Just Great People

In this discussion, Barry Eustance and Rick Leander explore one of the most important leadership challenges facing organisations today:

How do we make high-quality decisions when operating under uncertainty?

The conversation explores:

- bias and behavioural decision-making
- the concept of "noise"
- confirmation bias
- anchoring
- sunk-cost fallacy
- groupthink
- the importance of structured challenge
- why organisations often struggle to separate signal from noise

In an increasingly complex world, leaders are surrounded by more information than ever before.

Yet better decisions do not necessarily come from more information.

They come from better judgement.

This discussion aligns closely with The Sixsess Consultancy's Executive Decision Acceleration (EDA) approach:

Executive Decision Acceleration (EDA) Effective Judgement Under Pressure 

Make Better Decisions. Faster.

Learn more:

https://sixsess.org/

I hope you really enjoyed our podcast and found it to be inspiring and insightful.

Please remember to LIKE our podcast and please DO SUBSCRIBE !!

I really look forward to reading and replying to your thoughts and comments.

Many thanks

Kindest regards

Barry

Airline Strategy, Cost Leadership and the Future of Aviation

In this aviation strategy discussion, former airline CEO and Stratos 12 Partner Remco Althuis joins former airline captain, consultant and Stratos 12 Partner Barry Eustance to examine the growing pressures facing airlines worldwide.

From rising fuel prices and geopolitical instability to airline consolidation and fleet modernisation, aviation leaders are being forced to make increasingly complex decisions in a rapidly changing operating environment and why Executive Decision Acceleration is so important.

The discussion explores:

- Why Ryanair continues to outperform many European competitors

- The impact of fuel prices on airline profitability

- How airline consolidation is reshaping Europe

- Why smaller airlines face growing strategic challenges

- The role of boards and executive teams during periods of disruption

- How airlines can improve resilience and decision-making

- Future trends in aviation leadership and airline strategy

- The importance of structured Executive Decision Acceleration (EDA)

As operating costs rise faster than ticket prices, airlines must rethink their networks, fleet strategies, governance structures and long-term business models.

For airline boards, executives and investors, the message is clear: agility, strategic alignment and experienced leadership have never been more important.

About Stratos 12 Partnership

https://stratos12.com/

Stratos 12 Partnership is an international aviation consultancy providing airline leadership, strategic advisory, operational transformation and board-level support to airlines, airports, governments and aviation stakeholders worldwide.

Connect with Stratos 12 to discuss:

- Airline strategy
- Aviation transformation
- Board advisory services
- Airline restructuring
- Operational excellence
- Executive leadership support
- Structured Executive Decision Acceleration  (EDA)

00:00 Introduction: Aviation's New Reality

02:55 Rising Fuel Prices and Airline Economics

03:27 How Airlines Respond to Fuel Cost Shocks

04:43 Airline Consolidation Beyond Europe

05:25 The Future of Smaller Airlines

07:10 Ryanair's Competitive Advantage

09:07 Are More Airline Failures Coming?

09:28 Fleet Modernisation and Boeing vs Airbus

10:16 Why Is IAG Moving Vueling Towards Boeing?

12:26 What Happens Outside Europe?

12:50 The Challenge Facing Island Airlines

13:49 Rethinking the Airline Business Model

15:06 What Should Airline Boards Be Doing Now?

15:52 Strategic Decision-Making in a Crisis

17:54 Leadership, Governance and Operational Resilience

18:52 Why Ticket Prices Must Rise

21:05 Winners and Losers in Global Aviation

21:28 What Ryanair Gets Right

22:07 Future-Proofing Airlines in Uncertain Times

23:07 Closing Remarks



#AirlineStrategy #AviationConsulting #AirlineLeadership #AviationIndustry #AirlineTransformation #Ryanair #AirlineConsolidation #AviationStrategy #AirlineManagement #Stratos12 #ExcutiveDecisionAcceleration #EDA

I hope you really enjoyed our podcast and found it to be inspiring and insightful.

Please remember to LIKE our podcast and please DO SUBSCRIBE !!

I really look forward to reading and replying to your thoughts and comments.

Many thanks

Kindest regards

Barry

In this episode of The Just Great People Podcast, Barry Eustance from The Sixsess Consultancy is joined once again by Michael Glanville from Michael Glanville Executive Coaching.

Together they discuss:

- AI governance and board accountability
- Cyber security risks linked to AI
- Business continuity planning
- Operational resilience
- AI adoption in SMEs and enterprise organisations
- Leadership responsibility in digital transformation
- The risks of shadow AI inside organisations
- Why people still remain at the centre of successful businesses

This conversation explores how organisations can embrace AI innovation while protecting operational stability, data security and organisational culture.

If you are a CEO, founder, senior leader or business owner navigating AI transformation, this episode offers practical leadership insight.

Useful links:

The Sixsess Consultancy https://www.sixsess.org

Michael Glanville Executive Coaching https://www.michaelglanville-executive-coaching.com/

Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barry-eustance/

Timestamps - AI, Cyber Security and Leadership Risk

00:00 - AI risk, ransomware and cyber security concerns 
01:13 - Introduction to the podcast with Michael Glanville 
02:02 - Retail and Hospitality Showcase insights on AI and cyber risk 
03:10 - The disconnect between boardroom AI strategy and employees using AI 
04:36 - The rise of shadow AI inside organisations 
05:45 - AI innovation, entrepreneurship and new technology opportunities 
06:40 - Will AI replace jobs and reshape industries? 
07:35 - AI governance, corporate risk and cyber threats 
08:43 - How AI strengthens cyber criminals and bad actors 
09:05 - Regulation, compliance and AI decision-making risks 
10:55 - AI hallucinations and accuracy concerns in business 
12:14 - Agentic AI, CRM automation and operational efficiency 
13:03 - Organisational dependency on AI systems and suppliers 
14:05 - Confidentiality, NDAs and trust in AI systems 
15:20 - What happens if AI systems fail? 
16:16 - AI incidents versus cyber incidents 
17:21 - Why AI governance belongs in the boardroom 
18:15 - Cyber security is not just an IT responsibility 
19:15 - The rise of cyber emergency response services 
20:28 - Why every business needs operational resilience planning
21:20 - Can your business survive without the internet? 
22:26 - What happens if critical infrastructure fails? 
24:13 - Using AI for organisational risk assessments 
25:45 - GEO versus SEO - how AI is changing search and rankings 
27:05 - LinkedIn, AI-generated content and authenticity online 
29:21 - Why authentic human content still matters 
30:08 - The future of LinkedIn and human business relationships 
31:23 - Why YouTube still supports authentic communication 
32:26 - People buy from people - leadership and relationships matter 
33:34 - Final thoughts and closing comments


#AI #CyberSecurity #Leadership #ExecutiveCoaching #BusinessTransformation #ArtificialIntelligence #RiskManagement #BusinessContinuity #DigitalLeadership #TheSixsessConsultancy #EDA #ExecutiveDecisionAcceleration

I hope you really enjoyed our podcast and found it to be inspiring and insightful.

Please remember to LIKE our podcast and please DO SUBSCRIBE !!

I really look forward to reading and replying to your thoughts and comments.

Many thanks

Kindest regards

Barry

What creates a world class performance mindset?

In this episode, Simon Hartley shares how his journey to becoming a pilot reveals powerful leadership lessons.

This conversation explores:

- Decision making under pressure
- Leadership resilience
- Empowerment and confidence
- The law of persistence

If you lead teams or make high-stakes decisions, this episode is essential.


00:00 Introduction
01:29 Becoming a pilot
02:16 Early failure and setbacks
04:20 Persistence and obstacles
07:29 Composure under pressure
09:56 Mental performance in leadership
10:33 High pressure decision making 1
5:23 First solo and confidence
18:29 Empowerment in leadership
21:36 Turning back and risk management
27:50 Confidence scale
31:00 Law of persistence
36:34 Strategy and planning
39:20 Final lessons


Keywords
world class performance mindset, leadership mindset, resilience, decision making, business growth, performance psychology, leadership skills, Executive Decision Acceleration, EDA


Learn More About Executive Decision Acceleration Visit The Sixsess Consultancy's website:

https://sixsess.org/

Simon' Hartley's Be World Class Home Page:

https://be-world-class.com/

I hope you really enjoyed our podcast and found it to be inspiring and insightful.

Please remember to LIKE our podcast and please DO SUBSCRIBE !!

I really look forward to reading and replying to your thoughts and comments.

Many thanks

Kindest regards

Barry

There has never been more data. Yet decision quality appears to be declining.

In this episode of The Just Great People Podcast, Barry Eustance is joined by Rick Leander to explore Decision Quality Under Uncertainty in a world shaped by AI, geopolitical instability and cognitive bias.

Rick draws on his background in international banking, fintech leadership and behavioural economics to unpack why most poor outcomes are not caused by external forces but by flawed decisions.

They discuss:

● Why confirmation bias is amplified by large language models
● The growing confusion between data, information and actionable intelligence
● How “noise” corrupts executive judgement
● The behavioural economics behind anchoring, sunk cost fallacy and groupthink
● Why most startups fail through decision error, not market conditions

The conversation also touches on how structured executive decision acceleration can improve clarity and confidence in senior teams without encouraging recklessness.

If you are a CEO, founder or board member navigating uncertainty, this episode provides practical insight into improving strategic decision making under pressure.

Barry's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barry-eustance/

The Sixsess Consultancy - Executive Decision Acceleration (EDA): https://sixsess.org 

Rick Leander's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rcleander/

Timestamps

00:00 – Welcome and background 
03:55 – Decision making in geopolitical uncertainty 
06:11 – AI, confirmation bias and large language models 
09:28 – Data vs information vs intelligence 14:28 – The realities of entrepreneurship 
17:30 – Noise vs bias in executive decisions 
20:30 – The devil’s advocate discipline 
25:46 – Strong opinions loosely held 
27:02 – Challenging untouchable assumptions 
29:14 – Final reflections

Subscribe for deeper conversations on leadership, growth and executive performance.

I hope you really enjoyed our podcast and found it to be inspiring and insightful.

Please remember to LIKE our podcast and please DO SUBSCRIBE !!

I really look forward to reading and replying to your thoughts and comments.

Many thanks

Kindest regards

Barry

Why Your Marketing Isn’t Working Anymore – And What To Do About It!


In this episode of the Just Great People podcast, Barry Eustance sits down with Tracy Borreson to unpack one of the biggest issues facing leaders, marketers and founders today: modern marketing has become so complex that it’s stopped working. 

Tracy argues that businesses are drowning in tools, automations and data, yet starving for the one element that has always driven sales and brand loyalty: real human connection. 

Tracy explores how businesses replace meaningful conversations with automated funnels, and why this shift has weakened customer insight, reduced conversion rates and created overwhelmed teams. 

She explains why organisations must simplify their systems, redesign the way they speak to customers and return to the fundamentals of relationship-led communication.

Barry and Tracy discuss everything from micro-experiments in marketing to why junior marketers are being set up to fail, and how legacy skills like curiosity, listening and live customer conversations outperform any CRM workflow. 

They also examine why entrepreneurs should think like they’re standing at a farmer’s market: what would make someone stop, pay attention and talk to you?

This is a practical and provocative episode for leaders who want better performance, simpler systems, and marketing that actually generates a return.

To explore how authentic communication and customer understanding strengthen performance and culture, visit The Sixsess Consultancy:

Home: https://sixsess.org/

Insights Blog: https://sixsess.org/insights/blog/

Connect with Tracy Borreson and learn more about her advisory and coaching work:

Tracy Borreson: https://www.tlbcoaching.com/

Prostate Cancer UK: https://prostatecanceruk.org/

Tracy and Barry's Previous Just Great Peopl Podcast: https://youtu.be/b3xVdq9MOpI?si=ltMHR5Sr-y0ngWKI


Keywords
authentic marketing strategy
human-centred marketing
customer insight for leaders
simplifying marketing systems
marketing and sales alignment
customer research methods
leadership communication skills
micro-experiments in marketing
return on marketing investment
relationship-based selling
modern marketing challenges
digital overwhelm in business

I hope you really enjoyed our podcast and found it to be inspiring and insightful.

Please remember to LIKE our podcast and please DO SUBSCRIBE !!

I really look forward to reading and replying to your thoughts and comments.

Many thanks

Kindest regards

Barry

Europe’s Small Airlines: Why the Economics No Longer Add Up – A Just Great People Conversation with Stratos 12

Description
In this Just Great People deep-dive, Barry Eustance and aviation specialist Remco Althuis explore the real state of Europe’s small airline sector. 

This is the first in a new series of conversations between The Sixsess Consultancy and Stratos 12, offering straight-talking analysis on the operational realities facing the aviation industry today. 

Remco and Barry take a frank look at the structural disadvantages small carriers operate under: thin networks, fragile balance sheets, high exposure to shocks and limited access to capital. 

They walk through the performance of Air Baltic, Air Serbia, Brussels Airlines and Tarom before examining niche but essential players like Loganair, Binter Canarias, Emerald Airlines, Air Corsica and Widerøe. 

The discussion also covers the recent collapses of Play, BRA, CityJet and Eastern Airways – and the recurring reasons why small carriers fail. 

Across every example, one theme comes through clearly: standalone regional airlines are running out of room. 

Cost pressures, labour shortages, fuel volatility and fleet renewal demands are making consolidation the only realistic path for survival. 

Widereøe’s acquisition by Norwegian is one example of what the future now looks like. 

This episode is a clear, grounded and accessible explanation of the pressures shaping European aviation – and why the economics of small airlines no longer add up.

What we cover in this episode

- Why small airlines operate with structural disadvantages

- Performance trends across key European regional carriers

- Niches that work – and the ones under growing pressure

- The truth behind recent airline collapses and restructurings

- Why ACMI is unstable unless the customer is stable

- Consolidation, group protection and long-term survivability

- Why the market needs small airlines, yet struggles to sustain them

Useful Links

Just Great People Podcast – https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1mLL4YkJ9LEUPsjaZwBLAjoR-h8YEXpu

The Sixsess Consultancy – https://sixsess.org

PEOPLE Change Leadership and Management Framework – https://sixsess.org/training/people-change-management-leadership-framework-course/

Stratos 12 Aviation Consultancy – https://stratos12.com/

Keyword List 
European small airline sector
regional airlines Europe
airline consolidation Europe
small airline financial pressure
aviation operational risk
European airline performance analysis
airline restructuring Europe
ACMI carrier risks
Air Baltic performance
Air Serbia aviation strategy
Brussels Airlines financial results
Tarom restructuring challenges
Loganair operations Scotland
Binter Canarias inter-island network
Emerald Airlines ATR operations
Air Corsica connectivity
Widerøe Norwegian acquisition
airline failures Europe
Play collapse
BRA restructuring
CityJet ACMI operations
Eastern Airways administration
aviation consulting services
airline operational insight
aviation industry analysis
regional airline strategy
airline cost structure support

I hope you really enjoyed our podcast and found it to be inspiring and insightful.

Please remember to LIKE our podcast and please DO SUBSCRIBE !!

I really look forward to reading and replying to your thoughts and comments.

Many thanks

Kindest regards

Barry

Pain, Fear and What It Takes to Swim the 7 Oceans


Discover the mindset and resilience behind one of the toughest endurance feats on the planet: the Ocean 7. 

In this episode of the Just Great People podcast, Adam Walker shares the truth about pain, fear and the psychological demands of swimming the world’s most dangerous channels.


From hypothermia and Portuguese Man O' War stings to 30-hour training weeks and life-changing mindset work, Adam explains how he transformed from a UK sales manager to the first Briton to complete the Ocean Seven challenge. 

His insights into resilience, visualisation and overcoming fear are powerful lessons for leaders, founders and anyone facing personal or professional pressure.


In this episode:

The mindset formula Adam used to compete the Ocean 7

The science of resilience when facing extreme adversity

How Adam reframed pain, fear and self doubt

What really happens during long-distance ocean swims

Why ordinary people can achieve extraordinary outcomes

Listen and connect:

Website: The Sixsess  Consultancy: https://sixsess.org/

Podcast: Just Great People Podcast
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1mLL4YkJ9LEUPsjaZwBLAjoR-h8YEXpu&si=e5PecB4kuCaiAg3D

Guest: Adam Walker, Ocean Walker Academy https://oceanwalkeracademy.com/

Man Versus Ocean: Adam Walker's Book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Man-Ocean-Journey-Worlds-Toughest-ebook/dp/B0DHYNHCZ7/ref=sr_1_1


The Be World Class Performance Conference Show Reel: https://youtu.be/LAgq1euEtzk?si=L0J0lDXMKcVK2Noh


The Be World Class Performance Conference 2025: https://be-world-class.com/world-class-performance-conference-2025/


Keywords
mindset and resilience
Ocean Seven Challenge
swim the seven oceans
Adam Walker swimmer
open water swimming
endurance mindset
overcoming fear
resilience stories
extreme endurance swimming
ocean swimming challenges
what it takes to swim the seven oceans
mindset for open water swimming
how Adam Walker completed the Ocean 7
resilience lessons from extreme athletes
overcoming pain and fear in sport
mindset and resilience
Ocean Seven Challenge
overcoming the impossible
impossible challenge
challenge myself

overcoming fear of public speaking

glossophobia

I hope you really enjoyed our podcast and found it to be inspiring and insightful.

Please remember to LIKE our podcast and please DO SUBSCRIBE !!

I really look forward to reading and replying to your thoughts and comments.

Many thanks

Kindest regards

Barry

World Champion Nick Parkes “I Was Dead for 20 Minutes!" - The Power of CPR to Save Lives (Including YOURS!)

1. Short Summary

In this extraordinary episode, World Champion open-water swimmer Nick Parkes joins Barry Eustance to tell the story that transformed his life. 

During a competition, Nick suffered a cardiac arrest in the water, nearly drowned, and was clinically dead for 20 minutes.

Thanks to immediate CPR and the rapid response of an air ambulance team, he survived. 

Today, he dedicates his life to raising awareness of CPR’s life-saving power and campaigning to change the stark reality that 1 in 11 people who experience an out-of-hospital cardiac-arrest will die.

2. Key Themes and Takeaways
How a world champion athlete suffered cardiac arrest mid-competition.
The chain of survival: CPR, rapid response, and expert intervention.
The terrifying statistic: 1 in 11 people who suffer out-of-hospital cardiac arrest will die.
CPR is simple, fast to learn, and the only tool most bystanders will ever have.
Why hesitation kills - and how confidence saves.
What it means to be clinically dead for 20 minutes - and come back.
Nick’s mission as a Cardiac Champion, raising awareness across the UK.
The emotional impact on survivors, responders, and families.
The cultural need to normalise CPR knowledge for all ages.
The empowering reality: you can save a life.

3. Chapters / Timestamps
00:00 – Introduction and Nick’s background in elite open-water swimming
03:45 – The competition: when everything changed
09:55 – Cardiac arrest, drowning, and being clinically dead for 20 minutes
14:20 – CPR: the battle to keep Nick alive
18:40 – The air ambulance team arrives
23:55 – Waking up: confronting survival
29:30 – The 1-in-11 statistic and the CPR knowledge gap
35:50 – Why CPR must become universal
41:10 – Nick’s mission as a Cardiac Champion
47:20 – Reflections on purpose, fragility, and action
54:00 – Final message: anyone can save a life

4. Links
BHF RevivR – Learn CPR in 15 minutes
https://www.bhf.org.uk/how-you-can-help/how-to-save-a-life/how-to-do-cpr/learn-cpr-in-15-minutes

Nick Parkes – JustGiving Fundraising Page
https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/nick-parkes

BBC News Tells Nick's story
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4ngdqwnrdro

The Sixsess Consultancy – Home
https://sixsess.org

Be World Class – Home
https://be-world-class.com

Be World Class Performance Conference 2025
https://be-world-class.com/world-class-performance-conference-2025/

The Sixsess Consultancy’s Be World Class Performance Conference Summary
https://sixsess.org/2025/11/02/be-world-class-performance-conference-2025-facing-and-achieving-the-impossible/

The Sixsess Consultancy’s Be World Class Performance Conference Summary Golden Thread Summary PDF
https://sixsess.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/The-Sixsess-Consutancys-Summary-of-BWPC-2025-Summary.pdf

Keywords
Nick Parkes, The Sixsess Consultancy, Barry Eustance, cardiac arrest survivor, CPR saves lives, British Heart Foundation RevivR, BHF RevivR, learn CPR, cardiac arrest awareness, air ambulance rescue, drowning and CPR, elite athlete cardiac arrest, world champion swimmer, sudden cardiac arrest, out of hospital cardiac arrest, CPR training, emergency response, survival story, Cardiac Champion, life saving skills, public health awareness, leadership and purpose, human survival, inspirational stories, trauma recovery, saving lives through CPR, community safety, Just Great People Podcast

I hope you really enjoyed our podcast and found it to be inspiring and insightful.

Please remember to LIKE our podcast and please DO SUBSCRIBE !!

I really look forward to reading and replying to your thoughts and comments.

Many thanks

Kindest regards

Barry

Bianca Robinson: Purposeful Leadership and the Power of Service

In this powerful and deeply human conversation, Barry Eustance speaks with Bianca Robinson, CEO of CEO Sleepout UK, about purposeful leadership and weaving purpose into the fabric of society.

Bianca shares her personal journey and the story of CEO Sleepout UK – a nationwide initiative that invites business leaders to spend a night sleeping outdoors in solidarity with people experiencing homelessness. 

Their message is simple but profound: Sleep out, wake up, change lives.

Together, Barry and Bianca explore what it means for leaders to align personal values with business purpose – and why true fulfilment comes from service, not status. 

They also reflect on their shared experience at the Be World Class Performance Conference 2025, where they heard from extraordinary people who have faced and achieved the impossible, including Adam Walker, Mark Pollock, Martine Wright, Ann Daniels, and John Volanthen, Nick Parkes and Tony Underwood.

Key insights:

- Purposeful leadership begins with self-awareness and values clarity.

- The shortest walk to fulfilment is through being of service to others.

- Businesses have the power – and the responsibility – to drive social change.

- Aligning purpose and profit isn’t idealistic – it’s practical and sustainable.

- We blame society, but we ARE society – real change begins with each of US.

Guest:

Bianca Robinson – CEO, CEO Sleepout UK
https://ceosleepout.co.uk/

Links:

The Sixsess Consultancy – https://sixsess.org

The Sixsess Consultancy PEOPLE Framework Course – https://sixsess.org/training/people-change-management-leadership-framework-course/

Be World Class – https://be-world-class.com/

Be World Class Performance Conference 2025 – https://be-world-class.com/world-class-performance-conference-2025/

The Sixsess Consultancy’s Be World Class Summary Post – https://sixsess.org/2025/11/02/be-world-class-performance-conference-2025-facing-and-achieving-the-impossible/

The Sixsess Consultancy’s Golden Thread Summary PDF – https://sixsess.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/The-Sixsess-Consutancys-Summary-of-BWPC-2025-Summary.pdf

The Just Great People Podcast – https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1mLL4YkJ9LEUPsjaZwBLAjoR-h8YEXpu

Keywords 
Bianca Robinson, CEO Sleepout UK, The Sixsess Consultancy, Barry Eustance, purposeful leadership, social impact, leadership with purpose, business and values, homelessness awareness, Be World Class, Be World Class Performance Conference 2025, leadership values, culture and purpose, service-based leadership, community impact, SME leadership, business ethics, sustainability, social responsibility, corporate citizenship, Mark Pollock, Martine Wright, John Volanthen, Ann Daniels, human resilience, social innovation, purpose-driven business, cultural transformation, employee engagement, moral leadership

I hope you really enjoyed our podcast and found it to be inspiring and insightful.

Please remember to LIKE our podcast and please DO SUBSCRIBE !!

I really look forward to reading and replying to your thoughts and comments.

Many thanks

Kindest regards

Barry