Not many senior executives can credit pearl diving and working on a superyacht as key stepping stones to leadership success. But for Henley alumna Melanie Christopher, Executive Vice President and Chief Sales Officer at Capgemini, saying yes to adventure at the start of her career led to a series of developmental S curves which prepared her for senior leadership roles.

“There's nothing like doing a dangerous job like pearl diving to teach you the true meaning of teamwork.”

In the first episode of our second series of the Leadership Unlocked podcast, Melanie speaks to Professor Bernd Vogel, Director of the Henley Centre for Leadership, about the experiences that shaped her career and the importance of authenticity and trust in business success.

With a belief that women are over mentored and under sponsored, and that leadership doesn’t only take place at the top, the candid conversation delves into the importance of leaving the ladder behind for other to climb.

“I've made sure that in every single role I've been in, I leave the ladder behind. And if that ladder gets wobbly when people are walking up it, I'm first down the bottom holding it steady for others.” 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.