How is AI impacting our jobs, careers, and sense of purpose at work? Who stands to win or lose as the pace of change accelerates? In this episode Helen Beedham chats to Rob Garlick, author, consultant, and former Head of Innovation & Technology at Citi Global Insights, to unpack how artificial intelligence is reshaping opportunities, job quality, and the very skills we need to succeed, whether you’re just starting out or a seasoned leader.

Together, Helen and Rob explore:

⭐️ How AI is already altering job availability, job quality, who’s most affected and why graduates and tech workers may be the ‘canaries in the coal mine’ for wider workplace shifts;

⭐️ The “conditional optimism” case: why AI’s full benefits might be realised only after navigating painful disruptions;

⭐️ The reality behind the hype around massive productivity gains and job substitution;

⭐️ How younger workers are both disadvantaged and empowered by AI, and why older workers may bring stability and ethical oversight through turbulent times;

⭐️ Practical strategies for pro-human leadership: upskilling and reskilling with purpose, leveraging AI for augmentation (not just substitution), and creating stability and agency at every career stage.

About Rob Garlick:

Rob is an Author, Speaker, Consultant and Coach focused on the implications of AI on work and leadership. His experience includes: 1000’s of meetings with C-suite and top investors globally; a front row seat for most innovation areas in the last 30 years, publishing over 60 papers on innovation topics; and over 100 talks delivered around the world in recent years on the Future of Work. Rob was promoted to Managing Director at Citibank in 2006, and managed, mentored and coached for 20+ years.

With over 30 years of experience in Investment Banking and Fund Management, Robs’ roles included: Head of Innovation & Technology at Citi Global Insights; Head of Citi Research EMEA, leading the team’s (of c.200) rise in the Institutional Investor surveys, from: #7 to #1 in UK, #9 to #2 in Western European, and #7 to #1 globally; Global Product Head at Citi Research; Head of Citi's US Equity Sales desk; TMT sales; Fund Manager. Rob passed the AIIMR (Associate of the Institute of Investment Management & Research) as a prize-winner in Interpretation of Accounts & Corporate Finance. Among other qualifications, Rob holds a BSc (Econ) degree in Accounting and Management, an MSc in Coaching and Behavioural Change and is a qualified Executive Coach. 

Links:

Visit Helen’s website www.helenbeedham.com.

Check out Helen's award-winning business book: The Future of Time: how 're-working' time can help you boost productivity, diversity and wellbeing.

Leave a book review on Amazon here.

Get in touch about Helen’s Time-Intelligent Teams workshops or view/download a flier here.

Join her mailing list here.

What does freedom at work mean to you? Take my short survey here.

Pre-order my new book People Glue: hold on to your best people by setting them free  (out Jan 2026) and become a book supporter to gain exclusive book-related invitations and offers. 

Follow Rob Garlick on Linked In here.

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What does “meaningful work” really mean, and why is it so crucial not just for personal fulfilment but for building healthier, higher-performing organisations? In this thought-provoking episode, Helen Beedham is joined by Professor Ying Zhou, Director of the Future of Work Research Centre at the University of Surrey and a leading expert in job quality and employee wellbeing to unpack the latest research, challenge some big myths, and share actionable insights for leaders, managers and anyone curious about cultivating meaning in their working life.

Together, Helen and Ying explore:

⭐️ What meaningful work truly is including both the “self-realisation” (personal fulfilment) and “social justification” (positive societal impact) perspectives and how these ideas differ;

⭐️ The latest UK data on how many of us actually find our work meaningful and where so-called “bullshit jobs” fit into the story;

⭐️ The real drivers of meaningful work, why it’s less about pay, and far more about intrinsic job quality;

⭐ ️ The emerging role of AI and technology: is automation making work more or less meaningful, and how much does it really matter so far?

⭐️ Simple, research-backed advice for managers to boost meaningfulness in their teams, whatever industry you’re in.

Tune in for an evidence-based yet practical episode pulling together robust research, real-world examples, and clear recommendations to help everyone from senior leaders to those just starting out build more meaningful, impactful working lives.

About Professor Ying Zhou  

Ying Zhou is Professor of Human Resource Management and Director of the Future of Work Research Centre at the University of Surrey. Her research is focused on job quality, occupation, and employee well-being. She has won research grants from the Economic and Social Research Council, the UK Government, the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions, and the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (with a total of £4.3 million) to analyse job quality and employee well-being in the UK and Europe. Her research has been presented to the UK Cabinet Office, House of Commons, OECD, European Commission, European Council and cited in UK, French, Welsh and EU policy documents. Her research appears in leading academic journals such as the Journal of Applied Psychology, Journal of Organizational Behavior, Human Resource Management Journal, and the British Journal of Industrial Relations. Ying is a recipient of the Surrey Business School Impact Award and the Academy of Management Overall Best Paper Award. Ying received her MPhil and DPhil in Economic Sociology from Oxford University.

Links:

Visit Helen’s website www.helenbeedham.com.

Check out Helen's award-winning business book: The Future of Time: how 're-working' time can help you boost productivity, diversity and wellbeing.

Leave a book review on Amazon here.

Get in touch about Helen’s Time-Intelligent Teams workshops or view/download a flier here.

Join her mailing list here.

What does freedom at work mean to you? Take my short survey here.

Pre-order my new book People Glue: hold on to your best people by setting them free  (out Jan 2026) and become a book supporter to gain exclusive book-related invitations and offers. 

Follow Professor Ying Zhou on Linked In here.

FInd out more about the Future of Work Research Centre. 

Access the 2024 UK Skills Employment Survey.

Loved this episode?  

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What does happiness at work really mean, and how can leaders and managers practically build happier and higher performing teams? In this episode, Helen sits down with Nic Marks, renowned happiness statistician, founder of Friday Pulse, and author of the forthcoming book Happiness is a Serious Business, to debunk myths, share data-led insights, and lay out powerful yet simple actions for improving happiness at work.

Together, they explore:

⭐️ Why happiness isn’t a permanent state or a destination, and how both happiness and unhappiness play valuable, functional roles at work;

⭐️ The “danger” of so-so teams, why feeling just “okay” at work is more risky than temporary unhappiness, and why moving people from "meh" to truly happy is the biggest opportunity for most organisations;

⭐️ The powerful link between regular, weekly happiness check-ins and higher team performance, retention, and lower burnout;

⭐️ The severe underinvestment in people management skills (a staggering 80% of UK managers have never received formal people skills training), and why this is a huge missed opportunity;

⭐️ Simple but transformational weekly habits, like asking three key questions: What went well? Who can you thank? Where are we stuck?—and how these regular practices boost both morale and productivity.

Tune in for a lively, practical, and myth-busting conversation packed with data and tips you can use straight away to make work happier for yourself and those around you.

About Nic Marks - The Happiness Statistician

Nic Marks is a pioneering figure in the field of workplace wellbeing, often described as “The Happiness Statistician” for his unique blend of data and emotional insight. Originally trained in mathematics, statistics, and therapy, he founded the Centre for Wellbeing at the New Economics Foundation, where he developed influential frameworks such as the Happy Planet Index and the Five Ways to Wellbeing. His TED talk on happiness has been viewed millions of times, and he authored one of the first TEDBooks, A Happiness Manifesto.

As founder of Friday Pulse, Nic helps organisations measure and improve team happiness through science-led weekly feedback. His forthcoming book, Happiness is a Serious Business, explores why happy teams perform better—and how leaders can create the conditions for both people and organisations to thrive. He lives near Stonehenge with his wife and is happiest walking chalk paths, listening to music, or occasionally diving into a good dataset.

Links:

Connect with Nic on Nic on LinkedIn

Visit Nic’s website https://nicmarks.org

Find out more about Nic's book Happiness is a Serious Business.

Visit Helen’s website www.helenbeedham.com.

Check out Helen's award-winning business book: The Future of Time: how 're-working' time can help you boost productivity, diversity and wellbeing.

Leave a book review on Amazon here.

Get in touch about Helen’s Time-Intelligent Teams workshops or view/download a flier here.

Join her mailing list here.

What does freedom at work mean to you? Take my short survey here.

Pre-order my new book People Glue: hold on to your best people by setting them free  (out Jan 2026) and become a book supporter to gain exclusive book-related invitations and offers. 

Loved this episode?  

Follow The Business of Being Brilliant, rate and review the show, and share it with friends and colleagues who care about building brighter, fairer workplaces.

Why do so many workplace wellbeing initiatives fall short, and what would it look like if everyone, not just HR or a handful of “champions” were equipped with real wellbeing skills for daily life at work? In this episode, Helen sits down with Thomas Roulet, Professor of Organisational Sociology and Leadership at Cambridge Judge Business School and co-author of the new book Wellbeing Intelligence: Building Better Mental Health at Work, to explore what it truly means to bake wellbeing into the DNA of organisational culture.

Together, they explore:

⭐️ Why leaders often misunderstand the signs of stress and mental health in themselves as just “bodily” symptoms (like tiredness and fidgeting) and why it’s crucial to connect the dots between mind and body

⭐️ The difference between intervention-focused and truly preventative wellbeing strategies at work 

⭐️ What “wellbeing intelligence” is and why it should be democratised so everyone can champion mental health, not just a select few

⭐️ How techniques from counselling and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) can be simply and practically used by anyone at work, not just professionals

⭐️ The impact of hybrid work, loneliness, and even new workplace technologies like AI on our wellbeing and social connections

⭐️ Culture watch-outs - how even the “best” workplaces can enable burnout when boundaries aren’t protected, and how to spot those early warning signs

⭐️ How to cultivate psychological safety so colleagues feel able to share when their workload is too much (and managers respond with genuine support)

⭐️ Small but mighty actions: from taking real breaks to deleting your email app on holiday, and sharing wellbeing practices with your team  

⭐️ Why self-awareness and self-care aren’t ‘nice to haves’, but essential leadership and life skills in an always-on world.

Tune in for a fresh and practical discussion packed with research insights, lived experience, and tips you can use to support your own and others’ wellbeing at work.

About Thomas Roulet

Thomas Roulet is the Professor of Organisational Sociology andLeadership at the Judge Business School, and a Fellow in Psychologyand Behavioural Science at King's College, both at the University ofCambridge.His work focuses on the future of work, mental health in theworkplace, communication and uncertainty management. His comments areregularly featured in the Financial Times, the Economist, Bloomberg,the Telegraph, BBC or Le Monde. He writes a column for Forbes:https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasroulet/ and has a number of papersin the Harvard Business Review and MIT Sloan Management Review inaddition to his research.In 2024, he was recognised as one of the Young Global Leaders by theWorld Economic Forum, and as an upcoming leadership thinker byThinkers50, MT/Sprout, or Nexxworks. He was made a Mid-Career Fellowof the British Academy in 2023 and Fellow of the Academy of socialsciences in 2025. In 2020, he was named among the 40 Best BusinessSchool Professors below 40, and a Business School Professor to Lookfor by Business Because.

Links:

Connect with Thomas on Linked In.

Discover Thomas’ new book here.

Visit Helen’s website www.helenbeedham.com.

Check out Helen's award-winning business book: The Future of Time: how 're-working' time can help you boost productivity, diversity and wellbeing.

Leave a book review on Amazon here.

Get in touch about Helen’s Time-Intelligent Teams workshops or view/download a flier here.

Join her mailing list here.

What does freedom at work mean to you? Take my short survey here.

Pre-order my new book People Glue: hold on to your best people by setting them free  (out Jan 2026) and become a book supporter to gain exclusive book-related invitations and offers. 

Loved this episode?  

Follow The Business of Being Brilliant, rate and review the show, and share it with friends and colleagues who care about building brighter, fairer workplaces.

How do you create a workplace where company values aren’t just words on a website, but the DNA of how people treat each other and do business every single day? In this episode, Helen talks to David Hutchinson, CEO and Founder of PeopleCheck, a global leader in background screening checks renowned for championing transparency, compliance, and kindness, to uncover what it really takes to build organisations where values come alive in every interaction.

Together, they explore:

⭐️ What genuine, lived values look like beyond the wall posters and marketing blurb

⭐️ Why values aren’t something you work out, but something you build your business around from day one

⭐️ How aligning company and individual values attracts the right people (and deters the wrong fits) at recruitment and beyond

⭐️ Practical ways to embed kindness even in compliance-driven, highly regulated sectors

⭐️ The ‘people glue’ effect: how values enrich every relationship, from employees to suppliers and clients

⭐️ How actions, not words, bring values to life especially in moments of challenge, mistake, or disagreement

⭐️ Building high-trust, highly accountable cultures where transparency and autonomy thrive

⭐️ The role of environment, habit, and leadership in consistently nurturing values,no matter how big or fast you grow

⭐️ Handling ‘value transgressions’, supporting mistakes, and ensuring your standards remain high as teams expand

Make sure you tune into this interesting conversation packed with wisdom, real-life examples, and actionable tips on building organisations where everyone flourishes and where company values are never just an afterthought.

About David Hutchinson

David Hutchinson founded PeopleCheck, a leading digital background screening company that focuses on trust and compliance globally, in 2003. He is an expert in the background screening industry with extensive international experience, having built and led companies in SE Asia, the US and the UK.

David's approach to business emphasizes that every area should be "clear, transparent, meaningful and compliant” – supported by great people, smart technology and a consistent focus of responsiveness, discretion, kindness & a deep understanding of context at every stage of the process.

He is committed to setting best practices and maintaining excellence in quality, processes, smart use of technology and proper compliance.

David has served on the Global Boards of the Professional Background Screening Association (PBSA) & is also a former Chair of the European PBSA Council.

Under his leadership, PeopleCheck has been "setting the standard and leading the way" in the background screening industry for almost two decades.

Links:

Visit Helen’s website www.helenbeedham.com.

Check out Helen's award-winning business book: The Future of Time: how 're-working' time can help you boost productivity, diversity and wellbeing.

Leave a book review on Amazon here.

Get in touch about Helen’s Time-Intelligent Teams workshops or view/download a flier here.

Join her mailing list here.

What does freedom at work mean to you? Take my short survey here.

Pre-order my new book People Glue: hold on to your best people by setting them free  (out Jan 2026) and become a book supporter to gain exclusive book-related invitations and offers. 

Connect with David on Linked In.

Find out more about People Check here. 

Loved this episode?  

Follow The Business of Being Brilliant, rate and review the show, and share it with friends and colleagues who care about building brighter, fairer workplaces.

What does it really take to foster genuine critical thinking at work beyond just ‘debate’ or ‘criticism’ and why is it essential in today’s rapidly changing, AI-powered business world? In this episode, Helen talks to Dr. Arlene Egan, CEO of Roffey Park Institute and author of Confidence in Critical Thinking, to unpack how leaders and teams can cultivate curiosity, ask better questions, and build cultures where honest debate, openness, and even vulnerability fuel high performance.

Together, they explore:

⭐️ What ‘critical thinking’ actually means at work and why it’s not the same as being critical or negative

⭐️ Why asking the ‘right’ questions is the crucial starting point for productive thinking and decision-making

⭐️ Practical strategies and meeting tips for teams to surface assumptions, encourage curiosity, and ensure everyone’s solving the same problem;

⭐️ How to move from ‘automatic’ fast thinking to deeper, more effortful reflection, especially when making big decisions

⭐️ The difference between healthy challenge, debate, and unsafe criticism and how leaders can create psychologically safe environments for all perspectives to flourish

⭐️ The impact of generative AI on our capacity (and willingness) to think critically, and why it’s more important than ever to interrogate AI outputs

⭐️ The underrated power of reframing, perspective-switching, and even physically changing your environment to unlock fresh insights

⭐️ Simple tools, question frameworks, and reflection practices you can use right away to strengthen critical thinking in yourself and your team.

Tune in for a thought-provoking, practical discussion about building more open, resilient, and brilliant organisations, one question at a time.

About Dr. Arlene Egan

Arlene has twenty-five years-experience working in leadership and management development. Her experience in delivering development excellence spans executive education, higher education, sport, and local government sectors both in Ireland and internationally. Arlene was awarded a PhD from University College Dublin in Psychology for her work on designing, implementing and evaluating initiatives to enhance critical thinking. This work which built on her MLitt in Sport Psychology provides Arlene with a unique perspective on the link between thinking and performance and provides her with a deep understanding of how thinking can be optimised to promote focused performance.

Arlene has designed and delivered bespoke programmes to enhance leadership practice and organisational function. Her specialist areas include team development, leadership development and performance, motivation, change management, innovation, creativity and critical thinking and has recently released a book aimed at third level educators entitled ‘Confidence in Critical Thinking’. As a consultant, Arlene has worked with Boards, C-Suite, Senior and leadership teams. She specialises in strategic thinking and top team design. She advises on organisational performance and culture and identifies the right learning environment to promote engagement and development within organisations.

Links:

Visit Helen’s website www.helenbeedham.com.

Check out Helen's award-winning business book: The Future of Time: how 're-working' time can help you boost productivity, diversity and wellbeing.

Leave a book review on Amazon here.

Get in touch about Helen’s Time-Intelligent Teams workshops or view/download a flier here.

Join her mailing list here.

What does freedom at work mean to you? Take my short survey here.

Pre-order my new book People Glue: hold on to your best people by setting them free  (out Jan 2026) and become a book supporter to gain exclusive book-related invitations and offers. 

Connect with Arlene on Linked In.

Find out more about Roffey Park here.

Discover Arlene’s book ‘Confidence in Critical Thinking’ here.

Loved this episode?  

Follow The Business of Being Brilliant, rate and review the show, and share it with friends and colleagues.

What does it really mean to fuse purpose and performance at work, and why does it matter for both organisations and individuals? In this episode, Helen sits down with Madhavi Bhasin, global HR leader and Head of Purpose-Driven Performance at Udemy,  the AI-powered skills development platform, to explore how companies can put employees’ sense of meaning and fulfillment at the heart of high performance without compromising results.

Together, they chat about:

⭐️ What “purpose-driven performance” really means and how to make it more than just a company catchphrase;

⭐️ Practical tools and examples for managers to reframe performance reviews, including powerful questions to put employees’ experiences at the centre;  

⭐️ What it takes to change ingrained habits and enable more human conversations at work;

⭐️ The “muscle building” process: how Udemy is iteratively training and supporting managers to master more empathetic, people-focused conversations; 

⭐️ How purpose and high performance work hand-in-hand, shifting from compliance-driven reviews to collaborative goal-setting and a shared vision; 

⭐️ Real-life feedback and early signals from Udemy’s new system, including rising manager effectiveness scores and greater clarity about goals;

⭐️ Why everyone regardless of industry role or seniority should regularly reflect on their legacy and what makes work truly fulfilling.

Tune in for a fresh, practical take on redesigning performance management that unlocks engagement, clarity, and impact for everyone involved.

About Madhavi Bhasin  

Madhavi is a leader in the Human Resources space for over 15 years with experience in leading People Teams, organizational and individual capacity building programs across the globe. In starting her career with academic research and navigating through non-profit and consulting space, Madhavi brings a systems centric view to solving organizational challenges. According to Madhavi, any organization's unique competitive advantage is their talent and thriving teams are the easiest way to achieve organizational goals. She works to ensure that business outcomes are driven by talent strategies and equitable processes. Madhavi was born and raised in India and has lived in the San Francisco Bay for the past 17 years.

Connect with Madhavi on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/madhavi-bhasin/ 

Explore Udemy, the AI-powered skills development platform: www.udemy.com

Links:

Visit Helen’s website www.helenbeedham.com.

Check out Helen's award-winning business book: The Future of Time: how 're-working' time can help you boost productivity, diversity and wellbeing.

Leave a book review on Amazon here.

Get in touch about Helen’s Time-Intelligent Teams workshops or view/download a flier here.

Join her mailing list here.

What does freedom at work mean to you? Take my short survey here.

Pre-order my new book People Glue: hold on to your best people by setting them free  (out Jan 2026) and become a book supporter to gain exclusive book-related invitations and offers. 

Loved this episode?  

Follow The Business of Being Brilliant, rate and review the show, and share it with friends and colleagues who care about building brighter, fairer workplaces.

What does workplace fairness actually mean and how do we tackle unfairness in practical, evidence-based ways? In this episode, Helen speaks to Siri Chilazi, senior researcher at Harvard Kennedy School's Women and Public Policy Program and co-author of Make Work Fair: Data-Driven Design for Real Results, to get to the heart of how organisations can create truly fair environments where everyone has an equal chance to succeed to their full potential.

Together, they discuss:

  ⭐️ What “fairness at work” really means, using powerful metaphors and examples.  

⭐️ The everyday systems and processes that unintentionally create inequities like biased hiring, promotion gaps, and selective exposure to stretch assignments.  

⭐️ Why fairness benefits everyone, not just underrepresented groups.  

⭐️ Why traditional “add-on” DE&I programmes (like unconscious bias training) often fall short and how making fairness intrinsic to day-to-day processes is far more effective.

⭐️ Practical, scientific strategies: using data and behavioural science to identify, track, and tackle hidden inequalities.

⭐️ Real-world examples of simple but powerful organisational experiments from standardising interviews to tweaking feedback emails that have measurable impact.

⭐️ What leaders at all levels (not just the C-suite) can do to drive fairness in their own team even if it's just changing the pictures on the wall!

⭐️ How to set targets and measure progress on fairness (and why that clarity matters).

Siri shares personal stories from her own career and highlights from her research, showing how everyone can be an agent for fairer work, no matter your role or seniority. Helen and Siri offer concrete advice and actionable examples for leaders and individuals keen to swap tokenistic programmes for meaningful, systemic change.

Tune in for a lively, myth-busting conversation that will leave you rethinking how to embed fairness practically and sustainably into the heart of your organisation.

About Siri Chilazi  

Siri Chilazi is a senior researcher at the Women and Public Policy Program at Harvard Kennedy School and an internationally recognised expert in advancing women and promoting gender equity in organisations. As an academic researcher, Siri specialises in identifying practical approaches to close gender gaps at work by de-biasing structures and designing fairer processes. As an advisor and speaker, she collaborates with organisations including start-ups, large multinational companies, top professional services firms, governments, non-profits, and academic institutions to advance gender equity through evidence-based insights. Siri’s work regularly appears in leading media outlets and she has spoken on gender equity at hundreds of large events around the world. Siri is the coauthor, with Iris Bohnet, of Make Work Fair: Data-Driven Design for Real Results (HarperCollins, 2025). She has an MBA from Harvard Business School, a Master in Public Policy from Harvard Kennedy School, and a BA in Chemistry and Physics from Harvard College.

Learn more at: https://makeworkfair.com

Connect with Siri on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sirichilazi  

Link mention: Explore More Than Now, a UK-based behavioural science consultancy helping organisations run internal fairness experiments: https://morethannow.co.uk/

Links:

Visit Helen’s website www.helenbeedham.com.

Check out Helen's award-winning business book: The Future of Time: how 're-working' time can help you boost productivity, diversity and wellbeing.

Leave a book review on Amazon here.

Get in touch about Helen’s Time-Intelligent Teams workshops or view/download a flier here.

Join her mailing list here.

What does freedom at work mean to you? Take my short survey here.

Pre-order my new book People Glue: hold on to your best people by setting them free  (out Jan 2026) and become a book supporter to gain exclusive book-related invitations and offers. 

How do you build a fast-growing, distributed organisation that balances both freedom and consistency and avoids the pitfalls of old-school ‘command and control’ leadership? In this episode, Helen sits down with Amrit Singh, Chief Operating Officer at the National Institute of Teaching (NIoT), to explore exactly what it takes to lead with trust, delegate decision-making and thrive during ambitious, high-speed growth.

Together, they unpack:  

⭐️ How the NIoT designed a flexible, regional model with no central “mothership” to attract the best talent nationwide and serve customers better.

⭐️ The reality of merging four distinct organisational cultures whilst launching a startup.  

⭐️ Practical strategies for balancing consistency and local autonomy.  

⭐️ Why transitioning out of a ‘command and control’ mindset is vital for agility, speed, and well-being. 

⭐️What “brilliant failure” looks like in action.

⭐️ Why NIoT is investing in line manager training BEFORE senior leadership programmes.  

⭐️ Honest insights into avoiding burnout especially for managers.

Amrit shares candid stories from the NIoT’s whirlwind first years, highlighting what’s worked (and what’s still work-in-progress) in building a distributed, genuinely people-centered organisation from the ground up. You’ll hear actionable advice for any leader who wants to loosen the reins without losing direction and foster a workplace where everyone can flourish.

Tune in for a lively, practical conversation about intentional culture design, making tough choices, and building a culture of trust.

About Amrit Singh 

Amrit moved to education in 2020 after a career in financial services, notably as Finance Director for a €500m revenue division at Deutsche Bank. As Chief Operating Officer at the National Institute of Teaching he oversees Professional Services at an organisation that came into being in May 2022 and has just been registered as a Higher Education Institute with the Office for Students. A transformationalist at heart he is enjoying his most fulfilling job in his career to date as the Institute moves from fast-paced startup mode into a maturing organisation. 

A brummie by birth, Amrit has lived around the UK in Birmingham, Tunbridge Wells and Chester and had a short stint working in Mumbai, India before moving to a village in South Staffordshire with his young family and cavapoo called Hugo. In his spare time Amrit enjoys a wide range of music and continues a 20-year battle to learn the guitar with his two young daughters now helping him play.

Learn more about the National Institute of Teaching: www.niot.org.uk

Explore the National Institute of Teaching’s research: https://niot.org.uk/research-projects

Connect with Amrit on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amrit-singh/  

Links:

Visit Helen’s website www.helenbeedham.com.

Check out Helen's award-winning business book: The Future of Time: how 're-working' time can help you boost productivity, diversity and wellbeing.

Leave a book review on Amazon here.

Get in touch about Helen’s Time-Intelligent Teams workshops or view/download a flier here.

Join her mailing list here.

What does freedom at work mean to you? Take my short survey here.

Pre-order my new book People Glue: hold on to your best people by setting them free  (out Jan 2026) and become a book supporter to gain exclusive book-related invitations and offers. 

Why do seemingly small interactions at work sometimes spark big reactions, and how can understanding our underlying needs transform the way we handle conflict? In this episode, Helen sits down with Alice Sheldon, a psychologist, educator, creator of Needs Understanding, and author of *Why Weren’t We Taught This at School?* to shine a light on those “fingerprint needs” and the hidden frustrations we all carry with us into the workplace.

Together, they explore:  

⭐️ What “needs” really are, not just survival, but purpose, creativity, recognition, and more and why we’re all wired to react when they’re threatened.  

⭐️ How our brains often “flip their lid” during conflict or feedback moments, making rational thinking nearly impossible in the heat of the moment.  

⭐️ Simple techniques to uncover your own primary needs (and those of your colleagues), recognise when they're getting triggered, and reset before reacting.  

⭐️ Why team dynamics often reflect unspoken, unmet needs – plus practical advice for managers and individuals to approach tension more compassionately.  

⭐️ The difference between empathy and sympathy (and why true empathy creates space for real change).

Alice shares stories of her own big emotional responses at work, and describes easy, actionable ways to build self-awareness, de-escalate drama, and create genuinely healthier communication at every level in an organisation. Whether you’re a manager, team member, or just someone curious about workplace dynamics, you’ll come away from this episode energised and equipped with a fresh ‘kind lens’ for even your trickiest work relationships.

Tune in for a fascinating conversation about neuroscience, vulnerability, and the messy business of being human at work.

About Alice Sheldon

Alice Sheldon is the creator of Needs Understanding, a transformative approach to communication and relationships that fosters empathy, connection, and empowerment. She shares this work globally through keynotes and workshops, helping individuals and teams thrive.

Her book, Why Weren’t We Taught This at School?, has been translated into eight languages.

Alice holds an MA in Psychology and Neurophysiology from Oxford University. Before founding Needs Understanding, she worked as a secondary school teacher, a barrister, and later led Advocate, the Bar’s national pro bono charity.

Learn more at www.needs-understanding.com.

Connect with Alice on Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alice-sheldon/

Alice’s free fingerprint need guide: https://www.needs-understanding.com/fingerprint-need-guide

Alice’s free list of needs: https://www.needs-understanding.com/essential-lists

Alice’s book: Why Weren’t We Taught This at School? 

Links:

Visit Helen’s website www.helenbeedham.com.

Check out Helen's award-winning business book: The Future of Time: how 're-working' time can help you boost productivity, diversity and wellbeing.

Leave a book review on Amazon here.

Get in touch about Helen’s Time-Intelligent Teams workshops or view/download a flier here.

Join her mailing list here.

What does freedom at work mean to you? Take my short survey here.

Pre-order my new book People Glue: hold on to your best people by setting them free  (out Jan 2026) and become a book supporter to gain exclusive book-related invitations and offers.