Shows
The Life and Leadership PodcastEP035 The Courage to Pause: Choosing Well-being Over Burnout With Dawn George (Pt 2)In Part 2 of our conversation with Dawn George, we explore the powerful link between employee wellbeing, engagement, and productivity — and what leaders can do to truly nurture thriving, open cultures.Dawn shares practical, experience-backed tips for creating workplaces where people feel seen, supported, and inspired to do their best work.She also reveals her number one leadership tip and the life lesson that continues to guide her — both simple, yet extremely powerful!🎧 A thoughtful and uplifting conversation every leader should hear.Subscribe here to be notified of new episodesDa...
2025-11-0435 min
The Life and Leadership PodcastEP034 The Courage to Pause: Choosing Well-being Over Burnout With Dawn George (Pt 1)In this powerful episode, Dawn George — a highly accomplished HR executive known for supporting others — opens up about the burnout that forced her to walk away from a role she loved. We discuss: The hidden mental health struggle behind high-performance leadershipThe question — who supports the ones supporting everyone else?Practical strategies for achieving work-life balance — including her brilliant “walking meetings” 🎧 This is an essential listen for every leader and HR professional navigating pressure, purpose and well-being.Subscribe here to be notified of new episodesDawn George has worked in the HR/People profession...
2025-10-1020 min
The Life and Leadership PodcastEP033 Authentic Leadership with Stephanie Ezechukwu (Pt 2)In Part 2 of our very insightful conversation with Stephanie Ezechukwu, Head of Prosecutions and Quality at the DVSA, we explore how vulnerability can be one of a leader’s greatest strengths.Stephanie shares how her authenticity and willingness to lead with vulnerability not only made her the obvious choice for the extremely difficult task, of breaking the news of the sad passing of a colleague to the rest of the team, but how it helped her navigate the extremely difficult moment with empathy and grace.We also dive into the role of mentorship, th...
2025-06-2742 min
The Life and Leadership PodcastEP032 Authentic Leadership with Stephanie Ezechukwu (Pt 1)What does it really mean to lead with authenticity?In this inspiring episode, Stephanie Ezechukwu, Head of Prosecutions and Quality at the DVSA, takes us through her extraordinary journey—from starting as a 23-year-old court clerk to now leading three teams handling some of the UK government's most critical prosecution work.Stephanie shares how humility, character, competence and compassion shaped her rise, and why those same values are essential in effective leadership. From being unexpectedly promoted in her first year to leading teams that represent the agency in major courts, her story is on...
2025-06-1332 min
The Life and Leadership PodcastE031 Breaking Barriers and Leadership Legacy with Dr Ibilola Amao (Pt. 2)In this powerful conclusion to our conversation with Dr. Ibilola Amao, Principal Consultant at Lonadek Global Services, we dive deeper into what fuels her extraordinary journey.Dr. Amao shares how she turns obstacles into opportunities—not only to rise above challenges but to create lasting, positive impact for others. Her leadership mindset can only be described as one of transformation, legacy-building, and bold innovation.She also shares how she manages to achieve a sense of work-life integration, and the "superpower" that enables her to continuously break barriers and uplift others despite a staggering list of pr...
2025-04-0430 min
The Life and Leadership PodcastE030 Breaking Barriers and Leadership Legacy with Dr Ibilola Amao (Pt. 1)Dr Ibilola Amao’s journey is one of breaking barriers and defying odds. From navigating challenges as a black woman in a male-dominated industry to building a thriving engineering consultancy, in this episode, she reveals the bold strategies and leadership mindset that has fueled her success, how taking what many would see as a demotion and drastic pay cut became a game-changer for her career and how she is empowering thousands of young talents along the way, leaving a legacy of empowerment, innovation, and transformative leadership that continues to inspire the next generation.Tune in for an ins...
2025-03-1431 min
The Life and Leadership PodcastE029 Leadership and Work Life Balance with Michael Wood FIH (Pt 2)In the final part of our conversation with Michael Wood FIH on Leadership and Work-Life Balance, Michael reveals his top three traits of an effective leader, how he navigates moments of failure, and the single most important piece of advice he has ever received. Plus, he shares what every new leader must embrace to truly succeed.Prepare to be both inspired and empowered by Michael's profound insights!Subscribe here to be notified of new episodesMichael Wood FIH is General Manager and Director of Hempstead House Hotel and spa based in...
2024-09-2719 min
The Life and Leadership PodcastE028 Leadership and Work - Life Balance with Michael Wood FIH (Pt 1)In the 24/7 world of hospitality, achieving work-life balance might seem impossible, yet nothing could be further from the truth. Safe to say if the elusive work-life balance can be achieved in the industry, it is achievable in any industry. In this episode of the Life and Leadership podcast, we delve into this crucial topic with Michael Wood FIH, General Manager of Hempstead House Hotel in Kent, United Kingdom. Michael not only shares his personal strategies for achieving work-life balance but also explains how he tries to ensure the same for his team. He also emphasizes th...
2024-09-1331 min
The Life and Leadership PodcastE027 Cultivating a Culture of Trust with Zachary Jones (Pt 2)In this episode of the Life and Leadership podcast, Zachary Jones, Security Advisory Director at CNA Financial Corporation in Chicago, underscores the importance of perspective for leaders, emphasizing that the process of achieving objectives is far more crucial than achieving the objectives themselves.Zach explains that reaching a goal at the expense of trust, relationships, and employee enthusiasm is far more costly in the long run. He also sheds light on his concept of work-life integration, highlighting the pivotal role trust plays in making work-life harmony possible, especially for leaders.Zach also shares how he...
2024-08-3027 min
The Life and Leadership PodcastE026 Cultivating a Culture of Trust with Zachary Jones (Pt 1)Trust is the foundation of team success and a vital asset for any leader. In this episode, Zachary Jones Security Advisory Director at CNA, a Financial Corporation based in Chicago explains why trust is so crucial and how its absence can hinder productivity and progress. Zach highlights the key differences between low-trust and high-trust cultures, offers insights on identifying where your organisation stands, and shares his strategies for building what he calls his "dream team"He also discusses how leaders can foster a culture of trust and suggests alternative approaches to handling common issues that m...
2024-08-1629 min
The Life and Leadership PodcastE025 Empathetic Leadership with Scott Brown (Pt 2)In this episode , Scott Brown, UK Director of Sales for Melia Hotels International, delves into the profound lessons he’s learned from exceptional leaders and mentors throughout his career. He emphasizes the critical role of continuous learning and development for leaders and recounts how he transformed a ‘failure’ into a career-launching opportunity.Scott also discusses the transformative power of establishing and communicating clear non-negotiables to your team, sharing his own non-negotiables that you might find compelling enough to adopt.As we wrap up, Scott shares a heartfelt tribute to his first directo...
2024-08-0227 min
The Life and Leadership PodcastE024 Empathetic Leadership with Scott Brown (Pt 1)Get ready to be inspired as we reflect on the critical role of empathy in leadership and its profound impact on team dynamics and performance with Scott Brown, UK Director of Sales at Melia Hotels International. From his humble beginnings at Marriott Hotels in Manchester to being part of a team managing large-scale events like the Labour Party Conference in Bournemouth, Scott's storytelling provides a captivating look at the experiences that have shaped his professional growth and leadership style.In this episode, Scott shares the inspirational journey of his 22-year career in hospitality, offering invaluable i...
2024-07-1930 min
The Life and Leadership PodcastE023 - People Centric Leadership with Ben Steel (Pt 2)In part 2 of our insightful conversation with Ben Steel, Global Head of HR Operations at FTSE100 company Informa, Ben shares his framework for decision-making, highlighting that stagnation is often worse than making the wrong choice and emphasising the importance of embracing mistakes as learning opportunities. The conversation then shifts to the significance of cultivating an engaging organizational culture, with Ben sharing his perspective on the importance of communication, trust, integrity, humility, and passion in igniting a dynamic team environment and how having a clear vision and goals, allows room for creativity and innovation while maintaining alignment with t...
2024-03-2925 min
The Life and Leadership PodcastE022 People Centric Leadership With Ben Steel (Pt 1)In this episode of the Life and Leadership podcast with Ben Steel, Global Head of HR Operations at Informa, we explore keys to building trust within your team, the critical role of effective communication and integrity in fostering trust, as well as what genuine communication entails. Ben also delves into the advantages of empowering your team to leverage their strengths and unleash their creativity and the significance of maintaining a healthy work-life balance for leaders. Tune in for a dose of inspiration and practical wisdom!Subscribe here to be notified of new episodes
2024-03-1532 min
The Life and Leadership PodcastE021 Courageous Leadership with Kellie Rixon (Pt 2)In the second part of our enthralling conversation, Kellie Rixon shares insights into the enduring impact of the tragic accident that forever altered her son's life, shedding light on the unexpected ways it continues to influence her leadership journey.We also delve into the essence of courageous leadership, unravel some of the reasons many individuals struggle in their first leadership positions and explore actionable strategies that organisations can implement to better support employees in their first leadership roles. Join us for the concluding segment of this enlightening and empowering c...
2024-03-0122 min
The Life and Leadership PodcastE020 Courageous Leadership with Kellie Rixon (Pt 1)In this captivating podcast episode, we delve into Kellie Rixon's remarkable journey. From her upbringing in a council estate in Liverpool in the UK, to her current role as Chair of the Institute of Hospitality, holding numerous directorship positions along the way, receiving an MBE, and establishing her own successful consultancy business. Kellie candidly discusses her experiences with imposter syndrome and how she navigated the profound challenges posed by a hit-and-run accident that significantly altered her son's life. Tune in for an enlightening and empowering conversation, filled with invaluable insights and inspiration!Subscribe here t...
2024-02-1631 min
The Life and Leadership PodcastE019 Leading With Clarity with James McComas (Pt 2)We delve deeper into our discussion with James McComas as he shares profound insights derived from his leadership journey. Additionally, James underscores the essential role of high emotional intelligence and the necessity for emotional stability in leadership. He imparts valuable, practical advice for individuals embarking on their leadership journey, offering excellent guidance for success.Subscribe here to be notified of new episodesSupport the showLET'S STAY CONNECTED:Follow me on Linkedin
2024-02-0222 min
The Life and Leadership PodcastE018 Leading With Clarity with James McComas (Pt 1)In this compelling conversation, James McComas offers profound insights drawn from his leadership journey, illuminating the correlation between possessing and effectively communicating a clear vision and fostering robust leadership. Delving into the crucial dynamics of the relationship between leaders and team members, James emphasizes the pivotal role of trust, providing practical strategies for overcoming the common fear of 'what if things go wrong', that could hinder trust, effective delegation and use of initiative within the team.Subscribe here to be notified of new episodesJames McComas is General Manager...
2024-01-1229 min
The Life and Leadership PodcastE017 Entrepreneurial Leadership with Chuks UwaechiaChuks Uwaechia delves into the compelling narrative of his unexpected journey into entrepreneurship after a well-intentioned plan to garner support from his employers took an unforeseen turn. He shares his challenges forging an entrepreneurial mindset, navigating the dissolution of a 6-year business partnership, and rising to the occasion when thrust into a leadership role. He also candidly reflects on grappling with significant business failures and the invaluable lessons derived from those experiences.Our conversation explores the dichotomy between abundance and scarcity mindsets, turning to the influence of purpose in sustaining persistence and resilience amid external p...
2023-12-2947 min
The Life and Leadership PodcastE016 The Power In Putting Your Hand Up with Jo Wimble-GrovesJo Wimble-Groves shares her story of how she dropped out of sixth form to start a business with her brother, aged just 16, why it is important to embrace failure, the power in putting your hand up and seizing opportunities that come your way, and some great tips on how to achieve work-life harmony and staff buy-in. Subscribe here to be notified of new episodesJo Wimble-Groves is the co-owner of Active Digital, an award-winning mobile telecommunications company. A self-confessed ‘accidental entrepreneur’, Jo put her hand up and took an oppor...
2023-11-1750 min
The Life and Leadership PodcastE015 Inspiring Inclusive Leadership with Robert RichardsonRobert Richardson shares his inspiring career journey with us and talks about the power of Inclusive Leadership, the importance of working collaboratively with staff, the place of mentorship in career development and why he adopts the motto of "one impossible thing at a time" Subscribe here to be notified of new episodesRobert Richardson FIH MI is the Chief Executive Officer of the Institute of Hospitality (IoH), the award-winning, global, professional body of almost 15,000 hospitality professionals worldwide. A long-time member of the Institute, Robert built his career in the hospitality industry, w...
2023-08-1847 min
The Life and Leadership PodcastE014 Embracing values Based Leadership With Sarah PowellSarah Powell talks about how embracing values based leadership not only helped Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons successfully navigate the challenges presented by the covid 19 pandemic, but continues to help the business overcome the continuing challenges of staff shortage, flexible and remote working. She also shares some secrets of her success and how a trip made to Reunion Island in Mauritius over 20 years ago continues to impact on her life and leadership today.Subscribe here to be notified of new episodesSarah Powell is HR Director for Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons and alongside that, I...
2023-08-0451 min
The Life and Leadership PodcastE013 Leadership Lessons From a 6th Generation Family Business Leader with Stefano CuomoStefano Cuomo talks about the critical roles of shared vision, creating space for people's aspirations to be realised and having what he refers to as “magnetic centres” that allows everything else to flow round it in supporting business growth and effectiveness, particular family businesses. Stefano also shares frankly about failure and how he overcome it to continue moving the business forward. Subscribe here to be notified of new episodesStefano Cuomo is the CEO of Macknade, a retail and hospitality business based in Kent in the United Kingdom and is a 6th generation leade...
2023-07-1448 min
The Life and Leadership PodcastE 012 How Collaborative Leadership Drives Transformation with Penny WilliamsPenny Williams shares her insights on how collaborative leadership can drive transformation in an organisation. Sharing from her own lived experience and leadership journey, Penny highlights the importance of creating a positive and inclusive environment, inspiring and investing in team members, and being a problem solver. Subscribe here to be notified of new episodesPenny Williams is the CEO of Kenward Trust, with 36 years media experience in sales and marketing with specific disciplines of research, radio and brand development. She has over 22 years’ experience in senior management, working on business strategy planning and rel...
2023-06-2842 min
The Life and Leadership PodcastE011 Entrepreneurial Leadership with Tonye OburohTonye Oburoh talks about her entrepreneurial journey which started unintentionally out of her desire to make a difference even if to just one person, after she lost her diabetic mother following medical errors. She shares how her faith, a strong sense of purpose, passion, perseverance, a willingness to lay it all on the table and not being ashamed to ask for help, kept her going even when the going got tough. Subscribe here to be notified of new episodesBoma Tonye Oburoh is a registered UK independent prescriber clinical pharmacist with...
2023-06-0546 min
The Life and Leadership PodcastE010 The Power of Vision in Leadership with Stuart CrossStuart Cross talks about the power of having a clear vision, and how getting all relevant stakeholders involved in the process of creating the vision can, not only help a business build a cohesive team that is able to rise up and operate effectively even in challenging times such as during a global pandemic, but how it can help improve the organisation’s financial performance and services, with the added benefit of being able to achieve work/life balance that eludes many leaders.Subscribe here to be notified of new episodesStuart Cr...
2023-05-2245 min
The Life and Leadership PodcastE009 How To Get Staff Buy In with Dr Anthony Idigbe (Pt 2)Dr Anthony Idigbe shares tips on how he has managed to build a law firm with a global presence that is not reliant on his physical presence and continues to operate effectively in his absence.Subscribe here to be notified of new episodesDr Tony is the Senior Partner at PUNUKA Attorneys & Solicitors, a law firm based in Nigeria. He holds a doctorate in cross-border insolvency, is a Notary Public and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, with over 39 years of experience in corporate governance, insolvency, business restructuring, arbitration, dispute resolution, privatization, capital markets...
2023-05-0520 min
The Life and Leadership PodcastE008 How To Get Staff Buy In with Dr Anthony Idigbe (Pt 1)Dr Anthony Idigbe talks about how in spite of the little expectation family and friends had of him, he went on to build a law firm with a global presence and shares some of the strategies he employed that have helped him successfully keep staff committed and sold out on the vision of the practice.Subscribe here to be notified of new episodes Dr Tony is the Senior Partner at PUNUKA Attorneys & Solicitors, a law firm based in Nigeria. He holds a doctorate in cross-border insolvency, is a Notary Public and...
2023-04-1035 min
The Life and Leadership PodcastE007 Building Connections Beyond International Barriers with Floortje HoetteFloortje Hoette shares about how her work with the Red Cross in Ethiopia, South Sudan and Nepal not only broadened her perspective on life but taught her the importance of building real connections with those on her team. The experience helped her develop the rare skill of being able to connect with others even in the face of language, cultural, religious and other barriers. This skill that continues to impact on her leadership today.Subscribe here to be notified of new episodesFloortje is CEO of Produced in KentSupport the...
2023-03-2635 min
The Life and Leadership PodcastE006: How Communication Impacts Culture and Team performance with Deon ThirumalaiDrawing from his vast experience and in particular his experience working with Sir Richard Branson and the Virgin Group, Deon Thirumalai shares how leaders can create positive, productive cultures and improve team performance not only through effective communication, but by being intentional in building connections with team members. Subscribe here to be notified of new episodes Deon Thirumalai is the Chief Information Officer at Frogfoot a Fibre Network Operator based in South Africa. He has over 26 years of expertise in the industry and his background spans several sections including the non-profit, manufacturing, i...
2023-03-0337 min
The Life and Leadership PodcastE005: Leading With Courage and Humility with Gill GibbGill Gibb talks about the importance of leading with courage, but also being humble enough to admit you can't do it all as a leader and being willing to ask for help when you need it. She also shares her secret to achieving work-life harmony and how empowering her team play a big part.Subscribe here to be notified of new episodesGill is CEO of Tree of Hope, a charity which supports families to raise funds for operations and therapies not ordinarily available from the UK health sector. Gill was formerly a Director at b...
2023-02-1634 min
The Life and Leadership PodcastE004: The Mindset of a Leader (Pt 2) with Roxy MarosaIn part 2 of our conversation, International Speaker and Entrepreneur Roxy Marosa shares how forgiving her father for walking out on the family when she was aged 3, and learning to appreciate her mother instead of resenting her childhood and upbringing marked a turning point in her life. It's Raw! its Authentic! It's POWERFUL!Subscribe here to be notified of new episodesRoxy is an inspirational and motivational speaker, life coach, TV presenter, actress, and owner of the Roxy Marosa skin care range. She has spoken on several international platforms including the United Nations and UNESCO and h...
2023-02-0938 min
The Life and Leadership PodcastE003: The Mindset of a Leader (Pt 1) with Roxy MarosaInternational Speaker and Entrepreneur Roxy Marosa shares how she overcame the challenges of childhood poverty, rape, HIV, divorce, single parenting and bankruptcy to become the successful entrepreneur she is today by investing in and developing what she considers to be her greatest asset, herself. Subscribe here to be notified of new episodesRoxy is an inspirational and motivational speaker, life coach, TV presenter, actress, and owner of the Roxy Marosa skin care range. She has spoken on several international platforms including the United Nations and UNESCO and has featured in the Oprah Magazine, Forbes Africa an...
2023-02-0245 min
The Life and Leadership PodcastE002: Leading Through Challenging Times with Stephen ElsdenStephen Elsden shares his passion for the not for profit sector, how coming clean about his own personal challenges going through the covid 19 pandemic caused him to pivot in his leadership style, how he deals with the pressures of leading an organisation that provides front line service and how leaders can learn to let go of control in order to achieve better work-life balance.Subscribe here to be notified of new episodesStephen is the CEO of Compaid, a not for profit organisation, with several years of leadership experience. He has served on the Boards...
2023-01-2745 min
The Life and Leadership PodcastE001: The Making of a Leader with James GardnerBusiness leader and entrepreneur, James Gardner shares how living by one simple mantra unwittingly prepared him for leadership, the importance of being agile as a leader, why he loves to fail and what leadership at home looks like. Subscribe here to be notified of new episodesJames has been in business for over 20 years and has successfully set up several businesses including in the States. He is on a mission to help grow the next generation of Amazing Leaders and loves working with people to help them set and exceed their own Amazing 3D Goals.
2023-01-2043 min
Brothers and Influence the PodcastMary EnioluThis weeks episode Mary Eniolu Keynote speaker, trainer and coach as she shares her personal story, life lessons and principles to live and do business by.
Guest Links:
Website: https://candoacademy.net/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-eniolu-mih-leadership-coach-keynote-speaker-a4517026/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MaryEniolu
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IcandoAcademy/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUMcRAQsCwMEuxP1FcP54Cw?view_as=subscriber
Podcast Links
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3xCZom0Bwynr7z0aUH2...
2023-01-0633 min
Let's Get Down to BusinessBonus episode: Lessons from 2021, Goals for 2022It’s that time of year that we all start to reflect on the lessons we’ve learnt and celebrate the successes of the year and look forward at the goals we want to achieve in the following year.
In today’s episode we’re joined by friends of the firm and likeminded business owners to find out what lessons they learnt in 2021 and the goals their going into 2022 with. Listen along and gain some food for thought to start reflecting on your own key takeaways and goals for the new year.
*Let’s connect*
A4G...
2021-12-1730 min