Karen Blackett CBE joins Rachel Ford and Marco Bertozzi for a masterclass in modern leadership. From “learn, earn, serve” to “two ears, one mouth,” Karen breaks down the habits that build winning, heads-up teams. We get real on mentors vs sponsors, a pitch lost to bias (and how to let it go), inclusion that drives performance, and what it’s like to lead 13,000 people at WPP. Karen also shares how she managed leaving, grief and all, plus sport, parenting, and the global mindset she wishes she’d adopted sooner.

Recorded at Viral Tribe Studios in Soho

Chapters:

00:00 – Welcome & show setup

00:28 – Karen Blackett: bio & mantra

03:30 – Career in 60 seconds

11:21 – “Two ears, one mouth”

13:30 – Belonging & finding your tribe

20:37 – Mentors vs sponsors

24:46 – The pitch lost to bias

29:47 – Inclusion that drives growth

38:38 – Change: on/off/at the bus stop

43:17 – Leaving WPP & advice at 25

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