"There's more and more research in the field of neurodiversity which supports why improvement initiatives do make sense. One particular statistic that I love is JP Morgan chase did a team study of productivity between a neurodiverse team and a neurotypical team and found that the neurodivergent team was 48% more productive."

Were you aware that up to 20% of the population is neurodiverse? That means 1 in 5 people, which makes an understanding of this issue an essential part of the future of work; managers need to embrace the natural diversity of the human brain to strengthen the performance of their teams and create inclusive cultures where everyone can thrive.

Join Ally as she talks to People Director Vee Halliwell, who encourages all leaders to celebrate difference and give equal value in the workplace to the unique strengths and adaptations that neurodiversity brings to the table. This interview is a brilliant introduction to the topic and will equip business leaders with the knowledge and language to have conversations with their reports that will help bring out the best in individuals.

Vee advocates the mantra of 'no one size fits all' and signposts simple, practical measures that SMEs can take to make their organisations more inclusive, starting with awareness initiatives.

You can connect with Vee on LinkedIn here, or find out more about her brilliant work helping businesses thrive here.

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Remember to check out all our other episodes, which you can find here on our podcast website.

Do you have an people puzzle you'd like us to help you solve? Do you have a story to share about your journey? We would really love to hear from you, so please do feel free to connect with us on our LinkedIn or Instagram, find out more on our website, or get in touch with us at [email protected]

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• Website: www.peoplepuzzles.co.uk

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"We had to make some really tough decisions... I no longer felt I was the right person to lead the business."

As the Managing Director of founder-led media agency december19, coming to the realisation that perhaps someone else might be better positioned to lead the business forward was not an easy one. Yet this is a decision that all founders of successful businesses will eventually face. So how do you go about managing the process? And how do you ensure that it continues to grow within the same ethical, values-led framework that you founded it on?

Meet Dave Barnett, co-founder and ex-Managing Director of december19, a business built on putting its people first and leading with its values. Join Dave and our host Ally Maughan as they discuss the challenges of running a founder-led business, maintaining a flourishing culture, and how having the right people in the right seats is such a fundamental process in protecting the future vision of a business.

From finding the right balance between being hands-off and providing support, to learning from mistakes and knowing when it's time to put your ego aside and do what's right for the business, this is an honest and candid look at what it means to run a business, which is sure to strike a chord with business leaders everywhere.

You can connect with Dave on LinkedIn or find out more about december19 on their website.

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If you have enjoyed listening to this podcast, remember to subscribe and rate it to help us reach more listeners. If you would like to support the show, we would love it if you could share it with someone you think would find it helpful for overcoming the barriers to growth in their own business, solve their people problems to unlock sustainable business growth.

Remember to check out all our other episodes, which you can find here on our podcast website.

Do you have an people puzzle you'd like us to help you solve? Do you have a story to share about your journey? We would really love to hear from you, so please do feel free to connect with us on our LinkedIn or Instagram, find out more on our website, or get in touch with us at [email protected]

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• Website: www.peoplepuzzles.co.uk

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In business, growth is great - but it isn't always a smooth process.

It's perfectly normal for a business to experience growing pains as it expands. A business with three or four people in the team has very different needs to one with 25 people, or 100, or 500+.

Without creating the right foundations to support growth in terms of your people strategy, a business will run into problems with recruitment, retention, development, management and performance (to name just a few) So how do you design the right structure to support rapid growth?

This week's podcast guest is People Director Divya Kanani-Jones, an expert in organisational design and how to structure and manage the people strategy and planning of a business to support ongoing growth.

Join Divya and our host Ally Maughan as they discuss how having the right people in the right seats is essential for creating a flexible, productive workforce, how organisational design helps with retention and engagement, and how you can go about integrating all the elements of a people plan in your growing business.

You can connect with Divya on LinkedIn here, or find out more about her brilliant work helping businesses thrive here.

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If you have enjoyed listening to this podcast, remember to subscribe and rate it to help us reach more listeners. If you would like to support the show, we would love it if you could share it with someone you think would find it helpful for overcoming the barriers to growth in their own business, solve their people problems to unlock sustainable business growth.

Remember to check out all our other episodes, which you can find here on our podcast website.

Do you have an people puzzle you'd like us to help you solve? Do you have a story to share about your journey? We would really love to hear from you, so please do feel free to connect with us on our LinkedIn or Instagram, find out more on our website, or get in touch with us at [email protected]

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• Website: www.peoplepuzzles.co.uk

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Is the C-suite model still fulfilling business needs?
What is psychological ownership?
And what has Spotify got to do with running a successful business?

This week's guest on the People Puzzles podcast is Sara Daw, CEO at both the Liberti Group and CFO Centre group, and a passionate advocate of the fractional model of C-suite leadership. Her book, Strategy and Leadership as a Service: How the Access Economy Meets the C-Suite is released on 9th May and we are delighted to welcome her to explore and explain some of what it's all about.

The challenges facing businesses today are complex, and traditional models of leadership are simply not serving their shifting needs. This episode explores the evolving needs of entrepreneurs and leaders as a business grows, and why those static, rigid models of C-suite structure need a dramatic overhaul to enable the agility, responsiveness and skill-specificity that the modern marketplace requires.

From discussing the consumer-driven expectations of the access economy to the most common pain points of business leaders today, and how to introduce vital strategic skillsets in an affordable way, this is an essential listen for anyone interested in finding a better solution to business challenges and creating a true win:win culture between businesses and the people within them.

You can connect with Sara on LinkedIn or find out more about the Liberti Group and CFO Centre via their websites.

You can order Strategy and Leadership as a Service: How the Access Economy Meets the C-Suite now at Amazon, Waterstones or enquire at your local bookseller or library.

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If you have enjoyed listening to this podcast, remember to subscribe and rate it to help us reach more listeners. If you would like to support the show, we would love it if you could share it with someone you think would find it helpful for overcoming the barriers to growth in their own business, solve their people problems to unlock sustainable business growth.

Remember to check out all our other episodes, which you can find here on our podcast website.

Do you have an people puzzle you'd like us to help you solve? Do you have a story to share about your journey? We would really love to hear from you, so please do feel free to connect with us on our LinkedIn or Instagram, find out more on our website, or get in touch with us at [email protected]

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"It drives sustainable growth, helps with risk management, gives investor and customer confidence - it future-proofs the business. Having a robust ESG strategy is absolutely essential."

In this week's podcast episode, we welcome People Director Vic Foster to talk about how growing businesses can embed a strong Environmental, Social and Governance strategy into the fabric of your business - and why it's a commercial necessity for business leaders to do so.

ESG is rapidly becoming one of the most important defining factors for long-term business success, and there any many significant  benefits of a robust ESG strategy for growing businesses. From talent attraction and retention and supporting sustainable business growth to creating inclusive cultures and treating people fairly, ESG is the lens through which every area of a business' operations can be seen.

You can discover more about Vic and her stellar work with clients here, or you can connect with her on LinkedIn. 

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If you have enjoyed listening to this podcast, remember to subscribe and rate it to help us reach more listeners. If you would like to support the show, we would love it if you could share it with someone you think would find it helpful for overcoming the barriers to growth in their own business, solve their people problems to unlock sustainable business growth.

Remember to check out all our other episodes, which you can find here on our podcast website.

Do you have an people puzzle you'd like us to help you solve? Do you have a story to share about your journey? We would really love to hear from you, so please do feel free to connect with us on our LinkedIn or Instagram, find out more on our website, or get in touch with us at [email protected]

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• Website: www.peoplepuzzles.co.uk

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"The toughest challenge for any entrepreneur is attracting great people."

This week's podcast guest is Mark Scott, co-founder of pioneering petfood brand Bella & Duke, who as well as being an investor, mentor and speaker, has been recognised as an EY Entrepreneur of the Year and listed in the LDC Top 50, and has featured in The Sunday Times’ Top 100 Fastest Growing Businesses.

From his early days doing door-to-door sales to co-founding and building a £50m business, Mark knows a thing or two about the importance of people. In this week's episode, Ally chats with Mark as he shares the story of Bella & Duke and some of the key things he's learned in the process, including the importance of common goals, recruiting people who aren't like you, and making plenty of mistakes along the way.

Founded on a belief that pets (and people) can lead happier, healthier lives through proper diet, Bella & Duke is a shining example of what can happen when the right people get together behind a unified vision. As Mark says, "This is too important not to tell people about."

Connect with Mark on LinkedIn or discover Bella & Duke for yourself on the website

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If you have enjoyed listening to this podcast, remember to subscribe and rate it to help us reach more listeners. If you would like to support the show, we would love it if you could share it with someone you think would find it helpful for overcoming the barriers to growth in their own business, solve their people problems to unlock sustainable business growth.

Remember to check out all our other episodes, which you can find here on our podcast website.

Do you have an people puzzle you'd like us to help you solve? Do you have a story to share about your journey? We would really love to hear from you, so please do feel free to connect with us on our LinkedIn or Instagram, find out more on our website, or get in touch with us at [email protected]

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• Website: www.peoplepuzzles.co.uk

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What do nuclear submarines, surfing and the Wizard of Oz have in common? It turns out, when it comes to adventures in leadership, they all have invaluable lessons to teach.

In this week's podcast episode, Ally is joined by Tristram Mayhew, founder of treetop adventure company Go Ape, a business born from a love of all things outdoor and raised with a vision to help people live their lives a little bit more adventurously - including the Go Ape team themselves.

If you have ever set out to build a business based on something you love, this week's episode is a must-listen, as Tristram reflects on the successes and failures that have led to where he and the business are today as an Employee Owned Trust. Drawing on military principles of servant leadership and investing in your people, to raising a business like a family and being able to let it grow up without you, the story of Go Ape is a real lesson in bold leadership and belief in others.

You can find out more about Go Ape (and book your next treetop challenge for yourself, your family or your team) on the website, or connect with Tristram on LinkedIn.

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If you have enjoyed listening to this podcast, remember to subscribe and rate it to help us reach more listeners. If you would like to support the show, we would love it if you could share it with someone you think would find it helpful for overcoming the barriers to growth in their own business, solve their people problems to unlock sustainable business growth.

Remember to check out all our other episodes, which you can find here on our podcast website.

Do you have an people puzzle you'd like us to help you solve? Do you have a story to share about your journey? We would really love to hear from you, so please do feel free to connect with us on our LinkedIn or Instagram, find out more on our website, or get in touch with us at [email protected]

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• Website: www.peoplepuzzles.co.uk

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"One in four working parents have moved jobs because they didn't feel they could continue with their career with that employer with children in tow."

This week we are delighted to welcome award-winning Social Enterprise CEO and fellow podcast host of Big Careers, Small Children, Verena Hefti MBE, FRSA, founder of Leaders Plus.

Founded to help parents stop having to choose between being a good parent and having a fulfilling career, Leaders Plus is a social enterprise working with individuals during maternity leave, shared parental leave, and beyond, supporting them to progress in their careers alongside parenthood, and campaigning for gender equality to create a more equitable workplace for all working parents.

Join Verena in conversation with our host Ally Maughan as they discuss the importance of supporting working parents to develop their careers, exploring not just the benefits for parents and families, but also the significant advantages that supporting working parents has for businesses.


Connect with Verena on LinkedIn or discover more about the powerful work that Leaders Plus is undertaking on behalf of working parents on their website.
Listen to the Big Careers, Small Children podcast on your favourite podcast platform 

Sounding good?

If you have enjoyed listening to this podcast, remember to subscribe and rate it to help us reach more listeners. If you would like to support the show, we would love it if you could share it with someone you think would find it helpful for overcoming the barriers to growth in their own business, solve their people problems to unlock sustainable business growth.

Remember to check out all our other episodes, which you can find here on our podcast website.

Do you have an people puzzle you'd like us to help you solve? Do you have a story to share about your journey? We would really love to hear from you, so please do feel free to connect with us on our LinkedIn or Instagram, find out more on our website, or get in touch with us at [email protected]

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• Website: www.peoplepuzzles.co.uk

Thanks for listening!

"More than anything, a leader must be able to explain why what you're doing is valuable."

From championing the rebels in the classroom to spotting the hidden gems in a business, this week's podcast guest John Newton shares his journey from Headmaster to CEO and explores some of the most important traits of a successful leader and the importance of curiosity, connection and building high performance culture.

The latest in our series of conversations to help business leaders to accelerate growth through their people is a must listen for anyone who understands the importance of high performing business culture, and would benefit from insights and hands-on guidance on how to achieve it.

Connect with John on LinkedIn or visit the Sursum Solutions website to find out more

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If you have enjoyed listening to this podcast, remember to subscribe and rate it to help us reach more listeners. If you would like to support the show, we would love it if you could share it with someone you think would find it helpful for overcoming the barriers to growth in their own business, solve their people problems to unlock sustainable business growth.

Remember to check out all our other episodes, which you can find here on our podcast website.

Do you have an people puzzle you'd like us to help you solve? Do you have a story to share about your journey? We would really love to hear from you, so please do feel free to connect with us on our LinkedIn or Instagram, find out more on our website, or get in touch with us at [email protected]

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• Website: www.peoplepuzzles.co.uk

Thanks for listening!

What have you done today that has let you feel real joy?

Meet Em Stroud. Clown, best-selling author and co-founder of the new global movement "Laugh, Think, Play." An experienced performer, TED-X talker (complete with banana costume) and highly accomplished coach, Em works with high level businesses to help leaders and teams put the fun back into work to build more genuine connections, grow in confidence and creativity, and ultimately be more successful in every sense.

This week's episode is a joyful yet serious reminder of the power of laughter, the need to drop the mask, and truly connect with the people around you.

You can connect with Em on LinkedIn, or check out her services, podcast and performances on her website and the Laugh, Think, Play platform. 

Sounding good?

If you have enjoyed listening to this podcast, remember to subscribe and rate it to help us reach more listeners. If you would like to support the show, we would love it if you could share it with someone you think would find it helpful for overcoming the barriers to growth in their own business, solve their people problems to unlock sustainable business growth.

Remember to check out all our other episodes, which you can find here on our podcast website.

Do you have an people puzzle you'd like us to help you solve? Do you have a story to share about your journey? We would really love to hear from you, so please do feel free to connect with us on our LinkedIn or Instagram, find out more on our website, or get in touch with us at [email protected]

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• Instagram: Instagram.
• Website: www.peoplepuzzles.co.uk

Thanks for listening!