In this episode of Stratospheric Leaders, the microphone is handed to Caroline Vasquez, Chief Marketing & Communications Officer at DRW, as she sits down with the show’s usual host, Georgie Dickins, for a deeply personal and expansive conversation.

This episode offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at Georgie’s journey from a 20-year career in global financial institutions, including ICAP, Reuters and JPMorgan Chase, to building a purpose-led advisory career focused on leadership excellence, sustainable performance, and self-trust.

What unfolds is not a linear career story, but an honest exploration of intuition, burnout, identity, and what it truly takes to operate at the top without losing yourself along the way.

Together, Caroline and Georgie unpack the moments that forced reflection, the role of health as both a warning and a catalyst, and why the most powerful leadership shifts often begin with slowing down.This is a conversation about listening to your body, your curiosity, your fear, and your evolving definition of success and about building the internal and external structures that allow leaders to thrive over the long term.

Key Takeaways

• Your intuition is a career compass—if you listen early, it whispers before it screams.
• Burnout is often preceded by subtle signals; ignoring them comes at a cost.
• Career transitions don’t require reckless leaps—calculated exploration creates optionality.
• Journaling works best when it’s unfiltered, imperfect, and judgment-free.
• Passion for the work matters, but execution is what turns vision into reality.
• Exceptional leaders build strong “kitchen cabinets” and internal boards of directors.
• Delegation and trust create capacity; micromanagement drains it.
• Chronic stress is far more dangerous than short, acute periods of intensity.
• Leaders often overestimate their energy reserves—self-management is non-negotiable.
• Plateaus can be chosen or forced; adaptability determines continued growth.
• Communication is never one-and-done—clarity requires repetition.
• Success without self-trust eventually becomes fragile.
• Slowing down strategically is often the fastest way forward.

This episode is a powerful reminder that stratospheric leadership is about self-awareness, alignment, and the courage to evolve when the path no longer fits.

In this episode, I am joined by Sharon Bowen, Chair of the New York Stock Exchange – the first woman and person of colour to hold this role in the institution’s 230-year history.

Sharon’s career is nothing short of remarkable. She brings more than 35 years in regulatory, securities, and public policy expertise. After a distinguished career in law, she served as a Commissioner at the CFTC during one of the most critical periods in modern financial history, and is now guiding NYSE through a time of profound change and opportunity.

She is a truly respected voice in the industry – one that CEOs listen to, learn from and trust.

Key Takeaways:

• You get to choose the mindset you bring. You can see things as obstacles or diverted paths.
• Don’t let other people define you or limit your dreams.
• Maintain curiosity throughout your career. It will help you continue to grow and succeed.
• You don’t have to figure it out alone. It’s ok to ask for help.
• Build and maintain a personal board of directors.
• Mentorship matters at every stage. Never stop being a mentee.
• Networks are a powerful force multiplier. Invest in relationships consistently.
• Excellence attracts support. 
• Speak up about what you want. Don’t assume your ambition or impact is visible.
• Lead with respect and integrity. How you treat people matters.
• If you’re the first, create the path for the next. Success carries responsibility.

In this episode, I’m joined by Brad Levy, CEO of Symphony. Brad has spent decades at the intersection of finance and technology - a bold thinker, seasoned operator, and one of the most respected voices in fintech.

Before Wall Street was even on the horizon, Brad’s entrepreneurial spirit and work ethic were already taking shape. From the age of 14, he was earning his stripes working at Woodbury Commons, landscaping gardens, instructing tennis, and operating ski lifts. But it was a job during his sophomore year at university, researching municipal finance, that ultimately sparked his entry into the markets in 1992.

From 1992 to 2012, he spent two decades on Wall Street building deep expertise as a muni banker and later leading across capital markets, e-commerce, market structure, and strategic investments.

Since 2012, he has held senior leadership roles at IHS Markit and Symphony, where he’s been a leader, operator, builder, and transformer.

Brad always brings the best energy with him and this episode is no different!

Key Takeaways

Surround yourself with good people during tough times.

Flexibility is key in leadership and personal growth.

Authenticity in leadership requires balancing vulnerability and responsibility.

Crisis moments reveal true character and trust.

The importance of presence in navigating change.

Frameworks help structure thoughts and actions for success.

Measuring success through KPIs is essential for growth.

Time management is crucial in a fast-paced world.

Failure is a feature of the journey, not a bug.

In this episode, I’m joined by Andy Kuper Founder & CEO of LeapFrog Investments - a pioneering impact investment firm that has reached over half a billion low-income people with access to essential healthcare, financial tools, and climate solutions. Under his leadership, LeapFrog has raised over $3 billion from global investors and, earning recognition from Fortune as one of the top companies changing the world.

Andy embodies the conviction that purpose andprofit can scale together - transforming industries, delivering outsized returns, and proving that humble, mission-driven teams can reshape the world.

Key Takeaways:

• Markets waiting to be restructured hold the greatest potential.
• Small, dedicated teams can change the world.
• Profit and purpose can coexist and drive success.
• See through your customer’s eyes. Assumption is theenemy of insight.
• Lead with humility. Listen, learn, and stay curious about what you don’t yet know.
• Serve, don’t prescribe. Meet fundamental needs rather than defining them for others.
• Uncover unmet needs. Meeting customer demands sustains; anticipating them transforms.
• Let experience speak for you. Delighted customers are your most powerful marketing engine.
• Celebrate progress. Recognise milestones, share credit, and strengthen collective resolve.

Andy is an extraordinary guest. I trust you will enjoy listening to this episode as much as I did recording it.

In this episode, I’m joined by Sandeep Sahai, CEO of Clearwater Analytics (NYSE: CWAN) - a truly disruptive force shaping the future of financial technology. Clearwater operates on the cloud, providing clients with a comprehensive, real-time view of their portfolios and enabling global execution - processing and reporting on an extraordinary $8.8 trillion in assets daily as of December 31, 2024.

What makes this conversation special isn’t just the scale of Clearwater’s innovation - it’s the heart behind the leadership. From his grandmother teaching him chess at nine years old, Sandeep learned to think about others - to understand what drives people and why. That early lesson became a cornerstone of his leadership philosophy: If your employees are happy and engaged, they’ll build great products. They’ll take care of clients. And when clients succeed, shareholders succeed.

Throughout his journey, Sandeep has been driven by curiosity, hard work, and humility - and yes, he credits a touch of luck too. In our discussion, we explore the golden threads of his career, his fascination with technology, and how Generative AI is set to transform the way we live, work, and connect - just as every great technological leap before it has done throughout history.

This is a conversation that blends humanity, innovation, and vision - a masterclass in what it means to lead with care, courage, and conviction.

Key Takeaways:

• Understanding the global perspective is crucial for success.
• There are many versions of truth; perspective matters.
• Curiosity and open-mindedness lead to better conversations.
• Put your hand up for opportunities, even if uncertain.
• Success is defined by personal happiness and family well-being.
• Infectious passion is essential for effective leadership.
• Work-life balance is challenging but necessary for fulfillment.
• Generative AI will transform how we work and interact.
• Transparency in communication fosters trust and engagement.

In this episode of Stratospheric Leaders, I sit down with Keyvan Mohajer, Co-founder & CEO of SoundHound AI - a technical innovator reshaping how we live, work, and interact with AI.

From selling bread at age ten to leading a $7B company powering billions of voice interactions worldwide, Keyvan’s journey is one of vision, grit, and relentless innovation.

He shares how childhood curiosity, sci-fi imagination, and his father’s wisdom shaped his path and why he believes the AI revolution is only just beginning.

This is a story of bold ideas, unshakable persistence, and building a legacy of real-world impact.

Key Takeaways:

Vision + Faith Beat the Odds - When all the data says you’ll fail, it’s faith, persistence, and belief in your vision that carry you forward.

Learn from Everyone, Everywhere — Great ideas, advice, and inspiration can come from anyone and anywhere, if you stay open and curious.

Leadership is Earned, Not Assigned — True leaders are chosen by their followers, not appointed by titles or superiors.

Resilience Fuels Repeatable Success — The toughest times offer the greatest lessons, and real success comes from building processes that can be repeated, not relying on luck.

Ride the Wave, Don’t Celebrate Too Long — Big shifts can drown you or lift you higher, depending on your mindset — so acknowledge wins, but keep moving forward.

If you want to learn more practical lessons and real-world leadership insights from remarkable founder CEOs, you can ⁠⁠⁠⁠order Georgie's book Stratospheric CEOs out now (⁠U.K⁠. & ⁠U.S.⁠).

In this episode of Stratospheric Leaders, I am thrilled to be joined by Justin Bariso – one of today’s leading voices on emotional intelligence and the author of EQ Applied – a book I consider my leadership bible and one I gift to every client. A gifted writer, his popular weekly Inc.com column has attracted millions of readers.

What makes Justin remarkable isn’t just his mastery of the theory, but his ability to make emotional intelligence practical, relatable, and immediately usable. In our conversation, he doesn’t just explain EQ - he brings it vividly to life through real-world stories, powerful lessons, and actionable tactics.

At a time when the pace of change is relentless, Justin shows us why EQ and human-centred leadership aren’t just nice-to-haves - they’re the defining advantages of modern leadership.

Key Takeaways:

• Pause before you react. Emotional control begins with creating space between stimulus and response.

• Feelings aren’t facts — but they matter. Emotions drive behaviour; understanding them (yours and others’) is a leadership advantage.

• Empathy is a superpower. It can also be a potential source of burnout for leaders.

• Criticism is data. Extract the lesson.

• Kindness scales. Small gestures of respect and appreciation compound into loyalty and stronger relationships.

• Clarity beats emotion in conflict. Anchor conversations in facts, not feelings, to resolve tension.

• Lead with curiosity. It opens doors to solutions.

• Your emotional culture is contagious. As a leader, your mood sets the tone. Positivity and composure spread.

• Self-awareness is the foundation. You can’t manage what you don’t notice. Name your emotions to navigate them.

In this episode, I sit down with the remarkable Dr. Kay Swinburne, Baroness Swinburne.

Kay is currently the non-executive Chair of the Association of British Insurers and an advisor to numerous FS Boards, having held senior executive roles in the financial & professional services industry. She played a pivotal role in shaping regulatory reform, spearheading major legislative reforms in financial services covering key areas like MiFID II, EMIR. She was a member of the European Parliament (MEP) for Wales between 2009 and 2019 in the shadow of the great financial crash, which involved putting in place once in a lifetime legislation for financial services. Kay then had the great honour of becoming a member of the House of Lords in 2023.

However, it all began in West Wales. Kay’s roots were humble. She grew up in a family-run bakery, where her first job was helping behind the scenes - stacking shelves, weighing potatoes, and tackling the tasks no one else wanted. It was in those formative years that her relentless work ethic was forged and hard work became the foundation for everything that followed. Her school motto of Sic itur ad astra - reach for the stars becoming one of her north stars.

As a child, she dreamed of being a doctor or leading a major healthcare company. She began her career in pharmaceuticals, then went on to be a leading pharmaceutical analyst at an investment bank before founding and running a biotechnology hedge fund - all while raising her two young children just a year apart. This is a person who is used to dealing with personal pressure.

She speaks openly about how hard she has pushed herself - where good enough was never good enough. Relentlessly driven to test her limits, her early career was all about earning a seat at the table, delivering results, and making an impact. Today, while those ambitions remain, her focus has expanded to include not just success, but legacy.

Kay, by her own admission, is a meticulous planner and self-confessed control freak. Yet, ironically, the defining roles and pivotal moments in her career - from pharmaceuticals to banking, fund management to politics weren’t part of any master plan. Opportunities found her. It’s no surprise she’s been dubbed The Accidental Politician. She often reflects on the role of serendipity in her journey - success born not just of strategy, but of showing up and being open to the unexpected.

I thoroughly enjoyed my conversation with Kay. Her career has been defined by bold moves, guided by intellectual curiosity, courage, and humility. For Kay, it always comes back to the people. As she puts it, “It may have been your idea, it may be your company, but when things start to work, it’s because a team helped you deliver.” A powerful reminder that true leadership is never a solo act.

This is conversation is rich with insights, wisdom and lessons. It’s one you won’t want to miss.

In this insightful and highly enjoyable episode of Stratospheric Leaders, I sit down with Fabiana Fedeli, Chief Investment Officer, Equities, Multi Asset and Sustainability of M&G Investments. Fabiana leads a global team of 170 people, overseeing more than $70 billion in assets.

We start by going back to where it all started. Born in Rome, Fabiana’s work ethic was already evident at the age of 8, cleaning the leather covers of antique books for a family friend, earning 20 pence per book. Her second official job - ice cream maker, a role still listed in her Italian professions booklet.

Fabiana’s international career started in Tokyo, where she began her career as an equity analyst at ING Barings after completing a Master’s degree at a Japanese university. Her path included time in hedge funds, before moving into leadership roles in asset management.

Fabiana is a leader who balances strength with heart - firm, focused but fair, warm yet uncompromising. She sets a high bar and isn’t afraid to make the tough calls. In this episode, she offers powerful insights on what it truly takes to lead at the top - blending excellence with empathy and great energy.

Key Takeaways:

·      Leading with culture, respect, and pride

·      Knowing your outlets—and using them

·      Sleep as a strategic advantage

·      The pressure of the leadership seat

·      Making tough people decisions

·      Mentorship and the power of a trusted tribe

·      Turning hard feedback into growth

·      Why self-awareness and accountability matter

·      Embracing failure as part of the journey

·      Staying adaptable to stay ahead

In this engaging episode of Stratospheric Leaders, I sit down with Doug Cifu, co-founder and CEO of Virtu Financial — a global leader in market making and execution services.

Doug takes us on an extraordinary journey: from humble beginnings landscaping lawns and scooping ice cream, to practicing law, and ultimately co-founding one of the world’s most influential market-making firms alongside Vinnie Viola.

Doug shares how his upbringing shaped a fierce work ethic, the role of trusted relationships in his career pivots, and the leap of faith required to leave a secure legal career for the entrepreneurial journey.

But this conversation goes beyond finance. Doug opens up about the heart of leadership — building inclusive teams, preserving company culture, prioritizing wellness, and leading with authenticity.

This episode is more than just a conversation — it’s a masterclass in leading with heart and a powerful reminder that success and humility are not mutually exclusive.

If you want to learn more practical lessons and real-world leadership insights from remarkable founder CEOs, you can ⁠⁠⁠⁠order Georgie's book Stratospheric CEOs out now (⁠U.K⁠. & ⁠U.S.⁠).

Key Takeaways:

• From Law to Leadership: How Doug transitioned from a law career to co-founding a global trading powerhouse

• The Power of Relationships: Why trust and personal connections are critical in shaping career-defining opportunities

• Culture Over Everything: Building inclusive, mission-driven teams that value diversity and collaboration

• Wellness as a Strategy: The importance of health, flexibility, and balance in sustaining long-term success

• Leading with Instinct: How staying true to your core values can guide big decisions in high-stakes environments