In Good Company with Impact

We've saved a thought provoking conversation to round off our podcast schedule in 2025. It's time to reflect as we ask Matt Simmons, Senior Manager for L&D UK at Starbucks "what does the future of work look like to you?"

Will it be more tech? More AI? Or a renewed focus on human connection?

In this episode, Dan and Matt explore what it means to set the learning strategy for over 16,000 partners at a globally recognised brand. Their conversation dives into:

☕️ The ethical and thoughtful integration of AI in workplace learning

☕️ The role of human leadership in an AI-driven future

☕️ Why DEIB matters more than ever

☕️ How Starbucks is preparing its people for what’s next.

💬 “There will be certain core human leadership qualities which persist throughout history… I don’t think AI can or will replace those.” Matt Simmons

Listen / watch now to find out more.

🔔 If you like this... why not subscribe so you never miss an episode of In Good Company? Whether this is the first time you’ve found us or you’re a long-time listener, there's always something new to discover about human-centred organisations, leadership and learning. Join the conversation and let us know your thoughts in the comments.

To learn more about Impact, please visit https://www.impactinternational.com

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/impact-international_2

Dan Jones on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danjones87/

Matt Simmons on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-simmons-96608018/

How do you inspire thousands of employees to create meaningful impact – and measure it?In this episode of In Good Company, Dan speaks with Edmund McCombs, Head of Social Impact at Lendlease, and Roger Nielsen from Impact, about Springboard – a multi-award-winning programme redefining personal growth and community engagement for over 15 years. Discover:

✅ What Springboard is and why it matters

✅ How it drives sustainability and social value

✅ Tips for starting a similar initiative.

Springboard has engaged 2,500+ employees, delivered $32.7m in verified social value, and created lasting change across communities worldwide.

Listen / watch now to find out more.🔔 If you like this... why not subscribe to our YouTube and Spotify channels so you never miss an episode of In Good Company? Whether this is the first time you’ve found us or you’re a long-time listener, there's always something new to discover about human-centred organisations, leadership and learning. Join the conversation and let us know your thoughts in the comments.

To learn more about Impact, please visit https://www.impactinternational.com

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/impact-international_2

Dan Jones on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danjones87/

Roger Nielsen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roger-nielsen-12186527/Lendlease: https://www.lendlease.com/au/sustainability/social-value/

What can sea turtles teach us about leadership?

In this podcast, Dan speaks with Ulises Ledesma about finding purpose, building high-performing teams, and creating cultures that truly connect with people. From saving thousands of turtle eggs to turning around luxury resorts, Ulises shares insights on:

• Purpose-driven leadership
• Human connection in organisational culture
• Motivating teams every day, not just at review time
• Driving change in complex environments

Listen / watch now to find out more.

If you like this... why not subscribe so you never miss an episode of In Good Company? Whether this is the first time you’ve found us or you’re a long-time listener, there's always something new to discover about human-centred organisations, leadership and learning. Join the conversation and let us know your thoughts in the comments.

To learn more about Impact, please visit https://www.impactinternational.com

What does learning really mean in 2025? How can L&D leaders keep pace with the rapid evolution of technology, culture, and business strategy?In this episode, Dan is joined by Ani Acker, Strategic Learning Executive with over 25 years’ experience in learning and development. Together, they explore the future of L&D and what it takes to build a truly agile learning culture.💡 Topics include:- Why L&D needs a revolution- Aligning learning with business outcomes- Becoming a “student of the business”- Core skills for L&D professionals- The power of experiential learningAni shares practical insights and bold perspectives on how learning must evolve to meet the needs of modern organizations – and why being deeply connected to the business is non-negotiable.📺 Watch now to discover how to shift mindsets, drive impact, and lead learning with purpose.🔗 Subscribe for more episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@ImpactLiberatingHumanPotential🔗 Impact's website: https://impactinternational.com

Let's be honest, leading right now isn't easy. We're all trying to keep up with the pace of change. But what happens when you turn up that dial and leave the corporate office to operate on the frontlines of war zones and natural disasters? In this edition of In Good Company, Dan sits down with Hamish Wilson, a globally respected humanitarian and entrepreneur who uses his experiences from South Sudan to Somalia to help leaders navigate complexity and change. Hamish has worked in some of the world’s most volatile environments - earning honours like the Queen’s Medal for his work in Sierra Leone and the NATO Meritorious Service Medal for his service in Afghanistan.🎙️ What you’ll hear:✅ His experience and learnings from a career in humanitarian operations✅ What it means to lead through complexity and crisis✅ Trust, connection, and the human foundations of leadership✅ Systems leadership and collective action Hamish is also co-founder of Wasafiri, Africa’s leading systems change agency and sister company to Impact. Today, he helps senior leaders, from military commanders to corporate execs, thrive in fast-moving, high-stakes environments.💬 “I do think that we can often overlook how human the craft of leadership is. Fundamentally it’s about how you show up and how you connect with other people.”Listen / watch now to find out more.🔔 If you like this... why not subscribe to our YouTube and Spotify channels so you never miss an episode of In Good Company? Whether this is the first time you’ve found us or you’re a long-time listener, there's always something new to discover about human-centred organisations, leadership and learning. Join the conversation and let us know your thoughts in the comments. To learn more about Impact, please visit https://www.impactinternational.com Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/impact-international_2 In Good Company on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/52pryH8Tden6lJcJ2rPlPj Dan Jones on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danjones87/ Hamish Wilson on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hamishwilson/Wasafiri website: https://wasafirihub.com/

Research shows us that global employee engagement is extremely low, and this comes at a high cost for organisations of all sectors and sizes – and for the global economy. Building engagement is a huge challenge. But what can leaders do about it? In this episode, created exclusively for the Impact leadership playbook, Dan chats to Jon Hall about how to build engagement in your organisation. Based in the English Lake District, Jon is Head of Consulting for Impact UK.🔗 Get your hands on the leadership playbook - https://www.impactinternational.com/leadership-playbook 🔗 Follow Impact on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/impact-international_2🔗 Dan Jones on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/danjones87🔗 Jon Hall on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-hall-1322707/

How good are your listening skills? We might assume that listening is an innate human ability but, in reality, it’s a skill that must be cultivated. And often what we think counts as listening isn’t listening at all. Deep, active listening is a vital skill for leaders to develop. In this episode, created exclusively for the Impact leadership playbook, Dan chats to Greg Bartlett about how to develop this skill. Based in New South Wales, Greg is a Senior Consultant for Impact Australia. 🔗 Get your hands on the leadership playbook - https://www.impactinternational.com/leadership-playbook 🔗 Follow Impact on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/impact-international_2🔗 Greg Bartlett on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-bartlett-70575718/🔗 Dan Jones on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/danjones87

The future of leadership is about learning, and this means creating the conditions for others to learn and grow. When it comes to leading learning, there is one leadership style that stands out above all others: coaching. But what exactly is coaching? And how can a leader integrate this into their practice? In this episode, created exclusively for the Impact leadership playbook, Dan chats to Sarah Osteen to explore these questions. Based in Seattle, Sarah is a Senior Consultant for Impact US. 🔗 Get your hands on the leadership playbook - https://www.impactinternational.com/leadership-playbook 🔗 Follow Impact on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/impact-international_2🔗 Sarah Osteen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-osteen-6a4a561/🔗 Dan Jones on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/danjones87

To quote Alvin Toffler, “The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.” And a learning mindset is the key for this. But what is a learning mindset? And how do you develop one? In this episode, created exclusively for the Impact leadership playbook, Dan chats to Steven Nishida to explore these questions. Based in Los Angeles, Steven is Global Practice Lead and Senior Consultant for Impact. 🔗 Get your hands on the leadership playbook - https://www.impactinternational.com/leadership-playbook 🔗 Follow Impact on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/impact-international_2🔗 Steven Nishida on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nishida/🔗 Dan Jones on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/danjones87

Do the challenges you face at work always feel simple? Can they always be fixed by one person alone? And can they always be solved with the same solutions that you’ve come to rely on in the past? The world is increasingly fraught with complexity, ambiguity and disruption. These challenges require leaders to draw, not on what they know already, but on who they know and what they can learn together. In this episode, created exclusively for the Impact leadership playbook, Dan chats to Agata Stanik about leading through complexity. Based in Warsaw, Agata is General Manager of Impact Poland. 🔗 Get your hands on the leadership playbook - https://www.impactinternational.com/leadership-playbook 🔗 Follow Impact on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/impact-international_2🔗 Dan Jones on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/danjones87🔗 Agata Stanik on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/agata-stanik-382a603a/