Monday Muse with Harriet Molyneaux

“Reinvention is about feeling alive" shares the inspiring Maria Farres, the lead at Cancer Research UK for Organisational Development and Employee Experience. Maria has lived a life shaped by reinvention. At a time when many people have a fear-base relationship with reinvention, and organisations are fatigued by constant change, Maria offers a completely different perspective. She talks about seeking energy and joy at work, and choosing paths that help her feel more alive.

In this conversation we explore:

• How to move from fear to feeling alive, and why this simpleshift can make reinvention joyful
• The internal reframes and small intentional changes thathelp you keep moving forward
• The mindsets, behaviours and practices that allow Maria tostay in a steady rhythm of reinvention without burning out

While Maria shows that reinvention can be a source of joyand energy, she also reminds us that continual reinvention is essential for all of us in a world shaped by technological and societal disruption.

I found this conversation fascinating and energising, let’sdive in.

Today I am delighted to be joined by Alice Bretherton, Chief People Officer at Burges Salmon. Many leaders I admire combine qualities that appear to be in tension. My guest this week, Alice Bretherton, brings her own powerful blend of theory and gut instinct. She describes her career in three phases, and she is now in her third as Chief People Officer at Burges Salmon. Her path sits within the corporate world yet does not follow a traditional ladder.

In this conversation, we discuss:

- How to navigate a non-linear career, and Alice shares her approach to contextualising ideas and connecting dots.

- She shares the characteristics that help leaders reach the most senior roles, including learning agility and intuition.

- Alice discusses the shifts that helped her build a career that feels meaningful and energising.

This is a discussion about sense making and thegolden threads that shape a career. It’s for anyone thinking about the next phase of their career and wanting to shape a path that truly fits them. Let us dive in.

Today, I’m joined by Faris Aranki, a former partner at Baringa Partners who built a highly successful career in consulting, before stepping back to ask some deeper questions about what it really means to flourish. Faris now runs his own strategy consulting business, Shiageto, where he helps people and teams improve their strategic effectiveness.

In our conversation, we talk about:

o  The anxious overachiever (yes, I’m looking at you) and the challenges of making conscious choices in your careerwhen you’re wired to do what you think is expected of you

o  The importance of having a variety of experiences to discover what you truly enjoy,  and Faris’s shares own process for finding this out and learning more about your personal preferenceso  On our last episode Ruth Handcock, CEO at Octopus Money, talks about the importance of joy at work, on this episode Faris shares why fun and playfulness at work aren’t just nice-to-haves, but actually key ingredients for better performance and greater joy

  So many of the brilliant people I know are anxious overachievers. And so, this episode is for you.

You can find more about Faris' work at Shiageto here.

Ruth is one of the sharpest thinkers I know. She leads in high-growth businesses with a mission, where the pressure comes from delivering commercial results and making a positive impact.

In this conversation, she shares:
• Her approach to achieving substantial growth, and how to navigate the change cycle of success
• How she keeps work joyful, and why she only accepts stress when it truly matters
• The prioritisation strategy that enables her to deliver more of what counts

Every time I speak with Ruth, I’m struck by the clarity she brings and feel emboldened to bring that clarity to my own work. I’m thrilled to bring her insights to you.

“You are your voice within - what you do and what you wear are not you.”

This insight from Simon sits at the heart of our conversation. From the world of advertising to compassion and peace advocate, and lead of the Muhammad Ali Index, a groundbreaking effort to measure and strengthen compassion in the US, Simon’s journey is anything but ordinary.

This episode is for people who want to forge extraordinary careers and lives,  ones that are fully aligned with who they are, what they value, and the impact they want to make in the world. It’s an invitation to build a path that won’t leave you looking back with a sense of “if only.”

We explore:
• Simon’s transformation from corporate professional to peace activist,  the crucible moment that set everything in motion, and the impact he has had on my own path
• How to create a life that truly lights you up, by addressing root causes and embracing the moments, big and small, that shift your perspective
• Why, in a culture “stacked with cash rather than compassion,” self-compassion is foundational, and how Simon’s work on the Muhammad Ali Compassion Index aims to elevate compassion across society

Simon is a fascinating thinker who has helped me see the world, and my place in it, differently. I can’t wait for this conversation to spark new thinking in you.

What does it take to lead with calm and clarity when the stakes are high?

That’s the question at the heart of this week’s Monday Muse, where I sat down with Eva Murciano, Director General Human Resources, at the European Central Bank.

Leading in a politically exposed environment, Eva manages immense complexity while staying grounded, transparent, and deeply human.
This is a masterclass in inclusive and powerful leadership, the kind that builds trust, not noise.

In this episode, we explore:

• How Eva navigates ambiguity through scenario planning and openness, inviting others into the challenge of not having all the answers.

• The balance between calm and pace, and how she toggles between crisis response and long-term decision-making for maximum impact.

• The mindsets and practices that help her stay composed, reflective and continuously learning.

I loved this conversation, and I know you’ll take a lot from it. Let's dive in.

In this episode, we go deep into the inner work that helps us learn from challenging moments, overcome self-doubt, and build a lasting foundation of confidence.

It’s a raw, honest conversation about what it really takes to grow through life’s transitions and to thrive in high-stakes moments.

Today I’m joined by Ali Bebo, Chief People Officer at Pearson, the global learning company focused on unlocking potential.

This episode is for you if you’re:

• Driven by purpose and want your work to have meaningful impact

• Facing complex challenges and need to bring your team with you

Ali and I explore:

• How to find the intersection of identity and career — the sweet spot for a meaningful work life

• The kinds of conversations that help teams reimagine what’s possible and surprise themselves

• A shift away from relentless output toward a framing for impact that’s deeper and more sustainable

If you’re listening on a Monday, let this set the tone for an impactful week. If you’re mid-week, treat it as a reset, a chance to re-energise, and lead your team through the work that matters most.

I know how much you will get from this episode, so let’s dive straight in.

In today’s episode, I’m thrilled to be joined by Pam Parkes, who I’ve collaborated with on the Future of Work for many years. Pam has built a remarkable career in local government, and what makes her story compelling is how deeply her work aligns with her purpose: social justice. She lives and works with an extraordinary sense of alignment to her purpose, but always with humility, pragmatism and zero sanctimony.

In our conversation, we explore:

• A life and career anchored in purpose — how Pam has woven her commitment to social justice through everything she does, both inside and outside of work.

• The vital and often unseen services of the public sector, and Pam’s insider perspective on:

  • Delivering impact in challenging environments that can sometimes conflict with your purpose.

  • The mindset and resilience needed to stay true to yourself when facing ethical dilemmas.

Pam brings a wealth of experience — from Croydon Council, to President of the Public Services People Managers Association, to her current roles including the Envoy for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

If you're focused on delivering greater impact or navigating complex systems, this is a rich and thoughtful conversation for you.

Today I’m delighted to be joined by Alister Gray — an extraordinary coach, facilitator, guide, and founder of the brilliant organisation Mindful Talent. I’ve been lucky enough to experience Alister’s work first-hand, and I can attest to just how truly transformational it is.

Our conversation today is about one of our most precious resources: time. It’s an invitation to step away from hustle culture and rethink how you relate to time so you can live and work with more ease, purpose and impact.

We explore:

• Building a healthier relationship with time — one that lets you take on big, stretching ambitions across a long working life, while living in the moment with ease.

• Alister shares the mindsets and practices that he helps CEOs, startup founders and tech leaders in some of the fastest-paced roles out there, to slow down and ground themselves in the present moment.

• He shares how shifting your relationship with time can increase fulfilment and unlock a higher level of capability and potential.

If you’ve ever felt time-starved, rushed, or stuck in hustle mode, this episode will inspire you to slow down and approach your work, and life, with far more clarity and power.