Are you actually a good leader - or just good at telling yourself you are?

In this first episode of Series 2, Dan is joined by Rebecca Sangster-Kelly, of Studium Consulting, for a direct and, at times, challenging conversation about what leadership actually looks like in practice, not just in theory.

Together, they strip back the language we often hide behind: purpose, culture, psychological safety, and ask what happens when those ideals meet real-world pressure, ego and decision-making.

From hiring “your people” to balancing being a doer versus a leader, this episode challenges some of the most widely accepted leadership behaviours.

Dan and Rebecca look at honesty, accountability and the moments where leadership either builds trust or quietly erodes it.

Key questions

• [01:30] What really makes someone a good leader
• [03:25] Why is the shift from doer to leader so difficult
• [05:11] Is office politics just part of leadership or a sign something is broken?
• [11:30] What happens when leaders think they know their people without actually asking them?
• [12:35] Why do some leaders build a trusted “posse” and is that always a bad thing?
• [16:40] Does leadership create culture, or does culture shape leadership?
• [18:55] Why do values and psychological safety so often become lip service?
• [34:48] Is honest indifference better than pretending to care about employees?
• [35:19] What changes when leaders consistently show people they matter?

More about Rebecca Sangster-Kelly

Rebecca, from Studium Consulting, is a Communications and Stakeholder Management Coach.

She works with leaders and organisations to strengthen how they engage, communicate and build meaningful relationships with their audiences.

Her work focuses on helping individuals move beyond assumptions, improving clarity, and delivering communication that genuinely lands.

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Further reading

• ‘What got you here won’t get you there’ book: ⁠https://www.amazon.co.uk/What-Got-Here-Wont-There/dp/1401301304⁠
• Regulatory focus theory article explaining three studies: https://insight.kellogg.northwestern.edu/article/how-much-evidence-do-you-need-to-make-a-decision#
• Near misses in hospitals from the good catch awards:

1. https://bmjopenquality.bmj.com/content/14/Suppl_2/A59
2. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3888507/#:~:text=Anesthesiology%20residents%20use%20the%20process,in%20the%20Weinberg%20Surgical%20Suite.

More about dmb films

dmb films is a video production agency specialising in creating content that helps organisations communicate with clarity and impact. From branded content to podcast production, they work with businesses to tell stories that connect with the audiences that matter.

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Want to work with dmb films?

If you want content that doesn’t just look good but actually lands with your audience, visit https://www.dmbfilms.co.uk/contact/ and start a conversation.

In this episode, Dan sits down with Paul Coates, Head of International Consultant and Delivery Excellence at FranklinCovey — and a leader who has spent more than two decades shaping how organisations learn, adapt and transform.

Paul’s journey is a rare one: first a FranklinCovey client, now one of its global senior leaders. That dual perspective gives him a unique lens on what truly drives performance and culture — and why learning has shifted from “training sessions” to leader-led journeys that build resilience, trust, and real behaviour change.

Together, Dan and Paul explore:

• Why culture change only happens when leaders go first and the powerful truth behind “people will do it when they see it being done”.

• The five essentials that make learning stick — from intentional design to shared language and accountability.

• The role of storytelling in unlocking emotion, inspiring change, and building connection across teams, countries and cultures.

• What it takes to deliver learning at scale — and why real stories from real people matter more than ever.

• How apps, digital tools and habit-building techniques can reinforce learning long after the workshop ends.

Paul also shares honest reflections on leadership, vulnerability and the challenge of prioritisation - plus the moment a CEO tried a new questioning technique for 15 minutes and came back saying it was “the best meeting I’ve ever had.”

This is a rich, practical and deeply human conversation for anyone working in learning and development, people leadership, organisational change, or culture transformation.

Listen now — and explore more episodes and resources at dmbfilms.co.uk.

Case studies and testimonials are everywhere but how many actually make an impact?

In this episode of Reel Impact, Michelle Tompkinson, Head of Marketing at FranklinCovey, shares how to turn customer stories into meaningful, memorable marketing.

She explains why authenticity matters more than polish, how to blend data with emotion, and the simple principles that make a testimonial feel real.

We explore:

• Why storytelling turns evidence into connection

• How to identify and capture the stories that reflect your brand values

• The difference between a case study that informs and one that inspires

• Why vulnerability, honesty and results are equally important in trust-building

🎧 Tune in to learn how to bring your impact to life through stories that people remember - and believe!

EDI isn’t just a policy – it’s people.

In this episode of Reel Impact, we sit down with Cat Lynch, Community Stakeholder Manager at the award winning rail operator KeolisAmey Docklands, to explore what equity, diversity and inclusion really mean when you move beyond the corporate agenda and into the community.

From working with local groups to supporting individuals who rarely get heard, Cat shares honest reflections on how inclusion happens in the real world – through connection, collaboration and courage.

We discuss:

• Why inclusion starts with listening, not slogans

• How communities can drive change when they feel ownership of it

• The difference between performative action and meaningful progress

• What it takes to create spaces where everyone feels they belong

🎧 Tune in to discover how EDI can move from compliance to community impact and why every small action matters.

For more on the Reel Impact series and the work dmb films do with some of the UK's biggest and most successful brands, visit dmbfilms.co.uk.

Internal comms has never been more important—or more challenging.

In this episode of Reel Impact, People Director from Welcome Break, Nic Marshall, lifts the lid on what it really takes to engage a 6,000-strong, frontline workforce.

From campaigns bold enough to spark debate to the everyday realities of running lean comms teams, Nic shares how authenticity, trust, and creativity can make the difference between messages that land, and those that get ignored.

We cover:

• How to keep internal comms in step with the way people actually consume content,

• Why budgets don’t always match ambitions and how to do more with less,

• What bold campaigns can do for culture inside (and outside) the business,

• How leaders can balance nerves with authenticity when communicating.

🎧 Tune in to hear why effective internal comms isn’t just about sending messages, it’s about building connections that last.

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Visit the dmbfilms website to find out how we can help you inspire your people with video.

Episode 2 of Reel Impact asks a big question: what does it take to make learning matter? 

In this conversation with Learning & Development expert Peter Clark-Lewis, we dig into why so many training programmes fall flat and how to design learning experiences that actually change behaviour. 

Peter shares candid insights on the pitfalls of tick-box training, the importance of learning in context, and the role leaders play in creating a culture where development sticks. 

Expect thought-provoking questions like: 

• Why do we keep running training that doesn’t work? 

• What’s the secret to getting people to apply what they learn? 

• How can L&D shift from being a cost to a driver of impact? 

Whether you’re leading a team, building an organisation’s people strategy, or simply curious about how humans grow, this episode will challenge how you think about learning and inspire you to do it differently.

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• Find out how dmb films can help you inspire your people by visiting https://www.dmbfilms.co.uk/.
• Discover Peter's award winning services through Reimagine Learning by visiting https://reimaginelearning.co.uk/

In our first Reel Impact episode, host Dan Bryant speaks with Kate Johnston, Employer Brand Manager at Carnival UK, about what it really means to build an authentic employer brand.  

From the power of storytelling and employee networks to the challenges of global recruitment and culture, Kate shares how Carnival UK ensures its culture isn’t just what’s posted online but what people truly experience. 

In this short intro, host Dan Bryant sets the scene for Reel Impact, the video podcast from dmb films.

He shares why the series was created, who it’s for, and what to expect, from honest, practical conversations with leaders in comms, HR, people development and employer brand, to fresh ideas on how to engage and inspire your people at work.

Visit the dmb films website for more information or follow up on socials:

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