In this episode, I’m joined by Sharon, founder of Best Self Coach, whose story is powerful, personal, and packed with insight. From being one of the only families of colour in her school to finding true inclusion at London Business School, Sharon shares her journey to discovering emotional intelligence as her superpower — and how that shaped her path into coaching and leadership.

We explore why EQ is essential in leadership, how asking the right questions can create real impact, and what it means to bring your whole self to work. Sharon also reflects on her experience of being sacked for being pregnant, and the resilience she built from it. She talks about the quiet power of mentorship, the value of self-awareness, and why we should all aim to be the biggest, boldest version of ourselves.

This one’s honest, reflective and full of practical advice.

Connect with Sharon on LinkedIn

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In the next episode, Amy Morris , UK and European MD at Oakleaf Partnership, is joined by Karen Richardson—former HR leader turned Executive Coach and Psychotherapist.

Together, they explore the challenges of leadership, setting boundaries, building authentic confidence, and navigating career pivots with purpose. Karen shares candid reflections on burnout in HR, the power of coaching, and why playing to your strengths might just be the key to long-term fulfilment.

Connect with Karen here

In this episode, I’m joined by Emma Kangis, founder of EKCoaching, to talk all things communication, confidence and leadership.

From navigating your inner critic to owning your voice with clarity and conviction, we explore why strong relationships, adaptive leadership and self-awareness are key to stepping fully into your role. We also touch on social media, feedback, and why empathy still beats AI.

A thoughtful and energising conversation — have a listen

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Emma's Website EK Coaching

Amy Morris is joined by Emma Serlin—founder of London Speech Workshop, communication expert, and passionate advocate for authentic leadership.

In this deeply reflective conversation, Emma shares the pivotal moment she realised she only had one life—a shift that sparked bold personal growth and a fresh approach to leadership. From surviving a viper bite in India to embracing imperfection, Emma offers rich insights into the courage it takes to lead with vulnerability.

We explore:

🔹 Why giving yourself permission to be imperfect unlocks potential
🔹 How to navigate conflict with confidence and grace
🔹 Equipping others with the tools to show up as their true selves
🔹 Reframing fear, failure, and self-doubt as pathways to progress

Emma's approach to communication is both empowering and practical—perfect for anyone looking to lead with more impact, clarity, and humanity.

Sam is a Leadership Energy Coach who primarily coaches people helping professionals to make the most of their energy. 

She uses her unique coaching model The Change Flywheel,' to support them to be the leaders that they want to be. Sam is a coach mentor and trainer and is committed to helping coaches to hone their skills to be fully present with their clients. 

Sam has a wealth of experience working with diverse groups of people, initially in the education sector and now as a coach.  She draws on her innate ability to connect with others supporting them to maximise energy, minimise chaos and create momentum for meaningful change. 

For more information visit: https://www.oakleafpartnership.com/podcast/

HR Pulse Podcast: Pay Transparency & the EU Pay Directive

In this episode of the HR Pulse Podcast, Alex Wright, Senior Manager at Oakleaf Europe, speaks with Joel Thompson, Global Head of Reward – Financial Services, about the evolving landscape of pay transparency following the implementation of the EU Pay Transparency Directive in June 2023.

Together, they explore the directive’s implications for businesses, from compliance challenges to its impact on talent attraction, retention, and reward strategies. Joel shares expert insights on how organisations can adapt to the new regulations, promote pay equity, and stay ahead in a rapidly changing regulatory environment.

Don’t miss this essential conversation for HR and reward professionals navigating the future of pay transparency.

For the first time on Women of Impact, I’m joined by a male ally, Will Peachey, who has spent his career actively supporting women in leadership. His journey began at Capgemini, where he saw talented individuals being overlooked due to rigid processes. This sparked a deep commitment to creating more inclusive workplaces—where diverse talent isn’t just acknowledged but actively progressed.

In this conversation, Will shares the practical steps that drive real change. From setting clear recruitment objectives to building strong networks and mentorship opportunities, he highlights how businesses can take a more structured, evidence-based approach to gender equity. We also explore the value of career breaks—why they should be seen as a strategic advantage rather than a setback.

He also reflects on the challenges of being an ally—how to offer meaningful support without overstepping, and the importance of vulnerability in advocacy. His insights reinforce why being intentional about mentorship and sponsorship is key, particularly in male-dominated industries like technology.

This episode offers a fresh perspective on what real allyship looks like in practice and why progress requires both individual action and systemic change. 

In this episode, I'm joined by Suzie Ruffley, Global Head of People & Sustainable Culture at Foresight Group.

Having dedicated over 20 years to the field of Human Resources, Suzie has spent the last 8 years playing an integral part at Foresight Group contributing to the company's remarkable growth, people strategy and development.

Suzie has dual MSc's in Occupational Psychology and Coaching Psychology and has carried a passion for human capital throughout her career.

In this episode, we’ll explore strategies for balancing a demanding job with personal life, building emotional resilience, goal setting and generally keeping well.

For more information you can connect with Holly on LinkedIn.

In this episode of Oakleaf’s Women in Leadership podcast, Sue Conder shares her inspiring career journey. Starting in Grantham Library, her interest in psychology sparked a passion for leadership and human behaviour.

Sue’s career spans management consultancy, consumer goods, finance, and coaching. As one of 7% of female partners at Arthur Andersen, she navigated a male-dominated culture with resilience, confidence, and strengths shaped by her dyslexia. “Once you know your strengths, people relax around you,” she shared.

She discussed imposter syndrome, undervalued communication styles, and the “hidden tax” of collaboration on women’s careers. Sue’s advice: build a “personal boardroom” of mentors and prioritise impactful relationships for growth.

This conversation offers practical insights for women aspiring to lead in challenging environments.

Join our Oakleaf Women of Impact group on LinkedIn

In this episode, Holly Hesketh speaks to Kellie Nedelcoux, Founder of Career & Parenthood, an organisation dedicated to tackling systemic challenges and bias in the workplace surrounding parental returners.

Career & Parenthood is committed to empowering women returning from maternity leave to re-engage with their careers and thrive, while also supporting all parents to feel valued, included, and able to pursue fulfilling careers.

Holly and Kellie explore some of the common challenges parents face when returning to work and discuss actionable steps organisations can take to better support them.

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Connect with Kellie on LinkedIn