Shows
Fearless ForwardLeadership at ground level, not from the top floorRigid hierarchies can stifle innovation and create environments where employees wait for permission rather than taking initiative. In these cultures, people are afraid to contribute ideas, fearing rejection or overstepping boundaries.Kate Davies demonstrates how transformative leadership comes through relationships, not titles. By breaking down hierarchical barriers and creating genuine connections with her team, she enables people at all levels to contribute meaningful solutions. This means building trust through authentic relationships, being present where the actual work happens, normalising experimentation, and celebrating both successes and instructive failures.This conversation will help you...
2025-11-1442 minFearless ForwardLeading from trustIn today's corporate world, fear-driven leadership has created environments where bullying and vaguely psychopathic behaviours are normalised. Leaders often believe success requires ruthlessness, breeding cultures where employees feel unsafe to be themselves.John Blakey offers a transformative alternative: trust-based leadership. His approach demonstrates that leaders who prioritise trustworthiness can deliver outstanding results without resorting to intimidation. By balancing results with responsibility and adopting a triple bottom line approach of profit, people, and planet, leaders can become a genuine force for good.Organisations led through fear create self-fulfilling prophecies of decline. When we collectively "...
2025-10-3138 minFearless ForwardThe leader turning a fashion retailer into a beacon of sustainabilityThe fashion industry is facing a critical environmental crisis with fast fashion and disposable clothing contributing significantly to global waste.The continued production and disposal of fashion items at current rates will accelerate climate change, deplete natural resources, and harm communities in manufacturing regions. Livelihoods will be threatened as resources become scarcer, affecting the 650,000+ people supported through Primark's supply chain alone.Lynne Walker is leading a transformation of Primark’s business model through its Primark Cares initiative, to make sustainable fashion accessible to everyone.This conversation will help youDi...
2025-10-1748 minFearless ForwardThe world doesn’t need you to be quiet and smallWomen are often socialised to believe that confidence will make them unlikeable or threatening. Lauren Currie OBE, founder of Upfront, shares her experience of receiving messages from childhood that "the world prefers me when I am quiet and small". This pressure leads many women to hide their accomplishments and dim their light.But confidence is not something we're born with, but something we can learn and cultivate. Lauren has built an organisation that has upskilled over 11,000 women globally in confidence, leadership, and speaking up in situations where they might otherwise have stayed silent.Women...
2025-10-0338 minFearless ForwardUltra-endurance trail running – what it takes to go the distanceBy challenging herself to run 330km across mountain terrain – facing extreme physical discomfort, sleep deprivation, and mental exhaustion – Linda Hubbard discovered that pushing boundaries leads to profound personal growth and unexpected calm.To break free from comfort zone paralysis, we must first identify what truly matters to us beyond our immediate comfort, then build a support system of people who believe in our vision.Staying too comfortable for too long means sacrificing our potential and missing the deep satisfaction that comes from conquering difficult challenges. Our leadership abilities stagnate, and we model complacency rath...
2025-09-1943 minFearless ForwardWhat if business truly served people, not profit?Many organisations struggle to build structures that balance leadership and equality. Traditional hierarchies often lead to inefficiency, lack of clarity, and a stifling of innovation. Employees can feel disconnected or undervalued, and companies can lose sight of their mission in pursuit of profits.Mark Vletter’s approach offers a different way forwards. By embracing self-management and holacracy, organisations can create a culture where decisions are made collectively, accountability is clear, and everyone has a voice. Steward ownership ensures the company’s mission is safeguarded for the long-term, free from the pressures of maximizing shareholder profit.
2025-09-0544 minFearless ForwardHow to rescue a relationship from the brink of breakdownNavigating life’s biggest changes takes resilience and adaptability, especially when multiple challenges occur simultaneously.Even highly capable individuals can struggle when faced with unexpected events, from starting a business and having a child in a foreign country to dealing with illness and death.Jon and Lori Smith’s experience highlights the importance of acknowledging the cognitive stress that builds up in periods of upheaval, rather than maintaining a "happy-go-lucky" mindset that everything will simply work out.This episode will help youExplore how to rebuild a relationship after sign...
2025-08-0158 minFearless ForwardMoving through fear instead of simply moving onFacing our fears means understanding how they shape our actions, while creating space for self-awareness, connection, and growth in both personal and professional contexts.Carlos Saba is the co-founder of the Happy Startup School, an alternative business school and learning platform that focuses on helping entrepreneurs and professionals align their work with their values and passions.With a PhD in atomic physics, Carlos transitioned from a career in science and digital advertising to co-founding a digital studio and eventually dedicating himself to creating programs, events, and courses that foster connection, learning, and personal...
2025-07-1844 minFearless ForwardHow to make space for fear without letting it take holdAs change makers, we an become overwhelmed and anxious about our place in the world, the impact we have, and the resources we have to create it. These feelings often stem from deeper fears, like that of losing what we cherish or even the fear of dying. This can leave us feeling stuck, disconnected, and unable to act.For therapist Agnes Otzelberger, facing these fears head-on helped her feel more alive and capable. She believes we can find strength by connecting with others, embracing creativity, and building a better relationship with ourselves and the natural world.
2025-07-0445 minFearless ForwardLeading quietly in a noisy worldMany of us struggle with finding peace and quiet in our fast-paced, noisy lives. This lack of space to reflect and connect with ourselves can leave us feeling overwhelmed, disconnected, and stuck in patterns that don’t serve us.The solution is to embrace quietness, slow down, and create intentional space for reflection and connection. Pete Mosley’s approach shows us how we can live more in tune with our nature by making deliberate choices about how we spend our time and where we focus our energy.Without time to pause, we risk beco...
2025-06-2048 minFearless ForwardIn personal tragedy finding purposeLosing a loved one unexpectedly is a devastating experience. It can be even harder when the circumstances involve negligence and injustice. Many of us might feel overwhelmed by the enormity of seeking accountability, or unsure of how to move forwards while grappling with grief.Nigel Burt, father of Olivia who was killed in a preventable accident while queuing at a night club, shows us a way through this. He focused on breaking the overwhelming challenge into smaller, manageable steps. He sought expert legal help, relied on his professional skills to problem-solve, and leaned on his network...
2025-06-0637 minFearless ForwardMove slow and fix things – Human sustainability for the planetMany people working in sustainability feel disillusioned and burned out. The problem is that businesses often prioritise profit over real, impactful change. Sustainability is seen as secondary, and those driving it are left feeling unsupported and powerless. This lack of meaningful action leaves even the most dedicated individuals questioning their efforts.Kathryn Sheridan suggests slowing down, reconnecting with our values, and acting from a place of stability. By making small, steady changes, we can avoid burnout and create lasting impact. It's about finding balance, caring for ourselves, and learning to pace our efforts for the long haul.
2025-05-2339 min
Extraordinary Pursuits by BIP VenturesFrom Chaos to Clarity: Four Principles of Strong LeadershipWhat if the key to exceptional leadership isn’t in strategies or techniques but in self-awareness and inner alignment? True leadership isn’t just about managing others—it begins with understanding who we are before influencing others. It requires clarity, patience, and the courage to pause amidst the chaos. By developing a strong inner foundation, leaders can cultivate fearless compassion, make thoughtful decisions, and inspire those around them with authenticity. When leadership flows from the inside out, it transforms teams, organizations, and the leaders, creating a lasting impact driven by purpose and integrity.
In this episode of the Ext...
2025-05-2233 minFearless ForwardLet's talk about loss...How we process and respond to traumatic experiences matters more than the experiences themselves. Openly discussing loss, maintaining connections to loved ones who have passed, and allowing ourselves to feel and express grief fully can lead to far better outcomes.Sanderson Jones is a former standup comedian and the co-founder of Sunday Assembly, a worldwide movement of non-religious congregations that celebrate life. Following the sudden and untimely death of his wife and the mother of his children, Sanderson rediscovered a new purpose, and has become a funeral celebrant and “funeral designer”.Highlights[00:02:24] The...
2025-05-0949 minFearless ForwardThere’s nothing scarier than your own pastOur upbringing, and the patterns and behaviours we carry, shape how we show up in our relationships and work. These patterns often stem from past trauma or difficult family dynamics we don’t fully recognise. Left unaddressed, they can lead to harmful behaviours, strained relationships, and limitations on our personal and professional growth.Christina Kisley understands deeply how our past affects us and how vital committing to personal growth can be. This means being willing to dig into our own experiences, even if it feels uncomfortable or scary. Facing ourselves is one of the hardest things we...
2025-04-2534 minFearless ForwardHow John Peters emerged from brutal captivity as a strong, empathetic leaderFear can take over our emotions, cloud our judgment, and leave us feeling powerless. It’s easy to feel trapped when we’re unsure how to move forwards.John Peters dealt with extraordinary fear during his captivity. But he focused on controlling his mind and his responses, even when everything else was beyond his control. He refused to let fear define him and made a promise to himself that he would not let fear take away his power or identity.In this conversation with Sally-Anne, John shares a number of details from his time in c...
2025-04-111h 02Fearless ForwardRebuilding retail against the oddsEmma Draper faced a huge challenge when her life suddenly changed. Her marriage ended, she became a single parent to three boys, and her business was struggling. On top of that, the pressures of keeping her home and supporting her family felt overwhelming. She also battled long Covid, which left her physically drained for years.Emma found a way forward by taking control of her situation. She refused to stay stuck in fear and started making changes. She restructured her business, reconnected with her team, and focused on her health. She looked at every area of...
2025-03-2840 minFearless ForwardWhat cancer can teach us about kindnessIt's all to easy to get caught up in work, achievement, or the daily grind. If we’re not careful, we can lose sight of ourselves and the love we have to give and receive. The way forward is to focus on kindness. This means being kind to others and, just as importantly, to ourselves.Matt Dean’s experience – his continuing battle with cancer, his brush with death, and his moment of spiritual awakening – shows that love and kindness are at the heart of everything good. Even in the face of fear and hardship, kindness can guide us...
2025-03-1439 minFearless ForwardLeaping from success and security into the magical unknownResponsibility can be hard to let go of when we’re used to being the one everyone relies on. This burden often leaves no room for joy, creativity, or the things that truly fulfil us. We get stuck in patterns of doing what we think we should do, rather than what we deeply want to do.The way forward is to create space for ourselves. This means stepping back from some of the things that weigh us down, even if they’ve brought us success. It’s about choosing to pursue what lights us up and leanin...
2025-02-2840 minFearless ForwardNever give up – there is always a way throughSometimes as leaders we face situations that feel overwhelming, whether it’s uncertainty, financial struggles, or the fear of letting others down. These challenges can take a toll on our mental and physical health, and even our confidence in moving forward.But we can overcome these tough moments by staying focused, being resourceful, and never giving up.In this episode, Caffe Nero founder Pablo Ettinger shares how he managed to navigate both personal risks and business challenges by maintaining a clear vision, leaning on the right people, and preparing with a plan B....
2025-02-1440 minFearless ForwardThe courage to look for the loveWhen Osian was born after only 23 weeks, he had to fight through countless medical complications. For his mother, Georgina, it was an exhausting time filled with uncertainty, pushing her to her limits as a parent and caregiver.Despite this, Georgina focused on creating a life filled with love, joy, and connection for Osian. She embraced her role with determination, learning complex medical care and ensuring her son felt loved and supported every single day.Sadly, Osian’s short life ended in March 2023, but Georgina has kept his memory alive through Osian’s Fishes, a fu...
2025-01-3147 minFearless ForwardHow to avoid an avalancheFailing to prepare and adapt can lead to dangerous situations, like getting lost in treacherous conditions. These outcomes can be life-threatening and make it difficult for us to reach safety.Arno de Jong faced that when taking his friend on a winter hike in the Alps. They encountered more snow than Arno had expected, which posed a risk of avalanches and made navigation difficult.In his conversation with Sally-Anne, Arno recounts his adventure, how he dealt with the fear and led his friend to safety, and what his encounter can teach others.
2025-01-1747 minFearless ForwardIntroducing Fearless Forward At some point in our lives, we all get scared. Scared of making the wrong decision of not being a good parent or that everyone will figure out. We're just making it up as we go. I'm Sally-Anne Airey and I've spent years helping leaders like you work through stress, fear, and uncertainty. As the Navy's first serving mother and award-winning author, I'm now bringing my ideas on courageous, compassionate leadership to my new podcast.Fearless Forward. It's for founders, leaders and business owners who feel like they're constantly fighting uphill and not finding the balance they need...
2024-12-1902 min
The Good Employer PodcastSally-Anne Airey | Skilful Leaders | The Good Employer Podcast Episode 26Our guest this week is Sally-Anne Airey. Sally-Anne is a leadership coach and a former Royal Navy officer. She's also the creator of the Evolving Leadership Program. Sally-Anne brings a unique blend of leadership experience and mindfulness to her coaching practice. She's also the author of Mindful Command, a book that provides a framework for skillful leadership, focusing on the balance between strategic decision making and the inner work required for powerful, authentic leadership.I'm excited to chat to Sally-Anne and hear her insights on leadership qualities, how to cultivate them, and what it truly takes to b...
2024-11-1549 min
Thriving Podcast with Sarah and JennyEp 72 with Sally-Anne AireyWelcome to this episode of Thriving with Sarah and Jenny! Today, we're thrilled to welcome Sally-Anne Airey, Leadership coach, Author, Founder Skilful Leaders and Mindful Command. Sally-Anne's journey from a Royal Navy officer, where she rose to the rank of commander and broke new ground as the first woman to continue in service as a mother, to now residing in the French Alps and working with her Mindful Command framework, is both fascinating and inspiring.Sally-Anne shares her transition from the Navy to becoming a leadership coach, emphasising the transferable skills she brought from her military service. Her discovery...
2024-02-1652 min
LID RadioLeading with Mindful Command with Sally-Anne AireyIn today's episode of LID Radio Podcast, we're joined by Sally-Anne Airey to talk about her first book Mindful Command: The Way of the Evolving Leader
About Sally-Anne Airey
Sally-Anne Airey is the founder of Skilful Leaders where she coaches leaders and their teams to become who they really want to be and to do the work they really want to do. Earlier, in her 23-year career in the Royal Navy she was at the forefront of leadership practice and development. She left as a commander, and the Navy’s first serving mother.
About Mi...
2023-10-0636 min
The Happy EntrepreneurResetting in nature, with Sally-Anne Airey and Arno de JongThere's something about being in nature that helps us reset our nervous systems.Maybe it's the wonder and awe it can create in ourselves. Carlos likes to think, particularly when around mountains, the awe of being near such massive and ancient structures drowns out the noise of our everyday lives.And without that noise we can start to think differently and more clearly.Every year, before the pandemic, Laurence and Carlos would take groups of entrepreneurs and professionals to the French Alps to take some time away from their busy lives and have...
2023-02-0150 min
Delightful DissentI should listen to feedback? - Sally-Anne AireyWe’re told listening to feedback is a vital leadership skill. Being evaluated by colleagues is a core part of our professional development. But what if understanding takes more than listening to, and agreeing to fix, what’s “good” and “bad”?
In this episode of Delightful Dissent I’ll be talking to Sally-Anne Airey about the assumption “I should listen to feedback”. We’ll explore what it means to engage with others with compassion. We’ll see if there’s more to feedback than an objective evaluation. We’ll share ways of turning feedback into something which opens up, not closes down...
2021-03-0459 min
Ministry of Change37 Sally-Anne Airey: How To Be A Mindful LeaderIn this episode Sally-Anne shares her story of transitioning from her role as a commander in the Royal Navy to her work as a Mindful Leadership coach in the French Alps.
2019-02-1655 min
The Happy Startup SchoolSummercamp Series - Episode 2 | Sally-Anne AireyWelcome to the summer series of The Happy Startup School podcasts where we'll be shining a spotlight on the speakers and workshop leaders who will be at our Summercamp in September 2017.
Our first guest is Sally-Anne Airey, in this episode we're going to be talking about her history working as a commander in the Royal Navy and transitioning into the work she is doing now as an executive and mindfulness coach.
Visit www.happystartupsummer.camp for more info.
2017-07-2713 min