Everyday Leadership

Marilyn has worked as Chief Marketing Officer of EMAAR, one of the biggest real estate companies in the world as well as Head of Dubai Opera and in this episode, we talk about how confidence, not competence, has put her in such prestigious positions.

Marilyn Zakhour is the founder and CEO of Cosmic Centaurs, a consulting, training, insights, and technology company helping organizations build and reimagine the future of work and learning. She has experience in organizations of all sizes and knows how to bring the agility of small startups to big corporations and is also the host of the award-winning Who Run The World podcast.

In this conversation, Marilyn and Sope discuss topics such as:

💭 Her mum being a pioneer and a role model in Lebanon

💭Mistakes from her leadership journey and why middle management is the key to scaling

💭If There's No Solution, Then There's No Problem

💭Moving away from hyper specialisation and pulling inspiration from multiple spaces and places

💭Creating personal rules for dealing with failure and regret

💭Why emotions are messengers that need to be listened to, not suppressed

💭What "bicycle face" and "imposter syndrome" have in common

Connect with Marilyn

Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/marilynzakhour/?originalSubdomain=ae

Cosmic Centaurs - http://www.cosmiccentaurs.com/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/permanenthunger/?hl=en

If you want to learn more about this podcast, and myself, Sope Agbelusi, you can do so using any of the links below.

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In this episode, my guest is Dan Braithwaite, an award-winning Managing Director within the UKs largest independent recruitment group of companies Pertemps Network Group which is a massive accomplishment.

In this compelling episode of Everyday Leadership, we delve deep into the

A Leap from Arts to the Professional World:** Discover how our guest transitioned from the world of performing arts to the corporate landscape, using his theatrical background to create a unique impact and bring a touch of showmanship to the workplace.

The Power of Advocacy:** Hear the moving story of a mentor who risked her own reputation to support our guests career, a testament to the transformative power of belief and advocacy in leadership.

The Pressure Cooker of Recruitment:** Delve into his unexpected journey into the world of recruitment, exploring the intense pressures he faced to perform and deliver. This will resonate with anyone facing the daily demands of performance-driven industries.

The Entrepreneurial Spirit:** Understand how an entrepreneurial mindset has been a game-changer for him, empowering him to tackle any task fearlessly. He offers valuable insights on fostering this mindset within your professional life.

The Art of Likability:** Our guest shares why likability or rapport-building isn't just a 'nice-to-have' but an essential skill in leadership and how it can open doors in your career.

Accountability Kick-started by a Child:** Learn how a promise he made to his daughters led to an unexpected journey into kickboxing

Serving, not Commanding:** He shares his leadership mantra of serving his team, a refreshing take on leadership that highlights the importance of creating a supportive and engaging environment.

Connect with Dan and his organisation

If you want to learn more about this podcast, and myself, Sope Agbelusi, you can do so using any of the links below.

Connect with Me

• Website \ Instagram \ LinkedIn Twitter \ YouTube

• Email: [email protected]

Connect with Sope

Website | Youtube | Instagram | LinkedIn

Did you find this helpful? If you like this episode, please leave a review or share it with someone who could benefit from listening. 

We’re always keen to get feedback so if you have any thoughts, send us an email at [email protected]

In this episode, my guest is Dan Braithwaite, an award-winning Managing Director within the UK’s largest independent recruitment group of companies Pertemps Network Group which is a massive accomplishment.

In this compelling episode of Everyday Leadership, we delve deep into the

A Leap from Arts to the Professional World:** Discover how our guest transitioned from the world of performing arts to the corporate landscape, using his theatrical background to create a unique impact and bring a touch of showmanship to the workplace.

The Power of Advocacy:** Hear the moving story of a mentor who risked her own reputation to support our guest’s career, a testament to the transformative power of belief and advocacy in leadership.

The Pressure Cooker of Recruitment:** Delve into his unexpected journey into the world of recruitment, exploring the intense pressures he faced to perform and deliver. This will resonate with anyone facing the daily demands of performance-driven industries.

The Entrepreneurial Spirit:** Understand how an entrepreneurial mindset has been a game-changer for him, empowering him to tackle any task fearlessly. He offers valuable insights on fostering this mindset within your professional life.

The Art of Likability:** Our guest shares why likability or rapport-building isn't just a 'nice-to-have' but an essential skill in leadership and how it can open doors in your career.

Accountability Kick-started by a Child:** Learn how a promise he made to his daughters led to an unexpected journey into kickboxing

Serving, not Commanding:** He shares his leadership mantra of serving his team, a refreshing take on leadership that highlights the importance of creating a supportive and engaging environment.

Connect with Dan and his organisation 

If you want to learn more about this podcast, and myself, Sope Agbelusi, you can do so using any of the links below.

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Send us Fan Mail

In this episode, my guest is Lola Oyelayo-Pearson, a digital design and product strategist who works strategically in organisations, helping executive teams build the right cultures, practices and capabilities for their digital ambitions. With over 16 years of experience building digital products, Lola passionately advocates for user-centred thinking and design, even in the most complex technological environments.
In this compelling episode of Everyday Leadership, we delve deep into the intriguing crossroads of blockchain technology, decentralization, and how it changes ownership structures. We also bring you an honest discussion on the experience of being the dumbest person in the room. Far too often, you hear the quote, but you dont hear how it actually feels, which Lola shares and why it is not only an opportunity for growth but a necessity for leaders to be the dumbest person in this room.
Our conversation further dissects the two types of failureconceptual and executionilluminating practical steps to navigate failure and the benefits of exposing your thought process to encourage collaboration and achieve superior outcomes.
We focus on the delicate balance leaders must strike, managing the downside while incessantly striving for the upside. A critical conversation follows on transforming leadership landscapes to empower underrepresented groups, advocating the need to build 'staircases' for continuous support rather than 'ladders' of temporary opportunities. Lastly, we tackle 'the curse of the competent'the propensity for capable individuals to be overburdened with tasks. We provide actionable steps to assert boundaries, ensuring that tasks serve your purpose, not just those of others.
In this episode, we explore:

• [00:04:37] Blockchain technology enables decentralized ownership and more representation.
• [00:22:29] Exposing your thinking and how that helps create the best outcome.
• [00:28:08] Transforming the warrior mentality into an intentional alchemist
• [00:35:53] Quitting her investment banking role and choosing her values and peace of mind
• [00:46:13] Building staircases, not ladders, to combat inequality in tech
• [00:56:27] Curse of the competent
• [01:03:31] Lost in Tech podcast - a human and diverse perspective on the tech industry.
• [01:07:39] Leadership Definition

• Website \ Instagram \ LinkedIn Twitter \ YouTube
• Email: [email protected]

Connect with Sope

Website | Youtube | Instagram | LinkedIn

Did you find this helpful? If you like this episode, please leave a review or share it with someone who could benefit from listening. 

We’re always keen to get feedback so if you have any thoughts, send us an email at [email protected]

In this episode, my guest is Lola Oyelayo-Pearson, a digital design and product strategist who works strategically in organisations, helping executive teams build the right cultures, practices and capabilities for their digital ambitions. With over 16 years of experience building digital products, Lola passionately advocates for user-centred thinking and design, even in the most complex technological environments.

In this compelling episode of Everyday Leadership, we delve deep into the intriguing crossroads of blockchain technology, decentralization, and how it changes ownership structures. We also bring you an honest discussion on the experience of being the dumbest person in the room. Far too often, you hear the quote, but you don’t hear how it actually feels, which Lola shares and why it is not only an opportunity for growth but a necessity for leaders to be the dumbest person in this room.

Our conversation further dissects the two types of failure—conceptual and execution—illuminating practical steps to navigate failure and the benefits of exposing your thought process to encourage collaboration and achieve superior outcomes.

We focus on the delicate balance leaders must strike, managing the downside while incessantly striving for the upside. A critical conversation follows on transforming leadership landscapes to empower underrepresented groups, advocating the need to build 'staircases' for continuous support rather than 'ladders' of temporary opportunities. Lastly, we tackle 'the curse of the competent'—the propensity for capable individuals to be overburdened with tasks. We provide actionable steps to assert boundaries, ensuring that tasks serve your purpose, not just those of others.

In this episode, we explore:

Connect with Lola and listen to the Lost In Tech Podcast 

If you want to learn more about this podcast, and myself, Sope Agbelusi, you can do so using any of the links below.

Connect with Me

“Leadership is about setting an example and leading people to a goal without making excuses. As an assistant head teacher, I have to be one of the best teachers in the school and set a great example for others. But it is also about being unapologetic in following your vision, even if not everyone believes in or understands it. It's important to convince people that what you're trying to achieve is worth pursuing, and not to expect everyone to be your friend in the process. I believe leadership is so much more than just how you speak to people; it's about taking action and leading people to the greater good.”- Emmanuel Awoyelu

Who is Emmanuel Awoyelu?

Emmanuel is a Special Education Needs Coordinator (SENCO) and an assistant headteacher at Eastbury Community School. He has worked in education for 9 years, whilst developing youth programmes across London. Emmanuel is a frequent speaker, trainer and writer on educational topics particularly around the topics of inclusive practice, pastoral care and behavior.

He is passionate about changing the narrative for disadvantaged young people and he's a big part of helping The Reach Out Project achieve its objective. The Reach Out Project is a mentoring programme for inner-city London boys. Their vision is to open up London as a city of opportunity for our youth and help each young person we support to realise their potential regardless of their background/circumstance.

Emmanuel Awoyelu’s Journey as a Teacher

Having suffered negative experiences early on in his education journey, including two school exclusions, the first in year 5 and another in year 10, Emmanuel felt that teaching would be the last thing he would ever do. 

However, many years later an opportunity came up at a school where he used to deliver sessions as a football coach, and what started out as filling in for someone for two weeks ended up being five months and at the end of it, he realised that the education space is where he was meant to be. 

He initially trained as a teaching assistant and later as a SENCO and then grew into the position he is in now. Today, as a black leader in the profession, Emmanuel is acutely aware of the responsibility that comes with his role. He understands that his presence and influence could potentially have an effect on children, staff and community members who were previously excluded. It is an honour for him to be able to represent his community and to be part of such a small yet powerful group of black senior educators. People are often surprised to hear about his role, and feel  like he is a rarity or 'unicorn' - something that you wouldn't easily find anywhere else. Representation matters deeply, and he takes on the role with pride.

Emmanuel’s Experience with Grief

At the age of 17, Emmanuel lost three of his closest friends in a tragic accident. This would later lead him into depression, but also marked a turning point in his life as he came to the realisation that he had to live his life differently in order to build a legacy. 

Quote 

“Don’t waste your valuable energy on things you can’t control!”- Vanessa Belleau

Who is Vanessa Belleau?

Vanessa Belleau is a slasher Millennial, she is proud to be contributing positively to the world through her work as an EMCC Accredited Executive Coach, Diversity + Inclusion & Belonging Consultant, future-focussed Researcher, Brand Consultant, Facilitator, Keynote Speaker, and Marketing & Branding Consultant. Vanessa’s purpose is crystal clear: She wants to help people and brands focus on what really matters. To do this, she draws on both her maths and magic approaches to insights, strategy, and storytelling to provide clients with powerful, validated insights and spark them with passion and humour. 

To date, she has worked with over 60 different brands, including Gymshark, the LVMH Fashion Group, smaller businesses, charities, and individuals. Additionally, she set up her own company, @Highfifteen ltd, in order to collaborate with more brands on exciting projects, specifically helping create more diverse workplaces and inclusive business strategies that ensure all employees and consumers feel they belong.

She was born in Paris as a Black French Caribbean woman and has been living in London for over 15 years. Through her work, she’s been able to use both of the languages she speaks fluently - French and English - on projects in over 20 countries.

Vanessa Belleau’s High Fifteen journey 

Before launching Highfifteen, Vanessa had the privilege of working at the Walt Disney Company for EMEA as the Head of Fashion + Home Shopper Trade Marketing. During this time, she created and managed marketing programs with some incredible partners such as Adidas, Primark, C&A, H&M, Loewe, Pandora, and more. Additionally, during her 18 months there, she co-founded and co-chaired the first Black, Asian and Ethnic Minorities affinity group in the UK & IRL. 

Vanessa created High Fifteen to address a key business need: combining strategy, insights, enthusiasm, and practicality while keeping people as the central focus. By developing meaningful and genuine relationships based on trust, curiosity, excellent communication, and empathy, She is able to effectively use her resourcefulness, knowledge, energy, and positive outlook to inspire others to recognise their own strengths and find new strategic opportunities. 

Key Leadership learning moments (timestamps)

00:00:00 - Intro

04:58:00 - Born With 12 Fingers? No Problem! 

07:55:21 - Showing True Self = Showing Power! 

09:45:00 - The Middle Child Syndrome 

18:34:00 - Why Vanessa Left for the UK

26:00:14 - Self-Discovery of Identity! 

27:43:21 - Rise in The Corporate World 

33:44:23 - Measurement of Success

37:50:11 - Joy vs. Happiness 

43:11:00 - Joy Brings Clarity! 

47:49:16 - Leaders in Adversity

52:01:00 - Vanessa's Definition of Leadership

53:35:00 - Proudest Moments of Her LIFE! 

59:25:00 - My I Really Does Matter

01:00:06:04 - Thanks For Listening to the Everyday Leadership Podcast

01:00:06:30 - Next Episode Preview

Vanessa’s links:

LinkedIn

Instagram

High-Fifteen

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If you want to learn more about this podcast, and myself, Sope Agbelusi, you can do so using any of the links below.

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I am always keen to hear your thoughts and connect with the community of listeners. If you have any comments, feedback or thoughts, please drop me an email at https://mindsetshift.co.uk/#ask-me-anything

In this episode, Sope introduces his guest Denise Myers, the Founder and CEO of Evenfields Careers and the Black Talent Awards. Denise has over 2 decades of experience as a specialist Recruiter. Partnering with various companies of varying scales and fields. She is passionate about people's development and placing them in the most suitable positions.

In this conversation, Denise shares her journey and experiences. She provides insights into recruiting, people growth, and finding the right people for organisations. Her passion for promoting black talent and diversity in the workplace is a significant aspect of the conversation.

Discussion Topics:

Key Takeaways:

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Shaara Roman is the award-winning founder and CEO of The Silverene Group, a culture consulting firm that aligns people, strategy, and culture to optimize organizational performance. Shaara uses her global experience to craft and improve public, private, and non-profit workplace culture. Shaara held executive leadership positions in some of the areas largest organizations, including CGI, Fannie Mae, NRECA, and Visa and is also an adjunct professor.

In this engaging podcast episode, our guest shares her unique journey, marked by a multicultural upbringing in Nigeria and a diverse educational background. She discusses her transition from a successful career in Human Resources (HR) to entrepreneurship, highlighting the importance of curiosity, adaptability, and the courage to seek fulfilling roles beyond job titles and monetary rewards.

Her experiences, from learning to negotiate in Lagos markets to failing in her first entrepreneurial venture, serve as valuable lessons for listeners navigating their own professional paths.

The episode also delves into the critical aspects of corporate culture and leadership. The guest emphasizes the need for companies to be intentional about their culture, stay connected with their employees, and constantly reassess their direction.

She cites Chobani as an example of a company that embodies these principles, offering insights that listeners can apply in their own workplaces. The discussion underscores the importance of modelling the right behaviour and holding people accountable, providing listeners with a comprehensive understanding of the often overlooked aspects of corporate culture.

Curious to know what habits are taking up your time? Take our free quiz: https://quiz.tryinteract.com/#/6307e572efea8a001872a188

If you want to learn more about this podcast, and myself, Sope Agbelusi, you can do so using any of the links below.

Connect with Me

Email: [email protected]

Connect with Sope

Website | Youtube | Instagram | LinkedIn

Did you find this helpful? If you like this episode, please leave a review or share it with someone who could benefit from listening. 

We’re always keen to get feedback so if you have any thoughts, send us an email at [email protected]