Thoughtful Leadership from AMBITIOUS

In episode three of the Thoughtful Leadership Podcast from AMBITIOUS, Laura speaks with Steve Hewitt, a business leader involved in one of the UK’s most recent global success stories.

As the former CEO of the retail super brand, Gymshark, he helped guide the business to unicorn status and international acclaim. He is now the Founder of Whanau, an organisation which helps businesses to find and maintain their purpose as they scale, as well as being the chair of Passenger Clothing.

Steve is a passionate advocate of company culture and creating environments in which people can thrive.

In this episode, Steve talks about his professional journey which led him to Gymshark, including roles as CEO at Sport Brands Group and EMEA commercial director at Reebok.

 

He discusses moving from the fast-paced world of retail to establishing his business consultancy, and how helping brands to grow and become better versions of themselves is now what motivates him.

In this episode, Laura and Steve delve into topics including:

• Creating a company culture where “Sunday night can and should feel like Christmas Eve”
• The core components businesses need to focus on to find their ‘North Star’
• The must have skills needed to succeed in leadership
• Why vulnerability can be a superpower in business

To find out more about AMBITIOUS and the Thoughtful Leadership Podcast, visit our website.

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Produced by AMBITIOUS

In episode two of the Thoughtful Leadership Podcast from AMBITIOUS, Laura speaks with Ian Workman, a passionate advocate for purpose-driven leadership and social impact.

Ian is the Chief Customer Officer at Homes England and has a wealth of experience in leadership and change, having previously served as Head of SME at Barclays Bank. Alongside his professional role, Ian is pursuing a Master’s degree in Equality, Diversity, and Society, as part of his commitment to fostering inclusivity in business and beyond.

In this episode, Ian shares his personal and professional journey, from growing up in a community-oriented household to becoming a leader who champions purpose and social impact. He also reflects on his transition from profit-driven banking to his current role, where he helps address critical issues like housing insecurity in England.

Laura and Ian delve into topics including:

• The importance of purpose-led leadership and its impact on business and society.
• How social enterprises and businesses can make a difference while remaining profitable.
• Key insights into the evolving world of banking, SMEs, and the role of technology.
• The growing demand for purposeful work among younger generations and what it means for the future of leadership.

To find out more about AMBITIOUS and the Thoughtful Leadership Podcast, visit our website.

Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, & TikTok.

Produced by AMBITIOUS

The World Economic Forum recently said that it would take over 100 years to close the gender pay gap, a quite staggering and deeply alarming statistic.

In this, the first episode of the Thoughtful Leadership Podcast from AMBITIOUS, Laura will be speaking with Zara Nanu.

Zara is a prominent advocate for workplace equity and a leader in the field of gender pay gap analytics. As ex-co-founder and CEO of Gapsquare, Zara has combined her expertise in human rights with a passion for using data-driven solutions to promote fair pay and diversity within organisations.

Over the years, Zara’s work has evolved from grassroots activism to global corporate consulting, making her a key voice in the fight for pay transparency and workplace fairness. 

She is now Founder of WorkVue, a business set up for guiding and supporting people as we prepare for a jobless world of work

In this conversation, Zara and Laura will talk in depth about:

• How her upbringing helped shape her passion for women’s rights and gender equality
• How data analytics can help close the gender pay gap
• What she learnt transitioning from human rights campaigner to entrepreneur and business leader
• Where the UK sits in terms of gender parity with the rest of the world

To find out more about AMBITIOUS and the Thoughtful Leadership Podcast, visit our website.

Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram,& TikTok.

Produced by AMBITIOUS

Welcome to the Thoughtful Leadership Podcast from AMBITIOUS. In this series we will look to explore some of the challenges that today’s leaders face when leading a business and what it takes to be a thoughtful leader. 

We will be talking to a host of individuals from a range of organisations and sectors including entrepreneurs, business experts, and academics, to dig a little deeper into the challenges, opportunities, and threats being faced by these inspirational leaders - from building purpose and your north star, to ESG and culture. 

Thoughtful leadership comes in many different shapes and sizes, and this series will look to uncover just that and why it is so crucial for today’s world. 

Produced by AMBITIOUS