In this episode of The Free Lunch Podcast, Eddie Ross sits down with David Wheldon OBE for a wide-ranging conversation about leadership, brand, and the human side of business.

David’s career spans four decades at the highest levels of global advertising and marketing, with senior roles at Coca-Cola, Vodafone, and Barclays, as well as serving as President of the World Federation of Advertisers. But this episode isn’t about job titles — it’s about what experience actually teaches you over time.

Together, Eddie and David explore what real leadership looks like when the pressure is on: the importance of clarity over charisma, why defining success early prevents failure later, and how leaders shape culture through the smallest everyday actions. They talk candidly about managing up, giving credit, delivering feedback, and understanding your impact on others.

This is a thoughtful, honest conversation for anyone who leads people, builds brands, or wants to understand how successful organisations really work behind the scenes.

🎧 Listen to the full episode for lessons drawn from experience — not theory