In this episode of The Unlikely Executive Podcast, Barbra Carlisle speaks with Claire Brown, Senior Sustainability Consultant at Turner & Townsend, about what it really takes to lead sustainability in construction, housing and the built environment.

From net zero housing targets to retrofit strategy in UK homes, Claire shares practical insights on how to influence stakeholders, communicate complex sustainability issues, and drive change across large organisations.

If you’re a leader in construction, engineering, housing, or sustainability, this episode is packed with real-world strategies you can start using immediately.

• What sustainability leadership actually looks like inside global construction firms
• How to influence senior stakeholders who don’t care about “carbon”
• Why language and communication are critical in driving change
• The real meaning of retrofit in UK housing and why it matters
• Tackling energy efficiency, heating systems and net zero targets
• How to handle resistance, conflict and pushback in complex organisations
• Leadership lessons from working in the public sector and large estates (including policing)
• Why listening is your most powerful leadership skill
• Balancing ambition, career growth and personal wellbeing
• Practical advice for anyone starting a career in sustainability or the built environment

Claire Brown is a Senior Sustainability Consultant at Turner & Townsend, working across major UK retrofit and housing projects.

Her work spans:

• Delivering sustainability in the built environment
• Advising on energy efficiency and carbon reduction
• Supporting housing providers with retrofit programmes
• Leadership in professional sustainability networks

She also sits on boards, contributes to industry groups, and has recently submitted her PhD focused on heating and cooling demand in UK social housing.

• Lead sustainability initiatives with more confidence
• Influence difficult stakeholders without conflict
• Improve energy efficiency in housing or construction
• Build a more resilient, forward-thinking organisation
• Develop your leadership style in complex environments

If you’re a business leader in construction, engineering or housing and want to:

• Lead decisively under pressure
• Build a team that takes ownership and initiative
• Handle difficult conversations and challenges with confidence

👉 Join my programme: www.gleecoaching.co.uk
👉 Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barbracarlisle
📩 Or message me directly to explore coaching and leadership development

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• ✅ Follow / Subscribe to The Unlikely Executive Podcast
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Learie Gonsalves, the Director of Blackbird Property Surveyors, shares his journey armed with his one CSE in art to owning a successful property surveying firm for over 10 years. He shares the challenges of not seeing people like him in work, but talks about the role of great managers in helping you dream big. Hear about why running is so important to him now and why he runs to support Prostrate Cancer. Learie's story is one of resilience, determination, and the pursuit of balance in work and life.

  Are you truly in control of your career — or letting others define your path? This episode of The Unlikely Executive explores what it means to take ownership of your destiny as a leader.

  🔑 In this episode, you'll learn:

  • How to take deliberate control of your career direction

  • The mindset needed to lead your own journey

  • Overcoming fear and self-doubt in leadership decisions

  • Why the best leaders are intentional about their growth

  📌 About The Unlikely Executive:

  Hosted by Barbra Carlisle, executive coach and founder of Glee Coaching.

  🔗 Work with Barbra: https://www.gleecoaching.co.uk

  #LeadershipMindset #CareerDevelopment #ExecutiveCoaching #TheUnlikelyExecutive

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Tim Walder shares his journey in the aviation industry, emphasizing the importance of career purpose and emotional intelligence. He discusses career progression, leadership, mentorship, challenges, resilience, and retirement, highlighting the need for a sense of purpose in life after retirement.

Takeaways

• Career purpose
• Emotional intelligence

Chapters

• 00:00 Passion for Aviation
• 05:55 Leadership and Mentorship
• 24:29 Challenges and Resilience
• 30:12 Retirement and Purpose

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