In this episode of Sparks, Milly is joined in the studio by Em, an Executive Learning Director with plenty of experience in turning client relationships into long-term, high-trust partnerships. Together they dig into what really strengthens a new relationship, the subtle signs that things are shifting into true partnership territory, and how to navigate the tricky moments that inevitably come with collaborative work.From early foundations and essential qualities to balancing friendship with professionalism, this conversation offers grounded, honest insight without sugar-coating the challenges. If you’ve ever wondered how to build better client relationships—or how to rescue one when it hits a rough patch—you’ll want to listen in.Chapters:00:00 Welcome to sparks.2:51 how to build a strong client relationship.07:29 signs that your client relationship might be becoming a partnership.10:17 what are some things you do at the start to build a strong relationship with clients?13:10 the qualities you need to build aa great partnership15:01 example of a challenging situation with a partner22:00 signs of a true partnership emerging26:45 how do you strike the balance between a friendship and professional partnership?33:15 Advice to someone going through a rough patch with a client.Follow us on LinkedInMilly Gladstone https://www.linkedin.com/in/milly-gladstone/Emily Link https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-link-b576a246/Interested in sparking something with us? Get in touch: [email protected]'t forget to stay subscribed for more!

In this episode of Sparks, Milly welcomes two of our Learning Consultants Simone Sullivan and Reuben Fletcher-Louis for a conversation that gets right under the skin of human behaviour.

From the subtle biases that shape every buying decision to the snap judgements we make in the first seconds of a meeting, they dig into the psychology that quietly drives workplace performance.

You’ll hear how salespeople can use science to make stronger first impressions, and why managers who understand human quirks have a serious edge when it comes to motivating their teams.

It’s a lively, practical chat with insights you’ll start noticing the moment you hit play.

Join us, and see how a little behavioural science can spark a lot of impact.

Chapters:

00:00 welcome to sparks

09:48 selling to people’s biases11:14 The primacy bias14:04 Snap Judgements

17:40 Advice to a salesperson meeting a potential client for the first time

19:00 what can managers learn from the science?

25:20 Tips for managers in using psychology and science to motivate their team

Follow us on Linkedin:

Milly Gladstone https://www.linkedin.com/in/milly-gladstone/

Simone Sullivan https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonesullivan1/

Reuben Fletcher Louis https://www.linkedin.com/in/reuben-fletcher-louis/

Interested in sparking something with us? Get in touch: [email protected]

Don't forget to follow for more!

Where do you draw the line when it comes to clients, colleagues, and your own capacity? In this episode of Sparks, host Milly is joined by Sita, our Senior Account Manager and Rachel one of our Lead Learning consultants, to unpack the art of setting boundaries at work. They explore why it can feel hard to say no, how to stay client-focused without burning out, and what to do when someone crosses the line.Packed with honest stories and practical advice, this conversation sheds light on how trust, communication, and self-awareness play a role in maintaining healthy workplace relationships and sustainable client partnerships.If you’ve ever struggled to set limits or protect your time, this episode is for you. Tune in for a smart, down-to-earth take on professional boundaries and what it really takes to thrive at work.

Chapters00:00 Welcome to sparks02:23 What do we mean by boundaries and why do we need them?04:25 Why is it hard to set boundaries sometimes?07:13 Tips to help people say no sometimes09:47 How do you balance being client focused and setting boundaries?12:43 How do you set boundaries internally with colleagues or your boss?19:45 How do you approach a situation where someone’s interrupted your boundary?26:57 Do you think that trust plays a role in setting and maintaing boundaries?30:47 Examples of a time you’ve had to set a boundary with a client or someone internally?37:30 Early warning signs that a client might be trying to push your boundaries.Follow us on Linkedin:Milly Gladstone https://www.linkedin.com/in/milly-gladstone/Sita Kohli https://www.linkedin.com/in/sita-kohli-0047462b/Rachel Cise https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-cise-3aaa87142/Don't forget to follow us for more!

This week, host Milly is joined in the studio by Gaby, our Head of Studio, and Simone, one of our Learning Consultants, for a crucial conversation about accessible design in learning and development.Why is this essential for L&D professionals? What common misconceptions hold people back? We're diving into how to brilliantly balance creativity with inclusive design and identifying where learning experiences can unintentionally exclude people. Get ready for inspiring stories, immediate quick wins to boost your accessibility right now, and a look at those overlooked tools that can be total game-changers. Plus, we'll talk about how to truly involve people in your design process and what has us most excited about the future of accessibility and learning.It's a must-watch episode that will transform how you think about creating engaging, and most importantly, inclusive learning for everyone.Get in touch: [email protected] Follow us on Linkedin Milly Gladstone https://www.linkedin.com/in/milly-gladstone/?originalSubdomain=ukSimone Sullivan https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonesullivan1/Gaby Bran https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabriela-bran-60a339154/0:00 welcome to Sparks7:50 Why do you think L&D professionals should care about accessibility?9:45 whats a common misconception about accessible design?12:36 How do you balance creativity with accessible design?14:55 Where do you see learning experiences, sometimes unintentionally, excluding people?18:16 can you share a story where accessible design really transformed someone’s learning journey?21:09 Are there any immediate quick wins for making things more accessible?23:06 what overlooked accessibility features/ tools are game changers?26:40 What can teams do to involve people in their design process?30:03 What excites you the most about the future or accessibility and learning?31:47 where can people go to learn more about accessible design?

In this episode of Sparks, Milly sits down with Phoebe Shaw from Give a Grad a Go to unpack what diversity and inclusion really means in hiring today.

From unconscious bias to impactful (and affordable) initiatives, they explore where the industry is falling short—and where it's heading next.

Whether you’re hiring your first team member or shaping company-wide policy, this conversation will leave you with fresh insights and some big questions to take back to the boardroom.Tune in for a fresh look at how CSR can actually shape team culture — and why it’s worth prioritising, even when resources are tight.See what we do best:https://www.cegos.co.uk/Interested in sparking something with [email protected] with us on LinkedIn:Milly Gladstone: https://www.linkedin.com/in/milly-gladstone/Phoebe Shaw: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phoebe-shaw-3188ab198/00:00 - welcome to sparks04:44 where are biggest points of bias showing up in the hiring process?08:39 what does inclusivity look like in hiring?11:52 what does the D&I training cover at Give a Grad a Go?14:36 Some key stats19:45 How can employers continue to be inclusive23:17 some low cost, high impact equality initiatives for hiring

In this episode of Sparks, Milly is joined by one of our learning consultants, Blair, and client delivery & HR manager Sharon for a conversation about all things CSR. From how to avoid the dreaded tick-box approach, to what really gets a team engaged and energised, they share insights from leading our own team's CSR initiatives. Whether you're just starting your CSR journey or trying to get buy-in across the business, this episode's packed with honest reflections, practical advice, and a few unexpected takeaways.Tune in for a fresh look at how CSR can actually shape team culture — and why it’s worth prioritising, even when resources are tight.See what we do best:https://www.cegos.co.uk/Interested in sparking something with [email protected] with us on LinkedIn:Milly Gladstone: https://www.linkedin.com/in/milly-gladstone/Blair Wagner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blairrwagner/03:52 CSR can feel like a tick box sometimes06:01 Your team needs to feel involved13:18 How can CSR be part of team culture and morale?16:16 A CSR project that’s energised our team20:15 What are the biggest challenges you face when trying to get people too buy into your CSR initiatives22:01 How do you measure the impact of initiatives?26:58 Why should other businesses consider making CSR a priority, even if they’re limited on their resources?28:24 Advice to people beginning their CSR journey

On this episode of Sparks, we're exploring a topic that's shaping the future of work: employee fulfilment. This week, Milly is joined by Grace French, where they challenge the old standard of "employee engagement" and unpack why fulfilment is the new gold standard. They explore the biggest misconceptions leaders have, the power of being intentional, and who is doing it right. Tune in to find out if fulfilment is another buzzword or the blueprint for success, and hear our advice for both managers and employees on how to drive real, lasting change.Connect with us on LinkedInMilly Gladstone https://www.linkedin.com/in/milly-gladstone/Grace French https://www.linkedin.com/in/graceelizabethfrench/?originalSubdomain=ukSee what we do best:https://www.cegos.uk/Want to spark something with [email protected] Welcome to sparks02:49 Employee engagement used to be the gold standard06:21 how do you measure fulfilment?09:09 What are some of the biggest misconceptions leaders have?16:28 Who’s doing employee fulfilment well?23:11 Do you think employee fulfilment is a manager’s responsibility?30:21 Is there risk of it becoming a buzzword?35:19 Advice to managers36:19 Advice to employees

In this episode of Sparks, Milly invites Hannah Frame from BAE systems to speak about the messy, rewarding, and surprising journey of learning to love management. From asking for support as a new manager to figuring out how to delegate, they share honest reflections and practical takeaways. We also dive into fresh insights from Cegos’ International Barometer on leadership trends across the globe. If you're stepping into a management role, or are still adjusting to one, this episode is for you. See what we do best:https://www.cegos.co.uk/Interested in sparking something with [email protected] with us on LinkedIn:Milly Gladstone: https://www.linkedin.com/in/milly-gladstone/Hannah Frame: https://www.linkedin.com/in/framehannah/0:00 welcome to sparks5:33 Asking for support as a new manager7:01 How did you adjust to quickly becoming a manager?18:29 Learning to delegate24:38 Learning to love management28:23 Insights from Cegos’ International Barometer38:51 Advice to people about to step into the role

Feeling the weight of management? In this episode of Sparks, a podcast by Cegos, Milly is joined by Emilie West, where they dive into a growing workplace challenge - management fatigue. They get into what it looks like, why it’s on the rise, and how leaders can start to navigate it. As part of our mini-series on management and leadership, we’re unpacking the not-so-obvious signs of burnout, the reality of ‘quiet quitting’, and whether your work persona is helping or hindering your energy.

Whether you’re a seasoned manager or new to the role, this episode's here to spark a fresh perspective.

Connect with us on LinkedIn:

Milly Gladstone https://www.linkedin.com/in/milly-gladstone/

Emilie West https://www.linkedin.com/in/emiliewest/

See what we do best: https://www.cegos.uk/

Want to spark something with us?

[email protected]

00:00 Welcome to sparks

07:48 Handling responsibility

12:26 Advice to new managers

16:27 The rise of quiet quitting and finding your routine

22:25 The signs of fatigue

34:43 Tips for lessening the fatigue

39:51 Work personas

In this episode of Sparks, our host Milly Gladstone is joined by Emily Link, a Director here at Cegos, and Lizzie Finch, one of our Marketing Executives, to dive into the leadership style of the Lionesses' manager Sarina Wiegman. In this episode, our team unpack what makes her such a standout figure in women’s football. From the way she builds trust with players to how she keeps the game fun under pressure, we explore the mindset behind the lionesses manager, during one of the biggest matches of her career. What really went down at half time? And how does a leader know whether to step in or step back? Listen in to hear our own team’s thoughts on one of the biggest matches of the year.

--Connect with us on Linkedin

Milly Gladstone https://www.linkedin.com/in/milly-gladstone/

Emily Link https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-link-b576a246/

Lizzie Finch https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizzie-finch-818578210/

See what we do best:https://www.cegos.uk/Want to spark something with us?

[email protected]

00:00 welcome to sparks

02:45 what do we know about Sarina's leadership style?

06:54 How she builds relationships with her team players9:52 Keeping the game fun

17:22 What was she doing in the lead up to the game?

21:59 Instilling a sense of purpose in the team

28:30 What was said at half time

32:31 when to jump in to help as a manager?