Today on Lead Well, I’m joined by Barbara Louise Brennan a seasoned mental health advocate, trainer, speaker, and consultant who has spent close to two decades leading the charge on stigma reduction and inclusion across Ireland.

Barbara has led Ireland’s national programme to reduce mental health-related stigma, worked with major organisations like An Post, Boots, IBEC, and the HSE, and lectured in leading universities including Trinity, UCC, Maynooth, and DCU.

She’s also the founder of Mentis One—a platform focused on helping companies move beyond one-off wellbeing initiatives and embed meaningful, lasting cultural change.

In today’s conversation, we’re going to explore the current state of workplace mental health and the gap that inspired Barbara's entrepreneurial journey. We also dive into Barbara's lived experience with mental health, having been a suicide survivor herself, she delves into the daily non negotiables for managing our mental health.

In this short episode, I explore stress tolerance as a critical skill for leaders navigating the pressures of modern work. With nearly 60% of employees reporting they feel stressed most of the time, the cost of ignoring stress in leadership is rising.

But this isn’t about pushing through or waiting for the next break. I unpack why expanding your Window of Tolerance—a concept from Dr. Dan Siegel—is key to staying composed, thinking clearly, and leading effectively under pressure.

We also dig into simple, practical ways to build stress tolerance through goal setting, daily planning, and visualisation—tools that sharpen focus, reduce overwhelm, and keep you grounded in purpose.

In this first episode of The Leadership Paradox series, I introduce the core idea: why today’s most effective leaders are increasingly at risk of burnout — and why achieving both high performance and personal wellbeing is not a given, it’s a skillset.

I’ll share why I believe this is one of the most urgent leadership challenges of our time, based on research and what I see in boardrooms, coaching conversations, and leadership teams.

We’ll explore the key tension at the heart of the paradox: the more trusted, capable, and high-performing you become, the greater the risk to your own energy, clarity, and wellbeing — unless you consciously develop new habits and skills.

And I’ll outline the roadmap for this series: the core skills transformational leaders need to master to thrive sustainably — not just perform, but grow and stay well while leading.

If you’re a leader who wants to scale your impact without sacrificing yourself in the process, this series is for you.

Today on the Lead Well podcast my guest is David Crimmins, a seasoned leader with a deep track record in health-tech, scaling businesses, and securing investment for high-growth companies. As the former CEO of WebDoctor—now Medihive—David led the company through two major investment rounds, growing its valuation to over €60 million and strengthening its position in the digital healthcare space. Before that, he was a key player in the success of GloHealth, helping to build one of Ireland’s most innovative health insurance providers. His leadership journey also includes earlier roles at Tesco and Citibank, where he honed his skills in marketing, sales, and commercial strategy.

In this conversation, we’re diving into what it takes to scale a business, make tough leadership decisions, and stay resilient under pressure. We’ll talk about:

The biggest lessons David learned transitioning into the CEO role.

How to balance growth and culture while leading in a high-stakes industry.

His personal strategies for handling pressure, maintaining focus, and leading through uncertainty.

Whether you’re a CEO, an aspiring leader, or just interested in how high-growth businesses succeed, there’s a lot to take away from this conversation.

Today, on the Lead Well podcast I am joined by Professor Maura McAdam, a globally recognised expert on entrepreneurship, gender, and leadership.

Maura is a Professor of Management at Dublin City University (DCU) and Director of Entrepreneurship at the university. She has spent her career challenging traditional narratives around entrepreneurship, examining how gender, identity, and power dynamics shape access to funding, networks, and leadership opportunities.

Her research has covered everything from women’s entrepreneurship and venture accelerators to business model innovation and entrepreneurial identity. Maura has been named among the top 2% of global researchers for impact and is a sought-after voice on how we need to redefine success in leadership and business.

In today’s conversation, we’ll explore:

The myth of the ‘underperforming female entrepreneur’—why the real issue isn’t capability, but systemic bias.

How start-up culture and venture accelerators reward a narrow, hyper-competitive leadership style—excluding those who don’t fit the mould.

Why success in entrepreneurship shouldn’t always be measured by rapid scaling and aggressive growth.

How leaders can sustain high performance without burning out.

If you’re an entrepreneur, a leader, or someone who wants to challenge outdated leadership models, this episode is for you.

In this episode of the Lead Well Podcast, I’m joined by Fredericka Sheppard, co-founder and Managing Director of Voltedge Management, to discuss her journey as a leader and entrepreneur. Fredericka shares the challenges and lessons she’s learned while building her business and navigating the evolving landscape of leadership and HR. We explore how HR must evolve to meet the challenges of modern leadership, the role of empowerment in high performing teams and what it takes to unlock people potential in today’s workplace. Packed with insights on leadership, resilience, and growth, this episode is a must-listen for leaders, entrepreneurs, and HR professionals alike.

To find out more about Fredericka and Voltedge https://www.voltedge.ie/

Today, I’m joined by Nick Charalambous, Managing Director of Alpha Wealth and a leader with over 25 years of experience in the financial services industry. From his early days in investment banking to founding and growing a thriving advisory firm, Nick has consistently demonstrated resilience, strategic thinking, and a strong commitment to empowering his clients.

In this episode, we’ll explore Nick’s leadership journey—his approach to managing performance under pressure, how he maintains a healthy work-life balance, and the strategies he uses to lead his team effectively in a high-stakes industry.

We’ll also touch on some practical financial advice for business founders and leaders.

To find out more about Nick and Alpha Wealth go to https://alphawealth.ie/

In today’s episode of the Lead Well podcast, I’m excited to be joined by Emma Kennedy, the founder and CEO of Grafter, a company transforming the way we work. Founded in 2021, Grafter offers high-end office solutions that include private offices, co-working spaces, and meeting rooms in Ireland and the UK.

In this episode, we dive deep into Emma’s entrepreneurial journey, exploring how she launched and scaled Grafter amidst the challenges of a pandemic and her vision for the future of flexible workspaces. We’ll talk about the essential elements of leadership and adaptability, her unique approach to balancing business growth with personal demands, and how Grafter is setting new standards in creating a true “home away from home” experience for its members.

Whether you’re interested in the future of work, entrepreneurship, or leadership insights, this episode is packed with valuable takeaways.

To learn more about Emma and the team at Grafter visit https://www.grafterhouse.com/

In the latest episode of the Lead Well Podcast, I sit down with Andy Kenny, co-founder of Misneach Ukraine, an organisation that’s making a real difference in the lives of those impacted by the war in Ukraine. Andy’s journey from personal trainer and gym owner to humanitarian leader is truly remarkable, and today we explore the motivations, challenges, and success behind his work.

Tune in as we discuss what led Andy to create Misneach Ukraine, the invaluable support the organisation provides on the ground, and the pivotal role the Irish community has played in backing this mission. We also dive into the personal moments that have shaped Andy as a leader, his reflections on resilience, and what the future holds for both him and Misneach Ukraine. Whether you're interested in leadership, humanitarian work, or simply want to hear a story of incredible transformation, this episode will leave you feeling inspired and moved.

See more of Andy and the teams work at https://www.misneachukraine.com/

On this weeks Lead Well podcast I am joined by Jonathan Logue. After over a decade at LinkedIn as a Senior Director of Talent Development, Jonathan left earlier this year and founded Logue&Co, a HR advisory and coaching company. We will be discussing his transition back to entrepreneurship, the lessons he learned while working with senior leaders in one of worlds largest organisations and his own insights on the future of leadership and talent development.

To find out more about Jonathan and his work click the link https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanlogue/