Leadership Biscuits

Leadership Biscuits returns with a conversation about leadership, regulation and the often overlooked realities of managing in health and social care.

This episode features Steve Watson, founder of Nursing Management Consultancy Services, who brings more than two decades of experience across nursing, NHS leadership, regulation and social care.

Steve shares what he learned from the ward sisters who shaped his early leadership, his experience as a responsible individual in social care, and why supporting managers is just as important as holding them accountable.

The conversation explores:

• Why registered managers can feel like they are working alone
• The importance of mentoring, support and professional networks
• Why health and social care needs to develop its own future leaders
• The problem of the "accidental manager"
• How we can better connect NHS services and social care
• Why the public needs better information about social care and the choices available
• What we risk losing when experienced nurses and professionals leave the workforce
• How leadership experience and knowledge can be passed on to the next generation
• Why good governance and systems matter more than simply worrying about inspections and ratings

Steve's leadership biscuit at the end of the episode is simple:

Focus on your governance, focus on your systems and focus on getting the care right.

The rest will follow.

A thoughtful conversation about what leadership really looks like when the responsibility is real, the systems are complicated and there is rarely a perfect day.

AI is already changing the way we work, make decisions, learn and deliver healthcare. But what does that actually mean for leaders?

In this episode of Leadership Biscuits, Sharon is joined by Michael Rowe, Associate Professor of Digital Innovation in Health and Social Care at the University of Lincoln, to explore what leaders need to understand about AI and where it could take organisations next.

Michael argues that AI should not simply be seen as a technology project to be handed over to IT. It has the potential to influence decision-making, workflows, governance, education and patient care, meaning leaders need to be much more directly involved in understanding what it can do.

They discuss:

• Why AI is fundamentally different from previous technology changes
• How leaders can use AI as a thinking partner rather than simply a productivity tool
• Whether AI will actually replace jobs in healthcare
• Why AI could augment healthcare professionals rather than simply replace them
• The potential impact of AI on patient empowerment and access to care
• Why universities need to rethink how they approach AI and assessment
• How AI could help organisations identify inefficient processes and bottlenecks
• Why leaders should encourage experimentation rather than create a culture of fear
• The danger of measuring AI adoption simply by how much AI people use
• Why leaders need to understand AI themselves rather than relying entirely on consultants
• What an organisation built around "intelligence as a service" could look like

One of the biggest questions running through the conversation is simple: are we preparing our organisations and our people for the world that is actually coming?

Michael's answer is clear: leaders cannot afford to simply talk about AI. They need to start experimenting with it, learning from it and understanding where it can genuinely add value.

And, as Michael admits himself, the really interesting part might be looking back at this conversation in five years' time and seeing just how wrong we were.

What happens when the career you built no longer feels like the right fit?

In this episode of Leadership and Culture First, Sharon Black and Nichola Ashby are joined by executive career coach Anna Hewitt to explore the emotional and practical reality of career change, particularly in mid-career. Together, they discuss redundancy, difficult exits, confidence, courage, identity, values, and the challenge of rebuilding when work no longer feels aligned.

Anna shares why career change is not about starting from scratch, but about recognising the experience, skills and relationships you already have. The conversation also explores how shame, fear and self-doubt can hold people back, why confidence often comes after action rather than before it, and how self-compassion can be the first step towards moving forward.

A thoughtful and honest conversation for anyone questioning their next step, navigating change, or trying to build a career that feels more meaningful and sustainable.

What does leadership really look like when everything feels uncertain?

In this episode of Leadership and Culture First, Sharon Black is joined by Professor Paul Gill, Dean and Head of School of Health Sciences at the University of Nottingham, to explore the reality of leading through change, uncertainty, and pressure.

From managing organisational change and difficult decisions to supporting teams while protecting your own wellbeing, Paul shares honest reflections on the hidden weight of leadership. Together, they discuss the emotional impact of leadership, the importance of psychological safety, compassionate communication, and why great leaders do not always need to have all the answers.

This conversation is a powerful reminder that leadership is not about perfection, but presence, reflection, and creating trust when people need it most.

Topics covered:
• Leading teams through uncertainty and organisational change
• The emotional toll leadership can take behind the scenes
• Why psychological safety matters in workplace culture
• Balancing authenticity with confidence as a leader
• Supporting and developing the next generation of leaders
• Knowing which battles to fight and when to step back

If you are navigating pressure at work, leading change, or supporting others through uncertainty, this episode is for you.

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share with someone who needs this conversation.

Leadership has never felt more complex.

You’re expected to deliver results, manage people, adapt to constant change and somehow have all the answers… all at the same time. But what happens when you don’t?

In this episode, we’re joined by Eileen Wilson, business coach and former founder, who brings real-world insight from building, scaling and exiting a company. Together, we explore why leadership feels harder than ever and what’s actually going on beneath the surface.

We dive into:

• Why leaders feel overwhelmed and under pressure
• The tension between data, performance and people
• What the future of leadership really looks like
• Why you don’t need to have all the answers
• How to build confident, collaborative teams

This is an honest conversation about the reality of leadership today. The uncertainty, the responsibility and the quiet moments where even experienced leaders question themselves.

If you’ve ever felt stuck, stretched or unsure in your role as a leader, this episode is for you.

What if the problem isn’t you… but the environment you’re in?

In this episode of Leadership and Culture First, Sharon Black and Dr Nichola Ashby are joined by Katie Gooblar and Rebecca “Bex” Herbert from Rebel Hive for a powerful conversation on leadership, culture and finding where you truly fit.

Together, they explore what it really means to lead through complexity, challenge outdated systems and build environments where people can thrive, not just survive.

From navigating senior leadership as women, to understanding the impact of values, purpose and organisational culture, this episode dives into the realities that many leaders experience but rarely talk about openly.

💡 In this episode, we cover:

• Why “not fitting” isn’t failure, it’s awareness
• The role of values in leadership and decision-making
• How to lead through ambiguity, change and AI-driven transformation
• The importance of finding your tribe in challenging environments
• Why younger generations are reshaping leadership for the better
• How culture, not strategy, often determines success

Katie and Bex also share honest reflections on resilience, leadership identity and the courage it takes to step away from environments that no longer serve you.

🎯 Key question to reflect on:
With the benefit of hindsight, what would you have stood your ground on harder?

🔗 Connect with Rebel Hive:
Website: https://rebelhive.co.uk
Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn: Search “Rebel Hive”, “Katie Gooblar” or “Rebecca Herbert”

👍 If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to like, subscribe and share to support the podcast.

#Leadership #WorkplaceCulture #ExecutiveCoaching #LeadershipDevelopment #OrganisationalCulture #WomenInLeadership #RebelHive

In this episode of Leadership and Culture First, host Dr Sharon Black is joined by Michelle Knight, executive coach, inclusive leadership expert and founder of Transforming Her Work.

Michelle shares her journey from a 20 year career in international law to becoming a leadership coach focused on helping organisations build inclusive, high performing cultures. As a former law firm director and EDI board member, she brings firsthand experience of navigating senior leadership in environments where inclusion is not always guaranteed.

The conversation explores the realities behind leadership progression and organisational culture. Michelle explains how many of the systems that shape career advancement are often invisible, yet highly influential. She discusses why performance alone is rarely enough to progress, and how understanding the underlying dynamics of an organisation can unlock opportunities for growth.

A key theme throughout the episode is the shift away from traditional, tick box approaches to equality, diversity and inclusion. Michelle shares why meaningful cultural change requires behavioural change from leaders, and how inclusive leadership can become a measurable driver of performance, retention and organisational success.

Dr Sharon Black and Michelle also discuss the challenges many senior leaders face when navigating conversations around inclusion. From fear of saying the wrong thing to managing complex team dynamics, the discussion highlights the importance of curiosity, humility and emotional intelligence in leadership.

The episode also touches on the changing nature of workplace culture following the pandemic. Michelle reflects on the realities of remote and hybrid working, explaining why leaders must rethink how culture is created and sustained when teams are no longer physically together.

Listeners will gain valuable insights into leadership influence, organisational systems and the role leaders play in shaping cultures where people can thrive.

In this episode, they explore:

• The hidden systems that influence leadership progression
• Moving beyond tick box EDI towards meaningful cultural change
• Why behavioural change is central to inclusive leadership
• The link between culture, retention and organisational performance
• Leading effectively in hybrid and remote working environments
• How emotional intelligence shapes leadership and culture

Michelle also leaves listeners with a powerful reflection on leadership and influence. True leadership is not only about rising yourself, but about using your position to create opportunities for others and helping the next generation of leaders move forward.

In this episode of Leadership and Culture First, hosts Sharon Black and Dr Nichola Ashby are joined by Professor Claire Pryor, the RCN Foundation Chair and Professor of Adult Social Care Nursing at the University of Salford. In a wide ranging and reflective conversation, Claire shares the journey that took her from intensive care nursing to leading research and education that is shaping the future of adult social care nursing across the UK and beyond.

Claire speaks candidly about the curiosity that has driven her career, describing how constantly asking questions in clinical practice led her into research, education and ultimately into a pioneering national role. Despite her achievements, she challenges the traditional idea of what leadership looks like, explaining why she prefers to see herself as part of a “gang” or collective where people lead through their individual strengths rather than hierarchy.

The discussion explores the cultural differences between the NHS and social care, and why social care can offer more freedom for innovation, collaboration and emerging leadership. Claire also highlights the often overlooked expertise of social care nurses, calling for greater recognition of the complex and highly skilled work they do every day across care homes, community services and specialist settings.

Throughout the conversation, the hosts reflect on the importance of self awareness, compassionate leadership and truly listening to colleagues. Claire introduces the powerful idea of “listening with fascination” and shares how small moments of support or dismissal can shape the leaders of the future.

The episode also examines the challenges of integrating health and social care, the need for stronger visibility of social care nursing within education and media, and why giving nurses the freedom to grow into leadership earlier in their careers could transform the profession.

This is a thoughtful and honest conversation about curiosity, collaboration and redefining what leadership means in modern healthcare.

In this episode you will hear about:

• Why curiosity and questioning can shape a career in nursing
• Rethinking leadership beyond hierarchy and titles
• The value of collective leadership within teams
• The hidden expertise of social care nurses
• Bridging the cultural divide between health and social care
• Listening with fascination and the power of being heard
• How early opportunities can help nurses grow into leadership roles

A powerful conversation for anyone interested in leadership, culture and the future of nursing across health and social care.

In this episode of Leadership and Culture First, Sharon Black and Nichola Jane Ashby are joined by Professor Gemma Stacey, former Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Florence Nightingale Foundation and current Associate Dean for Practice at Nottingham Trent University.

Gemma shares her remarkable journey from lived experience of mental health services at a young age to becoming a national and international voice in nursing leadership, workforce development and system change.

Together, we explore:

• How values shape leadership identity
• The power and responsibility leaders hold within complex systems
• Why influence often matters more than title
• The realities of leading under scrutiny
• Mobilising networks to create lasting change
• Recognising blind spots and avoiding burnout

Gemma reflects on building the Florence Nightingale Foundation Academy, supporting thousands of nurses to develop political confidence and leadership voice, and the importance of relational leadership in volatile and uncertain environments.

This is a thoughtful and honest conversation about courage, influence, resilience and what it truly means to lead in healthcare today.

If you are a healthcare professional, educator, system leader or someone passionate about values driven leadership, this episode will challenge and inspire you.

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In this episode of the Leadership and Culture First podcast, Sharon and Nichola are joined by transformational leader and social impact strategist Edyta Ozbek, whose work spans Europe, Africa, Asia and the Pacific.

Edyta shares her leadership journey from banking and finance into international healthcare recruitment, where she built and scaled teams across nine countries. She reflects openly on the realities of entrepreneurship, the weight of responsibility, leading through political change, and the emotional resilience required when difficult decisions affect people’s livelihoods.

The conversation explores what it truly means to shape culture as a leader. Edyta speaks about creating psychological safety, welcoming constructive disagreement, and building confidence through self awareness tools such as Myers Briggs and CliftonStrengths. She discusses the challenge of balancing passion with structure, especially when leading highly accomplished professionals, and how humility and integrity underpin sustainable leadership.

A central focus of the episode is Nou Zetwals Mauritius, a nonprofit movement founded by Edyta to recognise and celebrate health and social care professionals. Meaning “our stars” in Mauritian Creole, the initiative aims to raise morale, inspire national pride, and shine a light on the unseen dedication of nurses and care workers across the country.

This episode is a powerful reflection on:

• Leading with values across cultures
• Building remote teams while maintaining engagement
• The realities of starting and scaling a business
• Recognition as a tool for cultural change
• Resilience, peer support and emotional intelligence in leadership

Whether you are an established leader, an aspiring entrepreneur, or working within health and social care, this conversation offers practical insight and honest reflection on leading with courage, compassion and purpose.

If you enjoy the episode, please like, subscribe and share.

New episodes are released weekly.