High Beams

What makes a good leader in 2026? According to Prof. Chris Bones, it’s not brilliance

— it’s choices.

In this conversation with Sir Trevor Phillips, Chris (Chair of the CIPD and former Head

of Henley Business School) argues that organisations are sleepwalking into a new

kind of risk: AI is already being used inside your business — even if leadership

hasn’t approved it. That makes “use and abuse of AI” a governance issue, not an IT

project. His suggestion is simple but powerful: make AI use visible — disclose

prompts, show validation, and treat it like any other evidence.

If AI isn’t on your corporate risk register yet, Chris has a blunt view on what that says

about your risk appetite.

They also dig into what diversity really means at the top. Chris makes the case that

social mobility is often the missing ingredient in boardroom perspective — and that

focusing on outcomes achieved (not “activity”) is one of the best ways to spot talent.

What does leadership look like when certainty disappears — and growth depends on

people, not playbooks?

In this episode, Raj Tulsiani sits down with Tim Pointer, Operating Partner – Human Capital at Three Hills, and ranked #1 on the 2025 Most Influential HR Leaders list, to explore how

organisations actually scale successfully in today’s unpredictable business environment.

Tim shares why he rejects the idea of “best practice” in favour of good practice, arguing that

leadership cannot be copied and pasted because context is queen. Drawing on more than 30

years working across global brands, private equity, and high-growth businesses, he explains

how culture, talent strategy, and organisational design must evolve alongside ambition.

In this episode of High Beams, Michael Burgess of Amey sits down with Green Park Founder

& CEO Raj Tulsiani to talk about the power of diversity of thought and the importance of

authentic leadership.

Michael left school before turning 16 and began his career as a farm labourer. Through

persistence, education, and experience, he worked his way up to lead the people strategy

for a global infrastructure business employing more than 12,000 people.

The conversation explores how organisations can build inclusive cultures that genuinely

create opportunity, from leadership programs for underrepresented groups to initiatives

that bring people from disadvantaged backgrounds into the workforce. Michael also

discusses the importance of authenticity in leadership, the challenges of navigating

polarization in modern workplaces, and why strong organizations focus on stewardship

rather than short-term results.

From being raised by a Holocaust survivor to leading one of the world’s most powerful

energy companies, Lord John Browne reflects on how difference, caution, and curiosity

shaped his approach to leadership. In conversation with Sir Trevor Phillips, Browne shares

deeply personal lessons about self-reliance, reading people carefully, and why minorities are

often most vulnerable when pressure rises — insights that later shaped how he built teams

and led at scale.

The discussion ranges from his decades at BP to his work today in climate investing with

BeyondNetZero, exploring what truly drives performance inside large organisations. Browne

argues that productivity is not just about talent, but about tools, trust, listening, and

purpose — and why leaders must stop talking long enough to hear what people are really

saying. This is a thoughtful, humane conversation about leadership as human development:

choosing people well, creating future leaders, embracing diversity, and ensuring that work

means something beyond the balance sheet.

Broad sector experience is a major asset for a CFO: transferrable skills and adaptability are key. That’s especially true in 2025 where the role of the CFO is no longer just based on financial acumen. 

David Sayers, Partner at Green Park and Financial Officers Practice lead, sits down with Jan Gooze-Zijl, an accomplished Chief Finance and Operations Officer, to explore the significant impact of diversity of thought and versatile leadership in today's business landscape. Jan talks us through the advantages of bringing a broad sector experience to a CFO role, enhancing openness, and avoiding assumptions about business operations. Currently CFO at Alpha FMC, Jan’s career includes key roles at UKTV, Ashurst, and Premiership Rugby, where he successfully managed financial and operational responsibilities.

Plus, listen in for key insights into the dynamic relationship between CFOs and CEOs – a collaborative push towards top-line growth.

Jo Sweetland talks to Jackie Lanham. At the time of recording Jackie was HRD at Hilton Foods but at the time of publication has moved to a new role.

In this episode Jackie shares her experience in HR and explains how company culture is key to keeping employees happy. Jo and Jackie discuss the different ways to improve employee retention, including developing leaders and understanding what motivates different generations at work.

Jo Sweetland chats to Helen Webb, Chief People Officer at WHSmith, about succession planning and its critical role in building a sustainable, future-ready workforce.

They discuss how to align people strategy with business goals, how to foster an inclusive environment, and how to balance technical and soft skills.

Green Park’s Jo Sweetland, Managing Director, and Raj Tulsiani, CEO, are joined by this week’s guest, HR, People and Culture expert Jordan Barry-Bayliss, the Founder and CEO of People Guru and formerly a FTSE 100 Executive Chief People Officer.

Together, Jo and Jordan look at practical ways to improve employee engagement. They discuss how workplaces are changing, what younger employees value (spoiler: work/life balance is high on the list), and how leaders can create a supportive, inclusive culture. Learn how to balance business goals with employee needs, build trust, and use tools like feedback surveys and flexible work options to keep teams motivated and aligned.

For more information head over to https://www.green-park.co.uk/insights/podcasts/107/

What does genuine inclusivity look like? Jo Sweetland, MD at Green Park talks to Mark Lomas from Lloyds and Harvey Francis from Skanska, to learn how they implement consistent leadership in their business.

Leadership programs should empower everyone, not add more stress. In this episode you’ll get actionable tips and strategies for fostering the most important leadership priority: diversity and inclusion.

High Beams lights the path through the employee life-cycle. If you're a leader in the space, join us to hear how you can improve and develop retention, inclusion, and engagement. Brought to you by Jo Sweetland, Managing Director at Green Park.