the last 5+ years and works with Michelin star chefs, 5-star hotels and some of the best hotels in Europe.

 

Connect with James

Through his tinyteahouse website and on instagram

 

Resources Mentioned

https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/24262686.oxford-borough-among-coolest-neighbourhoods-uk/

Leading Beyond the Numbers by Susan Ní Chríodáin

"This is a tool to amplify your sensitivity to some of those lower-level energies that might be keeping you away from your true self." Jonathan de Potter

 

Jonathan de Potter is the founder of Behold Retreats and in this episode we talk about the benefits of unpacking and exploring our inner world in a way that begins to give us a very different perspective in the relationship between self and the outer world. Jonathan and I chat about psychedelics or plant medicine. Psychedelics he says is an interesting term because different people with different interests define it differently. What he is focused on is the psychedelics that have a neurogenerative effect meaning they can actually facilitate the growth of new neurons and facilitate an increase in neuroplasticity. The medicine is fundamentally trying connect, reconnect, and harmonise body, mind, heart and spirit into a single vibration - to bring us back to our true self. We talk about energy and vibrations and Jonathan encourages us all to find the people who reflect the energy that we aspire to ultimately and to figure out what would truly make us happy. 

 

Jonathan de Potter is the Founder of Behold Retreats, passionate about plant medicine, and believes that absolutely everyone can improve their mental health and consciousness. Behold Retreats facilitate life-changing plant medicine journeys to explore your inner world, discover your truth, and live to your full potential. A primary focus for Jonathan is to raise awareness and education on the subject of plant medicine, and to begin conversations on if and how to bring this important science to the many cultures in Asia- Pacific. Prior to working in plant medicine, Jonathan worked in management consulting, supporting clients in APAC with innovation, digital strategy, scaling, and transformation programs.

 

Connect with Jonathan:

Through Behold Retreats website

On Instagram

 

Resources Mentioned:

Articles, videos and books on the science on Behold Retreats Website

Netflix Documentary - Have a Good Trip: Adventures in Psychedelics 

Rick Doblin TED Talk

 

"And I've no doubt that these stories and indeed the stories that all guests share, evoke different memories, emotions, and feelings for you. And I always love to hear them. So please feel free to send me your thoughts. What were your favorite snippets? What were your favourite episodes? Who would you like to hear more from?" Susan

 

This is a compilation episode and includes snippets from the following guests

7:30 Dr. Susanne Evans on the impact of change (Episode 83)

9:00 Travis L. Scott on cognitive entrenchment (Episode 78)

10:45 Greta Solomon on being true to yourself (Episode 80)

13:10 Emma O'Brien's career corner (Episode 76)

16:45 Mason Cosby on helping others (Episode 81)

20:50 Paul Wright on mentoring (Episode 88) 

25:25 Nat Hunter on designing for the future (Episode 82)

35:05 Philip Oliver on diving for diamonds (Episode 73)

 

Connect with Susan

By email: susan@beyond-thenumbers.com

On LinkedIn, Instagram or Twitter too!

 

"And I know those results have really just materialised from that dynamic of putting people first." Luke Kyte.    Those results include:

• Team retention: 97% team retention over the last two years. 
• Revenue & profit: increased 40% and 60% respectively 
• Annual leave: Since the introduction of unlimited holiday, annual leave has increased an average of 37% in the team 
• Sickness: per person has dropped to 0.46 days a year – the UK ave is 4.1. This demonstrates the effectiveness of policies that put people first. 

 

Luke Kyte speaks openly about a cultural revolution at Reddico. In the early years the focus was on creating a fun place to work but they had missed some important ingredients that create a culture - like putting people first and giving people more responsibility, trust and freedom to work in a way that is right for them. Luke talks us through their journey from traditional management and traditional mindsets to where they are today with self-management. As a company they are constantly evolving and changing, there is no standing still. But now they have a way of working and level of transparency that reassures people and creates psychological business owners out of the team. 

 

Luke Kyte is Head of Culture & Business Improvement at Reddico. His background is in Journalism and he originally joined Reddico as a content writer. He rolled out Reddico's culture manifesto in 2018, and has since helped Reddico to become the 4th best place to work in the UK, transitioning the business from a traditional framework, to one focused on self-management. He writes for the Corporate Rebels and speaks at events on Reddico's journey as well as workplace culture. 

 

Connect with Luke

On LinkedIn

On Twitter @LukeKyte101

On Email luke.kyte@reddico.co.uk 

 

Reddico recent awards

• Best Large SEO Agency Finalist European Search Awards 2021
• Best Agency to Work For Winner Company Culture Awards 2021
• 5th in UK’s Best Workplaces™ Great Place To Work® 2021
• Best Small SEO Agency Winner European Search Awards 2020

 

Resources Mentioned

Maverick - Ricardo Semler

The Happy Manifesto - Henry Stewart

Reinventing Organizations - Frederic Laloux

“It's always been people and numbers if I'm honest because it's very isolating to just sit and do numbers.” “Otherwise what's the point? No, one's gonna look at them if they're not for people to review and understand and take action on them.” Michelle Heer.  

Michelle tells us why she is proud to be an Accountant and about the view through the window to a business.  She describes her transition from FD to MD and how making impactful decisions is quite liberating. She provides 3 pieces of advice to an FD supporting an MD in a crisis situation and shares insights on isolation, collaboration and the perspective of others. We also discuss the power of mentoring to bring up the next generation of accountants.   Michelle Heer is a Certified Accountant and founder of Klarity Finance - offering tailored accountancy support to help SME's grow. Prior to that she worked as General Manager and Finance Director for a Swiss engineering company.  She was made redundant at the end of March 2020, after almost 10 years, due to a company restructure, nothing to do with covid! 

Connect with Michelle: LinkedIn @ Michelle Heer 

https://klarityfinance.com/ 

Until the end of August '23 there will be a slightly different format to Life Beyond the Numbers episodes. 

As I'm focusing on a specific writing project I needed to free up space and time. So, instead of the regular format I am sharing a brief update on the week - the progress, struggles and insights as well as a short story, or speech, that I wrote during my time at Toastmasters - these will focus on different aspects of work-life. 

These episodes will be on average about 15-20 minutes duration. It is up to you whether you come along on this brief detour or not. And I hope to be back next week with the regular format. 

"It's about who we can be and how can we be the best version of ourselves, and we owe that to ourselves. You are the only one who truly knows how you feel, how you think, and why you act the way you do. And increasing our own self-awareness is the greatest gift we can give to ourselves. Taking an honest look at ourselves, our thinking, our feelings, our behaviour, and asking ourselves when are we at our best?" Susan

 

In this episode I reflect on the impact of stress in a work-life experience and how it can gradually increase to an unmanageable level. However, many of us might normalise our stress levels and believe we are coping. Are we? I look at some of the factors, such as workplace stress, lack of support and toxic work environments, that contribute to stress and overwhelm. I talk about the importance of taking responsibility for our own part in maintaining our own well-being. 

 

I work with leaders and teams who want to feel more like themselves at work. I focus on inner growth and development for impactful social connection and collaboration. My vision is to create more emotionally aware workplaces where we can all be at our best. I do not have a one-size fits all approach and adapt my style to the uniqueness of the individuals I work with. I also facilitate workplace events and leadership development workshops. 

 

Connect with me:

Through LinkedIn 

Through my website

 

 

Resources Mentioned:

Javed Bobat - Episodes 12 and 117

Moving the needle on burnout: what does the data say? McKinsey Health Initiative

 

"Success for me now is trusting myself and being patient enough to see what emerges rather than rushing to create some version of success that makes sense to other people." Kris Lantheaume

 

Kris Lantheaume learned to find safety in success from a young age. After years of being "successful" at work she found that there was this internal restlessness that would come and go and a voice saying is this really where you wanna be putting all your time? Always focusing on accolades and the next promotion became a habit but knowing she was meant for something else led to an existential career "crisis". We talk about how Kris transitioned to being more in the driver's seat of her life and her work. We talk about how the path to success is different for everyone and as we follow our paths, the most important part, is making sure that it's our path that we're following. And we spend time talking about workplaces and ask the question what can be done to make work a more engaging and meaningful experience?

 

Kris Lantheaume is a business coach and operations strategist helping heart-centered business owners launch and grow their businesses. Sounding board, business advisor, coach, accountability partner and cheerleader, Kris brings decades of high level thinking, deep empathy, and proven problem solving to help her clients navigate the emotional and logistical complexities of business ownership. Given that we all have unique strengths and gifts, Kris is committed to helping people find their own path to doing business in a way that is both financially sustaining and personally fulfilling.

 

Connect with Kris

Through her website 

On LinkedIn and Twitter

 

Resources Mentioned:

Author Sue Monk Kidd

Fear-Setting with Tim Ferris

"When people are able to pause and are given permission to pause by their leaders and they know the necessity of pausing, in terms of their brain being so much more productive and you'll be so much more engaged and so much more successful after a pause. And then that's where the magic happens." Lisa LLoyd.

 

Lisa and I talk about putting the human factor back into workplaces and treating people like people. We talk about the return on investment (ROI) of investing in staff and how a one-size approach does not fit all. We discuss how time is one of the biggest barriers to organisations implementing changes in the best way and Lisa points out they might well be going full steam ahead on the wrong path. We also cover the people side of change, the power of pausing, psychological safety, inner critics and how to become even more effective as a manager. And we chat about thinking in terms of blips instead of failure and the importance of self-compassion. 

 

Lisa LLoyd is a Chartered Psychologist & Psychotherapist. Alongside her private psychotherapy practice she founded It’s Time for Change based on the belief that if we all started to do things a little bit differently, we’d achieve huge results. She is an advocate for putting the human factor back into business and her mantra is: when we get people right, we get business right. She works collaboratively with organisations, using psychological principles and evidence-based practices to improve leadership, employee engagement and resilience and to create workplace cultures where employees excel, where teams are dynamic and where people are happy.

 

Connect with Lisa:

On LinkedIn

Website: https://itstimeforchange.co.uk/ 

 

Resources:

Dr. Kristin Neff on Self-Compassion - https://self-compassion.org/ 

"Many of us are beginning to learn today just how important it is to know what is going on in our gut. And that gut health is important to our overall health." Caroline Peyton

 

Caroline Peyton has an holistic approach to health and wellbeing. In this episode we start out chatting about how our gut is invisible and we tend to ignore it unless there is a problem. However, making sure that what goes into our gut, how it survives and thrives in there or doesn't and the impact of that on our lives - from moods to stress to ill health is fascinating. Caroline's enthusiasm helps us visualise what is going on and she broadens it out to cover so many areas, including:

• If you are a tea and/or coffee drinker are you aware of the impact on your body?
• How much hydrating fluid do you consume daily? 
• If you have a desk based job how much do you move around and exercise? 
• How many pieces of fruit and vegetables do you consume daily?
• How do you know if you have an intolerance or an allergy?

And we keep returning to the fact that our bodies are amazing - how it does its best to cope, but sometimes if we push it a little bit too far, it will start to try and tell us that it's not so happy. We have to tune in and listen to our bodies. 

 

Caroline Peyton spent 20 years in corporate management roles and then took the decision to retrain; firstly in Nutritional Therapy in 2009 and then in Naturopathy in 2014. She also holds diplomas in Iridology and Wellbeing Coaching. Caroline helped establish the Naturopathic Nutrition Association and was Chair for seven years. She also became Principal of the Natural Healthcare College in 2013 and supervised final year students’ Clinical Practice training until 2018. Caroline runs her own private practice and specialises in digestive gut health.

 

Connect with Caroline

Through her website Peyton Principles

Her email address is caroline@peytonprinciples.com

YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn

 

Resources Mentioned:

More Salt Less Herbs blog post

Gut: the inside story of our body's most under-rated organ, Giulia Enders

 

In this final episode of 2023, I take a reflective look back at the year, highlighting some guest interviews, insights and personal journeys. The journey from episode 116 to 156 was marked by diverse conversations traversing topics like personal growth, slowing down, challenges the significance of creativity, self-expression and giving people the chance to be themselves in order to create a more productive and happier workplace. And I share some anecdotes about writing my forthcoming book and the valuable insights gained during the process. As we head into 2024 I encourage listeners to embrace life's simplicity and to dare to achieve your potential.

 

Episode Snippets from:

Episode #116 Challenges - Diego Adame

Episode #120 Reconnecting - Sam Allen

Episode #121 Courage - Robbie Swale

Episode #122 What Matters Most? Susan Ni Chriodain

Episode #126 Slowing Down - Professor Giana M. Eckhardt

Episode #127 The Performance Paradox - Kerry Cullen

Episode #134 I Feel Like Me Again - Jo Hunter

Episode #135 The Twin Trails - Achim Arnold

Episode #143 Executive Presence - Sue Rosen

Episode #145 Facilitate People - John Fairhurst

 

Resources Mentioned

64 Million Artists January 2024 Challenge

Inner Development Goals (IDGs)

Leading Beyond the Numbers: How Accounting for Emotions Tips the Balance at Work by Susan Ni Chriodain

"...understanding your strengths and also understanding other people's strengths is the key to effective communication, effective relationships and avoiding some of the conflict that can happen, especially in the workplace..." Nicholas Jemetta.

 

Nicholas Jemetta is merging his two worlds of digital technology geekery and mental health and wellbeing. In 2018 he shared his mental health story and it awakened something in him. He took that energy into the workplace and started to lobby for change by being proactive and taking responsibility. During lockdown he started #fancydress4mentalhealth and on June 11th (2021) he will wear his 100th fancy dress costume to work. Nick says we are all overflowing pots of awesomeness and just because we might struggle with our mental health at some points in our life it shouldn't put us a box, apply labels to us, limit our happiness or our potential. Nick also speaks about his wellbeing toolbox, growing and nurturing a network, loving his squiggly life and being able to see the lighter side of life. He also shares his strategy of (1) tuning in to yourself and your feelings, (2) having a wonder wall and worry wall, and (3) asking for help and support. 

 

Nicholas Jemetta, an Award Winning Mental Health Campaigner, uncovered a deeper purpose as a motivational speaker and mental health campaigner.  He is on a journey to fuse his product management craft with a passion for mental health, whilst meeting as many inspiring people as he can on the way. He has accepted anxiety as one of his superpowers. If you think you can help, reach out! Alternatively, get in touch if he can help you create memorable software products, or memorable and mentally healthy cultures where people love to work.

 

Connect with Nicholas:

On LinkedIn, on Twitter and on Instagram

And donate at Just Giving

 

Resources Mentioned:

Hub of Hope App

Hub of Hope App is developed by Chasing the Stigma

The Squiggly Careers Podcast

Just Giving

 

"Asking for help, I mean, I had no clue that that was the way out. It didn't even cross my mind at all. It's so crazy that asking for help was the way out." Migena Gjerazi

 

Migena Gjerazi and I delve into personal visions, change, surrender, taking responsibility for our choices and asking for help. Migena shares the importance of aligning with values that bring joy and excitement, even when the vision is unclear and encourages trust in the first step and openness to the unfolding path. She shares insights on imposter syndrome and suggests practical tools to combat self-doubt, including self-compassion, acceptance, and positive feedback. She recounts a powerful anecdote about asking for help and how this simple act can offer others an opportunity to contribute to our growth, creating a network of support and collaboration.

 

Migena Gjerazi MBA, CPCC, PCC had a stellar career with over 20 years in HR and Finance and is now an award-winning coach and facilitator in Copenhagen, a TEDX-er and an award-winning entrepreneur in her native diaspora (Albania). Migena has led countless coaching & leadership programs for UN agencies, engineering institutes, Amazon, Mars and many more, and many hours spent in the coaching chair. Her magic is supporting her clients to shine, inspire, and create empowering change. She is the queen of facilitation and the slayer of imposter syndrome. Migena is a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC) and Certified Leadership Coach trained by the Co-Active Training Institute; Professional Certified Coach (PCC) by International Coach Federation, Organizational Relationship Systems Coaching (ORSC) and LCP certified.

 

Connect with Migena

Through her website 

On LinkedIn

 

Resources Mentioned:

Episode 120, Reconnecting with Sam Allen 

Influence is your Superpower by Zoe Chance

Untaming Femininity Podcast

"If you can measure it, you can manage it. I used to say that for years. And  now I say if you can measure it, you can better understand it. If you can better understand it, you can make better decisions." Matt Phelan. 

 

Matt Phelan, co-founder of the Happiness Index, and I talk about how The Happiness Index provides organisations with an index of people's emotions. Emotions are data points that give you a better understanding of how your people feel so you can make better decisions. Matt says they are providing people with data to achieve emotional intelligence (EQ) at scale. We talk about how emotional data is four dimensional (4-D) and Matt takes me through an example of this using the interview process. Matt shares some of the evidence to support the business case for happiness at work. We chat about employee engagement, how happiness is associated with energy, that relationships are the number one driver of happiness at work and the impact of discrimination in the workplace. We also cover biases, belief systems, ignorance and incompetence as well as Matt's book 'Freedom to be Human'. 

 

Matthew Phelan is a co-founder and the Head of Global Happiness at The Happiness Index. He is on a mission to improve the way organisations treat people. He co-founded a global data and digital marketing agency before leaving the business after a trade sale and focussing entirely on The Happiness Index. His passion is to understand how people experience happiness and his vision is to use data to visualise culture in a similar way to how Google Maps visualises the world. He is the author of "Freedom to be Happy: The Business Case for Happiness." 

 

Connect with Matt:

On LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram or write him a letter!

If you want to collect data - go to The Happiness Index and book a demo

Read his book Freedom to be Happy

Tune into the Happiness & Humans podcast 

 

Resources Mentioned:

Jana Dowling Arkeo app

Advancing Racial Equity Conference and Sheeren Daniels

Happiness & Engagement Model

Happiness & Humans Podcast Episodes:

Employee Engagement with William Kahn (Mar 2021)

Employee Happiness with Professor Jeremy Dawson (Sept 2020)

Data & Research into Workplace Happiness with Professor Alex Edmans (Aug 2020)

 

 

"This book is about telling a different version of a story. That might begin to rebalance and imbalance. It is about leading beyond the numbers and still knowing our worth contribution and value. It is about recognising people as people and not as numbers on a payroll or statistics in a report." Susan Ni Chriodain 

 

In this solo episode I talk more about my upcoming book, Leading Beyond the Numbers: How Accounting for Emotions Tips the Balance at Work. The focus today is on the title. I talk about leading - leaders and leadership. I talk about 'beyond' and what that means. And I talk about 'the numbers' and leading beyond them.  

 

I am the host of Life Beyond the Numbers Podcast. I've recently written my first book which will be out in May '24. I believe that the future of work relies on us harnessing the power of conversation so we interact with one another with intention and integrity. I help people have more fulfilling work-lives by guiding them to see their uniqueness to let it shine through. 

Connect with me:

On LinkedIn

Through my website: Beyond the Numbers

 

Resources Mentioned:

Leading Beyond the Numbers: How accounting for emotions tips the balance at work will be published on May 14th 2024. It is available for pre-order online at major booksellers and on Amazon.

Episode 145 Facilitate People with John Fairhurst

"....isn't that true of so many issues in organisations that it's just because people don't speak to each other and they don't listen to the other side. And that for me is the root, if we're talking about psychological safety, that is at the root. It's the willingness on all sides to be open and to listen." Dr. Susanne Evans

 

Does psychological safety have an impact at work? In this episode Dr Susanne Evans, David Lee and I explore the concept of psychological safety and the impact it has on our working lives. We talk about the work environment, power dynamics, being open, listening and treating one another as humans. We wonder if the term gets interpreted at times as never having to feel uncomfortable. We all agree that feeling uncomfortable at work is inevitable at times but feeling unsafe isn't. And we talk about taking responsibility for our own behaviour. 

 

Dr Susanne Evans is an organisation change consultant, trainer, coach and researcher on a mission to change the way that transformations are managed in organisations. She founded Feldspar Consulting in 2007 to help her clients lead change in a more human, effective way. As well as writing and speaking about organisation change, Susanne hosts open storytelling workshops, supporting organisations and individuals in writing a compelling story for themselves, and she is the host of the popular ChangeStories podcast.

David Lee is a coach, consultant, workshop facilitator, keynote speaker, and author, who loves creating a win/win/win relationship between people and the organizations they work for. He helps leaders and leadership teams learn how to become "people whisperers", and by doing so, increase their ability to make their organization THE choice for "A List Talent" and inspire the best in their people.

 

Connect with Susanne

On LinkedIn

Through her website: Feldspar Consulting

Listen to Change Stories podcast

 

Connect with David

On LinkedIn 

Through his website Human Nature at Work

 

Resources Mentioned:

Amy Edmondson on Psychological Safety

Dealing with a Difficult Coworker by David Lee

Google & Project Aristotle 

 

"We can do so much better for ourselves in terms of the way in which we live and the degree of fulfilment and meaning that we derive from life." Kate Jones

 

Kate Jones shares her unique approach to fostering personal and organisational fulfilment. We explore her Wheel of New Horizons, a framework for helping successful yet unfulfilled individuals reconnect with their heart's desires and navigate life changes with purpose. Kate also unveils her Work Thrivometer, a tool that pinpoints 10 ingredients for thriving in the workplace. From redefining success to balancing sensitivity with strength, Kate offers a fresh perspective on achieving a deeply fulfilling life. Her story of a transformative trek in the Himalayas brings these insights to life, highlighting the interplay of leadership, followership, and inner purpose.

 

Kate Jones is a certified leadership and life coach, consultant and facilitator that specialises in helping purpose-led leaders create more Deeply Human® organisations where more people can thrive and do their best work without burning out. She is on a mission to change the world of work, and to help as many people as possible to live, lead and work well. She founded Neon in 2013 after ten years in corporate consulting and a further ten in social care. She is the architect of the Deeply Human® leadership model and leads The Deeply Human Culture Club, a community of like-minded leaders who want more organisations to be a force for good on the inside and out.

 

Connect with Kate: 

Through her website Deeply Neon

On LinkedIn  

Kate's Linktree

 

Resources Mentioned:

The Wheel of New Horizons & The Neon Work Thriveometer 

Simon Sinek

Brene Brown

The Olympics

 

"And we're all human. And I think that's the main message that I try to bring out in this podcast - it's human stories for human listeners. We are all people. We are all doing our best. And it's wonderful to know that others have been where we are or think like we do or are going where we want to go or can show us things we didn't know." Susan Ní Chríodáin

 

To celebrate getting to 100 episodes I opted to do a trilogy for episode 99, 100 and 101. In episode 99 I take a look back over the last two years and with the help of some listener quotes, guest quotes and episode excerpts I talk about what matters most about this podcast. And that is people: guests, listeners and me. And for all of us it is about stepping into the unknown, practice, practice, practice and solace in knowing we are not alone. 

 

Susan Ní Chríodáin is the host of Life Beyond the Numbers. Life Beyond the Numbers is for people who are curious about how to have a more fulfilling work-life. The first episodes aired in Sept 2020 and Susan has had over 80 recorded conversations with 43 women and 39 men. To date this podcast has been downloaded in 80 countries. 

 

Connect with Susan

On LinkedIn

Through her website 

 

Resources Mentioned

Episode 1 Stepping Into the Unknown with Sue Rosen

Episode 44 Preparation and Practice with Carlos Gimeno

Episode 84 Sibling Special 

Episode 49 A Sense of Belong with Jenny Ashmore

Episode 12 Building Communities with Javed Bobat

Episode 66 Lift the Lid with Amantha King

Episode 50 A Journey with Kiki Kirby

Episode 54 You're Not Alone with Louise McMilan

Episode 68 Extreme Experiences with Anna Haslock

Episode 71 Your True Self with Jonathan de Potter

This week I've collated some stories related to the workplace from episodes that went out between January and April 2021. 

• First up is Kevin Ashley, #32 Serial Entrepreneur, who shares his secret to building a successful business
• Next Gib Bulloch, #28 Breakthrough, talks about dignity at work and shares a cautionary tale
• Next Megan Haupt, #25 Your Career Story, shares her unique perspective on how to overcome workplace horror stories
• Next Glin Bayley, #39 H.E.A.R.T., speaks about the work environment and also how to figure out what you want to do
• Then John Collins, #26 Guinness & Tea, tells us that it is possible to work somewhere that has a people, planet, profit and purpose alignment
• Finally Sheila Walsh, #27 Health High Performance, shares her story about on working as part of a healthy, high performing leadership team.

"The actions that we take are the things that are going to get us results, whether we like it or not. And so looking at those results, which business leaders are looking at all the time. We're always looking at those results. Are we meeting our outcomes? Are we meeting our metrics? And if we're not getting those results, well, we're not taking the right actions." Katie McLaughlin

 

Katie McLaughlin returns to Life Beyond the Numbers to chat to me about the team dynamics and how our emotions and actions driver our results. We cover the role emotions play in shaping team performance and the link between emotional awareness and intentional action in the workplace. Katie speaks of her unique use of theatre techniques to help teams explore and transform workplace dynamics. We chat about the importance of having fun and creating moments of levity to improve team culture and how leaders can foster psychological safety and trust within their teams. A key takeaway from this episode is the common misconception we might have that if our actions got results there's this assumption that those actions are correct ... however, there's a lot of different actions that could be taken to get the same results.

 

Katie McLaughlin is an engaging speaker, workshop facilitator, and strategy consultant with over 15 years of experience in high-growth companies such as Wayfair, Upserve, and Rocket Lawyer. In 2020, Katie founded McLaughlin Method, a boutique consulting firm specializing in improving team and company culture through actionable, interactive, skill-building programs. She facilitates team workshops as the core focus of her practice, customizing sessions to fit specific industries, team dynamics, and outcomes. Leveraging her background in theater, Katie creates a fun, judgment-free environment where teams can improve collaboration and achieve goals through empathy, open communication, and conflict resolution. She has facilitated thousands of workshops, helping teams build collaborative cultures and achieve immediate improvements in empathy and connectivity.

 

Connect with Katie:

Her website: www.mclaughlinmethod.com 

On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mclaughlinkatie/

 

Resources Mentioned:

Free Team Health Score Quiz www.teamhealthscorequiz.com 

Episode 104 Your Intention https://www.beyond-thenumbers.com/podcast-episodes/104 

 

"As you go through your career you learn what you're good at. And one of the things I've been very lucky to have been able to do is to choose the things that I'm good at and leave behind the things that I'm not so good at and have the confidence to say, do you know what actually that's not really my bag".  Margaret de Valois.  

Mags and I talk about how sometimes we don't make choices in life but just do what's put in front of us. But how much more rewarding it is to make active choices and really consider what it is that you want to do not what is easy to do. We talk about how she felt as if she was in "a controlling relationship with the City" and her relocation to Cornwall.  We also talk about her love of communication, music and pensions.  

Margaret de Valois is an award-winning seasoned City professional now living in Cornwall. She qualified as an Actuary and works as a Business Coach who helps businesses generate great ideas and plan practical strategies to guarantee business growth. And she is a co-host of the TV show Thinking Women.  

Connect with Margaret:

https://margaretdevalois.com/

https://www.facebook.com/thinkingwomentv/

 

Resources:

 

https://www.gov.uk/check-state-pension

 

 

"We have a very progressive organisation that values its people, but the most satisfying and motivating thing about an organisation like Pukka is the genuine feeling that we are making decisions for the right reasons." John Collins

 

John Collins saw his accounting qualification as a passport and had opportunities to travel with Diageo - he says he was a 'walking stereotype' (Irish, red-hair and works for Guinness).  We discuss working out what you really want to do and exploring extrinsic and intrinsic motivators. John tells me about his awakening on joining Pukka Herbs in terms of having a responsibility to have a positive impact on the world. He also shares his thoughts on how business and consumption are at the heart of the situation that we're in and you can either bemoan that from the outside or you can be part of the solution on the inside.

 

John Collins is Finance Director of Pukka Herbs, whose mission is to create a world where plants play a central role in human health and wellbeing. He is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Ireland and has extensive experience working in the private sector across a number of disciplines and geographies. He is a board member of Friends of the Earth.

 

Connect with John:

On LinkedIn 

“Feelings aren't a beacon of eternal truth. They're a negotiation. They're always real because they are a perception inside of you, but it doesn't mean that they are accurate, useful, or true they're things that need to be negotiated. We can reframe them and construct them differently.” Steve Haines

Steve Haines takes us in-depth on the transformative power of learning to connect with our bodies with the use of some great metaphors. He explains that the biggest decision we're making in a moment is “Am I safe or not?”  Steve explains that everybody gets triggered but we can learn how to reframe our feelings.  We discuss how of the biggest predictors to a happy and healthy life is movement and the good news is “the best exercise, is exercise you're going to do”. 

 

Steve Haines has been a bodyworker for over 20 years, runs regular clinics in London and Geneva and teaches all over the world. He is the author of the award winning ‘Anxiety Is Really Strange’, part of a series of graphic books that include ‘Pain Is Really Strange’ and ‘Trauma Is Really Strange’. Understanding the science of pain and trauma has transformed his approach to healing. He has studied Yoga, Shiatsu, Craniosacral Therapy, and Trauma Releasing Exercises TRE®.

 

Connect with Steve: https://bodycollege.net/ +

https://www.facebook.com/bodycollege/ +

Twitter @stevehaines66

 

Seven work-life snippets from 2022 guests make up this compilation episode. 

 

David Lee, Episode 102, Human Nature 

Kirsty Ritchie, Episode 91, Mental Fitness

Pete Bearder, Episode 109, Collective Joy

Natasha Tomlinson, Episode 103, Just Go For It

Kris Lantheaume, Episode 111, Success

Dougal Freeman, Episode 92, A Common Goal

Robyn Harris, Episode 108, The Answers Are Inside

 

Wishing all my listeners a joyful and fulfilling 2023

 

Resources Mentioned:

Episode 90 The Way You Make Me Feel 

"A professional summary and professional summaries, in general, tend to be these sort of really abstract statements." "There's no sort of connection to the human being. It could be anybody. I'm like, well, let's try to find a way where we can actually write these professional summaries that relate to the human being on this piece of paper." Megan Haupt.

 

Megan Haupt started career storytelling as an exercise to help people write their professional summaries. We talk about how working takes up a third of your life and many career paths are not linear but to do something significant with that time people benefit from being able to articulate how various strands connect. We talk about how she uses storytelling to get insights that clients have said to her after: 'I have never been able to think of myself in these terms'. We also chat about how having clarity around your story, is really helpful to apply specific interviewing techniques land different forms of behavioural interviewing. Megan and I also talk about her upcoming workshop Bad Boss Exorcism that uses a horror genre to help let go of bad experiences at work - as she says "everyone has a horror story to tell you about work".

 

Megan Haupt has over a decade of career coaching experience, working with clients at all stages of their careers. Her 25-year professional background spans from the performing arts to higher education, non-profits, and corporate business, and she has successfully navigated several industry changes throughout her career. In addition to her coaching work, she is a serial entrepreneur, public speaker, and business consultant. A long-time practitioner of meditation, Megan brings a practical approach of mindfulness to her work with clients. To learn more about Megan’s professional background, visit her LinkedIn profile.

 

Connect with Megan:

On LinkedIn

https://www.briocareer.com/

http://www.hungryeducation.com/ 

Facebook: Brio Career 

 

Resources:

How to Future by Scott Smith with Madeline Ashby - https://changeist.com/

Deem - https://www.deemjournal.com/

Whetstone - https://www.whetstonemagazine.com/ 

Podcast on Future Self:

https://extraordinarybusinessbooks.com/episode-247-speaking-to-the-future/

The Business Value of Autonomous Mobile Robots Report

 

 

“Give your people, the opportunity to do what they're best at, do it to the best of their abilities and the responsibility to get on and direct. And the trust to make that happen. They will bring you so much back.” Helen Joy. 

Helen tells us about how in her first management role she was awful as she was afraid of being seen to be weak so she changed into this person she thought she should and for six years she was deeply unhappy in that role because it clashed with her values.  When she was given the freedom, autonomy and responsibility she knew that was her chance to do it right and be the person that she was inside. One of her bug bears is promoting people for their technical ability with absolutely no concern, focus or support given around the people side because it is setting people up for failure.  She reveals the #1 topic she gets asked about when delivering training to aspiring new managers.  And we talk about how the workplace is changing and how understanding yourself can make you a great leader. 

 

Helen Joy’s passion is Leadership and Management Development, particularly aspiring and new managers. She led and developed teams within operational and support environments to achieve results through coaching and formal training.

 

Connect with Helen: LinkedIn @ Helen Joy + https://people-spark.co.uk/

 

Resources:

The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni

The Chimp Paradox: The Mind Management Programme for Confidence, Success and Happiness by Prof Steve Peters

The Book of Leadership: How to Get Yourself, Your Team and Your Organisation Further Than You Ever Thought Possible by Anthony Gell

"I grew up with a family myth about jet lag. We're Italian, my father's Italian 100 percent. And we would sit around the dinner table and just like chat and he would always tell the story of my foster brother, who the summer of 1971 was kidnapped and travelled non-stop Intercontinental for about four months. And then his grandmother suddenly died during the journey in a luxury hotel in Amsterdam." Emily Brown

 

Emily Brown had a love-hate relationship with her last job - she had a lot of purpose but was missing out on family life. So she quit. And began to write. She talks about her most recent work on the biography of jet-lag inspired by a family event in 1971 - her foster brother is related to the most fatal sufferer of jetlag, Sarah Krasnoff. This event has been widely reported and written about through the years but her brother's story had never been told. She is co-authoring this book with her Mom. And going beyond the looking at jet lag through the lens of flying only to draw parallels to how jet lag might be showing up in other parts of our lives. We talk about sleep, natural light and balance.

 

Emily Ross Brown has studied jetlag since 2015 and holds a Masters of Science in Hospitality Management. Brown was a 2000 Addy Award team recipient and has had her ideas featured by The Baltimore Sun. Brown was a feature writer for spinrecords.com (owned by Ice-T) and has been published in numerous Maryland publications. Brown began blogging about non-traditional career transitions in 2016. She is the author of two children’s books, a musical and the co-author of Biography of Jetlag, an historic nonfiction narrative. When not writing or caring for her family, Brown is a community organizer and leader, and a political advocate for education equity. 

 

Connect with Emily

Through her website 

TheJetLagProject on YouTube

Email her on emily@thejetlagprojectatgmail.com

 

Resources Mentioned

Lena Dunham

Jamie Lee Curtis

Little Bird by Camilla Way

Paul Virilio on Jetlag

Liz Diller 

Shawn Coyne The Story Grid Podcast

The Global Soul by Pico Iyer

Will Smith at the 2022 Oscars

 

 

 

"Businesses are fairly unhappy places to be at the moment. People, young people, bright people who've done everything right, who've got a good education they've paid through the noses for, who've worked hard and they've got into these elite organisations and are saying "Is this it? Is this what I want to do?" They look 30 years ahead 40 years ahead to the bosses and say, "Is that what I want to be?"" Gib Bulloch.

 

Gib talks about how he began to question his 'lovely yuppie lifestyle' in London, in the late 90s, having done very "well" for himself. Is this all there is to life? A committed non-conformist and a catalyst for change he founded Accenture Development Partners, described by some as a guerilla movement within Accenture, where today 50,000 staff are on a waiting list to work for a 50% pay-cut. We talk about leadership, corporate immune systems, seizing opportunities and entrepreneurship. Being a corporate insurgent isn't all plain sailing and Gib openly discusses his stay in a psychiatric unit and he explains that one of the main drivers for writing his book was to stand up and be counted about mental health and to shift the debate from the mental health of individuals to the mental health of the organisation and of the system causing these problems.

 

Gib Bulloch is a speaker, writer and facilitator with a unique perspective on the relationship between business, society and the self. He spent 25 years at three of the world’s largest companies – BP, Mars and Accenture. During his time at Accenture, he set up the award-winning Accenture Development Partners, a corporate social enterprise that provides development sector organisations access to Accenture’s top people, knowledge and assets on a not-for-profit basis.  With an insider’s view of the corporate engine and an awareness of the impact that business can have on the individual, he is passionate about creating a more mindful, empowered and balanced approach to the world of work. 

 

Connect with Gib:

On LinkedIn

Website: https://gibbulloch.com/bullog/ 

Craigberoch: https://craigberoch.org/ 

 

Resources:

The Intrapreneur: Confessions of a Corporate Insurgent, Gib Bulloch 

Synchronicity: The Inner Path of Leadership, Joseph Jaworski

The Hero's Journey, Joseph Cambell

 

"A pacemaker is not a death sentence or even a life sentence, it's a lifeline. My role is to send the ladder down for other people. And that gives me a lot of satisfaction. Whether that's heart health, helping people who are going through the trauma of looking for work or people who've failed exams I've been there." Paul Wright

 

Paul Wright and I talk about finding purpose and how it might not always be something you are aware of early in your career. Paul had a pacemaker fitted in 2018 and he wondered about the purpose people of people who work at Medtronic ... and with some LinkedIn magic he found out! Paul shares how he has a different perspective on life and the impact that had on him personally and professionally. We chat about looking for work after 18 years in one organisation and what experience counts. Paul talks about helping others through mentoring, in communities and on LinkedIn and says if his experience isn't shared, it's just hindsight. We chat about his two keys to success (i) being brave in career choices and (ii) being yourself. And we talk about telling your story and creative writing. 

 

Paul Wright is a management accountant with over 20 years' post-qualification experience. He gathered senior leadership experience in a large, global energy company before moving into practice, supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in an advisory capacity. Today, Paul continues to provide part time finance director support whilst pursuing a number of voluntary activities. Paul is married to Nicola, a head teacher, and has two grown-up daughters.

 

Connect with Paul

On LinkedIn

 

Resources Mentioned

Earl Bakken "One Man's Full Life" and Medtronic

Legacy by James Kerr

NASA purpose

Toastmasters International 

Episode 3 'Proud to be an Accountant' with Michelle Heer

 

 

"We've got a lot to offer beyond just giving a set of accounts to somebody. And it comes down to the fundamental fact that we're all people at the end of the day and it's all about relationships and building those relationships..." Robin Kiziak.

 

Robin and I discuss storytelling - with words and numbers. Robin illustrates the power of bringing numbers to life with a story about why a particular set of numbers (6, 2015, 15 & 107,398) is important to him. We talk about breaking down barriers at work, bringing your personality to the table and he shares where the idea for "nothing funny about finance" comes from. There is plenty of laughter in this episode as well as us discussing laughter, curiosity and the importance of finding the right balance. Robin also talks about the importance of networking and shares how he grew his audience and engages with people from Canada to China. 

 

Robin Kiziak is an experienced finance manager with 15+ years of experience in the distribution/logistics and retail industries. On LinkedIn, he describes himself as a Hardcore Finance Manager and his 'About' summary is well worth checking out - far more engaging than a CV. He believes that to stand out in finance and accounting you need to make the seemingly dark art of finance and accounting understandable to everyone in your business by focusing on how you behave and it will shine through in your people skills. Robin is known for his #nothingfunnyaboutfinance posts.  

 

Connect with Robin:

On LinkedIn

Twitter

Website: Nothing Funny About Finance

 

"I think that's a key component of public speaking, a key component of communication and a key component of confidence because the more you listen in the better your answers and your statements become the more powerful and influential and respected you become." Carlos Gimeno. 

 

Carlos Gimeno thinks there are two things that everyone should know about before they join the workplace, yet no school or university teaches them, one is financial literacy and the other is public speaking skills. Public speaking is something we all do all the time - every time we speak with another human. It is not a one-way exercise. Carlos shares some great practical strategies to improve our public speaking. We talk about crafting your message, simplicity, silence, listening, pausing and clarity. We also talk about how much our eyes and hands are involved when we speak. Carlos shares why feedback can be so frustrating and the power of posing questions. He also introduces us to his technique of 'Storyology' and the four steps involved in effective storytelling.  

 

Carlos Gimeno founded Cg to fill a gap in the education and professional training system: Public Speaking Coaching. Carlos believes in the power of the spoken word to drive positive change. Expressing your ideas clearly, meaningfully and persuasively is a fundamental skill in the world we inhabit.  Cg helps you and your organisation craft and deliver memorable Public Speaking, whether you are communicating with an audience of one or hundreds. Carlos has 16 years of international commercial experience in Publishing, a degree in Journalism, fluency in English and Spanish and 10 years of training as a Public Speaker.

 

Connect with Carlos:

On his website Cg Public Speaking Coaching

On LinkedIn

 

Resources Mentioned:

Public Speaking: A Very Practical Introduction by Carlos Gimeno

Thanks for the Feedback: The Science and Art of Receiving Feedback Well by Douglas Stone and Sheila Heen

Toastmasters International 

"Keep it simple. It's free. Go outside. There are so many reasons to do it. It's so funny we love to complicate things. Our human brains are like, surely we should be paying for this meeting room and if only we could be doing some weird technical thing as part of our team bonding experience, then we'll be doing the right thing. But no, let's get back to basics".  Caitlin Cockerton

 

Caitlin Cockerton is an avid advocate for spending time, including work time, in nature. She explains that nature is a great metaphor for us and a mirror for what is happening inside. When we are outside we move into a state that enables us to tap into something deeper. We intuitively know the benefits and say things like "I need to go for a walk" or "I need to go and clear my head." But what about the benefits to teams and organisations? When we are caught in a cycle of back-to-back meetings and zoom calls are we really paying attention to what matters most? Slowing down and being in the best space, outdoors, can help us reconnect with ourselves and others, assess our priorities and have some deep and meaningful conversations about our people and our systems. Caitlin and I discuss some simple ways of taking work outside. And Caitlin tells us about her recent retreat in a Spanish desert. 

 

Caitlin Cockerton (PhD, MSc, CPCC) is a Life and Leadership Coach – Canadian roots, with years of experience in fast-paced London business consulting, and now based in the French Alps. Her work focuses on reconnecting people to themselves, one another and the world around us, in service of creating more meaning in the work we do and lives we lead. She does 1:1 coaching, team building and leadership retreats, and facilitates one-of-a-kind seasonal mountain retreats.

 

Connect with Caitlin:

Through her website Great Heights Pathways

 

Resources Mentioned:

Trail Haven Retreats

"It's so exciting to have my two amazing siblings here to sit down and talk about something that we've talked about. We have had conversations over the years about Aoife and about how it was to have a sister like Aoife. But I feel really honoured that I can sit down with you two here now and talk about her life and about our lives with her and share with other people in the hope that other people would benefit from hearing this or maybe just be interested in hearing it." Siun Creedon Prochazka (this episode was originally released in November 2020 on the Uniquely Wired podcast)

 

Our sister Aoife was born severely mentally and physically disabled.  She never spoke a single word nor walked a single step. We never really knew if she even recognised us.  She lived most of her life in care. She died at 33. I can't say that I ever knew her, ever formed a relationship.  But of course there was a relationship and I did know my sister.  In this episode my siblings and I explore our unique relationships with our sister and our unique experiences. 

 

Listening to this episode I'm reminded of a beautiful quote by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross:  

"The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss and have found their way out of the depths.  These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness and deep loving concern.  Beautiful people do not just happen."  

There is beauty inside all of us. All of us suffer, are defeated, struggle and feel loss. And we are all capable of compassion and self-compassion. Let your beauty shine through. Keep an eye out for that beauty in others and encourage it to shine through too. The world will be a better place.  

 

Connect with Siun & Alan

Siun's website Uniquely Wired

Alan's website Endless River

 

Resources Mentioned:

Uniquely Wired podcast

The Search for Still Waters by Alan Creedon (Alan mentioned his walk several times but the book had not yet been release at the time of recording)

 

"Trying to describe myself has always been really hard. I've never fitted into anything. Someone described me as an edge-walker the other day. And I thought, oh my God, that's the first time anyone's put me into a category that I can relate to." Nat Hunter

 

Nat Hunter always felt pigeon-holed, like she could only bring a small sliver of herself to work and so she co-founded her own design company, Airside in 1999. We talk about their approach: what happens if you make work somewhere where people can really show up and be themselves? We also chat about their mantra of never do something just for the money and about the eventual winding up of the company. Nat decided life was short and only wants to do stuff that has a positive impact on the planet. And as 80% of the ecological impact for products is determined in the design phase Nat talks about various approaches designers can take to have a more holistic approach. We talk about sustainability, circular economy, regenerative design, net zero, co-designing with insects and more. And we delve into how we would decide what to buy if we could only buy three items of clothing a year? 

 

Nat Hunter, a Director of Other Today, is a designer, educator and coach, currently exploring how regenerative culture and organisational behaviour can positively impact people, society and the planet. A systems thinker and agitator for change, she brings her experience in business, design and coaching together in order to create and support change. She co-founded the multi-award winning Airside, one of the UK’s first digital design studios. In 2021 Nat co-created the influential Design Council report Beyond Net Zero and is currently a Design For Planet Fellow at the Design Council.

 

Connect with Nat:

On LinkedIn

By email redfishgreenfish@gmail.com 

 

Resources Mentioned:

Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer

Sand Talk: How Indigenous Thinking Can Save the World by Tyson Yunkaporta

Sherri Mitchell

Beyond Net Zero: Design Council

Rob Hopkins Transition Movement

Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek

Carbon Tunnel Vision Diagram

B Corp

Reinventing Organisations by Frederic Laloux

 

"The Shamans, from the Native American people, talk about the twin trails. This whole going inward, going outward, going inward, going outward. The more we grow internally, we can grow externally." Achim Arnold

 

Achim Arnold and I discuss his interest in purpose-driven connections which is largely influenced by his upbringing and desire to be part of a community. We explore the concept of having aspirations instead of putting immense pressure on oneself to constantly do things. We talk about finding our inner team. And about slowing down, the importance of caring for oneself and others and the need to resource oneself properly in order to support others effectively. We wrap up with a discussion on staying connected to our humanity and the impact of technology on our sense of self.

 

Achim Arnold partners with clients to find innovative solutions, from boardroom to field; procurement to sales. He uses his experience in the Chemicals, Pharmaceuticals, Agricultural, Automotive and Social Media sectors to bring different cultures and diverse groups together to collaborate and co-create solutions for more sustainable business. Over almost two decades he has worked in 25 countries and speaks English, German, Portuguese and Spanish. He holds a graduate degree in business and management as well as a postgraduate degree focused on organisational behaviour, change management and strategic decision-making. He is certified as a systemic coach and change manager and accredited as a holistic counsellor. He is a trustee and a non-executive Director in two educational charities. His favourite activities are ultra trail running and mountaineering. He is a father of 2 young sons who bring joy to his life and fuel his commitment to work on ESG challenges.

 

Connect with Achim

On LinkedIn

 

Resources Mentioned

Craigberoch Business Decelerator 

Cologne University Systemic Coaching & Change Management

"I think we are on the precipice of releasing and freeing ourselves from the shackles of conventional capitalism. I call it Life Capitalism." Paul Stephenson.

 

Paul Stephenson is a hearts and minds individual, a visionary and work-life architect. He shares his vision for the work-life transition that is unfolding from the world of being a slave to the spreadsheet where the corporate environment took you hostage to the world where we are open-hearted and open-minded and the new rich is not about money but about appreciation. Instead of following our egos we will follow our hearts and go with how we feel about things rather than how we think we need to conform. We talk about work and life coming together and being integrated by purpose. We also cover learned helplessness, destination sickness, capitalitis, choice, money and time. 

 

Paul Stephenson is the founder of two businesses, EGOstream.com and Zengility.life. Both born out of passion, with a shared purpose to help individuals maximize their true value to deliver life changing, sustainable results – but not at any price! Within EGOstream Paul helps Technology Founders and CEO’s find ways to sustainably improve performance and transform results for themselves and their team. Zengility is a WorkLife transformation business that supports Senior Execs who are looking to find their true purpose away from conventional employment and create a future on their own terms.

 

Connect with Paul:

Zengility

EgoStream

"How can I create a checklist on being kind?  How can I ask in each situation I find myself in, how can I be magic in this situation?" "How can I apply the magic formula? How can I be magic in this situation?" John Hayns. 

 

John and I talk about how important influencing skills are as a magician and in life.  He explains his philosophy of kindness as a choice. Magic, for example, is not about trying to put one over on people, but about lifting people up and trying to make their lives better. It is all done by kindness and that transforms into business. We talk through his MAGIC formula - how to be kind by MAGIC.  We also chat about personality types, Sufi Mystics, taking yourself on a date, baked beans and practical insights for creating work-life magic.  

 

John Hayns is a Speaker, Writer and Entertainer.  Having graduated with a Masters from Oxford University in the early ’90s, John sold web and database solutions to the legal and insurance sectors of the City of London. He is now Managing Director of two companies and the Chair of a leading trade association. He is also Chair of The Magic Circle, the premier magic society in the world, and an acknowledged expert in the fields of persuasion and direction of attention.

 

Connect with John:

https://www.work-life-magic.com/

 

Resources:

https://themagiccircle.co.uk/ 

The Artist's Way, Julie Cameron

To Sell is Human, Dan Pink

https://michaelhyatt.com/ 

https://miraclemorning.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/TMM-Journal-Sample.pdf 

https://thisismyera.com/products/thisismyera-planner?variant=45373602568 

"Everyone seems to have some negativity, some frustration, some disappointment, even at times, anger towards recruiters.  And  when you repeatedly hear that, pretty much every conversation, you have to take a step back, which I did a few years ago..."  "And that's where I've made the decision over the last 12, 18 months to research plan and then bring to market something that I hope will bring some humanity back within an industry where I feel it is lacking".  Javed Bobat.  

 

Javed and I discuss his three-part ethical recruitment model for finance and accounting professionals that benefits the candidate, team and business with a focus on employee well-being, engagement and retention.  Javed is also a Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Instructor and he talks about his own mental health.  We discuss the recent Pulse Report he produced on the impact of remote working and the stress of lockdown and how extremely relatable people felt it was.  And we chat about 'Written For You, By You' - encouraging finance and accounting professionals to write about their work-life.  

 

Javed Bobat is based in Leeds and has spent his career in finance/accounting recruitment.  He launched Fide Careers late last year.  He is on a mission to prioritise people over profit and Fide is purpose-driven and socially motivated as they take a percentage of every single recruitment fee and reinvest it directly back into the team, candidate and business they recruit for.  He has also set up a community interest company F=@#! Mental Health for mental health and well-being of the industry.  

 

Connect with Javed:

https://fide.careers/ 

https://fmentalhealth.org/

LinkedIn: Javed Bobat

Twitter & Instagram: @fidecareers 

"It's not about where you start. It's about the potential you show others that will determined where you finish." Lọ́lá Béjidé

 

Lọ́lá is an early career strategist and we talk about how, as you navigate your career, do you figure out the best way to step up and stand out with your skills, talents, potential, and you demonstrate it all. We cover the difference between culture fit and culture add, promoting diversity, moving from 'fantasy land' to 'reality land' and how to know as a manager, leader or employer that you are actually equipping and empowering your talent to grow, develop and flourish. Lọ́lá encourages us not to sell ourselves short, to be architects of our career and she says if you start strong, you're only going to get stronger. 

 

Lọ́lá Béjidé is a certified ICF career coach specialising in helping young professionals navigate their corporate careers and being “architects of their career”. A passionate believer in empowering the learners today to become the leaders of tomorrow. Before founding Soluman Consultancy, she spent 20+ years as a senior Business Manager & Global training lead in the corporate world working within organisations such as Merrill Lynch, Zenith Bank (Nigeria), HSBC, JP Morgan, ABN AMRO and Barclays.

 

Connect with Lọ́lá:

On LinkedIn

Visit her website

Or by email: lola@solumanconsultancy.com

"If you think about staff engagement, staff satisfaction. Well, if those people aren't happy, they're going to leave. Same with your customers. People are not going to hang around, so they're not financial indicators, but they do have financial impact eventually." Rebecca McCaffry.

 

Rebecca and I talk about people and money being the lifeblood of business with a focus on the people side. The language of accounting can be austere and finance people might be seen as unhelpful if they are unbiased, unemotional and unflappable. But that is changing and many are seen as navigators, co-pilots and business partners - they've combined technical skills with people skills and built strong working relationships, are creating value and seeing the long-term impact of what they do. CIMA have a focus on producing the accountant of the future - a well-rounded individual. We talk about the difficulty with teaching people skills, Key Performance Questions, Pre-Financial Data, Maths Anxiety, Automation, Data and more. 

 

Rebecca McCaffry, FCMA, CGMA, CPFA is Associate Technical Director – Management Accounting at the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (AICPA&CIMA). As part of the Research and Development team, her work explores public sector management accounting, talent management and finance transformation. Rebecca is a member of Accountancy Europe’s public sector expert group and a Teaching Fellow at the University of Greenwich.

 

Connect with Rebecca 

On LinkedIn

 

"When momentum really comes into play so much of the background noise fades further into the background. And then momentum builds momentum. You become unstoppable, mostly!" Susan Ni Chriodain

 

In this episode you are invited to explore the multifaceted journey of writing and self-discovery, offering a glimpse into the challenges and rewards. I delve into the inner and outer challenges faced during the writing process, including self-doubt, perfectionism, and the importance of acknowledging progress. And I discuss the transformative impact of sharing the manuscript. I also emphasise the value of commitment, momentum, asking for help, and adapting personal routines to enhance your creativity and productivity. And I talk about celebrating the arrival of the book!

 

Leading Beyond the Numbers: How Accounting for Emotions Tips the Balance at Work will be published by Practical Inspiration Publishing on May 14th, 2024.

 

Connect with me:

On LinkedIn

Through my website: Beyond the Numbers

 

Resources Mentioned:

Leading Beyond the Numbers: How accounting for emotions tips the balance at work will be published on May 14th 2024 by Practical Inspiration Publishing. It is available for pre-order online at major booksellers and on Amazon.

David Whyte: Consolations and Start Close In

"So, I want you to be a sommelier to your body!  But to do that we have to practice. You start with really fundamentals. How do I know what joy is?" Steve Haines.

 

Steve's fourth book, Touch is Really Strange, was released in April 2021. Steve explains the science of touch. We talk about how in social groups where there's an equality touch is supportive and helps the process of working as a team and clearly in work situations that can be useful. Steve says we can rediscover our sense of safety and agency through safe touch or skilful touch and reminds us of the need to negotiate consent around touch and be aware of how your touch might be received. Steve describes hugs as transformational gestures of acceptance. He says that when we touch someone we touch their whole person and not just a part of them and that we are far more complex than our parts. We also talk about how touch helps us feel real, the armness of an arm and why we can't tickle ourselves! 

 

Steve Haines has been a bodyworker for over 20 years. Understanding the science of pain and trauma has transformed his approach to healing. He runs regular clinics in London and Geneva and teaches all over the world. He is the author of the award winning ‘Anxiety Is Really Strange’, part of a series of graphic books that include ‘Pain Is Really Strange’, ‘Trauma Is Really Strange’ and 'Touch is Really Strange'. He has studied Yoga, Shiatsu, Craniosacral Therapy, and Trauma Releasing Exercises TRE®.

 

Connect with Steve: Through his website

On Instagram

And on Facebook

 

Resources Mentioned:

Touch is Really Strange, Steve Haines - https://bodycollege.net/touch/

Antonio Damasio - https://www.technologyreview.com/2014/06/17/172310/the-importance-of-feelings/ 

Lisa Feldman Barrett - https://lisafeldmanbarrett.com 

Episode 10, Life Beyond the Numbers, This Feeling Business

 

"Happiness is enjoying that journey. Carving out that 15 minutes of pleasure. Happiness then increases our performance and our achievement and makes it easier to achieve success." Sashenka Milston

 

Sashenka Milston and I discuss happiness and how we can achieve it. She explains that the research shows that it's not actually how much time you have it's what you do with it that matters to your happiness. What counts is whether we spend the time passively or on personally enriching experiences. Can we be happy at work? And what about stress? Sash talks about different types of stress. We explore the benefits of immersing ourselves in nature and Sash offers insightful tips on how to connect with nature, even without leaving the office, as well as practical exercises to ground yourself and reduce stress. 

 

Sashenka Milston helps leaders and their teams gain a greater sense of purpose and control over their lives and workflow. Sashenka has a PhD in Psychology (Social Neuroscience) and her work is grounded in evidence-based, practical techniques. Outcomes include increased happiness and well-being, productivity, and customer happiness, whilst reducing stress and employee turnover. She guest lectures at the Oxford Brookes Business School. She is a published author and  Happiness Through Goal Setting is short, practical, and based on empirical evidence. 

 

Connect with Sashenka:

On LinkedIn and Twitter

Through her website

 

Resources Mentioned:

Kelly McGonigal "Make Stress Your Friend" TED talk 

Happiness Through Goal Setting: A Practical Guide to Reflect on and Change the Reasons Why You Pursue Your Most Important Goals in Life by Christian Ehrlich and Sashenka Milston 

"...and each time I would attempt to do something, I would stop and stare out the window and wonder what matters. I began to ask variations of this question: What matters here? What actually matters? Does this really matter? What matters most?" Susan Ni Chriodain

 

In this solo episode I share on a life-changing family event. And explore what it means to have your world change in an instant, discovering what matters most and having the courage to go after that. This episode is dedicated to M & M. 

I'd like to thank all my listeners for their understanding during this time of flux. 

And if there is anything here that resonated with you and you'd like to have a chat please get in touch. 

 

Resources Mentioned:

Episode 120, Reconnecting with Sam Allen

Episode 121, Courage with Robbie Swale

"We've got to take ownership of our leadership with our people because we're leading people." Kiki Kirby   People are at the heart of what Kiki does. As this episode was recorded at the beginning of summer (UK) Kiki and I kick off chatting about the importance of taking rest - not just during the summer but on a daily basis. Kiki has overcome many things in life - her mother died when she was 13, she suffered from burnout at work and is a cancer survivor. In this episode she shares some reflections on these life events and also how she incorporates them into the work she does now. Reflection, she says, is one of the most under-utilised and underused success tools. Kiki is so open and generous with what she shares about how she has evolved and continues to evolve. She admits "I've probably made work the idol of my life at many times." Have you? 

 

Kiki Kirby has developed a methodology that frames and structures the work we do, to help bring clarity to the chaos of any people-related situation. With a successful corporate career in HR and recruitment, Kiki has seen her fair share of people challenges. Having worked for over a decade in consultancy, coaching and recruitment, her whole career has been about people at various stages of their professional lives. Kiki is a heart-centred business and life coach. 

 

Connect with Kiki

Her consultancy business website 

Her coaching business website

On LinkedIn 

 

Resources Mentioned:

Helen Joy @ PeopleSpark

Susan David TED Talk  and her book Emotional Agility: Get Unstuck, Embrace Change, and Thrive in Work and Life

"...one of the days the security guard said to me, "why weren't you in on Sunday?" It was like, Oh God, I know I haven't got this right."  "...the last couple of months have shown us that spending time, doing things with people you love and being able to take time to read books and go for walks ..... makes you more productive at work."  Kim Bowden.  

 

Kim got into accountancy by accident and has gained considerable experience in both the commercial and non-profit world despite saying she still doesn't know what she wants to do when she grows up!  She talks about psychological safety in the workplace, her specialism in counter-fraud, dream jobs (and job titles) as well as the difference between working in an organisation where you think change will happen and one where you know it won't so you need to go.  She shares openly that being in a senior leadership position doesn't mean you'll always get it right but you are stronger when you work together.

 

Kim Bowden works as Director of Finance and Operations at Friends of the Earth.  Her career spans over 40 years in commercial and non-profit finance.  She has a CIPFA qualification and has recently completed a counter-fraud accreditation.  She lives in London, loves animals and is a keen runner.  

 

Connect with Kim on LinkedIn

 

"I have been in situations in the workplace where it was just a toxic environment. How do we protect workers from entering into that type of scenario? How do we help companies to make better decisions when it comes to hiring to help them to retain staff, to create a better and more collaborative environment. But also how do we match?" "How do you find that match between a person and an organisation?" Aoife O'Brien

 

Are you happy at work?  In this week's episode Aoife and I explore the concept of happiness at work - globally only about 15% of people claim to be fully engaged at work.  We talk about the shift that is going on in workplaces towards the knowledge that you can actually do something that you really enjoy and feel the sense of contribution to the world as well.  We discuss the importance of understanding your values.  We talk about bullying, toxic workplaces, imposter syndrome and psychological safety.  Aoife shares many stories from her own career.  She also talks about her recent dissertation on workplace fit and in particular we discuss the concepts of autonomy, relatedness and competency.  

 

Aoife O’Brien has 20+ years of identifying and solving business problems in a global context. She helps companies to drive productivity and profitability through people analytics.  Aoife believes that everyone deserves to be happier at work and that this can be done by increasing overall 'fit' in the workplace - understanding work culture and hiring for that culture. She is based in Dublin, Ireland, and works online with people all over the world.

 

Connect with Aoife:

On LinkedIn, on Twitter and Instagram

www.happieratwork.ie 

Podcast: Happier at Work

 

Resources:

https://www.gallup.com/home.aspx 

The Chimp Paradox: The Mind Management Programme to Help You Achieve Success, Confidence and Happiness, Prof Steve Peters

"Your intention has a huge impact .... the impact of what you say or do may not match up with your intention. And so that's where we have to, as leaders, continue to be emphasising that intention through our words, through our actions..."

 

Katie McLaughlin speaks to me about how she uses her background in theatre to facilitate transformation at work. Katie says we need more artists in the world of business as there's less of a science to business and more of an art. We talk about how your intention matters and to be wary of the unintended impact of your intentions. We talk about vision, values, connection, meaning and the skill sets we need to better communicate, collaborate and understand each other. We also cover unfulfilled potential in our workplaces, workplace hurt and the value of felt lived experience. 

 

Katie McLaughlin is on a mission to stop workplace hurt. She is passionate about creating a better world through happier workplaces and teams. She created her McLaughlin Method to put an end to boring, theory-based training and move past theories of leadership to step into common situations to develop tangible skills and change behaviours. Theatre is her passion and her secret sauce to transforming your current understanding of the people you lead. 

 

Connect with Katie:

On LinkedIn

Through her website 

 

 

"You can't find the answers out there. The answers aren't out there. The answers are inside. And until you look inside and find your own answers, answers that you have from outside won't work." Robyn Harris

 

Robyn Harris explains that our bodies don't make mistakes. We explore a more conscious approach to wellbeing, the language we use when speaking about illness, the body's ability to heal and the learning we are offered when we are sick. Robyn shares how she learnt to take to back her power after giving it away and abdicating her responsibility and ability to make her own choices. She found what made her heart sing with the help of nature and Wonder, Intuition, Love and Dance (W-I-L-D). We also talk about meta consciousness, shame and guilt and the magic of finding our answers inside.

 

Robyn Harris has been described as a Wellbeing Alchemist who brings a new and transformative perspective, which invites and enables people to step into a whole new way of being that feels liberating and helps to shift their wellbeing to a new level. She finds joy in supporting passionate, deeply caring people to start falling in love with Who They Really Are, enabling them to rediscover their sense of clarity, energy and fun – without getting swamped by overwhelm or feeling like it has to be hard work.

 

Connect with Robyn

On LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube

Through her website - Equenergy 

Her Wild Wisdom Wellbeing Facebook page 

 

Resources Mentioned

Episode 56, Gut Health with Caroline Peyton

Depak Chopra

Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker

Gabor Mate, Brene Brown, Bessel VanDerKolk, Abraham Hicks, Neil Donald Walsh, Andrew Cohen, Wayne Dyer, Bruce Lipton

"...you ask potential candidates who are joining your organisation, what are their intrinsic motivations and 80-90% of the time, they will say, I want to be part of an organisation that is making a positive difference in the world."  John Collins

 

John Collins a 'walking stereotype' (Irish, red-hair and worked for Guinness) takes us on a journey from Dublin to Asia Pacific to Africa and around the UK. He believes that great people, serving a great purpose make great organisations. He shares his steepest learning curve, his self-doubt and how he learnt about what he wanted from his career and tuned into that voice inside of him that for a long time wasn't saying anything. He also shares his thoughts on how business and consumption are at the heart of the situation that we're in and you can either bemoan that from the outside or you can be part of the solution on the inside. In Pukka Herbs John says one of the most satisfying and motivating thing about an organisation like Pukka is the genuine feeling that they are making decisions for the right reasons

 

John Collins is Finance Director of Pukka Herbs, whose mission is to create a world where plants play a central role in human health and wellbeing. He is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Ireland and has extensive experience working in the private sector across a number of disciplines and geographies in organisations such as Deloitte and Diageo. He is a board member of Friends of the Earth.

 

***Please note that episode 26 was originally released in January 2021 and is from the archives

 

Connect with John:

On LinkedIn

"An Emotional Overdraft is the way that founders and entrepreneurs and leaders subsidise a business at the cost of their own mental or physical reserves and that can be very unhealthy and very damaging." Andy Brown

 

Andy Brown and I discuss how acknowledging and understanding our emotions is crucial, not just for business owners, but for anyone in a workplace. Although emotions and feelings might not be mainstream thinking for all business leaders yet Andy assures us it is coming. We delve into his book 'Emotional Overdraft', and Andy explains that an emotional overdraft leads to burnout, overwhelm and is causing “invisible damage” with hidden costs. We might think it is inevitable, it isn't. Andy takes us through some of the ten drivers of an emotional overdraft. He also tells us that if he had a tattoo it would say: Your feelings are a measure of your thinking.

 

Andy Brown is a Non-Executive Director, leadership coach, speaker and author. He provides coaching to leaders in people-based businesses, enabling them to make better decisions and to build more valuable businesses. Over the years, Andy has recognised that most leaders subsidize their companies at the expense of their own wellbeing, which he refers to as the ‘emotional overdraft’. This insight has enabled him to save numerous clients from burnout and stress and, at the same time, made their businesses more resilient. Andy was voted ‘Outstanding Non-Executive Director 2021’. Andy produces a twice-monthly newsletter for entrepreneurs, founders and leaders, called “Rambling On About Emotional Overdraft”. He has written hundreds of articles on leadership and business growth and has lectured at the University of Brighton.

 

Connect with Andy:

Through his websites https://emotionaloverdraft.com/ and https://etc.co.uk/about/

On LinkedIn 

 

Resources Mentioned:

Emotional Overdraft by Andy Brown

Atlas of the Heart by Brené Brown

Carole Robbin Interpersonal Dynamics "Touchy Feely Course"

Three Principles

Permission to Feel by Marc Brackett

Episode #162 Never Think You Are Reaching Too High with Mags de Valois

 

"...they were willing to take risks for the experience .... and I think I've really taken that on." Liz Jarman

 

Liz Jarman and I discuss her planned departure as CEO of Living Goods at the end of 2024. She shares her fascinating approach to succession planning, leadership transitions and a non-linear career path. We chat through some of her achievements, including fostering a strong organisational culture, scaling operations sustainably and spearheading a digital transformation in community health. Liz reflects on the influence of her upbringing on her leadership style, her emphasis on a high-performing team and giving people recognition - all offering invaluable lessons on leadership and managing change. 

 

Liz Jarman was named CEO of Living Goods in 2018 and is a member of the Living Goods Board of Directors. Liz has 25 years of experience from various sectors, Liz joined Living Goods in 2014 as Director of Product Strategy and was promoted to Kenya Country Director in 2015 and at the end of 2017, she was promoted to Chief Strategy Officer. Born in Zambia, Liz spent a large portion of her career at Sainsbury’s, a $30 billion UK grocery business where she rose to lead Sainsbury’s Product Development and Fairtrade strategy and worked with thousands of global suppliers with a particular focus on African sustainable supply chains. 

 

Connect with Liz

On LinkedIn

 

Resources Mentioned

Living Goods

Squiggly Careers Podcast

“We put a lot of pressure ourselves to always be right and feel like we need to know the answer. And actually sometimes it's okay not to know the answer. And I think that's a sign of strength as well as to put your hand up say “I don't know” but I I'll go find out or I'll ask someone to help; that’s strength.” Andrew Codd.  

Andrew tells us of an amazing gift he received early in his career and how his mission is to share it with others.  One of the motivators to starting the podcast #SITN Show, that now has an audience in 160 countries, is that he didn't have all the answers but he knew people who probably did  and says how easy it is to ask for help on behalf of other people. Andrew’s love of asking questions comes across as he keeps me on my toes when it comes to discussing work-life balance, but he concludes that there's ‘no such thing as a lack of resource just a lack of resourcefulness and you only spot that when you're out of balance’.  If you are looking for a mentor know what you're looking for to some degree and think of up to 3 things someone can help you with.  And if someone asks you to be a mentor to them remember that mentoring really helps you as well as the other person.

Andrew Codd is an Accountant, author and commercial finance entrepreneur.  He is the host of #SITN podcast. Each week he speaks with leaders in finance and business, and deconstructs with them their real stories, insights & hard won lessons, not found in any textbooks, into practical advice on the key strengths and qualities needed as well as steps listeners can take to elevate the impact they make and to have a fun, successful & rewarding career in accounting & finance. 

 

Connect with Andrew: LinkedIn @ Andrew Codd + #SITN Show https://sitnshow.com/

 

Resources:

Think and Grow Rich - Napoleon Hill 

How to have a good day - Caroline Webb 

Peter Drucker / Harvard Business Review 

#Strength in the Numbers Show (#SITN Show) https://sitnshow.com/

"I thought, oh, now I feel relaxed. Now I feel like me again. And so it wasn't about removing imperfection, it was like just busting out of my being, so full of love and of happiness that I was like, oh yeah, why would I box myself in with that again?" Jo Hunter

 

Jo Hunter shares her personal journey with perfectionism and how it affected her life. Jo eventually broke free from the constraints of perfectionism and rediscovered her creativity. Jo also discussed the need to nurture creativity in all individuals. She believes creativity is essential, and it should be cultivated from an early age. Creativity allows us to transcend ideas, rules, and patterns to create new ones. We also talked about creating work environments and cultures that foster creativity. Trust and safety play a crucial role in these environments, and they can be cultivated through creative activities. Jo emphasised the importance of embracing uncertainty and delving into difficult issues to find creative solutions. If you are unsure how to explore your creativity Jo suggests engaging in micro-creative moments. It can be as simple as writing for five minutes or noticing patterns in your environment. These small creative practices can lead to significant changes over time. 

 

Jo Hunter is the co-founder and CEO of 64 Million Artists, an organisation dedicated to unlocking the creative potential of every human being in Britain. She started the company back in 2014 and  now leads the company day to day. One of her favourite things about being the CEO is having space to think big and strategically, and empower others in the team to dream up ideas, respond creatively to briefs and develop themselves as people. She loves running leadership programmes, seeing the way that being in a different environment can help people find the space to discover more about themselves and challenge themselves to think and act in new and interesting ways.

 

Connect with Jo

64 Million Artists website

Creative Switch Newsletter 

 

Resources Mentioned

Brené Brown - The Gift of Imperfection

Street Wisdom website

 

"We are always at our best when we have freedom to be human. And what I mean by that is when we remember, or lean into, what makes us human, oh my gosh, that's octane for our performance and it's so much easier." Karina Rook

 

Karina Rook is an advocate for the virtue of 'freedom to be human' in our work-lives. In our conversation we cover the importance of genuine connection, overcoming stress and burnout, the role of rest and recovery and the concept of authentic self-leadership. We discuss the art of listening to our intuition, and nurturing attributes that light us up. Karina underscores her belief that humans are wired for success, and that compassion, understanding, and freedom to be human, dissolve barriers to optimal performance. And we discuss intriguing research that demonstrates, surprisingly, that performance only accounts for 10% of career success. Image or perception by others is 30% and networking or visibility contributes a whopping 60%. 

 

Karina Rook is the founder of Ventures Green Ltd. and has embarked on a mission to empower women in their pursuit of holistic well-being. Her qualifications span biology, business, nutrition, mindfulness, and coaching, woven with 24+ years of empowering individuals, teams, and businesses in the corporate world. She stands against workplace inequality and believes every woman deserves to shine. Ventures Green is built upon values of freedom, interconnectedness, stardust, and adventure. She is the host of the Freedom to be Human podcast. 

 

Connect with Karina

Through her website Ventures Green

On LinkedIn

Celestial Coach on Instagram

Freedom to be Human podcast

 

Resources Mentioned

Harvey Coleman career success research

Dr. Dorian Dugmore 

Good to Great by Jim Collins

 

"When you're a professional that has a mortgage and a family, the time to help is significantly less. To put it bluntly, you have to figure out how you can help others that makes sense within the context that you are." Mason Cosby. 

 

Mason Cosby was laid off at the beginning of the pandemic. A month earlier he got engaged and bought a house. He spent the next four months on the couch applying for jobs. And we talk about how since then he has done everything in his power to help others avoid a similar fate and make sure his family is never in that situation again. Mason loves his job as the dedicated marketer of a marketing agency and is also super passionate about career building. As he says, he is on a journey and he wants to show others he is in it with them. He does this by being bullish about kindness and learning in public. We chat about how he started a podcast, The Marketing Ladder, as a scalable way to help others build their marketing career. And we talk about how when you want to improve something: quantity and consistency result in quality and confidence. 

 

Mason Cosby helps marketers grow their company and their career.  He is the Marketing Director of Mojo Media Labs and Host of The Marketing Ladder. Mason is bullish about kindness and is actively learning in public. And he is a nurse husband. 

 

Connect with Mason Cosby:

On LinkedIn

The Marketing Ladder Podcast

 

Resources Mentioned:

Storybrand 

Megan Haupt Brio Career and on Life Beyond the Numbers episode 25 Your Career Story

 

"I felt younger, I felt nostalgic, I felt the preciousness of life and the genuine appreciation of true friends." Susan

 

In this episode, I reflect on the significance of friendships in my life and the joy that they bring. I share experiences with friends from different phases of life, including colleagues from Deloitte, a friend from Pakistan, and school friends. I highlight the importance of friendships during challenging times and expresses my gratitude for my friends - many of whom I met at work. 

 

Resources mentioned

Consolations: The Solace, Nourishment and Underlying Meaning of Everyday Words by David Whyte

 

 

"Gradually I was shrinking, because this is such a big thing in me. So my process was, during that time, reconnecting to that creativity and taking seriously that need in me." Sam Allen

 

Sam Allen provides an insight into how creativity can be used for healing and inspiration. She explains how she reconnected with her own creativity during a particularly tough period of her life. Sam writes poetry about topics such as truth, freedom, pleasure, self-love, and love. Her poems can be deep and meaningful as well as light-hearted. We talk about leadership and not taking ourselves too seriously. We discuss the importance of looking outside and connecting with nature to gain perspective and resilience. And we chat about the idea of simplicity and gratitude when it comes to finding joy in life. 

 

Sam Allen is a Creative Leadership Coach, Trainer, Podcaster and Poet and Co-founder of DynamiX Leadership. She designs and leads tailored leadership programmes for global organisations and is particularly passionate about female empowerment. Throughout her career Sam has empowered individuals to write books, make life-affirming career changes, overcome anxiety and to take giant leaps towards heightened self-realisation, increased authentic leadership presence and spiritual growth. A blogger and a jogger, Sam lives and breathes her own creativity and in turn inspires others to do the same. She writes poetry in nature on a daily basis ever since losing her incredible Father to pancreatic cancer and loves helping her clients to express and heal through creative expression.

 

Connect with Sam

Through her website

Through her LinkedIn profile 

Through her Insight Timer profile 

On Facebook

Email: samallencoachingcreatively@gmail.com

  Resources Mentioned Follow these links to purchase a copy of The Wild, Feminine SpiritUK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BJBYXBDC US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJBYXBDC GERMANY: https://www.amazon.de/dp/B0BJBYXBDC FRANCE: https://www.amazon.fr/dp/B0BJBYXBDC CANADA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0BJBYXBDC AUSTRALIA: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0BJBYXBDC   Untaming Femininity Podcast

"This is my mission, I think this is what I really want to do and what I'm born to do, to help people wake up." Caroline Tanja Banz

 

Caroline Tanja Banz shares her journey of self-discovery, which led her to 'marry herself' symbolically as an act of self-love and commitment to her own needs. Prior to this she said she had been a chameleon, adapting to situations and people around her instead of understanding herself. We delve into the Enneagram, a model of human psyche. Caroline advocates for the Enneagram as a powerful tool for understanding our behavioural patterns, deepening our relationship with ourselves and others, and ultimately awakening to our true selves. We talk about this tool in the context of the work environment. And we cover the importance of self-reflection. 

 

Caroline Tanja Banz felt since she was a child that one day she would like to do something to make a difference. At first she wanted to be a musician, but then she completed a commercial apprenticeship. Then she became a mother to two wonderful boys. Music has accompanied her over the years and she still loves to bring joy to people with her music. When she later studied law, she learned a lot of practical things, but soon knew that this was not fulfilling her long-cherished desire. Today she is a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC) and a trained Enneagram Coach. She loves her profession and has always enjoyed supporting people. Nature and sustainability are very close to her heart. 

 

Connect with Caroline

Through her website Be Your True Self 

 

Resources Mentioned

Be Your True Self sung by Caroline Tanja Banz

The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz 

Episode 120, Reconnecting with Sam Allen

 

"I was in a career corner .... I'd painted myself into it and I didn't know how to get out. And I was having those thoughts that in my early 30s you know, “that's it, I'm ruined” .... now I'm thinking I can continue to change and evolve and do so many different things with my life and my career. It's limitless." Emma O'Brien

 

Emma O'Brien and I talk about how our minds work and respond to us and how our beliefs are created by us. Emmas uses a great example of how a bad experience in something so innocent like a school play can play a role in our working lives - how shame and humiliation manifest themselves in beliefs we have about ourselves - the vortex of self doubt as she calls it. Emma shares how we can reorient our beliefs towards a different meaning and says that instead of choosing something overly positive, or Pollyanna-like, if we choose something that's realistic it serves us better. Emma speaks openly about how getting to know her strengths helped her reorient herself out of the career corner she had painted herself into.  

 

Emma O’Brien is a Rapid Transformational Therapist (RTT), Mindset and Strengths Coach. She helps leaders and business owners rapidly release self-defeating beliefs, habits and behaviours to make massive personal transformation. During her corporate career in HR, Organisational Development and Transformational Change she experienced 'impostor feelings' and self doubt. She also suffered with depression and anxiety. So she knows first hand how much this can hold people back, sabotage success and smother the ability to find their true expression. 

 

Connect with Emma:

Through her website

On Instagram and Facebook

 

Resources Mentioned:

Episode #53: Start with You - Nikki Hill

Marissa Peer

Rapid Transformational Therapy RTT

Gallup - Clifton Strengths

Mind Jogger App

 

A selection of insights from guests who featured in earlier episodes including  

Episode 1 with Sue Rosen

Episode 4-5 with Gary Cox

Episode 6 with Helen Joy

Episode 9 with Jerry Harris

Episode 13 with Mags de Valois

Episode 14 with John Hayns

Episode 15 with Marcus Thompson

Episode 17 with Kim Bowden

Episode 20 with Aoife O'Brien

Episode 21 with Mark Samowitz