Shows
Life Beyond The NumbersAll Stories are Useful - Jay Perry"So by that definition, all stories are useful. The question is: to what end?" Jay Perry
Jay Perry and I explored what happens when we begin to see story not as decoration or distraction, but as data - the language we use to survive, connect and create. Jay shared his definition that “a story is language put to use” and reminded us that “all stories are useful” - the real question being to what end? Together we examined how some stories serve connection, while others become what Jay calls “story infections” - narratives shaped by fear, judgeme...
2025-06-2154 min
Life Beyond The NumbersThe Joy of Conversation - Episode 200 - A solo episodeI didn’t set out to reach 200 episodes—I set out to follow the joy. And in this episode, I reflect on how joy hasn’t come from numbers or milestones, but from the moments in between - from the magic of sitting down and having real, honest conversations.
Over the years, I’ve explored everything from emotional intelligence to leadership transitions, from burnout to belonging, from accounting for our emotions to creating more human workplaces. And at the heart of it all has been conversation - curious, meaningful conversation.
To mark this milestone, I took mys...
2025-04-1239 min
Life Beyond The NumbersPlayfulness - Chris Marshall"Playfulness is our natural state of well-being. We are playful when we are well." Chris Marshall
Chris Marshall and I explore why playfulness isn’t frivolous or childish but fundamental to how we thrive at work and in life. We discuss how playfulness helps us embrace complexity, navigate uncertainty and show up as our whole, human selves. Chris shares his multi-faceted career journey and how bringing all parts of himself into his work is an act of rebellion against boxes and niches. Together, we unpack how playfulness, far from being a distraction, is a powerful driv...
2025-03-2949 min
Life Beyond The NumbersWe're All Imperfect - Dr Susanne Evans, David Lee & Me"...because we're all imperfect if we have any kind of power, including even just like having a strong personality, that we can be doing things that we don’t even realise are intimidating or shutting down other people." David Lee
In this episode, I am joined by Dr. Susanne Evans and David Lee for one of our irregular but always insightful conversations. Today, we dive into the topic of bad behaviour in our workplaces — what it looks like, why it happens and what we can do about it. We include some real-life stories shared with us by o...
2025-02-0156 min
Life Beyond The NumbersTransfixed with James Thirlwall"I was completely transfixed by the idea of these very tiny teapots and these tiny tea cups that were serving small amounts of tea." James Thirlwall
James Thirlwall and I explore the connection between tea and creating connection. I venture out of my usual space to record in a delightful and intimate setting: a tiny teahouse in East Oxford. We delve into the world of Japanese tea ceremonies as well as discover how Chinese tea ceremonies cultivate mindfulness and bring people together in a shared, intentional experience. James, who jokingly describes himself as 'a big m...
2025-01-1843 min
Life Beyond The NumbersJust a Couple of Centimetres of Care - Marc Haine"For everything that we do, if you cared this much - just a couple of centimetres of care - it would make all the difference in the world". Marc Haine
Marc Haine and I discuss how small, intentional acts of care can transform the ordinary into the extraordinary. From building trust to creating a culture of excellence, this episode is packed with insights on why daring to care just a little bit more matters so much. From his journey in hospitality to leading teams in high-pressure environments, Marc illustrates how intentionality and connection can bridge t...
2024-11-2351 min
The Happiness Index - Data. Insight. StoriesIntegrating Business with Emotions with Susan Ní ChríodáinSusan Ní Chríodáin the author of Leading Beyond the Numbers joins us to discuss her book and work focused on Integrating Business with Emotions.
Susan answers the following questions;
What makes you happy?
Why did you write Leading Beyond the Numbers?
What are the key lessons you want a reader to take away?
How can someone listening, go back to their organisation and start to help people see beyond the numbers?
In a time where many companies are struggling fina...
2024-11-2241 min
Life Beyond The NumbersCreating New Knowledge - Jackie Eaton"If they're not applying creative and intuitive thinking in addition to critical and judgmental thinking, then they're not creating new knowledge for the organisation. They're just taking old knowledge and rearranging it. And for me, that's not adding value." Jackie Eaton
Jackie Eaton shares her unique career path from obtaining a mathematics degree to working in operational research for NATO. She discusses her affection for solving complex problems, her initial struggles to discover a career-fit and the compelling nature of public service. Jackie and I chat about gender dynamics in the workplace, the challenges and r...
2024-10-2636 min
Beyond The Water CoolerLeading Beyond the Numbers - Susan Ní ChríodáinThis was a first and it was hilarious (just watch the outtake next week!).Susan Ní Chríodáin and I got to record this episode of the podcast outside in the beautiful gardens at Lady Margaret Hall at the University of Oxford, courtesy of Andrew Dickinson.After some shenanigans we got to dive into her recently-published book, Leading Beyond the Numbers, which is all about how accounting for emotions tips the balance at work.Who would have thought that my explanation of how imagination is our most misused resource would have made it into t...
2024-09-1958 min
Life Beyond The NumbersYour Experiences - David Lee & Me"This is about what you are experiencing. And I think the beauty of your experience is it's your experience and no one can argue with that."
David Lee and I delve into the significance of emotional self-regulation and co-regulation, highlighting the impact they have on psychological safety and productive workplace environments. We discuss concepts from my book 'Leading Beyond the Numbers' including the importance of emotional granularity and how subtle changes in language can shape one's perception and interactions. We also cover the value of reflection and curiosity, and the cultural impact of emotions in a...
2024-09-141h 00
Experience Leadership - The Small Business PodcastUnlocking Success: Why Emotional Well-being in the Workplace Matters with Susan Ní ChríodáinEmotions as the New Business Metric
with Susan Ní Chríodáin
Leaders are often caught in the numbers game—revenue, costs, and KPIs dominate discussions. But what if the real key to optimizing employee engagement and finding fulfillment at work lies beyond these numbers?
🛎 In this episode, Customer and Employee Experience Strategist (and your Host), Marc Haine, sits down with leadership coach Susan Ní Chríodáin, sheds light on how emotions, often invisible and intangible, are crucial drivers of people, performance, and profit.
Need to brainstorm aspects of your business? Book your complimentary 30-minute brai...
2024-09-0949 min
Life Beyond The NumbersEnergy Levels - Steve Wright"There's schools of thought around us; the quantum nature of humanity in terms of us being energy and vibrations. And whether you think of it as woo-woo, pseudoscience or whatever, I'm not concerned about that as much as understanding that when we got on this call, our energy levels were higher than usual and matching each other. And I think that is something that as people we really need to tap into. Being able to empathetically match our energy and also have the ability to shift it up or down as we see fit and that serves the environment...
2024-07-2043 min
Life Beyond The NumbersHuman Dynamics - Tasneem Virani"So even in that dynamic of a relationship, how can I have a growth mindset and see my mother or father in the way they are now? How can I have conversations that may have triggered me in the past? But now I know I'm an adult, not that child reacting, to build my parent in the future. It's the same with organizations. It's the human dynamics." Tasneem Virani
Tasneem Virani and I speak about the critical need for maintaining human connection in an increasingly AI-dominated world advocating for a balanced integration of technology and h...
2024-07-0650 min
Life Beyond The Numbers#179 Compassion - A Solo Episode
In this episode I explore the concept of compassion and self-compassion.
I unpack what compassion is and why it’s crucial in our lives, the incredible benefits of self-compassion for both mental and physical health and cover some ways you can begin to cultivate compassion for yourself and others.
Special insights from the work of Kristin Neff and David Whyte as well as some books enrich the examination of compassion, shedding light on how self-awareness and compassion go hand-in-hand.
Resources:
Mindful Compassion by Choden and Paul Gilbert
Dav...
2024-06-2228 min
Life Beyond The Numbers#176 Trust - Kevin Chevis"The one thing ..... there's so many. I would probably say, as a reaction to your question, trust yourself and other people." Kevin Chevis
Kevin Chevis shares valuable insights from his extensive career in a variety of leadership roles, highlighting his diverse experiences, including with mergers, acquisitions, and navigating financial challenges. He discusses the significant shift he experienced from merely selling products, like speed cameras, to engaging in initiatives that make the world safer. Kevin emphasises the importance of developing intimate, trusting relationships with clients and suppliers, focusing on long-term goals, and fostering open communication. He d...
2024-06-0150 min
Life Beyond The Numbers#175 Book Launch - LinkedIn Live Replay with Introduction"Susan, I've taken enough time with these questions. Firstly, I just want to say, I'm thankful that I've met you. And two, this is an absolutely brilliant book and I love it." Matt Phelan
In this episode I celebrate the launch of my new book Leading Beyond the Numbers: How accounting for emotions tips the balance at work. The book was launched during a LinkedIn Live on Monday May 13th with the help of Matt Phelan, who wrote the foreword to the book, and Dr. Susanne Evans. The book has already achieved bestseller status in three Amazon...
2024-05-251h 01
ChangeStoriesBooks, books, books with David Lee and Susan Ní ChríodaínIn this episode, in honour of World Book Day, Susanne, David and Susan share their love of books and talk about books that they always recommend, books that they read and re read and ones that are still on their ‘to be read’ pile. They also each talk about the own published works and their writing processes. The ChangeStories podcast is for people who are interested in change, whether that is within organisations or for individuals. Hosted by Susanne Evans, an organisation change consultant, coach, trainer and researcher, each podcast episode features a conv...
2024-05-231h 17
Life Beyond The Numbers#174 Variation is the Norm - Susan Ni Chriodain
"Variation is the norm, that actually we're all unique. We are all different. And even how we approach learning and decision making, we're all different." Susan Ni Chriodain
In this special episode of 'Life Beyond the Numbers,' I take on a unique role as the interviewee, giving Dr. Susanne Evans the reins to explore the themes, inspirations, and key takeaways from my about to be launched book, 'Leading Beyond the Numbers.' This episode not only showcases the book's concepts but also reflects on the broader implications for personal development and organisational change. We shed light...
2024-05-1144 min
Life Beyond The Numbers#173 Momentum - a solo episode"When momentum really comes into play so much of the background noise fades further into the background. And then momentum builds momentum. You become unstoppable, mostly!" Susan Ni Chriodain
In this episode you are invited to explore the multifaceted journey of writing and self-discovery, offering a glimpse into the challenges and rewards. I delve into the inner and outer challenges faced during the writing process, including self-doubt, perfectionism, and the importance of acknowledging progress. And I discuss the transformative impact of sharing the manuscript. I also emphasise the value of commitment, momentum, asking for help, a...
2024-04-2729 min
Life Beyond The Numbers#171 Books with Dr. Susanne Evans, David Lee & Me"Basically it's books that we recommend a lot or books that have really changed our practice." Dr. Susanne Evans
In honour of World Book Day and the value of reading Dr. Susanne Evans, David Lee and I recorded a conversation that explores a wide range of reads that have significantly impacted us including personal development, reflective practice, storytelling, neuroscience and touching on historical events such as the Rwandan Genocide. We each share insights on books that have changed our life, practice, or perspective, accompanied by anecdotes and a deeper look into the themes and lessons o...
2024-04-131h 13
Life Beyond The Numbers#168 Leading. Beyond. The Numbers. - Solo Episode"This book is about telling a different version of a story. That might begin to rebalance and imbalance. It is about leading beyond the numbers and still knowing our worth contribution and value. It is about recognising people as people and not as numbers on a payroll or statistics in a report." Susan Ni Chriodain
In this solo episode I talk more about my upcoming book, Leading Beyond the Numbers: How Accounting for Emotions Tips the Balance at Work. The focus today is on the title. I talk about leading - leaders and leadership. I ta...
2024-03-2323 min
Life Beyond The Numbers#164 A Look Inside My Upcoming Book"I delve into that in the book - the fact that none of us ever really know what's going on for someone else." Susan
In this solo episode I talk about my upcoming book, Leading Beyond the Numbers: How Accounting for Emotions Tips the Balance at Work. I talk about the inspiration behind the book. I read out some of the endorsements I have received to date. And I read some extracts from two separate chapters that include personal anecdotes and reflections on the importance of emotions and the integration of mind and body in t...
2024-02-2431 min
Life Beyond The Numbers#156 2023 in episodes - Susan Ni ChriodainIn this final episode of 2023, I take a reflective look back at the year, highlighting some guest interviews, insights and personal journeys. The journey from episode 116 to 156 was marked by diverse conversations traversing topics like personal growth, slowing down, challenges the significance of creativity, self-expression and giving people the chance to be themselves in order to create a more productive and happier workplace. And I share some anecdotes about writing my forthcoming book and the valuable insights gained during the process. As we head into 2024 I encourage listeners to embrace life's simplicity and to dare to achieve your potential.
2023-12-3043 min
Life Beyond The Numbers#155 Friends - Susan Ni Chriodain"I felt younger, I felt nostalgic, I felt the preciousness of life and the genuine appreciation of true friends." Susan
In this episode, I reflect on the significance of friendships in my life and the joy that they bring. I share experiences with friends from different phases of life, including colleagues from Deloitte, a friend from Pakistan, and school friends. I highlight the importance of friendships during challenging times and expresses my gratitude for my friends - many of whom I met at work.
Resources mentioned
Consolations: The Solace, Nou...
2023-12-2319 min
Life Beyond The Numbers#154 Be Curious - Dr Susanne Evans, David Lee and Me "If I'm working with somebody and they don't do their agreed upon "homework" and I'm telling myself a story like, Oh, they're not motivated. They're lazy. They don't take it seriously. And instead of coming from that judgey point of view, asking, so what happened? And it turns out they didn't understand what the assignment was or whatever. Get curious, not furious. Get curious instead of judging." David Lee
Dr Susanne Evans, David Lee and I tackle the topic of motivation. We share their own examples, interpreting our motivations for our own personal behaviours and hab...
2023-12-161h 04
Life Beyond The Numbers#151 Setting Intentions"There is something about setting intentions and having it written down or saying it out into the world that makes a difference, especially if it's something you want to do."
In November 2022 I spoke about my intention to write a book in episode 110, Four Week Streaks. I reflect on the year that followed with a focus on the power of setting intentions, building habits and consistency and the fact that life can change in an instant.
Resources Mentioned
Episode 110 Four Week Streaks
Episode 122 What Matters Most
...
2023-11-2525 min
Life Beyond The Numbers#150 Celebrations - Susan Ni ChriodainI'm celebrating!
Submitting Leading Beyond the Numbers: How Accounting for Emotions Tips the Balance at Work to the publisher.
and
A milestone birthday.
Connect with me:
On LinkedIn
Through my website
2023-11-1114 min
Life Beyond The Numbers#148 Conversations - David Lee & Me (Republished**)**Please note that the episode that went out on Oct 14th was a repeat of episode 102. This was my mistake - apologies. This is now the correct version of episode 148
"Difficult conversations by definition are difficult, but the relationship, just like in anything in life between skill level and how much courage it takes, the more skill, the less courage you have to summons." David Lee
In this episode David Lee is asking the questions - well it is more of a riff about constructive conversations, creative, courageous conversations, psychological safety, et...
2023-10-191h 15
Life Beyond The Numbers#148 Conversations - David Lee & Me"Difficult conversations by definition are difficult, but the relationship, just like in anything in life between skill level and how much courage it takes, the more skill, the less courage you have to summons." David Lee
In this episode David Lee is asking the questions - well it is more of a riff about constructive conversations, creative, courageous conversations, psychological safety, etc. We both share stories and insights on addressing difficult topics, separating the behaviour from the person, creating cues of safety and a psychologically safe environment for open and honest communication. We also explore s...
2023-10-1454 min
Life Beyond The Numbers#133 At Our Best - Susan"It's about who we can be and how can we be the best version of ourselves, and we owe that to ourselves. You are the only one who truly knows how you feel, how you think, and why you act the way you do. And increasing our own self-awareness is the greatest gift we can give to ourselves. Taking an honest look at ourselves, our thinking, our feelings, our behaviour, and asking ourselves when are we at our best?" Susan
In this episode I reflect on the impact of stress in a work-life experience and h...
2023-06-2429 min
ChangeStoriesSusan Ni Chriodáin - Being ready to speak and tell your story In this episode, Susanne talks to Susan Ní Chríodáin from Beyond the Numbers about emotions at work and giving ourselves the permission to feel all our feelings. Susan shares stories and poetry which illustrate her work in enabling people to express themselves and allowing others to do the same. She explains how important it is to have courage to say what needs to be said and to have difficult conversations with empathy. Susan can be found here: linkedin.com/in/susannichriodain https://www.beyond-thenumbers.com/ The ChangeStories podcast is for people who are in...
2023-04-2047 min
Life Beyond The Numbers#123 If It Makes You Happy - Susan Ni ChriodainDid you know that genetics account for 50% of our happiness? And our life circumstances 10%? That means we have the power to influence the other 40% through our actions and habits.
In this episode, I explore the concept of happiness and how it is perceived differently by individuals. I discuss the relationship between mood and emotions and how they affect our overall well-being. I share some research on happiness, talk about happiness at work. I also share three practical ways to "chase" happiness, including savouring experiences, identifying your character strengths, and expanding your emotional vocabulary through affect la...
2023-04-0133 min
Life Beyond The Numbers#122 What Matters Most? - Susan Ni Chriodain
"...and each time I would attempt to do something, I would stop and stare out the window and wonder what matters. I began to ask variations of this question: What matters here? What actually matters? Does this really matter? What matters most?" Susan Ni Chriodain
In this solo episode I share on a life-changing family event. And explore what it means to have your world change in an instant, discovering what matters most and having the courage to go after that. This episode is dedicated to M & M.
I'd like to thank all my...
2023-03-1136 min
Life Beyond The Numbers#114 What’s Another Year? Susan Ní Chriodain"How did you feel about this year as a whole? And if you were to title this past year as a chapter in your story, what would it be? So, I've put together some thoughts on this year."
The years seems to go by so quickly and can seem like they all roll into one. It can be easy to think well 'what's another year'. In this episode I reflect on the year and explore 2022 around four main themes - self-expression, nature, community and the inner world.
Connect with Susan
On...
2022-12-2440 min
Life Beyond The Numbers#110 Four-Week Streaks - Susan Ni C"So instead I thought, well, what about four weeks? What if I do it in four weeks? And actually that works out perfectly because there. 13 sets of four ... 13 fours is 52." Susan
I turned 49 a couple of weeks ago and so began my 50th year on this planet. This led to some reflections on the last 49 years as well as thinking about the future and setting an intention for the next year. I wanted a system that might work for me so rather than thinking for the whole year I broke my year into streaks - a...
2022-11-2633 min
Life Beyond The Numbers#101 Looking Forward - Susan Ní Chríodáin"We are all people. We are all different and unique. We think differently, work differently, process differently, but we are all human. If we work off the premise of people are just people first and foremost, and different from me is okay, can we actually make the world a better place?" Susan Ní Chríodáin
Life Beyond the Numbers is on a break and will be back in early October 2022 with episode 102.
Part 3 of the trilogy is future focused. I talk about what my purpose in life is, at present, and how...
2022-08-1643 min
Life Beyond The Numbers#100 My Present Journey - Susan Ní Chríodáin
"I'm becoming the person I'm becoming. I'm following my inner, personal route." Susan Ní Chríodáin
Welcome to episode 100. This is the second in the trilogy of past, present and future. In this episode I talk about my the present and where I am in my journey as well as some of the paths I am exploring.
Is there a line you remember from a poem or short story in school that still fascinates you to this day? I talk about one I remember.
Do you ever wish you had more s...
2022-08-0934 min
Life Beyond The Numbers#99 Looking Back - Susan Ní Chríodáin"And we're all human. And I think that's the main message that I try to bring out in this podcast - it's human stories for human listeners. We are all people. We are all doing our best. And it's wonderful to know that others have been where we are or think like we do or are going where we want to go or can show us things we didn't know." Susan Ní Chríodáin
To celebrate getting to 100 episodes I opted to do a trilogy for episode 99, 100 and 101. In episode 99 I take a look back...
2022-08-0249 min
Life Beyond The Numbers#90 The Way You Make Me Feel - Guests from ’22"And I've no doubt that these stories and indeed the stories that all guests share, evoke different memories, emotions, and feelings for you. And I always love to hear them. So please feel free to send me your thoughts. What were your favorite snippets? What were your favourite episodes? Who would you like to hear more from?" Susan
This is a compilation episode and includes snippets from the following guests
7:30 Dr. Susanne Evans on the impact of change (Episode 83)
9:00 Travis L. Scott on cognitive entrenchment (Episode 78)
10:45 Greta Solomon on b...
2022-05-3144 min
Life Beyond The Numbers#87 Susan Speaks - Susan Ni Chriodain"I have wanted to do a solo episode for I don't know how long now. And it's something that I've really, really struggled with or battled with and found daunting." Susan
In this first solo episode I focus on voice, the gift of voice. I open up about my own thoughts around using voice, particularly in the service of others. I talk about the tension between the desire to do something and the challenge of doing it. And I share some of my writings on voice and the importance of speaking up, speaking out or j...
2022-05-1030 min
Life Beyond The Numbers#86 Bodily Intelligence - Madelaine Golec"We don't have enough social practices or social norms around how to deal with our emotional and bodily intelligence. It's not something that is integrated in the way that we are being. And we are seeing on one side a great awakening where people are beginning to understand, wow, there's so much here that I didn't see, feel, connect with." Madelaine Golec
Madelaine and I begin this conversation exploring a quote from Thomas Hübl: "Movement is intelligence in action." We are both curious about presence, consciousness and bodily intelligence. How do we tune into th...
2022-05-0356 min
Life Beyond The Numbers#84 Sibling Special - Siun, Alan and Susan"It's so exciting to have my two amazing siblings here to sit down and talk about something that we've talked about. We have had conversations over the years about Aoife and about how it was to have a sister like Aoife. But I feel really honoured that I can sit down with you two here now and talk about her life and about our lives with her and share with other people in the hope that other people would benefit from hearing this or maybe just be interested in hearing it." Siun Creedon Prochazka (this episode was originally released i...
2022-04-1951 min
Life Beyond The Numbers#83 The Impact of Change - Dr. Susanne Evans"...helping people think about the impact of change on people. And a big part of it is around people feeling secure, people feeling that they understand the impact that this is going to have on them, on their relationships. Uncertainty, because uncertainty is a really hard thing for people to deal with. And I think a big part of fear of change, resistance of change are those questions about what's in it for me?" Dr Susanne Evans
Dr Susanne Evans and I talk about organisational change. In particular we hone in on the importance of sto...
2022-04-1249 min
Life Beyond The Numbers#70 Hidden Gems from 2021Happy New Year. Welcome to 2022 and episode 70 of Life Beyond the Numbers - a compilation episode from some of the least downloaded episodes of 2021 ... or the hidden gems from 2021
Lisa LLoyd introduces us to the difference between Imagination and Thinking (minute 4)
Alison Jones talks about thinking, deep thinking and reflective thinking (minute 6)
Lisa LLoyd covers our brain and pattern recognition (minute 13)
Glin Bayley illustrates pattern recognition and writing from the heart (minute 17)
Gavin Andrews introduces HeartMath and we chat about emotions (minute 23)
Lisa Milnor goes d...
2022-01-0444 min
Life Beyond The Numbers#57 Beyond the Numbers - Susan Ni Chriodain"And my vision is that that 80 percent number can reduce and more people are engaged in the workplace and enjoy what they do." Susan Ni Chriodain
Life Beyond the Numbers was launched in Sept 2020. And for my 1st anniversary someone special, my Dad, interviewed me! I spent a week in Dingle, my home town in Ireland, in late August 2021 and we talked lots about my work, past and present as well as my future vision - so we thought, why not record an episode! Here it is. I hope you enjoy it.
...
2021-09-1445 min
Life Beyond The Numbers#53 Start With You - Nikki Hill"There's only one person who's truly, truly in control of our lives and it's ourselves and it's okay to spend some time focusing on what's important to us." Nikki Hill.
This episode is full of ways to enhance self-awareness. We talk about discovering our boundaries, the things that matter to us, as a way to give ourselves a sense of calm, peace, enabling us to enjoy our life and have the energy we need. When we communicate our boundaries they don't have to be explained or justified. We also explore how we might react when ou...
2021-07-2740 min
Life Beyond The Numbers#52 Everything's Okay - Alan Creedon"Everything's okay. And if everything's okay, what's the problem? And actually, it's a very fulfilling place to be; everything's okay." Alan Creedon.
If you ever feel tortured by your own thoughts this episode is for you as Alan Creedon and I delve into talking about our minds in a world of 'shoulds' and 'doing'. Alan explains how to find stillness, connections, how to be and how to use your mind and not be used by it. Alan explains what mindfulness is and the benefits of mindfulness from his own experience:
worrying less,
far less both...
2021-07-2043 min
Life Beyond The Numbers#51 One to Many - Kaveh Sadeghian"We always say: to design for many, you have to design for some and to design for some, you have to design for one." Kaveh Sadeghian.
Kaveh Sadeghian would love to hand over a series of beliefs and systems to the next generation that might undo some of the industrial era and set them up with a little bit more success in terms of integrating their purpose and themselves and their work. We talk about how a systems and scale approach is not the only one and that he says solutions will move at the pa...
2021-07-1340 min
Life Beyond The Numbers#50 A Journey - Kiki Kirby"We've got to take ownership of our leadership with our people because we're leading people." Kiki Kirby
People are at the heart of what Kiki does. As this episode was recorded at the beginning of summer (UK) Kiki and I kick off chatting about the importance of taking rest - not just during the summer but on a daily basis. Kiki has overcome many things in life - her mother died when she was 13, she suffered from burnout at work and is a cancer survivor. In this episode she shares some reflections on these life events and also how she in...
2021-07-0641 min
Life Beyond The Numbers#49 A Sense of Belonging - Jenny Ashmore"Teams are built on how tense moments are handled." Jenny Ashmore
Jenny Ashmore and I chat about the similarities between business and sports especially when it comes to high-performance. Jenny feels that there are some profound techniques we can learn from sport that can easily translate into the workplace - how goals are set, fostering a sense of belonging, dealing with tensions and stress and setting team standards. Safety and feeling safe as humans, individually and as part of a team, comes up a number of times during our conversation. As do the stories we tel...
2021-06-2941 min
Life Beyond The Numbers#48 Baby Steps - Rebecca Cheetham
"It's going to be hard to form a habit, but once you do it becomes non-negotiable and that shifts things for you. But like you said, baby steps, baby steps, add in small little things everyday." Rebecca Cheetham.
Can you live a life where you feel good about it? Can you wake up in the morning and feel positive about what you're going to do that day? Can you build strong relationships? Can you enjoy yourself? Rebecca and I chat about what we might believe we should do and the choices we have in our lives. R...
2021-06-2244 min
Life Beyond The Numbers#47 Social Glue - Steve Haines"So, I want you to be a sommelier to your body! But to do that we have to practice. You start with really fundamentals. How do I know what joy is?" Steve Haines.
Steve's fourth book, Touch is Really Strange, was released in April 2021. Steve explains the science of touch. We talk about how in social groups where there's an equality touch is supportive and helps the process of working as a team and clearly in work situations that can be useful. Steve says we can rediscover our sense of safety and agency through safe to...
2021-06-1543 min
Life Beyond The Numbers#46 Being Bold - Lọ́lá Béjidé"It's not about where you start. It's about the potential you show others that will determined where you finish." Lọ́lá Béjidé
Lọ́lá is an early career strategist and we talk about how, as you navigate your career, do you figure out the best way to step up and stand out with your skills, talents, potential, and you demonstrate it all. We cover the difference between culture fit and culture add, promoting diversity, moving from 'fantasy land' to 'reality land' and how to know as a manager, leader or employer that you are actually equip...
2021-06-0852 min
Life Beyond The Numbers#45 Wellbeing Toolbox - Nicholas Jemetta"...understanding your strengths and also understanding other people's strengths is the key to effective communication, effective relationships and avoiding some of the conflict that can happen, especially in the workplace..." Nicholas Jemetta.
Nicholas Jemetta is merging his two worlds of digital technology geekery and mental health and wellbeing. In 2018 he shared his mental health story and it awakened something in him. He took that energy into the workplace and started to lobby for change by being proactive and taking responsibility. During lockdown he started #fancydress4mentalhealth and on June 11th (2021) he will wear his 100th fan...
2021-06-0140 min
Life Beyond The Numbers#44 Preparation & Practice - Carlos Gimeno"I think that's a key component of public speaking, a key component of communication and a key component of confidence because the more you listen in the better your answers and your statements become the more powerful and influential and respected you become." Carlos Gimeno.
Carlos Gimeno thinks there are two things that everyone should know about before they join the workplace, yet no school or university teaches them, one is financial literacy and the other is public speaking skills. Public speaking is something we all do all the time - every time we speak wi...
2021-05-2545 min
Happier At Work®66: Workplace Psychological Safety with Susan Ní ChríodáinSusan Ní Chríodáin founded Beyond the Numbers to work with teams and individuals in organisations who recognise that putting people first generates the greatest return. Her experience and business acumen stems from a wide variety of commercial and non-profit roles.
Putting people first and looking beyond the numbers is a significant contributor to happiness in the workplace. In this episode, Aoife and Susan explore how Psychological Safety at work has a profound impact on the work environment - it enhances trust, creation, innovation, and performance.
Key points covered in the show include:
- An insight into Susan’s caree...
2021-05-211h 00
Life Beyond The Numbers#43 Putting People First - Luke Kyte"And I know those results have really just materialised from that dynamic of putting people first." Luke Kyte.
Those results include:
Team retention: 97% team retention over the last two years.
Revenue & profit: increased 40% and 60% respectively
Annual leave: Since the introduction of unlimited holiday, annual leave has increased an average of 37% in the team
Sickness: per person has dropped to 0.46 days a year – the UK ave is 4.1. This demonstrates the effectiveness of policies that put people first.
Luke Kyte speaks openly about a cultural revolution at Reddico. In the early years the focus was on creating a fun place to w...
2021-05-1846 min
Life Beyond The Numbers#42 Metamorphosis - John Shinnick"And I'm interested, fascinated by, both how businesses work and how people work in them. And it's great to see things move and to see some things go back two steps before they go forward". John Shinnick.
John Shinnick dropped out of university to get away from accounting. He wanted to work with people - but he found his way back to accountancy after a cousin of his told him: "Numbers don't make decisions. People do." His cousin also said he would spend most of his time dealing with people's fears and aspirations. John kept getting drawn back to how peo...
2021-05-1143 min
Life Beyond The Numbers#41 Workplace Compilation - VariousThis week I've collated some stories related to the workplace from episodes that went out between January and April 2021.
First up is Kevin Ashley, #32 Serial Entrepreneur, who shares his secret to building a successful business
Next Gib Bulloch, #28 Breakthrough, talks about dignity at work and shares a cautionary tale
Next Megan Haupt, #25 Your Career Story, shares her unique perspective on how to overcome workplace horror stories
Next Glin Bayley, #39 H.E.A.R.T., speaks about the work environment and also how to figure out what you want to do
Then John Collins, #26 Guinness & Tea, tells us that i...
2021-05-0434 min
Life Beyond The Numbers#40 ....and BreatheDo you ever think about your breath or breathing? Do you notice when it quickens or slows?
This week's episode is a little different as we share three breathing techniques kindly prepared for us by Gavin Andrews, MD of HeartMath UK. Gavin was a guest a couple of weeks ago, episode #38. There is a short bit for me first on my own awareness of breath and then I briefly introduce the three techniques. But Gavin provides an intro to each during the recording also.
The three techniques in this episode are:
Heart Focu...
2021-04-2735 min
Life Beyond The Numbers#39 H.E.A.R.T. - Glin Bayley"I think if we did ask each other: Does what you do make you happy? It does stop someone in their tracks to go well, why am I pursuing a certain path? Is this the right reason for me to pursue it? Because I think we're much better in delivering our gifts and talents when we're in a space of happiness and joy." Glin Bayley.
Glin Bayley went into accounting and finance because it was something she was really good at it. Over time she began to recognise that finance didn't feed her soul. A s...
2021-04-2052 min
Life Beyond The Numbers#38 Wisdom & Technology - Gavin Andrews"Coherence is not relaxation. It's a state between activation and relaxation, which is optimal for your performance. So you feel calm and focused. You can do stuff. You can think, you can engage in things." Gavin Andrews.
Gavin Andrews introduces us to the HeartMath system - a system that combines technology with ancient wisdom. We talk about the techniques of connecting with our own hearts to tap into the powerful information source; how to breathe in a slow, deep and balanced way and about emotional self-regulation - as Gavin says being human is about emotion an...
2021-04-1355 min
Life Beyond The Numbers#37 Follow Your Heart - Paul Stephenson"I think we are on the precipice of releasing and freeing ourselves from the shackles of conventional capitalism. I call it Life Capitalism." Paul Stephenson.
Paul Stephenson is a hearts and minds individual, a visionary and work-life architect. He shares his vision for the work-life transition that is unfolding from the world of being a slave to the spreadsheet where the corporate environment took you hostage to the world where we are open-hearted and open-minded and the new rich is not about money but about appreciation. Instead of following our egos we will follow our he...
2021-04-0655 min
Life Beyond The Numbers#36 Three Pillars to Thrive - Talita Ferreira"...understand how powerful the people dimension is and how investing more time in it, more growth and development, more attention to it earlier you can up your game and you can do much more successful projects and bigger projects." Talita Ferreira.
Talita's passion is to change the business world one analytical professional at a time and starts us off with a story about how she learned to adapt her style for individuals and learnt to be vulnerable and trust her team and specialists. Talita has recently undertaken a global leadership hypothesis project and interviewed a diverse cohort of individuals to l...
2021-03-3041 min
Life Beyond The Numbers#35 Health, Wealth & Happiness - Tony Pound"We're into that instant gratification. Like we see what we want and we want it now. But the reality is for things to last, it takes a bit of time to get there." Tony Pound.
Tony Pound takes an holistic approach to his work. As well as planning for a financially resilient future he can help people become healthier so that enjoy their health with some wealth or their wealth with their health! We talk about planning and how to create a vision for your future. Working out what you want to do is the im...
2021-03-2343 min
Life Beyond The Numbers#34 People & Money - Rebecca McCaffry"If you think about staff engagement, staff satisfaction. Well, if those people aren't happy, they're going to leave. Same with your customers. People are not going to hang around, so they're not financial indicators, but they do have financial impact eventually." Rebecca McCaffry.
Rebecca and I talk about people and money being the lifeblood of business with a focus on the people side. The language of accounting can be austere and finance people might be seen as unhelpful if they are unbiased, unemotional and unflappable. But that is changing and many are seen as navigators, c...
2021-03-1633 min
Life Beyond The Numbers#33 High Performing Teams - Billy O'Connor"All your problems come with a head and two arms and two legs. Then you have two people coming together and you have four people coming together and you can square the number of problems and challenges because you've different personalities, you have different attitudes and you have different backgrounds." Billy O'Connor.
Billy explains to me why he sees himself as a 'why merchant' and as someone who makes it easy for people to effect a change in their business. We cover Herzberg's motivating factors and how Hewlett Packard's discovered five common traits of their hi...
2021-03-0951 min
Life Beyond The Numbers#32 Serial Entrepreneur - Kevin Ashley"From a business point of view, you need to have the willingness to continuously learn and remain open and then be willing to pivot. And this is where I see a lot of people fail so often as they fixate on a framework of what success looks like to them. And when they come up to a blocking point they don't know how to just pivot and change". Kevin Ashley.
Kevin Ashley is one of the founders of Java House, an East African coffee house and diner. We talk about the early days of Java H...
2021-03-0237 min
Life Beyond The Numbers#31 Showing Your Personality - Robin Kiziak"We've got a lot to offer beyond just giving a set of accounts to somebody. And it comes down to the fundamental fact that we're all people at the end of the day and it's all about relationships and building those relationships..." Robin Kiziak.
Robin and I discuss storytelling - with words and numbers. Robin illustrates the power of bringing numbers to life with a story about why a particular set of numbers (6, 2015, 15 & 107,398) is important to him. We talk about breaking down barriers at work, bringing your personality to the table and he shares where t...
2021-02-2339 min
Life Beyond The Numbers#30 Leading Change - Lisa LLoyd"When people are able to pause and are given permission to pause by their leaders and they know the necessity of pausing, in terms of their brain being so much more productive and you'll be so much more engaged and so much more successful after a pause. And then that's where the magic happens." Lisa LLoyd.
Lisa and I talk about putting the human factor back into workplaces and treating people like people. We talk about the return on investment (ROI) of investing in staff and how a one-size approach does not fit all. We d...
2021-02-1637 min
Life Beyond The Numbers#29 Connect the Dots - Andi Lonnen"The very first training course I delivered I thought this is it. I have actually found my thing. This is what I was put on this planet to do. I just cannot explain the explosion of happiness inside when I'm delivering training and just working so hard with different individuals". Andi Lonnen
Andi Lonnen chats to me about how she discovered her love for training and how she infuses that training with energy and enthusiasm. She talks about training non-finance people to help them understand the story behind the numbers and training finance people to communicate t...
2021-02-0929 min
Life Beyond The Numbers#28 Breakthrough - Gib Bulloch"Businesses are fairly unhappy places to be at the moment. People, young people, bright people who've done everything right, who've got a good education they've paid through the noses for, who've worked hard and they've got into these elite organisations and are saying "Is this it? Is this what I want to do?" They look 30 years ahead 40 years ahead to the bosses and say, "Is that what I want to be?"" Gib Bulloch.
Gib talks about how he began to question his 'lovely yuppie lifestyle' in London, in the late 90s, having done very "well" f...
2021-02-0244 min
Life Beyond The Numbers#27 Healthy High Performance - Sheila Walsh"We're really focused on the core fundamentals of organisational clarity, communicating that clarity, over-communicating that clarity, minimising confusion and politics. And when that's present, then you have the good stuff. And for me, the good stuff is that you're creating that environment for people to flourish and thrive." Sheila Walsh.
Sheila Walsh takes me through the tumultuous year in a tech company in the travel sector. We talk about keeping teams engaged when everyone is remote working and about the lack of spontaneity in a remote environment. Sheila talks about what it is like to wo...
2021-01-2632 min
Life Beyond The Numbers#26 Guinness & Tea - John Collins"We have a very progressive organisation that values its people, but the most satisfying and motivating thing about an organisation like Pukka is the genuine feeling that we are making decisions for the right reasons." John Collins
John Collins saw his accounting qualification as a passport and had opportunities to travel with Diageo - he says he was a 'walking stereotype' (Irish, red-hair and works for Guinness). We discuss working out what you really want to do and exploring extrinsic and intrinsic motivators. John tells me about his awakening on joining Pukka Herbs in terms of...
2021-01-1947 min
Life Beyond The Numbers#25 Your Career Story - Megan Haupt"A professional summary and professional summaries, in general, tend to be these sort of really abstract statements." "There's no sort of connection to the human being. It could be anybody. I'm like, well, let's try to find a way where we can actually write these professional summaries that relate to the human being on this piece of paper." Megan Haupt.
Megan Haupt started career storytelling as an exercise to help people write their professional summaries. We talk about how working takes up a third of your life and many career paths are not linear but t...
2021-01-1242 min
Life Beyond The Numbers#24 Changing the Status Quo - Gillian Fawcett"We are, the first international mentoring scheme for public finance, the first, scheme to be totally virtual for public financial by management." "I see public finance by women as being a powerful network to try and influence the status quo and change the status quo." Gillian Fawcett.
Throughout her career, Gillian has focused on making public services more efficient and more effective on a local, national and international level. We discuss the impact she wants to have on the world and the impetus for starting Public Finance by Women. The organisation has two key objectives (1) to s...
2021-01-0540 min
Life Beyond The Numbers#23 Work-Life Magic - VariousIn this episode, I've pulled together some insights from guests on 'work-life balance' - what is work-life balance, how do you know you have it, does it exist and more.
I introduce the episode with an overview of 'body-budgeting' - a phrase coined by neuroscientist and psychologist Lisa Feldman Barrett. She is the author of 'How Emotions Are Made: The Secret Life of The Brain'.
This episode includes:
John Hayns (#14) on attuning to your body and work-life magic
Kim Bowden (#17) on a work-life balance 'aha' moment
Gary Cox (#4 & #5) on the n...
2020-12-2934 min
Life Beyond The Numbers#22 Work-Life Insights - VariousThis week's episode includes a selection of insights from seven of the first 21 episodes.
We start off with stories of how we can compromise ourselves at work from Mags de Valois (#13) and Mark Samowitz (#21).
Then a story from Helen Joy (#6) about how your personal life influences your work life but also how you can learn from good and bad experiences.
Marcus Thompson (#15) tells us the secret to flourishing at work.
Sue Rosen (#1) talks about how her head was full of the shoulds, the importance of reflection and how leadership is changing.
2020-12-2237 min
Life Beyond The Numbers#21 Empowering People - Mark Samowitz"And if you don't understand the language and the financial impacts of the words being used in that language you're completely in the dark, right? No wonder people are dead scared and have this fear. So we want to remove the fear of the language and empower people to speak finance confidently." Mark Samowitz.
We chat about the fear non-finance people often experience when it comes to working with accounting and finance teams or when they deal with numbers. Although non-finance people can be completely intimidated, threatened or scared by financial jargon they might 'nod and...
2020-12-1537 min
Life Beyond The Numbers#20 Happy at Work - Aoife O’Brien"I have been in situations in the workplace where it was just a toxic environment. How do we protect workers from entering into that type of scenario? How do we help companies to make better decisions when it comes to hiring to help them to retain staff, to create a better and more collaborative environment. But also how do we match?" "How do you find that match between a person and an organisation?" Aoife O'Brien
Are you happy at work? In this week's episode Aoife and I explore the concept of happiness at work - gl...
2020-12-0849 min
Life Beyond The Numbers#19 Cross-Cultural Contexts - John Cammack"If we can understand other people's culture, whether it's racial culture or national or organisational we are then in a better place to start making those bridges and making sure that we can work together effectively and actually benefiting from other people's cultures and understanding." John Cammack.
John began his career in International Development with the job title Disasters Accountant and his latest book, Cross-Cultural Organizational and Financial Training, is where anthropology meets accounting. He shares the differences when communicating with 'high-context' to 'low-context' cultures. We talk about the importance of building trust, saving face and th...
2020-12-0146 min
Life Beyond The Numbers#18 Letting Go - John Purkiss"I realised, okay, so I've done all this left-brain clever stuff, you know, like accounting, finance, languages, strategy, marketing, dah, dah, dah. I feel suicidal. So clearly I am missing something. My father was in sales, my brother is in sales and I realised there were people who were far less academic than me who were leading much happier lives and were not trying to kill themselves." John Purkiss.
John finds himself drawn to anything that helps change the world in a positive way including in business, photography and writing books. Working as a headhunter Joh...
2020-11-2449 min
Life Beyond The Numbers#17 ”Queen of Finance” - Kim Bowden"...one of the days the security guard said to me, "why weren't you in on Sunday?" It was like, Oh God, I know I haven't got this right." "...the last couple of months have shown us that spending time, doing things with people you love and being able to take time to read books and go for walks ..... makes you more productive at work." Kim Bowden.
Kim got into accountancy by accident and has gained considerable experience in both the commercial and non-profit world despite saying she still doesn't know what she wants to do when...
2020-11-1732 min
Life Beyond The Numbers#16 The Key to Unlock Career Progression - Elaine Lynch"And it's a real skill to be able to distill your thoughts and message: what is it that I want to say, what structure is best to put around this and then how you say it. And it's one of those things in life that can be easier said than done." Elaine Lynch.
If you are curious about how you can improve your communication skills this episode is for you. Elaine and I talk about Toastmasters International - the organisation where leaders are made. She explains how joining a club is a supportive, enjoyable and afford...
2020-11-1043 min
Life Beyond The Numbers#15 Doing Simple Things Consistently - Marcus Thompson"Listen, question your assumptions and start with thinking the best of people." Marcus Thompson.
Marcus worked with Oxfam in many roles including emergency and humanitarian response. Marcus speaks about deploying to Cambodia in 1979 and being in Ethiopia in 1984. We discuss the individual traits best suited to those who respond to emergencies as well as the need for accountants on emergency response teams. Marcus shares his view on what is needed to connect with people, whatever the context, and what good management looks like. He also fondly recalls his time in India, at 18, as a VSO voluntee...
2020-11-0343 min
Life Beyond The Numbers#14 The MAGIC Formula - John Hayns"How can I create a checklist on being kind? How can I ask in each situation I find myself in, how can I be magic in this situation?" "How can I apply the magic formula? How can I be magic in this situation?" John Hayns.
John and I talk about how important influencing skills are as a magician and in life. He explains his philosophy of kindness as a choice. Magic, for example, is not about trying to put one over on people, but about lifting people up and trying to make their lives better. It i...
2020-10-2747 min
Life Beyond The Numbers#13 Never Think You’re Reaching Too High - Margaret de Valois"As you go through your career you learn what you're good at. And one of the things I've been very lucky to have been able to do is to choose the things that I'm good at and leave behind the things that I'm not so good at and have the confidence to say, do you know what actually that's not really my bag". Margaret de Valois.
Mags and I talk about how sometimes we don't make choices in life but just do what's put in front of us. But how much more rewarding it is to make act...
2020-10-2041 min
Life Beyond The Numbers#12 Building Communities - Javed Bobat"Everyone seems to have some negativity, some frustration, some disappointment, even at times, anger towards recruiters. And when you repeatedly hear that, pretty much every conversation, you have to take a step back, which I did a few years ago..." "And that's where I've made the decision over the last 12, 18 months to research plan and then bring to market something that I hope will bring some humanity back within an industry where I feel it is lacking". Javed Bobat.
Javed and I discuss his three-part ethical recruitment model for finance and accounting professionals that benefits the can...
2020-10-1344 min
Life Beyond The Numbers#11 Simplify, Measure & Strengthen - Sarah Whale"...whether it's your job, your business, your relationships, your personal finances....the decisions you make right now - what's the impact on people, planet and economy? And that's effectively what sustainability is." Sarah Whale.
Sarah Whale founder of Profit Impact, and voice of reason, talks about sustainability in plain English. She shines a light on 5 Pillars for an organisation: Finance & Governance, Communities, Environment, Employees and Customers. She talks about 'Sarah's Sustainability Snapshot' and why her mantra is 'Simplify, Measure & Strengthen'. We also discuss B Corp and UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Sarah Whale is an experience...
2020-10-0638 min
Life Beyond The Numbers#10 This Feeling Business - Steve Haines“Feelings aren't a beacon of eternal truth. They're a negotiation. They're always real because they are a perception inside of you, but it doesn't mean that they are accurate, useful, or true they're things that need to be negotiated. We can reframe them and construct them differently.” Steve Haines
Steve Haines takes us in-depth on the transformative power of learning to connect with our bodies with the use of some great metaphors. He explains that the biggest decision we're making in a moment is “Am I safe or not?” Steve explains that everybody gets triggered but we can le...
2020-09-2932 min
Life Beyond The Numbers#9 More Than the Scorer - Jerry Harris“I think that phrase is probably the tipping point where I was saying to myself, ok, I am not going to just keep the score I'm gonna make the numbers happen.” Jerry Harris
Jerry began his career with KPMG and tells us about various roles as an FD, a FD-COO hybrid, a commercial director and as a Non-Exec. He explains the importance of the human touch in recruitment and managing first impressions when you are interviewing. He shares his thoughts on three types of finance people and how accounting is a fantastic way to formulate a career. He al...
2020-09-2234 min
Life Beyond The Numbers#8 Mentorship - Andrew Codd“We put a lot of pressure ourselves to always be right and feel like we need to know the answer. And actually sometimes it's okay not to know the answer. And I think that's a sign of strength as well as to put your hand up say “I don't know” but I I'll go find out or I'll ask someone to help; that’s strength.” Andrew Codd.
Andrew tells us of an amazing gift he received early in his career and how his mission is to share it with others. One of the motivators to starting the podcast...
2020-09-1536 min
Life Beyond The Numbers#7 Connecting & Communicating - Clay Moffatt“Every human needs to have some form of connection, a deep connection with someone, whether that's your family, whether that's friends, we all need that kind of connection”. Clay Moffat.
Clay tells us about being a delinquent in school and his early career. And then an incident cost him a promotion and got him kicked out of his division. He began to reflect on what he contributed to that situation, and others, and there was only one common denominator. He went on to explore different methodologies on how to communicate with people but hypnosis taught him how to c...
2020-09-0838 min
Life Beyond The Numbers#6 Learning How to Manage - Helen Joy“Give your people, the opportunity to do what they're best at, do it to the best of their abilities and the responsibility to get on and direct. And the trust to make that happen. They will bring you so much back.” Helen Joy.
Helen tells us about how in her first management role she was awful as she was afraid of being seen to be weak so she changed into this person she thought she should and for six years she was deeply unhappy in that role because it clashed with her values. When she was given...
2020-09-0137 min
Life Beyond The Numbers#4 You’re Always a Prototype of Yourself (i) - Gary Cox“I've just finished a book actually”. "I called it a Ginger Haired Underdog’s Comical Journey to the Top, although I don't know where they actually got to the top, but I've got quite near the top. I wanted summit that reflected my personality, but also had a serious message.” Gary Cox.
Gary went from being a fork-lift driver in a company to a member of the finance team. Building from his CIMA qualification he went on to work in IT, Marketing and as a Director of Business Insights. He talks about his career ladder and the importan...
2020-09-0137 min
Life Beyond The Numbers#5 You’re Always a Prototype of Yourself (ii) - Gary Cox“But what I think we've got to remember is. You’re never the finished model of anything, you know, you, you're always the sort of prototype of yourself.” “Well, people used to say that you're only good as your last job, but that sounds so negative like that. You know, you're always a prototype of yourself”. Gary Cox.
In Part II Gary and I continue our discussion on feedback and talk about managing stress and excitement. We talk about continuous learning and how the world is your oyster with a finance qualification. Gary explains his approach to work-life ba...
2020-09-0140 min
Life Beyond The Numbers#3 Proud to be an Accountant - Michelle Heer“It's always been people and numbers if I'm honest because it's very isolating to just sit and do numbers.” “Otherwise what's the point? No, one's gonna look at them if they're not for people to review and understand and take action on them.” Michelle Heer.
Michelle tells us why she is proud to be an Accountant and about the view through the window to a business. She describes her transition from FD to MD and how making impactful decisions is quite liberating. She provides 3 pieces of advice to an FD supporting an MD in a crisis situation a...
2020-09-0131 min
Life Beyond The Numbers#2 Taking Things Head On - David Greenaway“We all have the power to change everything. Even if circumstances are forced upon us, you still have the power to change and move forward and get where you want to go.” David Greenaway.
David Greenaway dispels the salesperson stereotype and explains the importance of the finance and sales team having a good marriage. He reveals the most daunting aspects of running his own business as well as how terrifying the failure of his business was ("I could barely breathe") and how he bounced back. We also discuss boundaries, the importance of open and honest conversations, no matter...
2020-09-0137 min
Life Beyond The Numbers#1 Stepping Into the Unknown - Sue Rosen“We think it's just going to happen or that we have to accept what is already there rather than crafting and creating what it is we want.” Sue Rosen.
Sue Rosen shares her motivation to becoming an accountant and how different strands of interest from childhood influence what she does today. She explains the importance of knowing what you want, not only having a head full of "the shoulds" but being open to taking a step into the unknown. We talk about the traits, strength and flexibility required to be a leader today and some practices...
2020-09-0135 min
#SITN Strength in the Numbers Show#230: An Image Make-over for Finance and Accounting with Susan Ní Chríodáin"70% of people think they are not qualified enough to do the job and that others can do it better,”
according to our guest mentor Susan Ní Chríodáin who touches on a key fear for finance professionals, “imposter syndrome,” and, together we deconstruct for today's episode:
- Areas of conflict in the business where non-finance people are afraid of numbers;
- How an image make-over for finance teams and leaders can lead to a cool, rewarding and amazing career;
- Tips for Finance and Accounting Professional to move from backseat to the front row of a business; and
- Ways to c...
2020-02-1337 min