The extra-Ordinary Leader with Dolly Wainwright

You’re in for a treat. This week I’m joined by the incredible Oleg Konovalov — a globally respected business educator, leadership expert, and author of The Vision Code. Oleg doesn’t just talk about leadership; he embodies it through his work helping C-suite leaders across the world create meaningful, enduring impact.

In this episode, we take apart the familiar terms — vision, value, strategy — and rebuild them with depth, clarity and fresh meaning. We explore how leadership is not about ego or output, but about building a space others want to grow into. Oleg generously shares the "CAVIAR" model — a framework for visionary leadership grounded in wisdom and impact.

If you’ve ever struggled to define your aspirations versus your desires, or want to learn how to craft a vision that inspires others, this conversation is for you.

You can find out more about Oleg and his brilliant work at olegkonovalov.com

Inside This Episode:

• What it really means to add value as a leader
• The distinction between desire and aspiration
• Why vision is a space, not a statement
• The "CAVIAR" model for practical visionary leadership
• How wisdom trumps intelligence in business
• The difference between inspiration and motivation
• The role of simplicity and space in decision-making
• Reclaiming fear and redefining what it means to ‘play big’

Mentioned In This Episode:

• The Vision Code by Oleg Konovalov
• Connect with Oleg on LinkedIn
• The extra-Ordinary Leader: 12 Tactics for Finding Your Extra in Business, Leadership, and Life

This week, I’m joined by Kate Thrumble, SVP and Head of People and Experience at VaynerMedia – a creative agency where leadership is lived out daily in real, human ways. In this episode, Kate shares what it means to lead not with the weight of being the “log”, but as the kindling – the spark that ignites others.

We talk candidly about feedback, connection, culture, performance and the sweet spot between kindness and accountability. Kate brings such clarity to what I often see muddied in corporate rhetoric: how the "ordinary things done well" truly are the markers of extra-Ordinary leadership.

From practical tools like quarterly reviews and personality insights, to the deeper philosophical shifts required to build businesses that feel like spring – full of light, momentum and growth – this conversation is rich with wisdom and grounded honesty. We also explore what it takes to create a happy, high-performing team, how Vayner Media balances business with deep respect for people, and what they call the marriage of the honey and the empire.

Inside This Episode:

• What extra-Ordinary leadership really means
• Why the "little things" done consistently create the biggest impact
• The relationship between happiness and high performance
• Feedback as a normal rhythm, not a big scary ‘thing’
• The shift from annual reviews to quarterly check-ins
• Using tools and coaching styles to build culture
• Creating ‘spring-like’ businesses where people thrive
• The art of kind candour and the analogy of the lob, the loiter and the lasso
• How Kate defines the role of experience in people leadership
• Being the kindling, not the log – a beautiful metaphor for modern leadership

Mentions & Links:

VaynerMedia – Creative & Media Agency

Insights Discovery (personality profiling tool)

Performance Climate System (team performance tool)

My Book – The extra-Ordinary Leader: 12 Tactics for Finding Your Extra in Business, Leadership, and Life 

In this episode of The extra-Ordinary Leader, I had the enormous pleasure of speaking with Helen Brocklebank, CEO of Walpole—the official body for British luxury. Helen works closely with over 250 of the UK’s most iconic high-end brands, and in our conversation, she shares the leadership behaviours, values, and mindset that make these businesses so resilient and remarkable.

We explored what we can all borrow from the luxury sector—whether we’re running heritage businesses or leading fast-paced teams with no historical playbook. Helen spoke beautifully about creativity, long-term thinking, emotional intelligence, and the importance of knowing your own strengths. She also reminded me why storytelling, craftsmanship, and deep human connection remain at the heart of excellent leadership.

You’ll hear us reflect on everything from scented candles and bespoke tailoring to the power of fiction and the role of culture in the workplace. Whether you lead a team of two or two thousand, this episode is full of insights to help you lead with clarity, creativity and care.

Inside This Episode:

• What working with 250 luxury CEOs has taught Helen about extra-Ordinary leadership
• Why understanding your own strengths is the foundation of influence
• The long-term mindset behind British luxury’s £81 billion impact
• Why fiction (yes, even Jilly Cooper!) can sharpen your leadership instincts
• How resilience, creativity, and curiosity define high-performance leadership
• What leaders in fast fashion and retail can borrow from heritage brands
• The value of “dual thinking”: acting in the now while planning for the next
• How memory-making and sensory detail create unforgettable customer experiences
• Why culture-building and empowerment matter more than ever

Mentions & Links:

• Walpole – https://www.thewalpole.co.uk
• Learn more about Attachment Theory – https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-attachment-theory-2795337
• Black Box Thinking by Matthew Syed – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Black-Box-Thinking-Surprising-Success/dp/1473613779

In this episode of The extra-Ordinary Leader, I’m joined by the incredible Cathy O'Dowd – the first woman to climb Mount Everest from both the north and south sides. But this conversation isn’t just about physical mountains; it’s about the emotional and professional peaks we all face.

Cathy’s story is one of grit, humility and mindset, and I couldn’t have been more inspired by the way she talks about doing extra-Ordinary things by simply taking the next right step. Whether it’s writing a book, leading a business, or learning to kitesurf at 42 (yes, I really did that), this conversation is a reminder that success is not about fairy dust – it’s about steady, consistent, powerful choices.

We spoke about what happens when life feels like a cul-de-sac, when perfectionism gets in the way of progress, and how sometimes saying yes to uncomfortable opportunities is the very thing that takes you to the next level. Cathy shares how she navigated being parachuted onto the first South African Everest team – as the only woman – and how she’s learned to let go of the “token” label and find confidence through action.

We also dove into the power of physical challenge – why sports like climbing or kitesurfing can be an antidote to rumination, stress, and even imposter syndrome. Cathy had so much wisdom to share about how we lead ourselves and others, how we perform under pressure, and why empathy isn’t a gift – it’s a tool.

This one will stick with me for a long time, and I hope it stays with you too.

Inside this episode:

• What extra-Ordinary leadership really means
• Why we need to let go of perfectionism
• How to reframe tokenism and self-doubt
• The difference between stress responses – and how to manage them
• Why physical adventure can transform your mindset
• How to use empathy as a tool – especially in high-stakes leadership
• The 'STOP' technique Cathy uses in moments of pressure
• The surprising link between coffee, presence, and performance

Mentions & Links:

• Learn more about Cathy: https://www.cathyodowd.com
• Book Cathy to speak: https://www.cathyodowd.com/keynote-speaking/
• My book The extra-Ordinary Leader: https://www.dollywaddell.com/store/p/the-extra-ordinary-leader

In this thought-provoking episode of The extra-Ordinary Leader, I sat down with Daniel Hulme, AI expert and CEO, to explore what leadership looks like in the age of artificial intelligence, data-driven decisions, and flatter, decentralised organisations.

Together, we unravelled:

• Why extra-Ordinary leadership starts with getting out of the way
• How to use AI to surface team dynamics and friction points
• What digital twins are (and why your employees might love them)
• How to lead without hierarchy
• Practical ways to integrate AI into leadership, L&D, and performance management
• The power of frameworks (data → information → knowledge → understanding → wisdom)
• Why pressure should come from clients, not internal politics

Daniel also shares how his leadership philosophy has been influenced by Jean-Luc Picard, agile methods, and a desire to grow organisations that get faster and smarter with scale.

If you’re a leader looking for practical wisdom on staying future-fit, creating meaningful work environments, and navigating AI without losing the human touch—this one is for you.

If something in this conversation resonated, I’d love to hear from you.
Get in touch, and let’s talk about how extra-Ordinary leadership could look in your team:
https://www.dollywaddell.com/

Find Out More about Satalia:
https://www.satalia.com/about-us/

Timestamps

00:00 – Welcome
02:00 – What extra-Ordinary leadership means to Daniel
04:45 – Creating “fertile ground” and removing blockers
06:30 – How AI is reshaping organisational design
08:00 – The 3 ways AI is impacting business (productivity, supply chains, disruption)
10:00 – How to apply AI to solve real business frictions
12:30 – The Pyramid of Understanding (Data → Wisdom)
14:45 – How AI helps predict and understand behaviour
17:00 – The magic of assigning people to projects
19:00 – Building digital twins of employees
21:00 – Bridging the “intention-impact” gap with AI
23:00 – Feedback, skill-mapping, and performance through AI
26:00 – Can AI get it wrong?
28:00 – The L&D world and using AI for behaviour change
31:00 – Dolly’s approach to team transformation & where AI can enhance it
34:00 – When the data shows us what ego and culture try to hide
36:00 – Starting digital twin implementation—what’s step one?
38:00 – Attachment styles & leadership dysfunctions
40:00 – Why the “gardener” is the best kind of leader
41:20 – Structured naming systems & the tech you actually need
43:00 – It’s not a tech problem—it’s a leadership one
45:00 – Why organisations reflect the personality of their leaders
47:00 – Are hierarchies really helping decision-making?
48:00 – Teal, Humanopathy & fluid teams
50:00 – Why pressure should come from clients, not internal structures
51:00 – The power of seven & ambidextrous leadership
53:00 – Dolly’s final question: What item at home reflects extra-Ordinary leadership?
54:00 – Star Trek’s Jean-Luc Picard and leadership lessons
54:30 – Wrap-up and thank you

Iona Ledwidge is CEO of Resurgo Trust, an organisation that exists to build sustainable social change. She joins Dolly Waddell to break down what makes great leadership - hint: it's a lot of trust, consistency, and tapping in to the power of listening. 

They explore the impact of small actions, the importance of investing in people, and how diversity strengthens organisations. Iona shares her journey as a CEO, while Dolly highlights the balance between respect and likability in leadership. They also discuss overcoming imposter syndrome, tackling toxic cultures, and how mentorship drives growth.

Follow The extra-Ordinary Leader wherever you get podcasts, and if you'd like to book Dolly to speak at your next event please visit dollywaddell.com

Can you build something well and build it fast? Can a high-performance culture also be a high-trust culture?

I’m joined by Gareth Anderson, Head of Business Management at Allica Bank, to unpack what it takes to lead in a fast-scaling, high-growth business—without burning out your people or losing sight of what really matters.

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll take away from this episode:

• Why real leadership starts with trust, not control.
• How celebrating failure creates a culture of innovation and growth.
• The shift from managing schedules to managing energy.
• How to balance results with sustainable leadership

If you’ve ever wondered how to grow a business without losing its soul, this episode is for you.

Did you know you can create your own GPT bot that's trained on your personal values, leadership lessons and more? Dr Gary Crotaz is host of The Unlock Moment podcast and a leadership speaker and coach. He joins me on the show to talk it through.

You will:

• Discover how AI tools like ChatGPT can dramatically increase productivity and reshape leadership roles.
• Understand the intersection of AI and leadership from Gary’s perspective as a seasoned executive coach.
• Learn about the "Unlock Moment"—a concept fundamental to transformational leadership and personal breakthrough.
• Hear our debate on the potential and ethics of AI in the workplace, and how leaders can harness new technologies while maintaining a human touch.

Will it be a revolution in leadership? Listen to find out, and try Gary's GPT (that's a Generative Pre-trained Transformer - a type of large language model) here: https://chatgpt.com/g/g-6772e5e140948191b7767f29035328d4-executive-coach

Dolly Waddell chats with former rally champion, TV presenter, and mental toughness expert Penny Mallory. Together, they unpack the secrets of mental resilience, the surprising power of sensitivity, and how to embrace challenges like a champion. 

You'll hear how to:

• Strengthen your mentality: it’s about managing stress, pressure, and adversity while staying empathetic and grounded.
• Build resilience: Penny explains how toughness evolves across life’s challenges and how to build it daily.
• Prepare for success: Rally driving taught Penny that 95% of success is preparation, and she shares how this applies to leadership and life

Want to transform your team or audience into extra-0rdinary leaders? Dolly brings her unique insights and dynamic energy to every business consultancy and talk. Her approach combines real-world leadership expertise with a fresh, human perspective that inspires change. Visit dollywaddell.com to book a chat.

For more from Penny please check out her website, it's https://pennymallory.co.uk/
and to purchase her incredible book, go to https://pennymallory.co.uk/buy-books

Creativity is such a powerful driver for impactful leadership. Tapping into it is the hard the part. Dolly joins Dan Maudhub, founder & CEO of the Wonderful Group, a group of companies with a common mission to help change lives and businesses, to find out how it's done. 

In this episode, you'll hear the importance of challenging assumptions, adopting divergent thinking (and what this means in 2025), and integrating consistent effort to achieve meaningful change. Dan shares his story on uncovering organisational “wonder,” balancing big ideas with practical implementation, and drawing inspiration from diverse industries.