The Connected Leadership Podcast

Erasing the Line Between Personal & Professional Self with Bernard Savage

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Is the strict, invisible line between your ‘work self’ and your ‘real self’ the biggest thing holding your career back? In a world obsessed with maintaining a polished, professional veneer, being truly authentic can feel like a massive risk. But what if it’s your greatest asset?

In this fascinating episode from the archive, Andy Lopata is joined by Bernard Savage, a business development expert who built a successful

company with the unconventional name "Size 10 and a Half Boots." Andy
and Bernard look into the power of blurring the lines between the personal and professional to build stronger, more meaningful connections.

From the surprising business development power of a weekly music playlist on LinkedIn to a powerful story of how a senior partner's career

skyrocketed after sharing a deeply personal secret, this conversation is a
masterclass in authentic leadership. Discover why your hobbies are your best networking tool and how being unapologetically yourself is the ultimate client filter.

Key Takeaways From This Episode

  1. What is the incredible football story behind a company called "Size 10 and a Half Boots" and how does the name itself act as a perfect client filter?
  2. How did a senior partner's career transform the moment she was encouraged to stop hiding a core part of her identity from her colleagues?
  3. Why is posting a weekly music playlist on LinkedIn a surprisingly powerful strategy for deepening client relationships and generating new business?
  4. What can a football stadium teach leaders about building a truly diverse network that transcends job titles and social status?
  5. How do you build a connection when you have nothing in common, and when is it right to simply stop trying?

    6. 3 Actionable Insights

    1. Use Your Personality as a Filter Stop trying to be all things to all people. Be authentically yourself—whether through your company's name, your sense of humour, or your opinions.
    2. Share Your Passions Professionally: Don't hide your hobbies. Bernard's weekly music playlist on LinkedIn became a major relationship-building tool. Start sharing something you're passionate about—a book you're reading, a concert you attended, a sport you love. It provides more "hooks" for people to connect with the real you.
    3. Seek Connection in Unexpected Places: Actively build a more diverse network by leveraging your personal interests. A shared passion, like sport or music, can be a powerful bridge to connect with people from completely different backgrounds, industries, and levels of seniority, enriching your perspective and expanding your influence.

      SELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODE

      Connect with Andy Lopata: Website | Instagram | LinkedIn | X/Twitter | YouTube

      Connect with Bernard Savage: Website |LinkedIn |

      The Financial Times Guide to Mentoring

      Episode 152 Featuring Bernard Savage

       

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