What happens when a high-performance team stops winning — and has to rebuild belief under pressure?

In this episode of Team Talk, Sherry Bevan is joined by Scott Drawer, Performance Director at INEOS Grenadiers, to explore what it really takes to lead performance when the spotlight is unforgiving and results matter.

Scott shares a behind-the-scenes view of professional cycling and the complexity of leading a dispersed, multicultural team operating at the highest level of sport. Together, they unpack why teams plateau, how culture reveals itself under pressure, and why connection, trust and belonging are essential - not optional - in high-performance environments.

This conversation goes beyond cycling to offer practical insights for leaders in any sector navigating change, rebuilding momentum, and creating the conditions for people to perform at their best.

If you care about culture, leadership and sustainable high performance, this episode is for you.

Important links

• Owen Eastwood – Belonging
• Professor Robin Dunbar – research on social connection and group size
• Professor Steve Peters – The Chimp Paradox
• Scott Drawer on LinkedIn
• INEOS Grenadiers website, Facebook & Instagram

About the guest

Scott Drawer is the Performance Director for INEOS Grenadiers, responsible for race performance, coaching strategy, rider development, recruitment and the integration of science, medicine and technology across the team.

With a background spanning Olympic sport (including London 2012), professional rugby and elite education, Scott brings both scientific rigour and human insight to high-performance environments.

About your host, Sherry Bevan

Sherry Bevan helps teams in transition perform at their best – without the fluff. A former Global Head of IT Service in an international law firm, she now works across technology, professional services and the charity sector. Through her Team Kickoff Accelerator, Sherry supports new and changing teams to build trust, strengthen collaboration and set the foundations for high performance. A former grassroots cyclist and still a runner, Sherry is fascinated by what sport can teach us about teamwork, leadership and sustainable performance – and it's these ideas she explores with leaders and experts on Team Talk.

Connect with Sherry

• Website: https://www.sherrybevan.co.uk/
• Sign up for news and updates.
• Apply to join the Team Culture Club.
• Connect on LinkedIn.

What does it take to build - lose - and rebuild a high-performance team without losing belief or values?

In this episode of Team Talk, Sherry Bevan speaks with Doug Ryder about leadership, resilience and community in professional cycling. Doug shares the journey from an "impossible" Olympic-era dream to leading the first African team at the Tour de France - and how Q36.5 Pro Cycling rebuilt after losing all sponsorship during Covid.

This is a candid conversation about belief, trust and what really sustains performance when results disappear.

What you'll hear in this episode

• Building belief against the odds
• Leading through failure and uncertainty
• Life inside a globally distributed team
• Why culture is a performance advantage

Key leadership takeaways

• Values matter most in adversity
• Staff culture underpins results
• Belonging fuels performance

Final thought

High performance is human - and belief travels further than budget.

Important links

• Q36.5 Pro Cycling: @Q36.5_procycling (Instagram)
• Website: Q36-5procycling.com
• Doug Ryder: LinkedIn

About the guest

Doug Ryder is the General Manager of Q36.5 Pro Cycling and a former Olympic cyclist who represented South Africa at the 1996 Atlanta Games.

Doug is best known for founding the team that became the first African squad to compete in the Tour de France in 2015. After the team collapsed during Covid, he led its return to professional cycling with Q36.5, grounded in the principle of Ubuntu - "I am because we are."

Doug is widely respected for his values-led approach to leadership and his belief that sustainable high performance is built through community, trust and shared purpose.

About your host, Sherry Bevan

Sherry Bevan helps teams in transition perform at their best – without the fluff. A former Global Head of IT Service in an international law firm, she now works across technology, professional services and the charity sector. Through her Team Kickoff Accelerator, Sherry supports new and changing teams to build trust, strengthen collaboration and set the foundations for high performance. A former grassroots cyclist and still a runner, Sherry is fascinated by what sport can teach us about teamwork, leadership and sustainable performance – and it's these ideas she explores with leaders and experts on Team Talk.

Connect with Sherry

• Website: https://www.sherrybevan.co.uk/
• Sign up for news and updates.
• Apply to join the Team Culture Club.
• Connect on LinkedIn.

What does it really take to take a football club into the Football League for the first time in its history?

In this episode of Team Talk, Sherry Bevan is joined by Matt Hall, Head of Football Operations and Administration at Bromley Football Club, to explore the unseen work behind on-pitch success.

Matt shares Bromley's journey from non-league football to promotion in 2024, and what it means to be part of the "team behind the team". He offers a behind-the-scenes look at the operational, cultural and community foundations that allow players and coaches to perform without distraction.

This conversation goes beyond football to reveal powerful lessons about leadership, alignment and culture - particularly in organisations with limited resources but big ambition.

If you're interested in how clarity, shared responsibility and strong values drive sustainable performance, this episode is for you.

Important links

• Bromley Football Club: https://www.bromleyfc.co.uk
• Bromley FC Community Trust: https://www.bromleyfccommunitytrust.org.uk

About Matt Hall

Matt Hall is Head of Football Operations and Administration at Bromley Football Club. A lifelong supporter and local to the area, Matt has grown with the club - moving from volunteer roles and matchday announcing to leading football operations at League level.

He is responsible for all off-pitch operations supporting players and coaching staff, including compliance, logistics, registrations, and league relations. Matt also sits on the board of the Bromley FC Community Trust and is a passionate ambassador for the club's values and its role in the borough.

About your host, Sherry Bevan

Sherry Bevan helps teams in transition perform at their best – without the fluff. A former Global Head of IT Service in an international law firm, she now works across technology, professional services and the charity sector. Through her Team Kickoff Accelerator, Sherry supports new and changing teams to build trust, strengthen collaboration and set the foundations for high performance. A former grassroots cyclist and still a runner, Sherry is fascinated by what sport can teach us about teamwork, leadership and sustainable performance – and it's these ideas she explores with leaders and experts on Team Talk.

Connect with Sherry

• Website: https://www.sherrybevan.co.uk/
• Sign up for news and updates.
• Apply to join the Team Culture Club.
• Connect on LinkedIn.

Team Talk is a podcast about what really makes teams perform at their best.

In this introduction episode, host Sherry Bevan shares why she created the podcast, her background in sport and leadership, and what listeners can expect in future episodes. Drawing on lessons from elite sport, business, and the charity sector, Team Talk explores team culture, leadership, resilience, and belonging - through real stories, not buzzwords.

If you lead a team, or work as part of one, this podcast is for you.

About your host, Sherry Bevan

Sherry Bevan helps teams in transition perform at their best – without the fluff. A former Global Head of IT Service in an international law firm, she now works across technology, professional services and the charity sector. Through her Team Kickoff Accelerator, Sherry supports new and changing teams to build trust, strengthen collaboration and set the foundations for high performance. A former grassroots cyclist and still a runner, Sherry is fascinated by what sport can teach us about teamwork, leadership and sustainable performance – and it's these ideas she explores with leaders and experts on Team Talk.

Connect with Sherry

• Website: https://www.sherrybevan.co.uk/
• Sign up for news and updates.
• Apply to join the Team Culture Club.
• Connect on LinkedIn.