Empowered Mindset

What does it really mean to lead with empathy—especially when life rewrites your story? It’s Jamie’s personal story that makes this conversation unforgettable. After experiencing sight loss, he shares how learning to accept help transformed his independence, deepened his empathy, and reshaped how he supports others—especially leaders managing pressure, people, and performance in the “squeezed middle.”

In this powerful episode of The Empowered Podcast, I'm joined by Dr. Jamie Ward, Head of Talent & Learning at Channel 4, to talk about human-first leadership, resilience, and the kind of authenticity you can’t fake. Jamie’s career journey is extraordinary—from selling banknote paper across the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe during a period of huge historical change, to shaping leaders inside one of the UK’s most iconic broadcasters.

Together Jamie and I explore:

What empathy actually looks like at work (and what to avoid)

Why people don’t need “fixing”—they need to be heard

The leadership power of coaching skills, open questions, and presence

How Channel 4 uses real employee stories to build genuinely empathetic leaders

Resilience lessons from running a half marathon with a guide runner—“running into the void”

A joyful closing on what genre Jamie’s life story would be (plus his dream actor!)

I'm honoured to be joined in this episode by senior leader, coach and self-confessed “hugger” Ian Walker. We explore what values-led, human leadership really looks like.

Ian shares how a painful boarding school experience shaped his commitment to connection and equality, his unconventional career pivot from operations into global talent development at Salesforce, and why travel and cultural diversity are powerful antidotes to fear and nationalism.

Ian reflects on privilege, fairness, conscious leadership, and the quiet courage it takes to choose purpose, vulnerability and service over ego and power. This is a warm, thoughtful conversation about legacy, parenting, politics, and the small everyday actions we can all take to build a fairer, kinder world.

In this episode, we (among many other topics) dive into:

How a difficult childhood experience turned Ian into a lifelong “hugger” and connector

The values of integrity, equality and fairness that underpin his leadership

His career pivot from operations into global learning and talent development at Salesforce

The role of travel and cultural diversity in challenging nationalism and widening perspective

What Jacinda Ardern taught him about vulnerability, courage and legacy in leadership

Simple, everyday ways we can all contribute to a kinder, more equal world

Enjoy!

Super excited to be joined by a guest who has personally empowered me to become a better parent. Susie Good is a highly experienced emotional intelligence coach whose services are much sought after to help children who may be experiencing some tricky times. She transforms the lives of children and families and offers practical strategies to those who are struggling, enabling them to feel more empowered and in control.

This episode provides a treasure trove of wisdom about how to nurture confident, resilient, and emotionally intelligent kids. Suzy’s compassionate approach will remind you that change takes time, effort, and patience—and that your role as a parent or caregiver is to be a steady, supportive guide.

Tune in now to learn practical tools that will help you create a safe, connected environment where children can thrive, learn responsibility, and feel truly empowered.

What an episode 9...meet my incredible guest -Jordan Stachini: The ROI-Obsessed, Guinness-Loving, No Fluff Marketer who is leading the charge in (authentic!) personal branding. 

Listen in for our discussion on a tonne of meaty topics - from how to live fearlessly, knowing your purpose to disruptive marketing strategies and practical tips on getting unstuck (whether personally, professionally or both!), embracing change, and prioritising happiness.

Jordan's story is a testament to the power of authenticity, discipline, and daring to be different. Whether you're feeling stuck or simply need a dose of motivation, her wisdom is gold.

Tune in for candid conversations, big lessons, and some seriously inspiring ideas for living and leading with purpose. 

When you align what you do with who you are at your core, you create lasting change.”  - a beautiful quote from this week's podcast guest JL Moura. JL is an incredible leader, executive coach, and someone I deeply respect and have personally been hugely inspired by.

In this episode of Empowered Mindset, JL opens up about his journey — from leading Fortune 500 companies to finding purpose in helping others awaken their true potential. 

Some of the many topics discussed:

If you're looking for a dose of authenticity and practical wisdom on leading with purpose, I think you'll find this episode valuable.

Enjoy!

In this latest episode, I had the pleasure of chatting with Doreen Purnell, CSO at Scaleway, a trailblazing European cloud and AI solutions provider. With a stellar background at Bloomberg, Facebook, and DataIQ, Doreen shares her insights on transforming organisations, building high-performance teams, and embracing innovation.

Highlights of our conversation include:

Doreen’s growth-mindset, authenticity, and adaptability make her a truly inspiring leader. Her advice? - Be bold, stay curious, and never be afraid to "ask for forgiveness"—the most successful often do.

Enjoy!

In this episode, I had the great pleasure of sitting down with Mike Silverberg, a seasoned HR leader, coach, and founder of Silver Lining. Tune in for a raw and energising conversation on how to lead with courage, bounce back stronger, and build teams that truly thrive. We also examine ways to navigate change, overcome setbacks, and build resilient leadership skills—super timely in today’s fast-paced world.

You'll also hear inspiring stories from Mike, from his career pivots, to working with LEGO, and relocating to Amsterdam.

As always you'll hear actionable insights on leadership, personal growth, and thriving through adversity.

Enjoy!

What a guest, what an episode! On Episode 6 I'm joined by the immeasurable Wendy Gardner who is the founder of Ohana Foundation, an organisation which combines corporate rigour with disarming warmth, helping leaders and teams move from surviving to thriving.

In this episode we discover how Wendy's experience working at retail giants and tech firms taught her how to navigate boardrooms and break barriers, but it was her daughter's attempt to end her life that transformed her perspective entirely—showing her that not everything needs solving.

Some of the key topics we dive into:

Enjoy!

Why is it so hard to create real change in diversity, equity, and inclusion?

This week, I’m excited to chat to the incredible Richard Cootie, a DEI specialist and anti-racism advocate, who has dedicated his life to empowering others and making systemic change.

Richard’s journey is an inspiring one, and in this episode, we dive deep into the heart of diversity, equity, and inclusion, with key insights on how we can all take action to drive real change:

In this episode, we discuss:

Richard’s perspective is something we all need to hear, especially as we look at the real-world impact of inclusion, equity, and social justice. If you’re ready to get inspired and learn how to take action in your own sphere of influence, listen now!

What an episode! This time we're joined by one of the most inspirational and influential leaders I've ever had the great pleasure of working with and for, Jayne Howson. Jayne is currently SVP Global Head of Learning and Development at ServiceNow. In her previous life she enjoyed incredible success in marketing, sales and enablement leadership roles before finding her true calling for, in her own words, “transforming workplaces into a vibrant playground for fun and growth”.

So much wisdom shared and ground covered in this episode including:

As you'll hear in the episode, Jayne is a masterful storyteller who has achieved the impossible many times and also makes everyone she engages with feel heard, understood and empowered which is no easy feat. Enjoy!