Why do so many successful leaders still feel stuck, disconnected, or self doubt, even when things look good on paper?

In this solo episode, I explore how senior leaders, founders, and leadership teams can build self-trust by listening to their three intelligence centres: head, heart, and gut, especially when making difficult decisions or designing a life that truly fits.

This reflection draws on my work with CEOs and leadership teams, alongside my own journey of learning to trust myself beyond logic, external validation, and “what I should do.”

This episode is an invitation to slow down, tune in, and reconnect with the internal signals that guide brave leadership, aligned decision-making, and sustainable success, so you can lead, decide, and live with more courage and clarity.

00:00 – Why so many successful leaders still feel disconnected
02:15 – Courage starts with listening, not confidence
05:10 – The three intelligence centres every leader has
08:30 – The Head: clarity, logic, and the overthinking trap
12:40 – The Heart: values, emotion, and what really matters
17:20 – The Gut: instinct, timing, and quiet courage
22:10 – What happens when one centre dominates your leadership
26:30 – Designing a life that actually feels like yours
30:40 – Simple questions to build self-trust in decisions
35:10 – A closing reflection on choosing courage differently

Reflection Questions for Leaders
• Which intelligence centre do I default to under pressure?
• What has my gut been trying to tell me that I’ve rationalised away?
• Where am I living a version of success that looks right — but feels wrong?
• What would a 10% more courageous decision look like right now?

Don’t miss out on this powerful episode which can help your leadership  and personal development. 

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How do you lead with conviction when everything is changing around you?

It’s the big question for every UK leader right now and exactly why I invited Simon Cook, CEO of Cannes Lions, onto the podcast.

In this episode, we get honest about what it really takes to let go of control, build true trust in your team, and stay resilient even when things don’t go as planned.

We dive into:
• When to keep going, and when to let go
• The link between conviction and coordination in leadership
• Why control feels safe – but stops growth
• Managing failure without losing momentum
• Leading through mergers and high-stakes change
• How to stay calm and mentally fit (even when your diary explodes)

It’s practical, candid, and focuses on what UK leaders need now: leading bravely, staying relevant, and keeping your energy focused.

00:00 – Introduction 
01:00 – Why leading with conviction can become a weakness 
04:21 – Building a smarter team and learning to trust
07:11 – The role of failure in leadership 
09:37 – Conviction and coordination: the keys to change 
10:33 – How Simon navigated a 500-person business through a major acquisition 
12:29 – Staying confident when you actually feel uncertain 
14:01 – The importance of staying grounded and calm for your team 
15:51 – Learning from mergers, culture shifts, and tough decisions 
17:26 – Evolving your leadership style as everything changes 
19:00 – What’s really happening in the UK marketing industry right now 
22:40 – Where UK creativity is heading next
24:06 – The advice Simon would give every agency CEO 
28:17 – Protecting your brand and your time under pressure 
33:02 – Practical ways to help leaders prioritise, focus, and say no 
35:19 – Why emotional intelligence matters more than ever 
36:22 – Leading through failure, and making learning collective 
37:23 – Being bolder, more disciplined, and mentally fit for the future

Don’t miss this down-to-earth, actionable conversation. If you’re navigating organisational change, agency mergers, or just struggling to keep your team steady, this episode gives you the kind of real, UK-focused leadership advice we all need.

In a world of constant strategic change, this conversation focuses on how to manage change effectively within your business, emphasising practical management techniques for organisational design and personal development.

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How do you know when it’s time to walk away - even from something you’ve built yourself?

Sedge Beswick, consultant, advisor, speaker, and founder, digs deep into what it really takes to make bold career moves, step back as a CEO, and create space for what matters most. 

If you’ve ever wondered how to balance ambition with family, deal with overwhelm, and lead with honesty, this episode is for you.

We cover: 
00:00 – Introduction 
01:28 – The courage to change 
02:51 – Breaking the “hamster wheel” cycle 
05:49 – Building success without a rulebook
 07:55 – Childhood confidence and workplace impact 
11:31 – The blunt reality of being direct at work 
13:38 – Managing people older than you 
16:32 – ASOS culture and handling growing pains 
18:00 – When opportunity changes your course 
19:35 – The power of community for business growth 
21:52 – Courage to step down as CEO 
22:27 – Mistakes made during maternity leave 
23:15 – Hard lessons from deal fatigue 
24:43 – Watching someone else lead your business 
25:57 – Selling shares and choosing a new path 
28:35 – Creating a life with more presence 
29:22 – Letting go of identity and titles 
32:38 – Pivoting your career with purpose 
36:46 – The challenge of saying no and setting boundaries 
39:45 – Building a portfolio career and helping others 
42:42 – Managing overwhelm and keeping priorities straight 
44:01 – Finding headspace as a working parent 
45:04 – Do ambition and family ever truly integrate? 
48:30 – Advice your future self would give now 
50:01 – The power of pausing before big decisions

Don’t miss out on this powerful episode on entrepreneurship, business growth, motherhood and more! 

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How do you find the courage to change, even when it feels uncomfortable?

I’m closing out the year on the Courageous Leaders Podcast with one of our most honest and practical episodes yet. Leaders everywhere are feeling the pressure to adapt quicker than ever before, and it’s easy to worry you’re not keeping up.

In this episode, I share the real conversations I’ve had with guests who’ve faced huge decisions, dealt with self-doubt, and taken bold leaps without always having a perfect plan. We get into letting go of old ways of working, saying the hard things, dealing with uncertainty, and what it really takes to lead high performing teams.

If you want practical advice on leading through change (and those leadership development skills that actually stick), you’re in the right place.

We Cover: 

00:00 – Introduction 

01:12 – Why change is faster (and scarier) than ever 

03:02 – Dave Buonaguidi: How to define your true purpose at work 

04:35 – Lauren Spearman: Why courage comes before confidence 

06:39 – Karen Martin: The untold challenges of confident leaders 

07:44 – Kerry Collinge: Directness as a leadership superpower 

08:28 – The risk (and reward) of no longer fitting in

 09:05 – When growth feels disruptive and what to do next 

10:02 – Xavier Reeves: Making bold moves when you feel safe 

11:34 – Kerttu Inkeroinen: Quitting without a backup plan: is it ever right? 

12:29 – Facing risks (and what you actually regret) 

13:09 – Building high performance teams starts with you 

14:42 – Why you need to act even if it scares you

Don’t miss this honest look at what it really takes to lead yourself and others through the messiness of change.

👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you!
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How do you build real allyship and create cultural change that actually sticks?

This episode is one every leader should spend time with. Not because it’s “nice to know,” but because the future of your culture depends on it.

Lee Chambers, Founder & CEO of Male Allies UK, brings the kind of clarity and challenge most workplaces avoid. We talk about what it really takes to:

• Redefine outdated masculine stereotypes
• Build workplaces where everyone feels seen, valued, and able to thrive
• Lead in a way that strengthens culture rather than protects ego
  
  

It’s a conversation that will stretch your thinking, spark uncomfortable-but-important questions, and give you practical ways to lead with more intention and courage.

We also dig into Lee’s research on young people, AI companionship, and how boys today are making sense of identity, relationships, and society. Some of it is hopeful. Some of it is confronting. All of it matters, especially if you’re a parent or you lead the next generation.

We cover:

00:00 – Introduction 

01:02 - What courage looks like for leaders today 

02:31 – Why quiet courage matters as much as big gestures 

03:49 – The tough decision to break with convention 

06:06 – How stepping into new spaces changes your perspective 

08:08 – The power of career “squiggles” and non-conformity 

10:05 – Shedding old identities and building new ones as a leader 

12:14 – What do boys really think about society? Surprising research findings 

16:07 – Why boys care deeply but struggle to know how to help 

20:08 – The decline of physical spaces for social connection 

21:24 – Boys, girls and the challenges of communicating across gender 

23:33 – Judgment vs. curiosity - what’s holding us back? 

27:20 – Navigating polarisation and building empathy at work 

34:08 – Can younger and older generations find common ground? 

43:50 – The rise of AI companions and what it means for young people 

52:23 – Everyday bravery and the value of small changes over time 

54:43 – How to focus on influence and control in uncertain times

Don’t miss this thoughtful and practical conversation for anyone working in leadership or looking to create real change at work.

👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you!
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Former professional footballers Mollie and Rosie Kmita and now founders of The Powerhouse Project join me for one of the most authentic leadership stories we’ve had on the podcast.

This episode is packed with real leadership stories you rarely hear: the setbacks, the identity shifts, the emotional toll, and the courage it takes to keep showing up when things don’t go your way.

Mollie and Rosie openly share:

• What it took to succeed in a male dominated world
• How to lead through failure after two businesses didn’t work out
• How they learnt to slow down without losing ambition
• How they have evolved their identity from footballers to business owners
• The impact people-pleasing had on their leadership decisions
• How they have had to learn to lean into conflict

Mollie and Rosie show what success after repeated failure actually looks like - the mindset resets, and the quiet self-belief you need to keep going.

​​These are everyday leadership stories delivered with humour, honesty and heart, the kind that remind you anything is possible when you focus, put the work in, and back yourself.

We Cover: 

00:00 – Introduction

01:12 – Growing up in boys’ football and learning to belong

05:04 – Why young women in sport need better pathways

09:31 – Finding confidence in environments not built for you

14:42 – How childhood trauma shapes your drive

20:50 – Coping with loss while still showing up

26:19 – When resilience turns into survival mode

33:08 – The guilt behind always saying yes

38:12 – “We haven’t sat still for 16 years”

46:54 – Rebuilding identity beyond football

52:33 – Learning to slow down without losing ambition

58:48 – What leaders can do to create real change

01:00:31 – A message for leaders and organisations that want to make real change

Don’t miss out on this powerful episode. 

👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you!
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What would you risk to do the right thing?

In this episode of The Courageous Leaders Podcast, I sit down with Zelda Perkins, Co-Founder of Can’t Buy My Silence and the first woman to break an NDA with Harvey Weinstein.

Zelda’s story isn’t just about one man. It’s about the system that silences victims and protects abuse. She speaks openly about how she fought back, how breaking her NDA changed UK law, and what leaders and businesses must do now to stop misconduct being hidden behind confidentiality.

We Cover: 

00:00 – Introduction

01:26 – Why Zelda broke her NDA after years of silence

03:37 – What really happens when you speak up against power

05:18 – The moment the system, not the perpetrator, broke her trust

09:23 – How signing an NDA changed her life overnight

12:54 – Taking her story to Parliament and pushing for legal reform

17:09 – What it really took to start Can’t Buy My Silence

24:43 – When she realised she was self-bullying 

28:57 – Why speaking up must be seen as normal, not “brave”

33:11 – Creating safer, more transparent workplaces

40:57 – How the new UK legislation will protect victims and change culture

56:26 – Zelda’s advice to anyone ready to start their own fight for change

Don’t miss out on this powerful episode. 

👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you!
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In this episode of the Courageous Leaders Podcast, I speak with Carly Avener, CEO of Leo Burnett UK, about why vulnerability is essential to leadership and how sharing your story builds real trust.

Carly opens up about imposter syndrome, insomnia, and the pressure of returning to work as a parent. She also shares the practical steps she’s taken to reframe anxiety, create supportive environments for working parents, and build a culture of openness that allows both people and creativity to thrive.

We Cover:

00:00 – Introduction
01:26 – Becoming CEO and choosing to lead with vulnerability
03:34 – Sharing her background and story to inspire others
04:59 – The impact of opening up about imposter syndrome
08:23 – How comparison held her back in her career
10:59 – Finding support and using coaching to rebuild confidence
13:20 – Why reframing imposter syndrome can fuel growth
15:25 – The dangers of constant comparison and how to stop it
17:15 – Practical tools to help build confidence at work
19:29 – How to give feedback without damaging confidence
21:45 – Focusing on what you can control in uncertain times
26:31 – Living with anxiety and insomnia as a leader
32:35 – Building Parent Land to support working parents
38:36 – Gender equality and why it benefits everyone
39:48 – What her future self would remind her today
40:47 – Why knowing yourself is the key to leading others

👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you!
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What happens when you put three top creatives in Leadership Room 101?

In this special Creatives edition of The Courageous Leaders Podcast, I sat down with Dave Buonaguidi (Co-founder of St. Luke’s, 4Creative, and Karmarama), Trevor Robinson OBE (Founder and ECD of Quiet Storm), and Kevin Howes (Freelance Creative Director, Porsche, Sony, Hotels.com) for a sharp, honest, and funny deep dive into the biggest frustrations in creative leadership and what they’d like to banish forever.

From corruption to open-plan offices to phones in meetings, nothing was off the table. The conversation turned into an unfiltered look at what’s broken in modern leadership and how we can make work better.

We Cover:

00:00 – Introduction
01:28 – Dave Buonaguidi on corruption in business and creative leadership
07:28 – Trevor Robinson on sexism, bullying, and why integrity matters
14:53 – HR under fire: protecting culture or protecting bad behaviour?
20:30 – Trevor on open-plan offices and how they stifle creativity
24:30 – The tension between collaboration and individual space for ideas
29:34 – Why toxic competition still damages creative teams today
33:26 – Kevin Howes on phones in meetings and respect for attention
37:22 – How technology addiction is undermining focus and connection
41:14 – Which frustration deserves to be banished into Room 101?
46:20 – Final reflections

Don’t miss out on this powerful and entertaining episode.

👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you!
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The ROI of Inclusion – Why Diverse Voices Drive Better Business

In this episode of the Courageous Leaders Podcast, I speak with Ali Hanan, Founder and Executive Director of Creative Equals, an award-winning organisation helping brands like PepsiCo, Mars, and McDonald’s put inclusion at the heart of marketing.

We dig into why inclusive advertising isn’t just a social good but also one of the smartest business investments you can make. Ali shares how bias still shapes the work we see on screen, the data behind why diversity drives growth, and the small, intentional steps leaders can take every day to create lasting change.

We Cover: 

00:00 – Introduction

01:30 – What it takes to start and scale a business as a creative

05:21 – Why operations are the hidden engine of growth

07:51 – Collecting data to prove the need for change

11:40 – Winning funding to launch programmes

13:57 – Supporting disabled creatives and removing barriers to entry

15:26 – Why female creative directors are still underrepresented

17:44 – Bias in redundancy processes and hybrid working

19:27 – How brands influence diversity across supply chains

20:10 – The way adverts still stereotype women and men in 2025

24:02 – Racism, homophobia, and harmful portrayals in advertising

25:37 – Why inclusive marketing outperforms AI hype

31:20 – Keeping a team motivated through tough times

32:49 – Where leaders need more courage in tackling bias

37:38 – The freedom of caring less about judgment as you get older

40:08 – How expanding your network can shift your perspective

Don’t miss out on this powerful episode.

🎧 Listen to the full podcast episode here:
 https://thecourageousleaderspodcast.buzzsprout.com/

🚀 Elevate Your Leadership:
 Book a call for transformative leadership and team coaching:
 Website: https://www.thechangecreators.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannahowes/

👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you!
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ

🚀 Elevate Your Leadership:
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