Distinctive Leaders

Welcome to the Distinctive Leaders podcast, for the final episode of our first series.

To finish the series in style, we’re bringing you something a little bit different from our usual format. Across the previous nine episodes we’ve been treated to so many compelling stories, sharp insights and brilliant advice from some of the most inspiring leaders in the business world.

For this episode, we’ve bought together some of the most impactful and insightful parts of the series. You’ll hear from guests including:

- Richard Fenning, Partner at Manchester Square Partners

- Ros Renel, Group CCO at Lloyds Banking Group

- Tracy Clarke, the former CEO of Standard Chartered

- Kenton Cool, renowned Mountaineer

- Temi Ofong, Global Head of Customer Channels at HSBC

- Lisa Gordon, Chairman at Cenkos Securities

They discuss what’s driven their success, what major challenges they’ve overcome in their professional and personal lives, and how, as a distinctive leader, you can get the best from your teams.

Sadly, we couldn’t fit all our series one guests into the show, but listening back in preparation for this episode, it’s striking how much knowledge and guidance they’ve shared with our listeners.

Of course, if you’d like to find out more about their career journeys or explore all the people we’ve spoken to during this series, the full episodes are all available to listen to whenever suits you.

We’d also love to hear your thoughts about the episode, so please do let us know. And if you want to get to know any of our featured guests a little better, visit their LinkedIn profiles:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardfenning1/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/roselyne-renel-ab22955/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracy-clarke-6b850476/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenton-cool-687b06a/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/temi-ofong-45a70b1/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-gordon-362a3329/

Welcome to the Distinctive Leaders podcast. Today we’re joined by Temi Ofong; a true leader in international finance and investment.

Temi’s globe-trotting career has seen him take on senior positions in the UK and Africa with big-hitting organisations such as Credit Suisse, Barclays, Absa and now HSBC. During this time, Temi has successfully embraced changed and led multiple teams to deliver impactful transformations in the financial services sector.

During this episode, he discusses the influences that have shaped his career and touches on the challenges of being a black, gay man in an industry not renowned for its diversity. As well as this, our conversation covers a range of topics including:

• How financial organisations can do more to support people from diverse backgrounds to thrive in the sector.

• What prompted him to take up a position in South Africa, and the cultural workplace differences this entailed.

• And how he bounced back from a life changing incident while he was living in Johannesburg.

Temi’s unique personal experiences and the calmness he has exhibited in a number of testing situations, are truly inspiring. His positive mindset and authenticity are two of the reasons he is such a distinctive leader.

If you want to learn how to adapt to change and build successful teams, Temi has insights you’ll be keen to listen to.

We’d love to hear what you think of this episode so please do let us know, and if you want to get to know Temi a little better, visit his LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/temi-ofong-45a70b1

Welcome to the Distinctive Leaders podcast. Today we’re joined by Lisa Gordon; Chairman of Cenkos Securities and previously one of the youngest female board members in England.

Lisa’s incredible career journey is a testament to the power of curiosity. She believes wholeheartedly in asking questions and gaining knowledge, and has been the beneficiary of her naturally inquisitive mind, often switching lanes and always rising through the ranks.

In this episode, Lisa looks back over her life and career, and discusses her experiences as a woman working in the typically male-dominated world of financial services. During our conversation, we cover some really interesting areas, including:

• How moving around a lot as a child has given her the ability to go into new situations and make them work.

• Why you should get as much exposure to other industries as you can before you settle on a career path.

• And how even in a heavily regulated industry like finance, you can still make your work fun.

If you want to find out more about what it takes to be a great leader, you’ll find this chat with Lisa inspiring.

We’d love to hear what you think of this episode so please do let us know, and if you want to get to know Lisa a little better, visit her LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-gordon-362a3329/

Welcome to the Distinctive Leaders podcast. Today we’re joined by Kenton Cool; mountaineer, leadership expert and coach.

Considered one of the world’s top high-altitude mountaineers, Kenton has reached the summit of Everest an incredible 15 times. His experiences have given him a deep insight into what motivates people and the resilience needed to succeed.

In this episode, Kenton discusses what has driven him throughout his career and what it takes to be a truly distinctive leader in the extreme, sometimes life-threatening, circumstances that he has often found himself in. During our conversation, we cover topics including:

• How his relatively humble upbringing influenced his outlook on life and inspired his love of the outdoors.

• Why small failures are a vital part of any journey, whether you’re climbing mountains or carving out your career.

• And how to lead people effectively in risky environments when panic sets in.

Kenton brings his truly unique perspective on the human condition, shining a light on how to achieve success, whether you’re on the side of a mountain or in the board room.

If you want to learn how to bounce back from adversity and take setbacks in your stride, Kenton provides some truly inspiring advice.

We’d love to hear what you think of this episode so please do let us know, and if you want to get to know Kenton a little better, visit his LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenton-cool-687b06a/

And for a more in-depth exploration of his hair-raising adventures, take a look at his book, One Man’s Everest: The Autobiography of Kenton Cool.

Growing up on Hayling Island in Hampshire, Sarah understood the value of community from an early age. But rather than feeling isolated like many who live on an island, she had a natural curiosity to explore the wider world.

In a career that’s taken Sarah across the globe, and into several senior HR, talent and people roles, the importance of building connections and growing relationships has never left her.

In this conversation we discuss Sarah’s career journey, how she’s overcome the challenges she’s faced along the way, and her advice for executives and their teams on what makes a distinctive leader, including:

• How finding a great mentor can help you close the gaps when looking at more senior roles.

• Why it’s important to be unafraid to ask for help when you don’t have the answer.

• And how listening to other people’s life stories can teach you so many great career lessons that you might miss out on otherwise.

If you’re climbing the leadership ladder and looking for inspiration to help you reach the top, you don’t want to miss this one.

We’d love to hear your thoughts about the episode, so please do let us know. And if you want to get to know Sarah a little better, visit her LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-morris-chartered-fcipd-1273872/

Welcome to the Distinctive Leaders podcast. Today, we’re joined by Paul Barry, Group HR Director at Rothschild & Co.

Paul’s journey from local comprehensive to Oxford University, and into a career with some of the City’s highest profile financial institutions has given him a unique perspective of the changing world of work and the impact that your background can have on your future prospects.

Over the course of this conversation, we explore Paul’s unique career journey and delve deep into what it takes to become a truly distinctive leader. Discussed many of the topics that executives across the corporate spectrum are wrestling with, including:

• Why sustainable culture change takes patience and the unorthodox starting point that many organisations forget.

• The secrets to successful leadership and why it’s as much about your team as it is about you.

• And the scale of the social mobility challenge today, what’s at the root of the problem and what executives like you can do to help change it.

Having spent more than 30 years in HR leadership roles, Paul has a fantastic perspective and some truly unique insights on what it takes to become a distinctive leader and how you can support your team to become the distinctive leaders of tomorrow.

Whether you’re looking to establish sustainable cultural change, learn the secrets to becoming a successful leader, or find out what executives like you can be doing to help overcome the social mobility challenges of today, this episode will give you the insights you’re after.

We’d love to hear your thoughts about the episode, so please do let us know. And if you want to get to know Paul a little better, visit his LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-barry-73bb354/

Welcome to episode 4 of the Distinctive Leaders Podcast, where we bring you stories, insights and advice from some of the world’s most inspiring leaders.

Today, your host Andrew Wallace is joined by Ros Renel, Group Chief Credit Officer at Lloyds Banking Group.

As you’ll hear in this episode, Ros’s journey into Banking was far from traditional. And it’s her underprivileged background that she credits as one of the driving forces behind her success. She’s living proof that it is possible to carve out a career as a distinctive leader in any industry, regardless of where you start in life.

In this episode, Andrew and Ros discuss her journey to the top, as well as many other important and inspiring topics, including:

• Why progression is only possible when you constantly challenge yourself, never stop being curious and take risks.

• Why Ros proudly champions women, girls and the underprivileged, and what needs to change to create more opportunities for them.

• And why it’s important to have passions outside of work so that you’re not defined by the 9-to-5.

So if you’re at the start of your career and feel like you’ve not yet discovered your true identity, or you’re struggling to advance in the way that you’d hoped, this episode will help you learn how to play to your strengths and become the distinctive leader you know you can be.

Let us know what you think of this episode, and if you want to get to know Ros a little better, visit her LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roselyne-renel-ab22955/

Note: During this episode, Ros discusses the difficult but important topic of abuse, and how it affected her at a young age.

Welcome to the Distinctive Leaders podcast. Today, we’re joined by Richard Fenning, leadership advisor, author and former Global CEO at risk consulting firm Control Risks.

Richard has spent nearly 30 years steering global corporations through geopolitical uncertainty and security issues, starting with a baptism of fire when he first became CEO and was asked for advice during the US-led invasion of Iraq.

In this episode, Richard discusses the incredible career journey that’s taken him all over the world, the complexities of leading a global company and what it takes to become a truly distinctive leader, including:

• Richard’s candid take on making the step up to CEO, and his advice for those about to take on the role.

• How the values of a global organisation matters more than its corporate culture and what this means for you as a business leader.

• And why humility and a willingness to learn are the two critical traits to foster if you want to be a successful leader in today’s world.

Having steered the growth of Control Risks for the best part of the last three decades, Richard is an encyclopaedia of knowledge, experience and guidance on how to shape your leadership career.

If you’re looking to uncover the secrets to becoming a distinctive leader, from someone who’s been at the top of his game for so long, you’ll want to listen to this one.

Let us know what you think of this episode, and if you want to get to know Richard a little better, visit his LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardfenning1/

And for a glimpse into the danger and intrigue that Richard has encountered every day during his risk consulting career, you should also read his new book, What on Earth Can Go Wrong: Tales from the Risk Business.

Welcome to episode 2 of the Distinctive Leaders Podcast, where we bring you stories, insights and advice from some of the world’s most inspiring leaders.

Today, your host Andrew Wallace is joined by a person who is the embodiment of authentic leadership, Tracy Clarke.

Tracy’s remarkable career journey has taken her from working as a teller in a Nottingham branch of Standard Chartered Bank, to Group Head of HR, then CEO for Europe and Americas, and now Non-Executive Director for several major organisations.

In this episode, they discuss a range of powerful and important topics, including:

• Why female leaders like Jacinda Ardern have performed particularly well during the pandemic, and the lessons the corporate world can learn from them.

• The importance of being genuinely authentic as a leader, and how acknowledging your true self can make you more relatable and likeable.

• And why mentorship can be hugely helpful with career progression, and how the real benefit can come from something much more informal than a structured mentoring programme.

Tracy is living proof that embracing what makes you “you” can accelerate your career, open doors and shape your future as a distinctive leader.

If you’re at the start of your career and wondering how to progress, or you’re currently at a crossroads and looking for advice on what to do next, this episode will show you that it’s okay not to have everything mapped out.

Let us know what you think of this episode, and if you want to get to know Tracy a little better, visit her LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracy-clarke-6b850476/

Hi, and welcome to the very first episode of the Distinctive Leaders podcast series, with me, your host Andrew Wallace.

As this is the first episode we wanted to tell you a bit about what’s to come and why we launched this series.

At Leathwaite, we get to work with distinctive leaders day in and day out, leaders who shape industries and define businesses.

As the world’s leading Executive Search & Leadership Talent specialists for Corporate Functions we’re focused on helping identify and cultivate the best talent in our industry. Distinctive talent that can go on to lead wherever they go.

To help those of you who are already distinctive leaders, as well as those of you who are looking to one day become one, we wanted to launch this podcast.

In each episode we’ll explore the incredible stories from some of the world’s most inspiring leaders, as they discuss their diverse backgrounds, their journeys to the top and the sustainable impact they’ve made on their industries.

I hope you enjoy listening to these interviews as much as I enjoyed recording them. And most importantly, I hope that they help you on your path to becoming a distinctive leader.

To kick off the series, today Andrew is joined by Dena Brumpton, one of the leading female executives within financial services.

Currently a Non-Executive Director here at Leathwaite, Dena has over 30 years’ leadership experience, most recently as CEO for Barclays Savings, Investments and Wealth Management, and previously at Citi, where she held several senior positions.

In this interview we discuss Dena’s upbringing and influences, her incredible career journey, and the qualities she believes are essential for the leaders of tomorrow, including:

• The origins of Dena’s confidence and drive, and the people who inspired her most in the early days of her banking career.

• How the corporate world has made great strides in diversity and inclusion, and what organisations can do to improve their efforts.

• And why flexible working arrangements are a blessing in disguise for business owners, operators and chief executives.

If you’re climbing the corporate ladder and looking to become a distinctive leader, this episode is packed with advice on what it takes to get there.

Dena shares so many candid stories about her career so far, and tips on how you can become a better leader, whatever the future of work looks like. You don’t want to miss it.

Let us know what you think of this episode, and if you want to get to know Dena a little better, visit her LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dena-brumpton-21013b105/