Finding Your Voice

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Where experience meets potential.

In this episode of Finding Your Voice, Isla takes the interviewer's chair once again, this time welcoming Fransien from International SOS, based in Singapore, for a conversation about confidence, leadership, emotional intelligence and the importance of finding your own voice.

Following the same questions Isla previously explored with Brad, the conversation brings together two different generations and perspectives on what it really means to lead, communicate and believe in yourself.

What does finding your voice actually mean? Where does confidence come from, and how do we overcome self-doubt? Can you be a leader without a title? How important is emotional intelligence, and are we doing enough to recognise and develop leadership potential in young people?

Together, Isla and Fransien explore the challenges of speaking up, the importance of listening, the lessons different generations can learn from one another, and what they wish they had understood about confidence and leadership when they were younger.

At the heart of the conversation is a simple but powerful message: finding your voice isn't about being the loudest person in the room. It's about having the confidence to be yourself, the courage to speak when it matters and the wisdom to know when to listen.

Another episode bringing experience and potential together, reminding us that leadership has no age limit and that we all have something to learn from one another.

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This week on Finding Your Voice, the tables are turned.

Isla takes the mic and interviews Brad, exploring what more than 30 years of working with leaders has taught him about confidence, emotional intelligence, leadership and, ultimately, finding your own voice.

But this isn’t just a conversation about leadership at work. It’s a conversation between two generations.

Isla asks whether Brad had found his voice at 17, whether confidence is something you have or something you build, and whether you can be a leader without a title. They explore the role emotions play in leadership, what real leadership potential looks like and whether adults sometimes underestimate the ability of younger people to step up and lead.

They also turn the lens on their own generations. Is it harder for young people to find their voice today? What can Isla’s generation learn from Brad’s, and perhaps more importantly, what does Brad’s generation need to learn from hers?

And finally, Isla asks Brad one deceptively simple question:

If you could give your 17-year-old self one piece of advice about confidence, leadership and finding your voice, what would it be?

A personal, honest and sometimes challenging conversation about growing up, growing older, leading others and learning to trust your own voice.

Finding Your Voice: Where experience meets potential.

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What can travelling thousands of miles from home teach a 17-year-old about confidence, independence and finding her voice?

In this episode of Finding Your Voice: Where Experience Meets Potential, Brad and Isla reflect on Isla’s return from volunteering and backpacking in Bali.

From teaching English to children in a small fishing community and learning to communicate through games and play, to climbing Mount Batur for sunrise, travelling independently on Grab bikes, staying in hostels and meeting people from across the world, Isla shares the experiences that pushed her beyond what was familiar.

Along the way, she discovered that plans don't always need to work, conversations don't need to be planned and confidence often comes simply from proving to yourself that you can work things out.

Her advice to another young person considering the same adventure?

“Say yes to as much as you can.”

Because sometimes finding your voice isn't about becoming louder. It's about becoming confident enough to step forward, connect with people and say yes to experiences without knowing exactly where they might lead.

A warm conversation about growing up, independence, adaptability, social confidence and the stories we collect when we're willing to give things a go.

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Leadership Through the Eyes of a 17-Year-Old

What does leadership actually look like to someone who is just about to enter adulthood?

In this episode, Brad sits down with Isla to explore leadership from a perspective we rarely hear. Rather than discussing leadership theories or corporate models, the conversation focuses on what genuinely earns the respect of a young person.

Together they explore why explaining why matters, the importance of two-way respect, and why confidence without substance quickly falls apart. They discuss teachers, sports coaches, workplace experiences, social media influencers and even university open days, uncovering what makes people worth following and what turns young people away from those in positions of authority.

The discussion also explores whether popularity is the same as leadership, how compassion and credibility influence trust, and why innovation will become one of the defining strengths of the next generation of leaders.

As the episode draws to a close, Isla reflects on the kind of leader she hopes to become and the qualities she believes will matter most as she begins her own leadership journey.

Whether you're a leader, teacher, parent, coach or simply interested in understanding how the next generation sees the world, this episode offers a refreshing reminder that leadership is earned through behaviour, not titles.

In this episode we discuss:

• Why young people need to understand the reason behind decisions.
• The difference between authority and leadership.
• Why respect should always work both ways.
• Confidence, charisma and credibility.
• Popularity versus genuine influence.
• Leadership in schools, colleges and first jobs.
• Social media influencers and whether they really lead anyone.
• Innovation as the superpower of the next generation.
• The importance of compassion in leadership.
• What makes someone truly worth following.

Leadership isn't about having authority.

It's about giving people a reason to follow.

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Are the best leadership lessons actually coming from the classroom?

In this episode of Finding Your Voice, Brad and Isla turn the tables on traditional leadership thinking by exploring what adults—and particularly leaders—can learn from teenagers about motivation, engagement and communication.

Drawing on Isla's experiences as a student, they explore what separates an average teacher from one who genuinely inspires young people to learn. The conversation uncovers striking parallels between the classroom and the workplace, revealing that whether you're leading students or managing teams, the fundamentals are remarkably similar.

Together they discuss what really engages people, why trust and psychological safety matter more than authority, and how the best teachers create environments where young people feel confident enough to ask questions, make mistakes and grow. They also explore why feedback often misses the mark, the importance of delivering difficult messages with empathy and honesty, and how curiosity, encouragement and meaningful relationships unlock motivation far more effectively than pressure or control.

Throughout the episode, Brad reflects on how these same principles underpin exceptional leadership in organisations. From creating cultures where people feel valued to understanding what truly motivates individuals, the discussion highlights that the skills which inspire teenagers are often the very same skills that build high-performing teams.

Whether you're a parent, teacher, coach or leader, this episode is a powerful reminder that leadership isn't about having all the answers—it's about creating the conditions where people genuinely want to learn, contribute and thrive.

Because sometimes, the greatest lessons in leadership come from listening to the people we think we're here to teach.

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 What does confidence really look like when you're a teenager? Is it something we're born with, or something we learn? And why do so many people mistake popularity for confidence?

In this episode of Finding Your Voice, Brad and Isla explore one of the most talked about, yet least understood, subjects facing young people today. Drawing on Isla's experiences at school and college, alongside Brad's work as an executive coach and behavioural psychologist, they unpack how confidence develops, what influences it, and why so many adults get it wrong.

Together they discuss the differences between confidence at school and college, the impact of friendships, social media and expectations, and how family, teachers and role models all play a part in shaping how we see ourselves.

This isn't a conversation about becoming the loudest person in the room. It's about understanding that genuine confidence comes from knowing who you are, having the courage to be yourself, and finding your own voice.

Whether you're a young person navigating education, a parent trying to understand your teenager, or a leader, teacher or coach supporting others, this episode offers honest insights, practical reflections and plenty of moments that may challenge the way you think about confidence.

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Episode 1: Understanding Emotions

Why do teenagers sometimes shut down when adults are trying to help? Why do adults often get it wrong, even with the best intentions? And what do young people really need from us when life feels overwhelming?

In our very first episode, Brad and Isla dive straight into one of the biggest challenges facing young people today: understanding emotions in a world where expectations seem higher than ever.

Drawing on Isla's own experiences, and the conversations she's had with friends, we explore how teenagers navigate pressure, uncertainty and the emotional demands of modern life. Isla shares honest, practical insights into what genuinely helps, what doesn't, and what adults could do differently.

Together we discuss the gap between generations, why listening often matters more than fixing, and how creating the right conversations can help young people build confidence, resilience and trust.

Whether you're a teenager, parent, teacher, coach or leader, this episode offers practical ideas and honest reflections that could change the way you approach conversations with the young people in your life.

Where experience meets potential.