In this powerful episode of the Purpose-Led Leadership Podcast, I sit down with high-performance coach and international speaker Anna Mosley, founder of the 80% Growth Academy, to explore what it truly means to be mentally fit as a leader in today’s fast-paced world.

About today’s guest Anna: 

Anna Mosley is a high-performance coach, mental fitness expert, and founder of the 80% Growth Academy, working with global brands to 

transform leadership and culture. With a background in corporate leadership and a passion for growth mindset, she is on a mission to help millions unleash their full potential.

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/itschrisoconnell/   

Twitter - https://twitter.com/ChrisOConnell11 

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/chrisoconnellcoach/ 

TikTok - https://www.instagram.com/chrisoconnellcoach/ 

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_ZWYrxrzzaElmpZMy5S86w 

Basemindset website - https://basemindset.com/ 

Pre-order my new book - https://access.basemindset.com/pre-order 

About the show:

The Purpose-Led Leadership Podcast is the place that helps you communicate, engage and lead with purpose. We lift the lid on what it takes to be a great leader and our guests share tips, principles, wins and failures that will educate and inspire you to lead your own team and business with purpose.

In this powerhouse episode of the Purpose-Led Leadership Podcast, I sit down with Roheel Ahmad, co-founder of Forsyth Barnes and the visionary behind Imagine AI - a cutting-edge recruitment technology built to disrupt the traditional CRM/ATS space.

From humble beginnings and being sacked from his first job, to scaling a bootstrapped global recruitment business with £100M+ in total turnover, Roheel opens up about the grit, growth, and game-changing mindset that got him there. Now, he’s taking his biggest risk yet: investing over £1.2M into a new AI-driven startup aiming to redefine operational efficiency in recruitment.

This episode explores the journey from startup to scale, the realities of leadership, fatherhood, mental fitness, and how to stay grounded while building a legacy.

Whether you’re a recruitment founder, tech entrepreneur, or business leader looking to scale smarter, this candid conversation is packed with wisdom, strategy, and actionable insight.

In this episode, you will hear about:

This episode is ideal for:

Recruitment professionals, agency owners, SaaS founders, scale-up entrepreneurs, tech investors, business leaders, AI innovators, and anyone passionate about high-performance culture, startup resilience, and leadership with purpose.

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/itschrisoconnell/   

Twitter - https://twitter.com/ChrisOConnell11 

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/chrisoconnellcoach/ 

TikTok - https://www.instagram.com/chrisoconnellcoach/ 

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_ZWYrxrzzaElmpZMy5S86w 

Basemindset website - https://basemindset.com/ 

Pre-order my new book - https://access.basemindset.com/pre-order 

The Power of Control in Recruitment with Jeremy Snell

Is recruitment broken—or just in desperate need of a mindset shift?

In this episode, we dive into the evolving world of recruitment with Jeremy Snell, creator of the 4D Recruitment Method, who’s redefining how we approach candidates, communication, and culture in the industry.

Jeremy shares his unique framework for human-centric hiring, highlighting the urgent need to treat candidates as people, not transactions—and how that shift can unlock better results for recruiters and employers alike.

Jeremy also discusses the need for balance and wellbeing in a demanding work environment, and how he has found his own life harmony by starting a farm.

Whatever your experience level in the recruitment game this conversation is packed with insightful, practical strategies to future-proof your recruitment game.

Tune in and discover how better life harmony could change everything.

“You are what you think and what you can create.” – Jeremy Snell

You'll hear about:

Jeremy's resources:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/recruitmentsalestraining/

4D Recruitment Method - https://4drecruitmentmethod.com/

Rookie 2 Recruiter - https://rookie2recruiter.com/

Zero Entropy Networks - https://zeroentropynetworks.com/

My resources:

Twitter - https://twitter.com/ChrisOConnell11

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/chrisoconnellcoach/

TikTok - https://www.instagram.com/chrisoconnellcoach/

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_ZWYrxrzzaElmpZMy5S86w

Basemindset website - https://basemindset.com/

Pre-order my new book - https://access.basemindset.com/pre-order

What if your job isn’t the problem—but your mindset is?

In a world where unfulfilling careers are the norm, Andrew MacAskill is on a mission to end career-based misery—and reshape how we think about leadership, recruitment, and purpose at work.

In this episode, Andrew joins me to tackle the real challenges facing today’s recruitment professionals and job seekers. From the fear of failure to the flaws in traditional hiring models, this conversation gets to the heart of what’s broken—and how we can fix it.

Whether you’re a recruiter, hiring manager, or professional in transition, this episode offers deep insights and actionable strategies to thrive in a changing world of work.

Ready to rethink recruitment? Hit play now. 🎧

“People join people, not businesses.” – Andrew MacAskill

You'll hear about:

✅ How to build compassionate leadership cultures that actually retain top talent

Andrew’s resources:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jobsearchcoach/

Executive Career Jump - https://www.execcareerjump.com/

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/AndrewMacAskill

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/executivecareerjump/

My resources:

Twitter - https://twitter.com/ChrisOConnell11

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/chrisoconnellcoach/

TikTok - https://www.instagram.com/chrisoconnellcoach/

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_ZWYrxrzzaElmpZMy5S86w

Basemindset website - https://basemindset.com/

Pre-order my new book - https://access.basemindset.com/pre-order

Is your sales approach costing you deals? Are you too soft on prospects when you should be closing?

In this episode, I sit down with Benjamin Dennehy—dubbed the UK’s Most Hated Salesperson—to strip away the fluff and expose what truly works in sales and recruitment. Love him or hate him, Benjamin’s approach is bold, direct, and brutally effective.

We dive into Benjamin’s past and how he became the character he is today. He shares incredible insights into what to say in sales meetings, how to close, and strip away those prospects that aren’t right for you.

His magic trick is getting the room when people don’t even know his name or what he does - and selling.

If you’re in sales, recruitment, or business development, this episode will challenge everything you think you know about selling.

Ready for a sales reality check? Tune in now!

“I don't think you should be yourself in sales.” – Benjamin Dennehy

You'll hear about:

✅ The psychology behind closing deals—why most people get it wrong

Benjamin’s resources:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamindennehy/

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/UKsMostHatedSalesTrainer

UK’s most hated sales trainer - https://www.uksmosthatedsalestrainer.com/

Sales Matrix Courses - https://www.salesmatrixcourses.com/free/10-reasons-prospecting-course

My resources:

Twitter - https://twitter.com/ChrisOConnell11

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/chrisoconnellcoach/

TikTok - https://www.instagram.com/chrisoconnellcoach/

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_ZWYrxrzzaElmpZMy5S86w

Basemindset website - https://basemindset.com/

Pre-order my new book - https://access.basemindset.com/pre-order

What does it take to build and scale a thriving recruitment business?

Emotional intelligence, effective communication and a singular vision all play a key role.

In this episode, I am joined by Alex Elliott, founder of Liquid Personnel, to uncover the key principles that drive high-performing recruitment teams. From hiring standards and team dynamics to navigating the emotional challenges of selling a business, Alex shares his journey and hard-earned insights.

Whether you're a recruitment professional, business owner, or aspiring entrepreneur, this episode is packed with actionable takeaways to help you stay ahead in a rapidly evolving industry.

Tune in now and take your recruitment game to the next level!

“The best culture for me is winning.” – Alex Elliott

You'll hear about:

Alex’s resources:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexelliott123/

Telent Analytics - https://www.talentanalytics.co.uk/

Phase 6 Advisory - https://www.linkedin.com/company/phase-6-advisory/

My resources:

Twitter - https://twitter.com/ChrisOConnell11

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/chrisoconnellcoach/

TikTok - https://www.instagram.com/chrisoconnellcoach/

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_ZWYrxrzzaElmpZMy5S86w

Basemindset website - https://basemindset.com/

Pre-order my new book - https://access.basemindset.com/pre-order

Do you suffer from imposter syndrome?

That feeling that you are not good enough.

To overcome it requires self-reflection and self-acceptance. But it is possible, especially with the help of my guest in this episode, Sarah Farmer.

Sarah helps those with reduced self-confidence and self-belief stop sabotaging their success and unleashing their potential. But she has also had to overcome her own challenges in life, such as dealing with her anger, living with ADHD, and the effects of being seen as different growing up.

She also shares the difficult times she has faced both as a daughter and as a mother. Revealing a very current and raw situation her family have been faced with.

Sarah vows she will never use her personal circumstances as a reason to give up. And it shows through everything she shares.

“Trust yourself and don’t worry so much” – Sarah Farmer

You'll hear about:

00:58 - An introduction to Sarah

02:03 - Sarah's experience with imposter syndrome

12:05 - The Covid effect

16:20 - What pisses Sarah off?

17:56 - Has Sarah shown anger in her life?

22:20 - Dealing with your shit

26:37 - Sarah on her relationship with her kids

29:52 - Sarah's journey since school

33:47 - How has ADHD affected Sarah's life?

36:48 - Sarah on mental health

39:00 - Sometimes you just have bad days

42:24 - Sarah's work with her clients

45:58 - The impact ADHD has had on Sarah's life

54:13 - What has scared and scarred Sarah the

Sarah’s resources:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-farmer-coach/

EMR Consulting - https://www.emr-consulting.co.uk/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sarahfarmerexeccoach/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SarahEMRConsultingLtd

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDNbtDenSbAs-DjwhZNexlw/featured

Have I got imposter syndrome? https://impostersyndromelevel.scoreapp.com/

My resources:

Twitter - https://twitter.com/ChrisOConnell11

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/chrisoconnellcoach/

TikTok - https://www.instagram.com/chrisoconnellcoach/

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_ZWYrxrzzaElmpZMy5S86w

Basemindset website - https://basemindset.com/

How well do you really know yourself?

Taking time to understand who you are, without listening to other people’s bullshit ideas of what you should be is the most powerful thing you can do.

That is exactly what my guest, Amy Polly, has done to live her life by her rules.

Amy is a Chief Mindfulness Rebel, TEDx Speaker and ADHD Advocate. We delve into what led her to embrace the world of mindfulness and now want to reinvent it as funfulness. Amy shares the struggles she faced with post-natal anxiety, abusive relationships and how she was always different to those around her. Something she understands more about since a diagnosis with ADHD.

Amy’s life of funfulness has come from embracing those differences and being true to herself.

“You can’t go wrong being true to who you are” – Amy Polly

You'll hear about:

00:51 - An introduction to Amy

04:03 - The emotional side of Amy

06:32 - Amy's relationships with family and friends

12:36 - Amy on mental health

20:35 - Are our thoughts true?

22:52 - Amy on her difficult relationships

28:04 - The power of accepting who you are

31:56 - What is funfulness?

37:07 - Tackling toxic cultures

40:18 - Amy on neurodiversity

46:12 - Old Amy vs the new Amy

51:12 - What does Amy struggle with?

57:22 - Amy on love

Amy’s resources:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/amypolly/

Website - https://www.amypolly.com/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thisisamypolly

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/thisisamypolly 

Episode resources:

Jaaq.com - https://jaaq.org/home

My resources:

Twitter - https://twitter.com/ChrisOConnell11

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/chrisoconnellcoach/

TikTok - https://www.instagram.com/chrisoconnellcoach/

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_ZWYrxrzzaElmpZMy5S86w

Basemindset website - https://basemindset.com/

This episode is my guest appearance on the Across The Table Podcast with Target Recruit.

Chris (Base Mindset) is an ex-global top biller at SThree and a £25M Recruitment business owner turned purpose-driven NED and coach.

He believes that almost all business problems are people problems. Because people without a purpose have no centralised reason driving them to perform.

“Lots of companies want to get back to the old school ways of working,” – Chris O’Connell

You'll hear about:

00:00 - Start

03:54 - Adversity, Resilience, and Purpose-Driven Leadership

16:15 - Lessons from Entrepreneurship: Finding Positives in Adversity

31:06 - Purpose, Accountability, and Continuous Growth in Business

32:10 - Coaching CEOs and Building Successful Businesses

53:00 - Evolution of Recruitment Practices and Impact of Culture

55:20 - Future Outlook for the Recruitment Industry

My resources:

Twitter - https://twitter.com/ChrisOConnell11

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/chrisoconnellcoach/

TikTok - https://www.instagram.com/chrisoconnellcoach/

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_ZWYrxrzzaElmpZMy5S86w

Basemindset website - https://basemindset.com/

Check out Target Recruit’s podcast Across The Table - https://targetrecruit.co.uk/podcast/

What is your biggest fear in life?

For my guest in this episode, Lewis Ellis, it’s not achieving or even trying.

This ethos has led Lewis to do great things but to also find himself in troubled waters. From creating successful marketing startups, synonymous with guerilla tactics, to washing up in a war zone as a holiday rep.

Lewis shares his fears but also why he wants to live a life by his rules. Whether that’s through the relationships he builds, the way he approaches business or how he views money, he is unapologetically him. And that is a powerful place to be in life.

Lewis also discusses his infamous, viral air pod saga and where his nature for being a disruptor came from.

If you want to live a life unapologetically as you, this one’s going to hit home.

“My biggest fear in life is wasting time” – Lewis Ellis

You'll hear about:

00:43 - An introduction to Lewis

03:56 - Where does Lewis' disruptor nature come from?

08:41 - What's the real Lewis like?

14:04 - Lewis on relationships

20:06 - Lewis and the air pods           

25:06 - Lewis on his mental health

29:19 - Did Lewis' parental relationships affect him?

33:49 - What affects Lewis emotionally?

35:18 - What is Lewis' purpose?

44:32 - Using LinkedIn cathartically

47:27 - Will Lewis ever change his approach to life?

51:13 - Is there healing that Lewis needs to go through?

54:46 - What has scarred and scared Lewis the most?

01:00:39 - How important is money to Lewis?

Lewis’ resources:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lewis-ellis/

Hussel Marketing - https://hussel.co.uk/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/lewis_ellis_/

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@LewisEllis

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/HusselMarketing

My resources:

Twitter - https://twitter.com/ChrisOConnell11

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/chrisoconnellcoach/

TikTok - https://www.instagram.com/chrisoconnellcoach/

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_ZWYrxrzzaElmpZMy5S86w

Basemindset website - https://basemindset.com/