Shows
Better Under PressurePetra Velzeboer - Bet On YourselfWhen I ask most guests on Better Under Pressure when they first experienced pressure, they normally say it was from either parents or school in exams or on sports day, but when you’re born into a notorious cult where you’re raised knowing the world is ending and you are one of god’s endtime soldiers, the pressure is on a whole other level. Petra Velzeboer managed to escape from the cult in her early twenties, and started a family and working, only to find the latter not too dissimilar to those original pressures of the cult - which...2025-05-0147 minBetter Under PressureAlice Dyson - “Expect To Navigate A Yes”Working out the things that don’t count so much in your day or your week can be tricky. It’s very easy to fall into the trap that everything is a priority. In Alice Dyson’s case – as CEO and founder of the dynamic entertainment and production company, Framewood Media, it’s particularly tough.
Welcome to The Better Under Pressure podcast, I’m Sara Milne Rowe and in this episode I’m talking with Alice Dyson.
A pioneering female leader in the music industry, Alice is a champion of innovation in media, storyt...2025-03-2148 minBetter Under PressureClaire Danson - The pressure of "What's Next?” - Turning Life's Corners into New DirectionsThis episode of BUP is special: In the summer of 2019 Claire Danson, European Triathlon Champion collided with a tractor while she was out training, her future instantly transformed from professional triathlete to life in a wheelchair. As performance coaches, at Coaching Impact we work with many athletes and leaders in the sector, but my conversation with Claire goes down as one of the most inspiring I’ve had on this podcast. Claire’s story of resilience and reinvention as a para-athlete offers profound insights into our relationship with pressure. Do listen, Claire is deeply inspiring and is full of pract...2025-02-271h 07Better Under PressureRichard Medcalf - Choose how your Past ignites your PresentHow was Richard’s relationship with business pressure shaped by his relationship with his mentally and physically disabled sister.
What can we learn from that kind of family tie?
Richard Medcalf found himself on a relatively smooth academic path through school and university before becoming the youngest ever partner at a top strategy firm. After over a decade in an elite strategic team at tech giant Cisco, he took the strategic decision to found Xquadrant and set himself the mission of helping the world’s top CEOs and entrepreneurs become world-changing forces for good...2025-01-2342 minBetter Under Pressure#56 - Rosie Wild - Get Excited by Things You’ll Probably Fail AtToday’s episode is a fascinating conversation with a remarkable woman: Major Rosie Wild. Rosie is a British Army Officer and Professional Athlete who, following major injuries and a knee operation, went on to win the Sword of Honour at Sandhurst—the first woman to do so since men and women were integrated into the same platoons.
In 2020, Rosie became the first woman in history to pass the Pre-Parachute Selection Course (P Company), qualifying to serve in the airborne forces at 16 Air Assault Brigade, where she deployed on numerous operations, including the evacuation of personnel from Kabul.
2024-12-061h 01Better Under Pressure#55 - Dr Mindy Lane - Walking Into the UnknownToday I’m talking to Dr. Mindy Lane, a sub-specialist surgeon in the United States with 25 years of experience. Her understanding of how to thrive under high-stakes pressure in the operating room has enabled Mindy to also become an accomplished EK-WESS-TREE-UN.
In the OR, she was able to lead her team with steady hands and a clear mind to save lives. In the dressage arena, she harnessed the pressure—and her horse, Fjurie—to achieve the highest levels in national competitions. As Mindy says, the principles of calm, control, and precision apply in both hospital and horse riding...2024-11-2158 minBetter Under Pressure#54 - John Amaechi - What’s core to Sustainable High Performance?Today I’m talking to Professor John Amaechi CBE, an organisational psychologist and founder of APS Intelligence, where he is the Leadership Transformation expert.
His book, The Promises of Giants, was a New York Times and Sunday Times bestseller, in which he draws on his early life in Stockport, his rise to becoming the one of the first Britons to play professional basketball in the NBA and his career since – working with organisations to build authentic and ethical cultures.
John is Professor of Leadership at the University of Exeter Business School, a non-exec director of a FTS...2024-11-0759 minBetter Under Pressure#53 - Rupal Patel - Be Willing To Be Surprised?Today I’m speaking with Rupal Patel, a woman who has had an unconventional career, as suggested by the title of her best-selling book, From CIA to CEO.
As a CIA analyst and field agent, she advised four-star generals, earned War Zone Service Medals, and was recognised by the CIA Director for “superior support to the President.” She then transitioned into the business world.
Rupal’s trailblazing business work has been featured in USA Today and Business Insider, and in 2023, she was named one of the “Most Influential Women of the Year.”
She is committed to developing t...2024-10-1854 minBetter Under Pressure#52 - Alina Addison - What if it’s good?Today I’m talking to Alina Addison, ex-accountant, ex-investment banker, executive coach, and now author.
Alina left Romania as a young adult. Soon afterwards, she went into accountancy with PwC before joining Rothschild & Co. There, she became the first woman to be promoted to Managing Director and Head of Trading—all while working four days a week.
In her book, The Audacity Spectrum, Alina combines personal experience with extensive research to share her mission. She wants to ignite audacious leadership in people through a bold mix of courage, care, and nonconformity.
In our conv...2024-09-2651 minBetter Under Pressure#51 - Simon Scott - Work Out Whether the Pressure is Lethal or Just… Horrible!Welcome to season 2 of Better Under Pressure!
I’m very excited to be kicking it off today in the company of none other than my business partner, Simon Scott.
Formerly a Royal Marine Commando Officer and diver, who was awarded the Sword of Honour, Simon found that his time in the Marines satisfied both his desire for challenge and his fascination with explorers like Ernest Shackleton. After 11 years, he left and has since been coaching leaders in various industries, and increasingly in sport. He has supported people like Alex Danson, who captained GB Hockey to Ol...2024-09-1259 minBetter Under Pressure#50 - Hugh Dennis - Don’t Let What You Do Define YouToday I’m talking to award-winning actor, comedian, and writer, Hugh Dennis. Best known for BBC1’s critically acclaimed sitcom OUTNUMBERED, he has also played an emotionally tortured Bank Manager in the BAFTA-winning show FLEABAG, Toby in the sitcom, NOT GOING OUT, and was an ever-present panellist on BBC 2’s long-running weekly satirical show MOCK THE WEEK.
Hugh has also been a regular for over 25 years on BBC Radio 4, both writing and presenting their Friday night comedy THE NOW SHOW.
In our conversation, Hugh (whose real name is Pete, by the way) shares…
- Why he th...2024-05-301h 01Better Under Pressure#49 - Genevieve Shore - The Power of a TeamToday I’m talking to Genevieve Shore, a serial non-executive Director who has held Board level positions within organisations across several industries, territories and cultures. Her credit roll of organisations includes Santander, Arup, Moneysupermarket, Lego Education, STV and the RFU.
With her sporting background - having played international Rugby for England and winning the World Cup in 1994 - it’s no surprise that Genevieve is currently Chair of the Women’s Premier 15 Ltd. At the same time, she also chairs the North Highland Initiative - a non-profit organisation established because of King Charles III's commitment to support the peop...2024-05-1755 minBetter Under Pressure#48 - Calum Clark - Who You Are Gets Exposed Under PressureToday I’m talking to Calum Clark, ex-international Rugby Union player turned high-performance psychologist.
Having started on the rugby trail aged just 15, Calum turned professional three years later and spent fourteen years playing at the highest level He turned out for three different Premiership clubs as well as England. In that time he experienced the highs of winning 3 Premiership titles and 2 European Cups and the lows of career-threatening injuries, disciplinary setbacks, and various off-field issues. Realising there was a lack of professional support, guidance and expertise to help navigate such things, he completed the first of two Psy...2024-05-0350 minBetter Under Pressure#47 - Mollie Pearse - Do Pressure On Your Terms (Part 2)Today I'm thrilled to welcome back Mollie Pearse, Meta’s Head of Marketing for EMEA, for round two of our insightful conversation on "Better Under Pressure."
Mollie's journey from entrepreneurial beginnings to leading teams at top organizations like IMG, Octagon, HSBC, and LinkedIn before landing at Meta showcases her remarkable leadership and dedication to 'audience-first' marketing principles.
Outside of work, Mollie's passion for pushing boundaries shines through her pursuits in ultra-distance sports, where she explores the depths of human potential while raising funds for charity.
As our discussion unfolded, it was clear that th...2024-04-1954 minBetter Under Pressure#46 - Mollie Pearse - Do Pressure On Your TermsToday I’m talking to Mollie Pearse, Meta’s Head of Marketing for EMEA. Having started her career as an entrepreneurial businesswoman and quickly learning the power of true ‘audience-first’ marketing, she has since led teams at IMG, Octagon, HSBC and LinkedIn before arriving at Meta.
Mollie inspires her teams to think differently about commercial goals, enabling them to surpass expectations. When she isn’t doing that, she’s out exploring the limits of human potential by running, swimming and cycling ultra-distances to expand her comfort zone and raise money for charity.
As I spoke with Mollie, it soon beca...2024-04-0453 minBetter Under Pressure#45 - Tendai Wileman - Using Pressure to EvolveToday I’m talking to Tendai Wileman, Chief of Staff and Director of Organisational Change at Guy’s & St Thomas’ NHS Trust. Tendai grew up in Zimbabwe and went to university in South Africa, before completing an MBA at Warwick Business School. Over two decades, Tendai has held various corporate and operational roles in healthcare, and has spent the last 10 years leading large-scale change within and across functional and organisational boundaries.
She is a sponsor of the LGBT+ network at Guy’s & St. Thomas’ and is passionate about diversity and inclusion, believing strongly that ‘that which unites us all, is great...2024-03-2150 minBetter Under Pressure#44 - Neil Mullarkey - Boss Your Nervous SystemIn this episode, I’m talking to Neil Mullarkey, a unique communication expert. You may recognise him from his performances in 'Whose Line Is it Anyway' and two 'Austin Powers' movies. He still performs most Sundays with the Comedy Store Players, Europe's top improv troupe, which he co-founded with Mike Myers. But he now travels the world bringing the skills of theatre and especially improv, focusing on creativity, collaboration and leadership to clients including EY, Deloitte, Vodafone, Accenture and Unilever.
His new book, *In The Moment*, was published by Kogan Page in June 2023. https://neilmullarkey.com/inthemomentbook...2024-03-0751 minBetter Under Pressure#43 - Emma Dagnes - Not Doing But BeingIn this episode, I’m talking to Emma Dagnes, Chief Executive of Alexandra Park and Palace, an iconic public building towering over north London that is over 150 years old, was the original home of BBC Television and is now home to world sporting events, indoor and outdoor concerts and festivals, a theatre and even an ice rink. It’s also where I have pushed buggies and walked with my family and my dog over the last 25 years.
Of Emma’s 25 years working across entertainment, recreation and leisure, both in the public and private sectors, the last twelve have b...2024-02-2256 minBetter Under Pressure#42 - Edith Bardin - The Pressure of Work, Family & Personal GoalsIn this episode, I’m talking to Edith Bardin – Global Insights Manager at Shell. The word Global is very apt when referring to Edith. Born in Luxembourg - and consequently speaking 5 languages - her two decades building ‘global consumer insights’ expertise have taken her all sorts of places, including northern Europe, the UK, Canada and even Mauritius. She now is a worldwide authority on everything from decoding consumers’ minds in retail, entertainment and packaging - to embracing the evolving landscape of air travel and, most recently, e-mobility.
In our conversation, Edith shares...
- What she discovered about her e...2024-02-0845 minBetter Under Pressure#41 - Tom Hall - What Could Possibly Go Right?In this episode, I’m talking to Tom Hall, Vice President and General Manager of LEGO Education International.
Having previously held leadership positions at Pearson and Penguin Random House UK, Tom is experienced in leading global teams through complex change management programs and creating partnership ecosystems.
As a trustee of AQA, the UK’s leading assessment provider, and a former board member of the British Educational Suppliers Association, it’s no surprise to learn that Tom is passionate about the impact education can make for individuals and society around the world and is dedicated to using...2024-01-2554 minBetter Under Pressure#40 - Tom Sherrington - Rise Above JudgementIn this episode, I’m talking to Tom Sherrington – education consultant and author. With 30 years' experience as a teacher and school leader, Tom is now teaching teachers, through his ground-breaking series of WalkThru books – which, at the last count, are being used in 50 countries around the world. Everywhere from Brighton to Brazil, from Norwich to New Zealand. Tom also coaches through his blog, teacherhead.com, which has thousands of followers.
Tom is in demand worldwide and works with hundreds of schools and colleges providing training and consultancy support to improve the quality of teaching. As such, he is a re...2023-12-2155 minBetter Under Pressure#39 - Lara Milward - With Practice You CanIn this episode, I’m talking to Lara Milward, a NeuroLeadership Coach and athlete who has co-founded businesses in Leadership and Fitness. She has worked in gender equality with Shine for Women and is a mentor for Resurgo. The official coach of Virgin’s Strive Challenge, Lara practises what she preaches - moving every day to challenge both mental and physical muscle and believes we all need to treat our mental muscle just like our physical muscle; giving it challenge, fuel, rest and recovery.
In our conversation, Lara shares...
The power of a starting gun,
What happe...2023-12-0854 minBetter Under Pressure#38 - Marcia Gay Harden - Preparation = FreedomToday, I’m talking to Marcia Gay Harden. An actress with 40 years’ experience on film, TV and Broadway, Marcia has won many awards including an Oscar and a Tony in a career that lists cult films like Miller’s Crossing, Pollock and Mystic River. She’s featured in (and been nominated for) many of her performances in TV shows like, The Newsroom, Uncoupled and - one of my personal favourites - The Morning Show.
Outside acting, her book, The Seasons of My Mother: A Memoir of Love, Family, and Flowers details her bond with her mother as they travelled...2023-11-231h 25Better Under Pressure#37 - Daniel Priestley - Make it a GameIn this episode, I’m talking to Daniel Priestley, entrepreneur, author and speaker.
Since the age of 21, he has started, bought and sold multiple businesses in training, publishing, IT services and tech.
He’s written best-selling books like Key Person of Influence, Oversubscribed and Entrepreneur Revolution - and is known for his work on entrepreneurship and business development, offering practical advice to entrepreneurs on scaling their business, personal branding and becoming influential within their industries.
In our conversation, Daniel discusses...
The pressure of going through a buy-out
What it’s like when your busi...2023-11-0951 minBetter Under Pressure#36 - Charlotte Cox - Integrating Work and Life, NOT Balancing ThemIn this episode, I’m talking to Charlotte Cox, President Emea at Pentland Brands. With over 20 years of commercial experience - during which time she has had leadership roles for sporting brands like Canterbury of New Zealand, Mitre and Speedo – Charlotte has won regional awards such as Business Woman of the Year in 2019 and was a Future is Female European winner in 2020.
Charlotte’s ambition is to get more people to support their mental and physical well-being by increasing participation in sports and outdoor activities. She’s also been instrumental in the development and delivery of the Pentland...2023-10-2750 minBetter Under Pressure#35 - Amanda Brennan - Tune Your Body, Train Your MindIn this episode, I’m talking to Amanda Brennan, a coach and trainer of actors in Film, Television and Theatre. She runs an MA course in Screen Acting at Central School of Speech & Drama and is the author of two books, The Energetic Performer, published in 2016, and The Craft of Screen Acting, due out in 2024. Amanda has also produced films that have been screened at the Raindance, Sundance and London Film Festivals. She has most recently coached actors in TV shows like The Crown and Sex Education as well as forthcoming films like The Yellow Tie starring John Malkovich and...2023-10-131h 07Better Under Pressure#34 - Andy Salmon - Pressure is a Relationship Between You and YouIn this episode, I’m talking to Andy Salmon CMG and CBE who was a Royal Marine for 36 years.
A former Commandant General Head of service, his front-line work included the Falklands War, Sierra Leone, the Kurdish humanitarian crisis in Northern Iraq, the Civil War in Angola and lastly as Commanding General of Coalition Forces handing over Basra in 2009. Between 2011 & 2013 he built the crisis-management centre for NATO and was responsible for finding forces for their global operations including Afghanistan.
Since retiring, he has founded Journey Through Conflict, a multi-media theatre company that creates performances to hel...2023-09-261h 18Better Under Pressure#33 - Laura Try - Less Things, More ExperiencesIn this episode, I’m talking to Laura Try, a business founder who left it all behind to become an extreme adventurer. Having owned a beauty salon for nine years, Laura made the decision, aged 29, that her values no longer served her, and she wanted something different. Very different. The hunger for experiences and challenge meant firstly entering multi-day adventure races, then rowing 1,800 miles around Great Britain and, most recently, an attempt to be the fastest women’s boat rowing 3,000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean.
In our conversation, Laura discusses
- What she means by Type...2023-09-071h 04Better Under Pressure#32 - Tamsin Addison - Horses are Great LevellersIn this episode, I’m talking to Tamsin Addison, a member of the Irish Equestrian team for over 10 years now, who has enjoyed international wins on multiple horses, was placed in the top ten in the last European championships and became a Paralympian at the Tokyo Olympics
Starting her career as a psychologist and undertaking a PhD on Pain in Sport, Tamsin was at the same time diagnosed with parosteal sarcoma in her right upper arm. Determined not to let bone cancer hinder her passion for horse riding, Tamsin became the first person in the world to reg...2023-07-2053 minBetter Under Pressure#31 - Adam Garfunkel - The Pressure to Make a DifferenceToday, I'm having a conversation with Adam Garfunkel, a true pioneer in the world of sustainability. With an impressive 35-year career dedicated to creating positive change, Adam brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table.
As a former campaigner and communications advisor, Adam has been at the forefront of driving sustainable practices across various industries. Now, as the co-owner of Junxion Strategy, an international consultancy firm, he is on a mission to help leaders shape the success stories of the purpose economy.
Beyond his remarkable professional accomplishments, Adam's personal life is equally fascinating...2023-07-0654 minBetter Under Pressure#30 - Lesley Paterson - Momentum Begets MomentumToday I’m talking to Lesley Paterson, a professional triathlete who’s represented Great Britain and has a dozen medals as well as a film producer with an Oscar-winning film under her Belt.
Having started competing in triathlons aged just 16, Lesley combined her competing with a degree and then a master's in Drama. Her triathlon career has not been without setbacks, having contracted Lymes disease in her 30s and, famously winning one triathlon with a shoulder she had broken just the day before. That particular experience dovetails neatly with her passion for drama and her most recent triu...2023-06-2244 minBetter Under Pressure#29 - Dr Mandy Lehto - When Over-Achieving Stops WorkingToday I’m talking to Dr Mandy Lehto, a former investment banker who, as Director at a global investment bank, worked in Fixed Income Sales covering hedge funds and central banks. She has a doctorate from Cambridge University and, since leaving the banking world, has coached senior executive women around the world, as well as becoming a columnist for Psychologies magazine and having work published in the Times, Forbes, Psychology Today and The Huffington Post among others. She’s also the magnificent host of “Enough, The Podcast” for recovering perfectionists and overachievers like her.
In our conversat...2023-06-0857 min
Leadership LettersTowards Leadership #6Welcome to Towards Leadership from Leadership Letters.In this episode we take more of a dive into some thoughts and ideas arising from talking to Performance Director of Boccia UK, Greg Baker, in our most recent episode of Leadership Letters.Hover over the pause button during this episode - we have a lot of reflective questions for you in this episode! Our starting point is the question Greg talks about always asking himself as a leader: Am I doing the best job for the individual in front of me? We begin by offering you q...2023-06-0514 minBetter Under Pressure#28 - Lee Georgs - A 1000 Different PressuresIn this episode, I am talking to Lee Georgs, Chief Operating Officer at Eighteen48 Partners, a London-based Private Investment Office serving families and endowments. She’s worked in the global financial services industry for almost three decades, starting in Private Banking and Wealth Management in New York with Citibank and JP Morgan. She moved overseas in 2006, to become Director of Global Accounts for RGP in Hong Kong, before ending up in London and M&A Project Management at Credit Suisse. She stepped into the COO role, first at Redington in 2017 (where she also served as Executive Board Director) and th...2023-05-2551 minBetter Under Pressure#27 - DaeWha Kang - Surfing an EdgeIn this episode, I’m talking to DaeWha Kang. Based in London, DaeWha is a Korean designer, architect, and artist with a passion for creating beauty and timelessness in his work.
In 2014, he founded DaeWha Kang Design, which has since taken on a wide range of projects, from the regeneration of a Christopher Wren church to a concert hall in central London, and even a fine arts museum in Saudi Arabia. Focusing on improving well-being through design, DaeWha's studio lives by the statement "beauty built with wisdom."
During our conversation, he also shares:
- What it...2023-05-1153 minBetter Under Pressure#26 - Louise Hughes - AnticipateIn this episode, I’m talking to Louise Hughes, an experienced General Counsel, who has worked for over 20 years within the entertainment industry. She began her legal career at the leading law firm Wragge & Co (now Gowlings), moving to the legal team at Penguin Books Limited in 2003, where she worked for 13 years supporting the children and adults’ divisions in publishing, marketing and licensing.
Louise is currently Group General Counsel and a leadership team member at The Blair Partnership, a leading literary and entertainment agency, representing J.K. Rowling and the management of the Wizarding World franchise. Day to day...2023-04-2746 minBetter Under Pressure#25 - Ben Ryan - Find the TrampolinesIn this episode, I have an engaging conversation with Ben Ryan, the Director of Elite Performance at Brentford FC. With a background in teaching, professional rugby, and being the most successful men's rugby sevens coach in the world, Ben has a wealth of experience in handling pressure.
His book, Sevens Heaven, recounts his incredible journey coaching the under-resourced Fiji 7s team to their first-ever Olympic Gold in 2016. This achievement led to numerous accolades, including his face being featured on Fijian banknotes and coins, as well as being named a Fijian tribal chief.
During our discussion, B...2023-04-1358 minBetter Under Pressure#24 - Rachel Osborne - Be DecisiveIn this episode, I’m talking to Rachel Osborne, CEO of Ted Baker. Rachel was appointed to that role just as Covid hit the UK, and prior to that she had been CFO at Debenhams Retail Limited.
Having originally studied veterinary medicine at Cambridge, Rachel chose instead to qualify as a chartered accountant at KPMG. She now has over 30 years of financial experience with consumer-facing brands like Domino’s Pizza, Vodafone, and John Lewis. She has also previously held senior positions with Sodexo, Kingfisher and PepsiCo.
In this conversation Rachel shares:
What she‘s learnt...2023-03-3052 minBetter Under Pressure#23 - Tacita Small - Know Your SuperpowerIn this episode, I’m in conversation with Tacita Small – founder of The Small HR Company, an HR Consultancy that supports businesses in the creative and entertainment industries with all aspects of HR and People needs.
As a senior HR leader, Tacita worked in-house for over two decades with many instantly recognisable brands such as Westfield, Ralph & Russo, Apple, Ministry of Sound, Freemantle and BBC Worldwide to name a few.
In our conversation Tacita shares:
Why she’s happy answering emails on the beach
The uncomfortable pressure of not being herself
And what her son said...2023-03-1654 minBetter Under Pressure#22 - David Shelley - The Power of Looking BackIn this episode, I’m talking to David Shelley, a trailblazer in the world of publishing. With over two decades of experience, David has worked with some of the biggest names in literature, including J.K. Rowling, Dennis Lehane, and Mitch Albom. Starting out at Allison & Busby, he quickly rose through the ranks, eventually becoming the CEO of Hachette UK, the second-largest consumer publisher in the UK.
David's expertise in the industry is unparalleled, having overseen the publication of countless crime and thriller novels, as well as ebooks and audiobooks. He's a visionary leader, driving innovation and gr...2023-03-021h 09Better Under Pressure#21 - Myriam Coupard - Listen to Your BodyIn this episode, I’m talking to Myriam Coupard, who has worked all over the world leading and shaping creative businesses. A customer-centric entrepreneur at heart, she’s launched, run, reshaped and grown successful companies in France, the UK, China and Singapore. Myriam trained as a professional dancer in Contemporary Dance in Paris, specialising in the Martha Graham technique until that career was cut short following unsuccessful knee surgery.
Following that, she dedicated many years to Ascential PLC and more specifically to Cannes Lions, the organisation behind the renowned film festival, where she worked across a breadth of E...2023-02-161h 00Better Under Pressure#20 - Matt Chavlovich - What would happen if…?In this episode, I’m talking to Matt Chavlovich, a former prolific goalkeeper and captain in professional football (soccer) in the US, he is now a speaker, advisor, and transformation coach. In his 30-year career, Matt has been a leader in the world of sports and the world of business. He has held leadership positions in organisations ranging from the MLS and Hasbro to Adidas and the American Cancer Society.
In our conversation, Matt shares:
The transferrable skills of sport in business,
Why he has no time for regrets,
And how the 14-year-old Matt dealt with adu...2023-02-021h 05Better Under Pressure#19 - Sigga Sigurdardottir - You’re Stronger Than You ThinkIn this episode, I’m talking to Sigga Sigurdardottir, a global exco level Chief Customer Officer and digital change agent who has been pioneering customer-led digital transformation and innovation globally in the financial services industry over the last 20+ years. She has championed partnering with start-ups, fintech and digital players throughout her career, delivering outstanding experiences for consumers.
She spent 14 years leading digital transformation and change for American Express, working in 4 different continents. She then spent 4 years as Santander UK’s Chief Customer and Innovation Officer moving the organisation to greater customer focus and innovative delivery methods. That was f...2023-01-1938 min
The Leadership Tales Podcast with Colin HunterBest of Series 1 + Series 2Today on the Leadership Tales Podcast, we’re presenting a special bonus episode looking back at some of the highlights from our previous series. We’ve had a lot of fascinating guests on the show, and I want to highlight a few of what I think are the greatest moments we’ve had over the podcast’s run. So, we’ve gone back and found some of the best clips from Series One and Series Two and have compiled them together for this special episode.This episode features highlights from Andy Sleigh, Liane Davey, Caustan de Riggs, Jamie Smar...2023-01-0947 minBetter Under Pressure#18 - Sebastian Bates - One Minute More…In this episode, I’m talking to Sebastian Bates, founder of The Warrior Academy, an award-winning global martial arts organisation which has so far been responsible for developing the character of 25,000 children across three continents. Social enterprise and philanthropy are a part of Sebastian’s charity work at the Bates Foundation. He is also a two times best-selling author in the field of character development and anti-bullying.
Having studied six styles of martial arts for 25 years and competing in four of them at a national level, Sebastian is a former international professional fighter. He is also an exper...2022-12-0853 minBetter Under Pressure#17 Tendi Sherpa - Pause My Mind a LittleIn this episode, I’m talking to Tendi Sherpa - who has been guiding people to the summit of Everest and down again now for 18 years. After initially training to be a Buddhist monk, he started work as a porter for treks around Nepal aged just 13, carrying around 43 kg for up to 15 hours a day for over 3 weeks at a time – and wearing flip-flops while he did.
A year later, he climbed his first mountain in the Himalayas alongside his father, also a sherpa, and got his first chance to climb Everest aged 19. In 2004, by age 20, Tendi summi...2022-11-2454 minBetter Under Pressure#16 - Rachel Joyce - Claim Your SpaceIn this episode, I’m talking to Rachel Joyce - an award-winning novelist and playwright. Over the course of a 20-year career as an actor, performing leading roles for the RSC, National Theatre and Cheek by Jowl, she was always writing. Alongside radio drama, she also wrote the Sunday Times and international bestsellers, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry and The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy. Her latest novel, Maureen Fry and the Angel of the North completes the trilogy. Rachel is also the author of the bestsellers, Perfect, The Music Shop and Miss Benson’s Beetle.
Her...2022-11-1042 minBetter Under Pressure#15 - Zani Mashinini - No ChoiceZani Mashinini works at The South African Reserve Bank. Leading a team of HR specialists.
Prior to that, she worked for organisations like Unilever, Pearson, Bank of New York and the South African National Treasury.
As well as a leader in the field of HR, Zani is also a speaker, coach and mentor who thrives on creating organisational transformation programmes that improve the workplace experience for all.
She has been awarded a Master of Management from The Wits Business School and recently received an Excellence Award for her contribution to the Human Resources...2022-10-271h 01
Enough, the PodcastHealing from insults & rude comments that replay in your head. Sara Milne Rowe #44If you’ve ever been told something unkind, and it still replays in your head years later, this episode is for you. Maybe you internalized someone’s rude comment about your nose being too big, and ever since that, it’s something you secretly fixate on. Or maybe someone did something to you, and you’ve carried that painful experience because you didn’t know how to stand up for yourself. So, you’re holding the shame around it, not knowing why – or how to dislodge it. You might be wonder...2022-10-1339 minBetter Under Pressure#14 - Duro Oye - Turn it into a GameDuro Oye is the Founder & CEO of 20/20 Change - a multi-award-winning social enterprise leading the way to a more diverse and inclusive workforce in the UK. It empowers young black professionals to flourish in the workplace.
Duro designed the award-winning ‘I AM CHANGE’ 10-week programme which focuses on developing young people’s self-awareness, vision, persistence, and dignity. He’s also a qualified mindset coach with a degree in Graphics and Advertising, a diploma in Documentary Filmmaking and is a fellow at the Acumen Academy. All this after - and probably as a result of – almost a decade of cr...2022-10-1341 minBetter Under Pressure#13 - Chloe Cameron - From Endurance to ResilienceChloe Cameron is Chief People Officer for the Pax8 EMEA region. Previously, she’s worked in global corporations and small start-ups and occupied various leadership roles across marketing, business operations and most recently people. She came into a career in tech via a History degree from the University of Cambridge.
As Chief People Officer for the Pax8 EMEA region, her role is to ensure the company keeps humans at the heart of its growth. Chloe is responsible for developing the vision and strategy to maintain and scale an inclusive, high-performance culture built on servant leadership, psychological safety an...2022-09-2959 minBetter Under Pressure#12 - Abi Stephens - We Are Stronger than We ThinkAbi Stephens is a renowned TV Sports Presenter who has been track-side, pitch-side and ring-side the world over, hosting major sporting tournaments, including the Olympics and World Cups, for the likes of Discovery, BT Sport and ITV.
When she’s off camera, Abi is a Leadership Performance coach drawing on her rich experience performing live under pressure to help leaders in sport and business elevate their impact and influence, particularly under the spotlight.
Whether interviewing high-profile athletes or coaching business executives, Abi manages to draw out their most compelling stories so that they and the wo...2022-08-0453 minBetter Under Pressure#11 - Rob Bullock - Fear is so ContagiousRob Bullock is Executive Producer at Left Bank Pictures, one of the UK’s leading independent drama production companies, where he’s headed the production of a slate of premium drama productions for Amazon, HBO, Sky, and YouTube. He’s currently in production for two new returning dramas on Netflix.
Before joining Left Bank, Rob produced the multiple award-winning show, The Night Manager, for BBC/AMC. He began his career as a graduate trainee at Granada TV, where he later became a producer in the comedy department. After completing an MBA at London Business School, he went on to...2022-07-2158 minBetter Under Pressure#10 - Louise Moore - Fear of JudgementLouise Moore is the Managing Director of Michael Joseph, one of Penguin Random House’s biggest commercial publishing lists, specialising in women’s fiction, crime, thriller, cookery, memoir, and lifestyle books. She made her way up the editorial ladder, starting as a PA, and joined the division as an editorial director in 1997, before being made publishing director in 2001. She’s been MD for over 15 years.
Now, Louise leads a talented publishing team that delivers the best commercial fiction and non-fiction. Her authors include household favourites like Jamie Oliver, Nadiya Hussain, Dawn French, Jojo Moyes, and many others. She is...2022-07-0746 minBetter Under Pressure#9 - Julie Harris - What’s the Worst that Can Happen?Julie Harris has over 30 years of experience working with both B2B and B2C content and tech platform organisations. As an accomplished media, marketplace, and subscription business specialist, Julie has led multi-discipline teams, has a wealth of international experience, including living and working in Asia and positively thrives in high-pressure complex environments, particularly in private equity-owned businesses.
Her executive roles include Global CEO of WGSN Group, the world’s leading fashion and retail trend forecasting company, as well as Immediate Media and Upper Street Events. Currently, Julie is CEO of Comparison Technologies, a private equity-backed comparison an...2022-06-2343 minBetter Under Pressure#8- Helena Maus - Trust & TransparencyHelena Maus is the CEO of Archetype, a global communication and marketing agency. She describes herself as an atypical CEO and is passionate about furthering Archetype’s vision to build a model of the agency of the future and driving Archetype’s client charter, in which success is mutual and excellence is pursued relentlessly.
Previously Helena served as CEO at Bite, was partner at the OutCast Agency and held several in-house roles, including chief of staff at Yahoo.
In our conversation, she shares how small moments of humiliation became a source of conveying her truth, How g...2022-06-021h 01Better Under Pressure#7 - Anna Rafferty - Back YourselfAnna Rafferty is The Lego Group's VP of Digital Consumer Engagement. She leads the Lego Group's direct engagement with consumers of all age groups, which takes many forms, from magazine, publishing, community management and social engagement to digital products like apps and websites, creator programmes and events. She also takes additional responsibility for Digital Child Safety, Rights and Wellbeing in the company.
Prior to her experience in The Lego Group, Anna worked as Digital Director at BBC Studios, Director of Product, Content & Creative at Pottermore, and Managing Director at Penguin Books. She is also Chair of the W...2022-05-191h 01Better Under Pressure#6 - Cheryl Giovannoni - The Power of a TeamIn this episode of Better Under Pressure, I sit down with Cheryl Giovannoni. Cheryl is the CEO of the Girls' Day School Trust, one of the UK's leading charities, taking on the education of over 180,000 girls in 23 schools and two academies across the UK. She leads an organisation of 4,000 team players who dedicate daily to fulfilling their mission of 'helping girls learn without limits.'
In our conversation, we discuss how her team's helped her identify what she needs when she is feeling under pressure. As well as the significance of having a job she genuinely cares...2022-05-0543 min
The Leadership Tales Podcast with Colin HunterPerformance Coach Sara Milne Rowe on Harnessing Wellbeing for SuccessSara Milne Rowe is one of the UK’s leading Performance Coaches, working with CEOs, senior leaders and teams, often in high challenge situations so they can stay strong, keep learning and deliver their best. Sara founded her award-winning company, Coaching Impact, in 2008 and works with a variety of organizations Including Creative & Media, Financial, Pharmaceutical, Legal and Education.In today’s episode Sara shares her insights on leadership and how using the ‘SHED Method’ (Sleep, Hydration, Exercise, Diet) as a foundation can influence one’s impact as a leader.Links mentioned:Coaching ImpactCoach...2022-05-0340 minBetter Under Pressure#5 - Fran Boorman - Run Your Own RaceFran Boorman is an award-winning business leader, having built and exerted a multi-million-pound turnover business while bringing up two young children. Subsequently, Fran launched groundbreaking Goal 17, a mentor training company known for innovative social impact programs. She was voted the UK's number 1 female business influencer by Global Woman and is featured in Forbes and on the BBC.
Her businesses now partner with some of the biggest global sporting brands, including premier league football clubs and premiership rugby clubs. In addition, she is a non-executive director of several high growth businesses and is currently creating an exciting new t...2022-04-2158 min
The Ben Ryan PodcastAsk Me AnythingThanks to the following for their great questions which formed the basis of this week’s Ask Me Anything show.On Twitter - Brad Allen, Simon Young, Bruce, Luke O’Mahony, Jack, Chris, Nimi, TumaOn Instagram - Richard Mortimer, Emma, SalaThrough LinkedIn - Hannah Behan, Andrew M, Rod Bannister, Lucas O’Ceallachan, Mark Leppard, Neil Thomas, Chris Latterell, Martin Prior, Via email - Ben, ShelleyShow Notes:Loughborough University - https://www.lboro.ac.uk/Plato - https...2022-04-201h 12Better Under Pressure#4 - Alan Jones - Progress Rarely Comes from Your Comfort ZoneIn this episode of Better Under Pressure, I sit down with Alan Jones, Head Teacher at Fulham Cross Academy in West London. Alan has over 20 years of experience as a teacher, and the last sixteen he's spent as a school leader.
I had the pleasure to work with Alan just before the pandemic when he was working at Fulham Cross Girls School, where he invited us to work with the girls on supporting them as they prepared to deal with the pressure of exams.
In our conversation, he talks about the difference between boys' and girls' reactions to d...2022-04-0744 minBetter Under Pressure#3 - Nilema Bhakta-Jones - What am I on this Planet to do?On this episode of Better Under Pressure, I am joined by Nilema Bhakta-Jones, Group General Counsel for Kantar, the world's leading data, insights and consulting company.
Nilema and I first crossed paths at the Courageous Leadership event she founded to fund an education project run by the charity Plan International to continue the education of disadvantaged girls in Zimbabwe, where she was born. She is a qualified Barrister and, in 2020, was named one of the 100 Women to Watch by Cranfield University.
During our chat, she talks about navigating pressure when it feels deeply...2022-03-2443 minBetter Under Pressure#2 - Anabel Hoult - Let It Play OutIn the second episode of "Better Under Pressure", I am joined by Anabel Hoult, CEO of Which?, the UK's most prominent consumer rights organisation. Her experience as a leader across multiple industries, including retail, charity, consumer services and fintech, makes her a natural choice as a guest to speak about pressure and how she handles it.
During our time together, she shares the power of a pen and a piece of paper, what her conversations with herself look like as she heads into high challenge situations, and what it was like to be the first Head Girl...2022-03-1048 minBetter Under Pressure#1 - Paula MacKenzie - The Power of Physical TriggersIn this first episode, I’m delighted to be talking with Paula MacKenzie, Managing Director of KFC UK & Ireland, responsible for over 28,000 team members, 960 restaurants and 35 franchisees. She has over 20 years experience in the food and drink industry. In our conversation, she shares what she means by ‘reversing out of her day’ and how she managed the pressure moment of speaking to an audience that was ‘anti the fast-food’ industry.
2022-02-2151 min
Discover the Best Audio Stories in Health & Wellness, Mindfulness & MeditationThe Here and Now: 10 experts show you how to be more mindful, calm and focused by Rukmini Iyer, The Mindfulness Project, Chloe Madeley, Amir Khan, Sarah Ellis, Helen Tupper, Sara Milne Rowe, Chloe Brotheridge, Sophie Fletcher, Oliver BurkemanPlease visithttps://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/437352to listen full audiobooks.
Title: The Here and Now: 10 experts show you how to be more mindful, calm and focused
Author: Rukmini Iyer, The Mindfulness Project, Chloe Madeley, Amir Khan, Sarah Ellis, Helen Tupper, Sara Milne Rowe, Chloe Brotheridge, Sophie Fletcher, Oliver Burkeman
Narrator: Rukmini Iyer, The Mindfulness Project, Chloe Madeley, Amir Khan, Sarah Ellis, Helen Tupper, Sara Milne Rowe, Chloe Brotheridge, Sophie Fletcher, Oliver Burkeman
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 4 hours 53 minutes
Release date: June 18, 2020
Genres: Mindfulness & Meditation
Publisher's Summary:
Brought to you by Penguin. Survive and thrive in uncertain times by listening to...2020-06-184h 53
The LeaderX Podcast with Lucy BarkasThe LeaderX Podcast - Series 2 - Sara Milne Rowe The Shed Method and LeadershipIn this episode we hear Sara Milne-Rowe, a leadership performance coach, the ‘nudge’ for leaders to connect with their strengths, deliver exceptional performance often in the most challenging environmentsShe works with senior leaders and teams in the creative and media industries, education, startups, and female entrepreneurs. Sara founded her award-winning company, Coaching Impact, in 2008 and works with a variety of organisations throughout the UK and across the world. Before that she was a leader in two challenging inner-city schools. Her book, The Shed Method, (commissioned & published by Penguin UK in 2018) introduces the mind...2020-04-1732 min
Adoreum ConversationsEp. 2 | Leading Under Extreme Pressure w/Sara Milne RoweDuring a crisis we find out what kind of leaders we truly are so in this episode we invited the Founder and CEO of Coaching Impact, Sara Milne Rowe onto the show to talk about all things leadership. Sara shares how to create a mantra to tap into when under pressure, how we can help others lead themselves and Marcus reminds us that what might initially be seen as a disadvantage is in fact your superpower.
Find out more about Sara: http://www.coachingimpact.co.uk/2020-04-1059 min
Life Changing ConversationsSeries 2, Episode 7: Interview with Sara Milne RoweWe are so excited to air our last podcast of the year and of 2018. This Life Changing Conversation is with Sara Milne Rowe, Author of The Shed Method and Founder of Coaching Impact as well as a leading Performance Coach.
Neil had a really fascinating conversation with her about her SHED Method - a mind-management system that offers practical advice for improving your decision making. Through a series of practices and clear steps, The Shed Method will help you become a happier, healthier and more confident you. Sarah explains how every day, we are bombarded with from what we watch...2018-12-141h 00
Get Online with Stacey KehoeS2E5 Sara Milne Rowe: The SHED MethodIn this episode, I speak to Sara Milne Rowe who works alongside CEOs, senior leaders and their teams, often in high challenge situations to connect with their strengths, deliver exceptional performance, take others with them and get the results they want across a wide range of industries Worldwide. Sara Milne Rowe’s book, 'The SHED Method: Making Better Choices When It Matters' (Published by Penguin Jan 2018), is based on her unique methods and practices. Useful links for Sara Milne Rowe:Sara Milne Rowe on InstagramSara Milne Rowe o...2018-12-0647 min
The 21st Century CreativeMaking Better Choices When it Matters with Sara Milne RoweThis week’s guest on The 21st Century Creative podcast is Sara Milne Rowe, one of the leading performance coaches in the UK and the founder of the company Coaching Impact, and the author of The SHED Method: Making Better Choices When It Matters.
She works with senior leaders and teams in the creative and media industries, education, startups, and female entrepreneurs. In The SHED Method she shares the principles and techniques she uses to help her clients perform at their best under pressure.
Like all top coaches, Sara enlists the help of ot...2018-08-0600 min
Creative Coach | Mark McGuinnessMaking Better Choices When it Matters with Sara Milne RoweThis week’s guest on The 21st Century Creative podcast is Sara Milne Rowe, one of the leading performance coaches in the UK and the founder of the company Coaching Impact, and the author of The SHED Method: Making Better Choices When It Matters.
She works with senior leaders and teams in the creative and media industries, education, startups, and female entrepreneurs. In The SHED Method she shares the principles and techniques she uses to help her clients perform at their best under pressure.
Like all top coaches, Sara enlists the help of ot...2018-08-0600 min
Live Life BetterBuilding ResilienceAuthors Neil Shah (The 10 Step Stress Solution) and Emma Cannon (Fertility) join Melissa Hemsley to discuss the theme of resilience – sharing tips and tricks on overcoming obstacles and living a more relaxed life. We also hear from Sara Milne Rowe who introduces her new book The SHED Method, detailing a series of practices and personal routines to help you make better choices.
See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.2018-01-3000 min
Listen to Latest Full Audiobooks in Health & Wellness, Mindfulness & MeditationThe SHED Method: The new mind management technique for achieving confidence, calm and success by Sara Milne RowePlease visithttps://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/318001to listen full audiobooks.
Title: The SHED Method: The new mind management technique for achieving confidence, calm and success
Author: Sara Milne Rowe
Narrator: Sara Milne Rowe
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 6 hours 7 minutes
Release date: January 25, 2018
Ratings: Ratings of Book: 5 of Total 1
Genres: Mindfulness & Meditation
Publisher's Summary:
Penguin presents the audiobook edition of The Shed Method written and read by Sara Milne Rowe. Wishing to be better at something lies at the heart of modern life: a bad week to a better week, a frustrated parent to a better parent, an anxious speaker to...2018-01-256h 07
Explore the Latest Full Audiobooks in Literature, PoetryThe Poetry of September by William Butler Yeats, William Wordsworth, Robert BrowningPlease visithttps://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/297170to listen full audiobooks.
Title: The Poetry of September
Author: William Butler Yeats, William Wordsworth, Robert Browning
Narrator: Ghizela Rowe, Richard Mitchley
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 0 hours 38 minutes
Release date: May 4, 2017
Genres: Poetry
Publisher's Summary:
September - The ninth month of the year in our Gregorian calendar and with it arrives the Autumn equinox and the first glimpses of the new season. There is much for out Poets including Browning, Kingsley, Yeats, Lanier and Lindsay to say and write about. Among our readers are Richard Mitchley and Ghizela Rowe. The tracks are; September...2017-05-0438 min
Enter a New World Through Your Headphones With Free AudiobookPoetry of September Audiobook by Robert BrowningListen to this audiobook in full for free onhttps://hotaudiobook.com/freeID: 297170
Title: Poetry of September
Author: Robert Browning, William Butler Yeats, William Wordsworth
Narrator: Ghizela Rowe, Richard Mitchley
Format: Unabridged
Length: 00:38:35
Language: English
Release date: 05-04-17
Publisher: The Copyright Group Ltd.
Genres: Fiction & Literature, Poetry
Summary:
September - The ninth month of the year in our Gregorian calendar and with it arrives the Autumn equinox and the first glimpses of the new season.
There is much for out Poets including Browning, Kingsley, Yeats, Lanier and Lindsay to say and write about. Among our readers are Richard Mitchley and...2017-05-0438 min