Welcome to Series 3 of Transformational Thinking for Health Leaders.

This year marks a very special milestone: the 10th anniversary of Fiona Day Consulting.

In this opening episode, I look back at how my coaching psychology practice began in 2016, when I was working as an NHS Associate Medical Director and board-level public health leader, and how it has evolved over the past decade.

Nearly 4,000 hours of one-to-one coaching later, I have now supported more than 500 senior medical and public health leaders across five continents.

I share the psychological science that underpins my approach, including my peer-reviewed research published in BMJ Leader, which demonstrated a statistically significant 17.4% increase in validated wellbeing scores following my coaching programmes.

I also explore the six key areas that have emerged through my work with health leaders: strategic impact and system leadership, career transitions, burnout and moral injury, work-life and family balance, portfolio and later-life careers, and neuro-affirmative coaching.

Most importantly, I explain why my work has always been about more than career progression. It is about helping medical and public health leaders find greater clarity, confidence and wellbeing while continuing to make an impact in increasingly complex health systems.

Over the coming episodes, I'll be joined by emerging and established health leaders for open and honest conversations about their careers, leadership challenges, the twists and turns along the way, and how they sustain themselves while doing demanding and important work.

Here's to another 10 years of transforming health leadership together.

If you’re ready to navigate complex system challenges with clarity and confidence, visit fionadayconsulting.co.uk to explore a wealth of resources tailored exclusively to medical and public health professionals. Be sure to sign up for my newsletter here to claim your 3 hours of free CPD and access specialised tools to support your career journey.

As the world’s only Registered, Chartered Coaching Psychologist with a senior Medical and Public Health leadership background, I provide a peer-led Partnership that completely eliminates the need for 'translation'. My practice is grounded in rigorous psychological science and is empirically proven to deliver a 17.4% average increase in validated wellbeing scores -with results peer-review published in BMJ Leader.

You don't have to lead in isolation. Book a free, confidential Consultation with me here to co-create a time-effective partnership that protects your wellbeing while driving system-level impact.

Today, I’m joined by Mr Alwyn Abraham, Consultant Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgeon at University Hospitals of Leicester, medical educationalist, healthcare leader, and Chair-Elect of World Orthopaedic Concern.

Alwyn reflects on nearly four decades in medicine, from his early training at Edinburgh Medical School to leading large multidisciplinary teams under extreme pressure. He shares candid insights into what he wishes he had learned earlier about managing himself, relationships, and the human side of leadership.

Our conversation explores what it truly means to lead under sustained stress, including Alwyn’s experience of leading over 90 clinicians through the COVID-19 pandemic. He speaks powerfully about leading by example, moral courage, availability, and why you cannot force people to change — but you can influence how they think.

We also discuss collaborative working across disciplines, the importance of psychological safety and feedback in training environments, and how Alwyn’s global health work in Ethiopia reshaped his perspective on leadership, service, and values-based practice.

Finally, Alwyn reflects on adult development, self-authorship, and the shift from external validation to internal conviction - moving from being a “spark” to becoming a “flame” in one’s professional life.

This is a rich and reflective conversation about compassionate leadership, humility, and sustaining purpose in complex healthcare systems.

🎧 Listen if you’re interested in:
• Leading teams under pressure
• Clinical leadership beyond technical expertise
• Psychological safety and feedback cultures
• Global health perspectives on leadership
• Developing conviction and values as a senior clinician

Reflective Practice Questions

• How do you currently lead when your team is under sustained pressure?
• Where might increased self-awareness strengthen your leadership relationships?
• How do you use your position or authority to empower others?
• What values guide your decisions when resources are limited?
• What would “leading from conviction” look like in your next career chapter?

If you’re ready to navigate complex system challenges with clarity and confidence, visit fionadayconsulting.co.uk to explore a wealth of resources tailored exclusively to medical and public health professionals. Be sure to sign up for my newsletter here to claim your 3 hours of free CPD and access specialised tools to support your career journey.

As the world’s only Registered, Chartered Coaching Psychologist with a senior Medical and Public Health leadership background, I provide a peer-led Partnership that completely eliminates the need for 'translation'. My practice is grounded in rigorous psychological science and is empirically proven to deliver a 17.4% average increase in validated wellbeing scores -with results peer-review published in BMJ Leader.

You don't have to lead in isolation. Book a free, confidential Consultation with me here to co-create a time-effective partnership that protects your wellbeing while driving system-level impact.

In this episode, I speak with Dr Ahsana Nazish, a public health leader whose work bridges hospital management, health systems, and policy. She leads a network of primary care filter clinics across Punjab, delivering screening and treatment for liver and kidney diseases while pursuing her Doctorate in Public Health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

Ahsana shares her remarkable journey from being the first woman in her family to study medicine to leading large-scale healthcare programmes in Pakistan. She reflects on the challenges of digital transformation in rural healthcare, building trust through partnerships, and navigating leadership as a woman in complex cultural and professional settings.

We explore how vision, resilience, and mentorship can transform systems and how data, innovation, and collaboration can strengthen global health for the future.

If you are a health leader passionate about equity, impact, and system change, this episode will leave you inspired by what is possible when courage meets compassion.

Contact Ahsana

[email protected] 

Reflective Practice Questions

1. How does your personal leadership journey influence the systems you choose to change?
   
   
2. What barriers — cultural, organisational, or internal — have shaped your leadership, and how have you navigated them?
   
   
3. Where could deeper partnership working strengthen the impact of your current projects?
   
   
4. How might evidence and data support your next leadership decision?
   
   
5. What does courage look like in your context at this moment in your career?

If you’re ready to navigate complex system challenges with clarity and confidence, visit fionadayconsulting.co.uk to explore a wealth of resources tailored exclusively to medical and public health professionals. Be sure to sign up for my newsletter here to claim your 3 hours of free CPD and access specialised tools to support your career journey.

As the world’s only Registered, Chartered Coaching Psychologist with a senior Medical and Public Health leadership background, I provide a peer-led Partnership that completely eliminates the need for 'translation'. My practice is grounded in rigorous psychological science and is empirically proven to deliver a 17.4% average increase in validated wellbeing scores -with results peer-review published in BMJ Leader.

You don't have to lead in isolation. Book a free, confidential Consultation with me here to co-create a time-effective partnership that protects your wellbeing while driving system-level impact.

Today, I’m joined by Dr Imran Ahmad, a GP board partner for a large primary care organisation in London, GP training programme director, and clinical lead in transformation projects.

We talk about his journey from traditional general practice into strategic and system-level leadership, and how he has learned to balance clinical care with board responsibilities, mentoring, and integrated care work.

Imran shares powerful reflections on leadership growth, from letting go of comfort zones and developing emotional intelligence, to fostering psychologically safe teams and cultivating future leaders.

Together, we explore how values, reflection, and self-awareness shape authentic leadership in complex healthcare systems, and why it is never too late to reinvent your career with purpose and curiosity.

If you are a health leader navigating change, this conversation offers grounded wisdom, humanity, and inspiration for your own leadership journey.

Reflective Practice Questions

1.        When was the last time you paused to re-evaluate your professional direction, and what insights emerged?

2.        How comfortable are you with delegating responsibility — and what beliefs might make it challenging to let go?

3.        What does adaptive leadership mean to you in your current context?

4.        How do you model emotional intelligence and psychological safety within your teams?

5.        Which of your personal values guide you most strongly in times of uncertainty or change?

Contact details [email protected]

If you’re ready to navigate complex system challenges with clarity and confidence, visit fionadayconsulting.co.uk to explore a wealth of resources tailored exclusively to medical and public health professionals. Be sure to sign up for my newsletter here to claim your 3 hours of free CPD and access specialised tools to support your career journey.

As the world’s only Registered, Chartered Coaching Psychologist with a senior Medical and Public Health leadership background, I provide a peer-led Partnership that completely eliminates the need for 'translation'. My practice is grounded in rigorous psychological science and is empirically proven to deliver a 17.4% average increase in validated wellbeing scores -with results peer-review published in BMJ Leader.

You don't have to lead in isolation. Book a free, confidential Consultation with me here to co-create a time-effective partnership that protects your wellbeing while driving system-level impact.

Today, I talk with Associate Professor Eva-Maria Graf, a leading expert in coaching linguistics and founder of the international QUESCO research project on questioning practices in coaching.

We explore what really happens in coaching conversations, how questions shape insight and change, and what makes coaching distinct from therapy or friendly support. Eva shares the story behind QUESCO, a three-country research project that revealed how 83% of a coaching conversation is made up of questioning sequences, and we discuss what this means for coaches, supervisors, and educators.

We also talk about the new 5P Model, which helps practitioners understand and refine the micro-skills behind powerful coaching dialogue. Eva reflects on the challenges and rewards of leading a large interdisciplinary project and what she has learned about herself as a leader along the way.

This is a fascinating and practical conversation for anyone interested in how language, coaching, and evidence come together to support transformational change.

Reflective Practice Questions

1.        How consciously do you use questioning techniques in your coaching or leadership conversations?

2.        What patterns do you notice in how you respond after someone answers your question — do you probe, affirm, or move on too quickly?

3.        In what ways could greater linguistic awareness improve the quality of dialogue in your team or organisation?

4.        How might you use evidence-based research, like the QUESCO findings, to strengthen your own coaching or leadership practice?

5.        When you reflect on a recent conversation that felt transformative, what was it about the sequence of questions that made the difference?

More information/ contact 

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Eva-Maria Graf  [email protected]

https://questions-in-coaching.aau.at/en/

https://fionadayconsulting.co.uk/quesco-project/ 

If you’re ready to navigate complex system challenges with clarity and confidence, visit fionadayconsulting.co.uk to explore a wealth of resources tailored exclusively to medical and public health professionals. Be sure to sign up for my newsletter here to claim your 3 hours of free CPD and access specialised tools to support your career journey.

As the world’s only Registered, Chartered Coaching Psychologist with a senior Medical and Public Health leadership background, I provide a peer-led Partnership that completely eliminates the need for 'translation'. My practice is grounded in rigorous psychological science and is empirically proven to deliver a 17.4% average increase in validated wellbeing scores -with results peer-review published in BMJ Leader.

You don't have to lead in isolation. Book a free, confidential Consultation with me here to co-create a time-effective partnership that protects your wellbeing while driving system-level impact.

Today, I'm joined by Dr Phil Sherrard, consultant anaesthetist, educator, digital instructional designer, and actor. Phil shares his unique career journey - from becoming one of the UK’s youngest consultant anaesthetists to building a portfolio career that blends medicine, teaching, creativity, and performance.

He opens up about overcoming anxiety, rediscovering his love of acting and music, and how creativity has fuelled his resilience and problem-solving as a clinician. Phil also reflects on negotiating a flexible career that honours both his professional expertise and his artistic passions, offering valuable insights for health leaders seeking balance, fulfilment, and sustainable ways of working.

Together, we explore the intersections between medicine and the arts, digital innovation in medical education, and the power of values-based leadership. This is a conversation for anyone navigating career complexity, looking to bring more of their whole self into their work, and daring to design a life that feels both meaningful and joyful.

Connect with Phil on Instagram @philsherrard3, and on LinkedIn. His MOOC course is here: https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/perioperative-medicine
HealthProMatch: https://healthpromatch.com/

Reflective Questions for Health Leaders

1. What creative outlets help you maintain balance and perspective in your work?
2. Which parts of yourself have you put aside for your career — and what would it take to reclaim them?
3. How might you use your values to guide decisions and conversations about your next career step?
4. In what ways can creativity and compassion improve your team’s approach to complex problems?
5. What’s one small “next right step” you can take towards a more fulfilling, authentic professional life?

If you’re ready to navigate complex system challenges with clarity and confidence, visit fionadayconsulting.co.uk to explore a wealth of resources tailored exclusively to medical and public health professionals. Be sure to sign up for my newsletter here to claim your 3 hours of free CPD and access specialised tools to support your career journey.

As the world’s only Registered, Chartered Coaching Psychologist with a senior Medical and Public Health leadership background, I provide a peer-led Partnership that completely eliminates the need for 'translation'. My practice is grounded in rigorous psychological science and is empirically proven to deliver a 17.4% average increase in validated wellbeing scores -with results peer-review published in BMJ Leader.

You don't have to lead in isolation. Book a free, confidential Consultation with me here to co-create a time-effective partnership that protects your wellbeing while driving system-level impact.

Today, I'm speaking with Professor Laurie Tomlinson, NIHR Research Professor at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and former consultant nephrologist. Laurie shares her unconventional career journey - from early uncertainty in clinical training, to taking bold risks that led her into epidemiology and ground-breaking research.

Laurie reflects on the lessons learned from navigating setbacks, finding the courage to follow her real interests, and ultimately shaping policy through real-world evidence, most notably during the COVID-19 pandemic with the OpenSafely collaboration.

Together, we explore what it means to challenge the status quo, lead with confidence even when feeling like an outsider, and use data to improve health outcomes at scale. Laurie also offers candid insights into women’s leadership in medicine, the value of disruptive thinking, and the future potential of real-time evidence to address inequalities in healthcare.

A powerful conversation for anyone seeking inspiration to take brave career decisions, trust their instincts, and lead change in complex systems.

Laurie's 2019 interview in BMJ.

Connect with Laurie on LinkedIn.

Reflective Questions for Health Leaders

1. Where in your career have you chosen safety over authenticity — and what would it look like to reverse that?
2. How do you respond when your findings or views challenge accepted norms?
3. What small steps could you take today to move closer to the work that excites you most?
4. Who are the “outsiders” in your team or field — and how could you empower them to contribute?
5. How can you use your influence to promote evidence-based, equitable healthcare?

If you’re ready to navigate complex system challenges with clarity and confidence, visit fionadayconsulting.co.uk to explore a wealth of resources tailored exclusively to medical and public health professionals. Be sure to sign up for my newsletter here to claim your 3 hours of free CPD and access specialised tools to support your career journey.

As the world’s only Registered, Chartered Coaching Psychologist with a senior Medical and Public Health leadership background, I provide a peer-led Partnership that completely eliminates the need for 'translation'. My practice is grounded in rigorous psychological science and is empirically proven to deliver a 17.4% average increase in validated wellbeing scores -with results peer-review published in BMJ Leader.

You don't have to lead in isolation. Book a free, confidential Consultation with me here to co-create a time-effective partnership that protects your wellbeing while driving system-level impact.

Welcome to Season 2 of Transformational Thinking for Health Leaders

In this opening episode, Dr Fiona Day takes a closer look into the latest evidence on what really works in health leadership development. 

With the NHS England 10-Year Plan (2025–2035) setting bold ambitions for outstanding leadership across healthcare, and a major new umbrella review published in BMJ Leader, Fiona critiques current approaches and shares why evidence-based, psychologically sound methods are essential for developing world-class leaders.

She explores:

• Why competency frameworks alone aren’t enough to shift leadership behaviours
• The role of coaching psychology, mentoring, and experiential learning in achieving lasting impact
• How evidence-based coaching can enhance self-awareness, decision-making, emotional regulation, and organisational outcomes
• Why bespoke, one-to-one coaching is critical to unlocking leaders’ full potential

📖 Resources mentioned in this episode:

• NHS England 10-Year Plan 2025–2035 (see pp. 14–15)
  
  
• Philipson J, Pinto AC, Kingsley-Smith H, et al. Leadership training in healthcare: a systematic umbrella review. BMJ Leader (2025)
  
  
• Positive evidence for coaching with Dr Fiona Day (BMJ Leader coaching evidence for doctors, medical leaders and public health leaders)
  
  

If you’re committed to improving health outcomes while thriving in your leadership role, you won’t want to miss this.

Reflective Questions for Health Leaders

1. What has been your experience of leadership development so far?
2. How confident do you feel that your health leadership practice is grounded in theory and evidence?
3. How do you develop leadership skills in those around you?
4. How could you help your organisation to be more evidence-based in its approach to developing health leaders?
5. How will you use the systematic umbrella review to best effect?

If you’re ready to navigate complex system challenges with clarity and confidence, visit fionadayconsulting.co.uk to explore a wealth of resources tailored exclusively to medical and public health professionals. Be sure to sign up for my newsletter here to claim your 3 hours of free CPD and access specialised tools to support your career journey.

As the world’s only Registered, Chartered Coaching Psychologist with a senior Medical and Public Health leadership background, I provide a peer-led Partnership that completely eliminates the need for 'translation'. My practice is grounded in rigorous psychological science and is empirically proven to deliver a 17.4% average increase in validated wellbeing scores -with results peer-review published in BMJ Leader.

You don't have to lead in isolation. Book a free, confidential Consultation with me here to co-create a time-effective partnership that protects your wellbeing while driving system-level impact.

In this short introduction, Dr Fiona Day reflects on the journey so far - over 1,300 downloads, a brief spot in the Apple Top 10 Health Podcasts, and 14 inspiring conversations in Series 1.

Fiona also shares her gratitude for the feedback and support, invites new listeners to explore the Series 1 archive, and opens the door for medical and public health leaders who might like to be future guests.

🎧 Tune in to hear what’s ahead in Season 2 and join the ongoing conversation about transformational leadership in health.

If you’re ready to navigate complex system challenges with clarity and confidence, visit fionadayconsulting.co.uk to explore a wealth of resources tailored exclusively to medical and public health professionals. Be sure to sign up for my newsletter here to claim your 3 hours of free CPD and access specialised tools to support your career journey.

As the world’s only Registered, Chartered Coaching Psychologist with a senior Medical and Public Health leadership background, I provide a peer-led Partnership that completely eliminates the need for 'translation'. My practice is grounded in rigorous psychological science and is empirically proven to deliver a 17.4% average increase in validated wellbeing scores -with results peer-review published in BMJ Leader.

You don't have to lead in isolation. Book a free, confidential Consultation with me here to co-create a time-effective partnership that protects your wellbeing while driving system-level impact.

From Frontline GP to Global Health Leader: Dr. Reza Jarral on Digital Health and Equity

In this episode of Transformational Thinking for Health Leaders, I sit down with Dr. Reza Jarral, an NHS-trained GP and digital health leader, currently based in New Zealand. Reza has led multi-million-dollar healthcare initiatives, developed equity-focused telehealth services, and is about to embark on a Harkness Fellowship at the Commonwealth Fund in New York.

We explore:
 ✔️ How Reza transitioned from frontline GP to global health leader
 ✔️ The power of Ikigai in shaping career direction
 ✔️ His work in digital health, telemedicine, and health equity
 ✔️ Lessons in leadership, confidence, and stepping into new spaces

Reza’s journey is a masterclass in ethical innovation and impactful leadership. Tune in now for an inspiring conversation!

Reflective Questions for Health Leaders

1. What personal challenges have shaped your leadership journey?
2. How can you ensure that digital innovations in your field promote equity?
3. What barriers (internal or external) have held you back from stepping into leadership roles?
4. What legacy do you want to leave through your work?
5. What’s one bold step you could take today toward your next leadership goal?

If you’re ready to navigate complex system challenges with clarity and confidence, visit fionadayconsulting.co.uk to explore a wealth of resources tailored exclusively to medical and public health professionals. Be sure to sign up for my newsletter here to claim your 3 hours of free CPD and access specialised tools to support your career journey.

As the world’s only Registered, Chartered Coaching Psychologist with a senior Medical and Public Health leadership background, I provide a peer-led Partnership that completely eliminates the need for 'translation'. My practice is grounded in rigorous psychological science and is empirically proven to deliver a 17.4% average increase in validated wellbeing scores -with results peer-review published in BMJ Leader.

You don't have to lead in isolation. Book a free, confidential Consultation with me here to co-create a time-effective partnership that protects your wellbeing while driving system-level impact.