In this episode of Who's Your Captain, Mark Francis is joined by Simon Hawtrey-Coombs, Head of Happiness, Co-Founder @ peer2peer Boards & President of Bournemouth Rugby Football Club, for a powerful conversation on leadership, belief, and building high-performing teams.
Simon shares his journey as an entrepreneurial leader across industries including property, logistics, and sports. From transforming one of the lowest-performing depots into the number one in the UK, to helping shape a winning culture in rugby, this episode is packed with real-world leadership lessons that actually work.
At the heart of this conversation is a simple but powerful idea: great leadership starts with clear expectations, strong belief, and a shared purpose. Simon explains how success leaves clues and how small habits, like showing up early or setting higher standards, can create extraordinary results over time.
You’ll also hear insights on:
 • How to lead change and build a culture of ownership
 • Why handing over responsibility creates stronger teams
 • The role of belief in entrepreneurship and risk-taking
 • How to remove negative energy and build winning environments
 • Why systems and processes are essential for scaling
 • Lessons from elite teams like the All Blacks and top football clubs
 • How peer2peer Boards help business leaders grow through shared experience
Simon also shares a powerful perspective on life, success, and slowing down to focus on what truly matters. This episode is not just about business, it’s about leadership in every area of life.

Connect with Simon Hawtrey-Coombs on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonhawtrey-coombs/ 
If you found value in this episode, like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations with leaders who are shaping the future.
#MarkFrancis #WhosYourCaptain #Leadership #Entrepreneurship #BusinessGrowth #PeerToPeer #RugbyLeadership #TeamBuilding #Mindset #StartupLife

I hope you enjoy this episode! Give it a like, share, and subscribe to not miss the content coming your way weekly.
– Mark and the Who's Your Captain podcast team

Connect with Mark Francis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-francis-78b3061/
Visit The Uspire Partnership website here: https://theuspirepartnership.com
Preview Mark's book here: https://www.book2look.com/book/5PLGQaM16K

Listen to Who's Your Captain on the following Platforms:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/097OvlL7btd8f7bplgIfv0
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/whos-your-captain/id1875226706
Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/c6109160-6448-4d95-9850-07456d5adbca/who's-your-captain

#WhosYourCaptain #MarkFrancis #LeadershipPodcast #ExecutiveCoaching #BusinessLeadership #Mentorship #LeadershipDevelopment #PurposeDrivenLeadership #TransformationalLeadership #BusinessGrowth #ExecutiveThinking #Leadership 

Hosted by Mark Francis, founder of The Uspire Partnership and former senior leader at Burberry and Tesco, this podcast provokes fresh thinking, energises purpose, and transforms how leaders perform. With over 25 years of experience in learning and development, organisational change, and executive coaching, Mark brings deep insight to every conversation. He's worked across retail, FMCG, logistics, and professional services, helping leaders and organisations unlock potential and drive meaningful transformation. Whether you're building a business, leading a team, or navigating your own path, you'll discover practical wisdom and inspiration from those who know what it takes to steer the ship.

If you're a business leader, entrepreneur, or professional looking to elevate your leadership, find inspiration from great mentors, or understand what drives transformational performance, this podcast will give you the insights and energy to chart your own course with confidence.

In this episode of Who's Your Captain, Mark Francis sits down with Jay Zapata, CEO & Co-Founder of Satokie, for a deep dive into leadership, scaling a startup, and building in a fast-moving industry.
Jay shares the journey of growing Satokie from a small startup into a rapidly expanding data center and infrastructure company. From Bitcoin mining and colocation services to AI and high-performance computing, this conversation explores how the company is evolving and where the future is headed.
The discussion goes beyond business strategy and gets into what leadership really looks like inside a growing organization. Jay talks openly about learning through failure, building strong teams, and creating a culture where people take ownership and grow into leadership roles themselves.
Mark Francis brings his leadership framework into the conversation, covering vision, mobilization, development, and enablement. Together, they unpack how founders can scale not just their business, but their people and systems.
You’ll also hear insights on:
 • How Satokie expanded from Bitcoin infrastructure into broader data center services
 • Why powered land and energy access are becoming critical assets
 • The importance of systems, processes, and communication in scaling
 • Building leaders from within through structured development plans
 • Balancing growth, capital, and operational efficiency
 • What it takes to lead in a volatile and fast-changing environment
This episode is packed with practical takeaways for founders, operators, and anyone interested in leadership, startups, and the future of data infrastructure.

Connect with Jay Zapata on Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jay-zapata-117286b8/ 
If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations with leaders shaping the future.
#MarkFrancis #WhosYourCaptain #JayZapata #Satokie #Leadership #StartupGrowth #Entrepreneurship #DataCenters #BitcoinMining #AIInfrastructure #BusinessPodcast

I hope you enjoy this episode! Give it a like, share, and subscribe to not miss the content coming your way weekly.
– Mark and the Who's Your Captain podcast team

Connect with Mark Francis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-francis-78b3061/
Visit The Uspire Partnership website here: https://theuspirepartnership.com
Preview Mark's book here: https://www.book2look.com/book/5PLGQaM16K

Listen to Who's Your Captain on the following Platforms:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/097OvlL7btd8f7bplgIfv0
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/whos-your-captain/id1875226706
Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/c6109160-6448-4d95-9850-07456d5adbca/who's-your-captain

#WhosYourCaptain #MarkFrancis #LeadershipPodcast #ExecutiveCoaching #BusinessLeadership #Mentorship #LeadershipDevelopment #PurposeDrivenLeadership #TransformationalLeadership #BusinessGrowth #ExecutiveThinking #Leadership 

Hosted by Mark Francis, founder of The Uspire Partnership and former senior leader at Burberry and Tesco, this podcast provokes fresh thinking, energises purpose, and transforms how leaders perform. With over 25 years of experience in learning and development, organisational change, and executive coaching, Mark brings deep insight to every conversation. He's worked across retail, FMCG, logistics, and professional services, helping leaders and organisations unlock potential and drive meaningful transformation. Whether you're building a business, leading a team, or navigating your own path, you'll discover practical wisdom and inspiration from those who know what it takes to steer the ship.

If you're a business leader, entrepreneur, or professional looking to elevate your leadership, find inspiration from great mentors, or understand what drives transformational performance, this podcast will give you the insights and energy to chart your own course with confidence.

In this episode of Who’s Your Captain, Mark Francis sits down with Dominique Roddier, CEO at Ocergy, to explore the future of offshore and floating wind energy and what it really takes to scale renewable power on a global level.
Dominique shares his journey from engineering and offshore oil and gas roots to leading innovation in floating wind technology. He explains how energy from the ocean works, why floating wind farms are becoming a major breakthrough, and how industrialisation, cost reduction, and long term investment models are shaping the clean energy transition.
The conversation goes deep into how large offshore projects are developed, from securing site control and permits to financing and building multi-gigawatt infrastructure. Dominique also breaks down the realities of capacity factors, grid contracts, and why offshore wind is becoming increasingly competitive with traditional energy sources.
Beyond technology and business, this episode highlights leadership, resilience, and purpose. Dominique speaks openly about teamwork, decision making, and what it really means to lead in a complex and fast moving industry that has a direct impact on the planet’s future.
Mark and Dominique also explore the human side of leadership, passion driven careers, and how innovation in renewable energy is creating long term value not just for companies, but for society as a whole.
If you are interested in renewable energy, offshore wind, engineering, sustainability, or leadership in complex industries, this conversation offers valuable insight into where the future of global energy is heading.
Connect with Dominique Roddier on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dominique-roddier-691499/

I hope you enjoy this episode! Give it a like, share, and subscribe to not miss the content coming your way weekly.
– Mark and the Who's Your Captain podcast team

Connect with Mark Francis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-francis-78b3061/
Visit The Uspire Partnership website here: https://theuspirepartnership.com
Preview Mark's book here: https://www.book2look.com/book/5PLGQaM16K

Listen to Who's Your Captain on the following Platforms:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/097OvlL7btd8f7bplgIfv0
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/whos-your-captain/id1875226706
Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/c6109160-6448-4d95-9850-07456d5adbca/who's-your-captain

#WhosYourCaptain #MarkFrancis #LeadershipPodcast #ExecutiveCoaching #BusinessLeadership #Mentorship #LeadershipDevelopment #PurposeDrivenLeadership #TransformationalLeadership #BusinessGrowth #ExecutiveThinking #Leadership 

Hosted by Mark Francis, founder of The Uspire Partnership and former senior leader at Burberry and Tesco, this podcast provokes fresh thinking, energises purpose, and transforms how leaders perform. With over 25 years of experience in learning and development, organisational change, and executive coaching, Mark brings deep insight to every conversation. He's worked across retail, FMCG, logistics, and professional services, helping leaders and organisations unlock potential and drive meaningful transformation. Whether you're building a business, leading a team, or navigating your own path, you'll discover practical wisdom and inspiration from those who know what it takes to steer the ship.

If you're a business leader, entrepreneur, or professional looking to elevate your leadership, find inspiration from great mentors, or understand what drives transformational performance, this podcast will give you the insights and energy to chart your own course with confidence.

Neil Mullarkey joins Mark Francis for a high energy conversation on leadership, communication, confidence, and the skills needed to succeed in 2026. As Chief of Improvyourbiz Ltd, Neil shares practical lessons from decades of experience in improv, business coaching, and helping professionals become stronger presenters and better leaders.

In this episode, Mark Francis and Neil Mullarkey discuss how great leaders communicate clearly, why storytelling is more powerful than slides, how to overcome fear of public speaking, and why curiosity is one of the most valuable leadership traits today.

You will learn:
• How to become a more confident speaker
• Why improv helps leaders think faster
• The secret to engaging presentations
• How to build stronger workplace relationships
• Why adaptability matters in business
• Leadership lessons for 2026
• How to connect with any audience

This episode is packed with insights for business owners, managers, entrepreneurs, and anyone looking to improve communication and leadership skills.
Guest: Neil Mullarkey
Host: Mark Francis
Company: Improvyourbiz Ltd
Role: Chief

Subscribe for more interviews on leadership, business growth, and success strategies.

Connect with Neil Mullarkey  on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/neilmullarkey/

I hope you enjoy this episode! Give it a like, share, and subscribe to not miss the content coming your way weekly.
– Mark and the Who's Your Captain podcast team

Connect with Mark Francis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-francis-78b3061/
Visit The Uspire Partnership website here: https://theuspirepartnership.com
Preview Mark's book here: https://www.book2look.com/book/5PLGQaM16K

Listen to Who's Your Captain on the following Platforms:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/097OvlL7btd8f7bplgIfv0
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/whos-your-captain/id1875226706
Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/c6109160-6448-4d95-9850-07456d5adbca/who's-your-captain

#WhosYourCaptain #MarkFrancis #LeadershipPodcast #ExecutiveCoaching #BusinessLeadership #Mentorship #LeadershipDevelopment #PurposeDrivenLeadership #TransformationalLeadership #BusinessGrowth #ExecutiveThinking #Leadership 

Hosted by Mark Francis, founder of The Uspire Partnership and former senior leader at Burberry and Tesco, this podcast provokes fresh thinking, energises purpose, and transforms how leaders perform. With over 25 years of experience in learning and development, organisational change, and executive coaching, Mark brings deep insight to every conversation. He's worked across retail, FMCG, logistics, and professional services, helping leaders and organisations unlock potential and drive meaningful transformation. Whether you're building a business, leading a team, or navigating your own path, you'll discover practical wisdom and inspiration from those who know what it takes to steer the ship.

If you're a business leader, entrepreneur, or professional looking to elevate your leadership, find inspiration from great mentors, or understand what drives transformational performance, this podcast will give you the insights and energy to chart your own course with confidence.

What does it take to lead a global movement with a team of just 15 to 20 people? Sonia Dunlop, CEO of the Global Solar Council, joins Mark Francis to unpack the art of influencing without authority across governments, multilateral institutions, industry giants, and philanthropic funders spanning every continent. From her early days as a press officer to five years in the European Parliament and senior roles in solar policy across Europe, Sonia brings rare depth to a conversation about leadership at the highest level of global diplomacy.
The Global Solar Council's mission is to deploy 8 terawatts of solar PV roughly 25 billion solar panels  by the end of this decade. Solar is now the fastest and cheapest growing source of electricity in the history of civilization, with 80% of all new electricity generation capacity added to the global grid last year coming from solar. Sonia explains how a small, highly motivated team drives change at that scale: through shuttle diplomacy, radical delegation, strategic task forces in 190 political capitals, and media influence that ensures the solar industry speaks with one voice to the world.

Key takeaways:
Influencing stakeholders who don't have to listen to you requires building long-term relationships grounded in mutual interest, not authority
Delegate everything that doesn't have to be you being a bottleneck kills momentum in a small, high-impact team
Done is better than perfect: trust your people and resist the urge to micromanage
Get media training especially if you're a woman; there is specific, valuable training for how women come across in interviews and public speaking
Three theories of change: industry task forces, building national and regional association capacity, and strategic media presence
Solar's growth is now driven by pure economics, not climate politics — it is simply the cheapest electricity ever produced
A clear 10-year business plan with outcome-based KPIs is non-negotiable, even for not-for-profits
The biggest macro challenge is adapting strategy to a rapidly shifting geopolitical landscape while staying politically neutral across all 190 countries
Inspiring people around a shared mission is the core competency for any trade association leader
Energy security and national security are now part of the solar story a powerful message in an increasingly tense world

Connect with Sonia Dunlop:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sonia-dunlop-62868354
Website: globalsolarcouncil.org
To learn more about the Global Solar Council and the solar and battery storage revolution, visit globalsolarcouncil.org.

I hope you enjoy this episode! Give it a like, share, and subscribe to not miss the content coming your way weekly.
– Mark and the Who's Your Captain podcast team

Connect with Mark Francis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-francis-78b3061/
Visit The Uspire Partnership website here: https://theuspirepartnership.com
Preview Mark's book here: https://www.book2look.com/book/5PLGQaM16K

Listen to Who's Your Captain on the following Platforms:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/097OvlL7btd8f7bplgIfv0
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/whos-your-captain/id1875226706
Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/c6109160-6448-4d95-9850-07456d5adbca/who's-your-captain

#WhosYourCaptain #MarkFrancis #LeadershipPodcast #ExecutiveCoaching #BusinessLeadership #Mentorship #LeadershipDevelopment #PurposeDrivenLeadership #TransformationalLeadership #BusinessGrowth #ExecutiveThinking #Leadership 

Hosted by Mark Francis, founder of The Uspire Partnership and former senior leader at Burberry and Tesco, this podcast provokes fresh thinking, energises purpose, and transforms how leaders perform. With over 25 years of experience in learning and development, organisational change, and executive coaching, Mark brings deep insight to every conversation. He's worked across retail, FMCG, logistics, and professional services, helping leaders and organisations unlock potential and drive meaningful transformation. Whether you're building a business, leading a team, or navigating your own path, you'll discover practical wisdom and inspiration from those who know what it takes to steer the ship.

If you're a business leader, entrepreneur, or professional looking to elevate your leadership, find inspiration from great mentors, or understand what drives transformational performance, this podcast will give you the insights and energy to chart your own course with confidence.

Mark Francis sits down with his own publisher, Brenda Dempsey, founder of Book Brilliance Publishing, for an honest conversation about what it really takes to write a book that lasts. Brenda brings over 25 years in education, a coaching background, and hard-won life experience including raising four children alone while homeless in her final year of university to a publishing approach that is anything but surface level. She talks about the moment she stepped into her businesswoman identity, why owning your numbers matters as much as owning your story, and what separates books that leave a legacy from books that gather dust.
For anyone who has ever thought about writing a book but doesn't know where to start, this episode is the conversation to hear. Brenda breaks down her holistic, values-led process from deep foundation work and purpose-setting before a single word is written, to the role of storytelling, structure, and editorial precision in producing something that genuinely sounds like you. Whether you're an entrepreneur, a leader, or simply someone with a story worth telling, Brenda makes a compelling case for why your voice matters and why the world needs to hear it.
Key takeaways:

Start with your why before you write a single word purpose and values are the foundation of every great book
Know your numbers: passion alone doesn't build a business, financial literacy is non-negotiable
Writing a book builds credibility, authority, and legacy that no LinkedIn profile or CV can replicate
Your values aren't a head exercise  they come from the gut, and they run through every page of your book
Show don't tell applies in non-fiction too  take your reader on a journey, don't just dump what you know
A book is five or more years of re-purposable content hiding in plain sight
You don't need a degree or perfect credentials to write a book  you need lived experience and the lessons from it
It's never too late: Brenda launched Book Brilliance Publishing at 62
The byproduct of writing a book is clarity, confidence, and a deeper connection to your own purpose
"I can" are the two most powerful words on the planet and the best books are built on that belief

Connect with Brenda Dempsey:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/brendadempsey
Website: bookbrilliancepublishing.com
Ready to write your book? Visit bookbrilliancepublishing.com to find out how Book Brilliance Publishing can take you from idea to published author.

I hope you enjoy this episode! Give it a like, share, and subscribe to not miss the content coming your way weekly.
– Mark and the Who's Your Captain podcast team

Connect with Mark Francis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-francis-78b3061/
Visit The Uspire Partnership website here: https://theuspirepartnership.com
Preview Mark's book here: https://www.book2look.com/book/5PLGQaM16K

Listen to Who's Your Captain on the following Platforms:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/097OvlL7btd8f7bplgIfv0
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/whos-your-captain/id1875226706
Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/c6109160-6448-4d95-9850-07456d5adbca/who's-your-captain

#WhosYourCaptain #MarkFrancis #LeadershipPodcast #ExecutiveCoaching #BusinessLeadership #Mentorship #LeadershipDevelopment #PurposeDrivenLeadership #TransformationalLeadership #BusinessGrowth #ExecutiveThinking #Leadership 

Hosted by Mark Francis, founder of The Uspire Partnership and former senior leader at Burberry and Tesco, this podcast provokes fresh thinking, energises purpose, and transforms how leaders perform. With over 25 years of experience in learning and development, organisational change, and executive coaching, Mark brings deep insight to every conversation. He's worked across retail, FMCG, logistics, and professional services, helping leaders and organisations unlock potential and drive meaningful transformation. Whether you're building a business, leading a team, or navigating your own path, you'll discover practical wisdom and inspiration from those who know what it takes to steer the ship.

If you're a business leader, entrepreneur, or professional looking to elevate your leadership, find inspiration from great mentors, or understand what drives transformational performance, this podcast will give you the insights and energy to chart your own course with confidence.

Over 20 years after founding Liquid Thinker, Professor Damian Hughes sits down with Mark Francis for a wide-ranging conversation about what really drives high performance — in sport, in business, and in life. From growing up in his father's boxing gym in Moston to working alongside elite coaches in rugby league and co-hosting one of the world's most-listened-to podcasts, Damian has spent his career studying the small, often invisible behaviors that separate good teams from great ones. His latest book, Micro Habits, co-authored with Jake Humphrey, distills the most powerful lessons from 500+ interviews with world-class performers into practical tools anyone can use.
Damian shares the story that opens the book — a gut-churning moment on his first day with the England rugby league squad — and uses it to explain why the smallest gestures can either lock someone in or lock them out of a team. He talks about his work with the Warrington Wolves, how four minutes of small talk can spike trust by 60-70%, what FBI hostage negotiator Chris Voss taught him about empathy, and why Kevin Sinfield's approach to encouragement at age 10 became his micro habit for a 20-year career. This is a conversation about people, not programs — and why the stuff that happens in the shadows is where all the real value lives.

Key takeaways:

Micro habits are small, simple behavioral shifts — not seismic leaps — that compound into significant change over time
Clarity of message, consistently applied, is one of the most underrated drivers of team success
Culture is made real when a leader drops someone from the team for a values breach, not just a performance one
Just four minutes of small talk before a conversation can increase trust and reciprocity by 60-70%
Empathy saves time — investing in how someone feels before making demands pays back significantly in negotiation and leadership
High performance is subjective: define it for yourself before you try to build it
Science elevates the message — anecdote plus evidence is far more persuasive than either alone
The best leaders and performers are identical on and off camera — consistency is authenticity
Resilience is built through thunderbolt moments, not despite them
A flower doesn't bloom all year round — rest and reflection are not optional extras, they are part of the performance cycle

Connect with Professor Damian Hughes:
Website: liquidthinker.com
High Performance Podcast: available on all major podcast platforms
Micro Habits by Damian Hughes and Jake Humphrey is available now in print and audio wherever books are sold.

Two years into turning around a struggling SaaS business, Signpost CEO Lucas Wilson sits down with Mark Francis to give himself an honest performance review — and sporadically, it's a D. In this episode, Lucas breaks down what it really takes to lead a company through resource constraints, cultural rebuilding, and customer-first reinvention. From his roots in an immigrant entrepreneurial family to an early career at Angie's List and executive roles at Homebase and EZ Texting, Lucas brings hard-won perspective on what separates leaders who deliver from those who stall.
Lucas introduces a leadership philosophy he calls "low ego, high want" — and unpacks why the most damaging ego in any organisation isn't arrogance, it's fear. He shares how Signpost went from a quarterly-initiative-churning business chasing investment to a focused home services communication platform serving roofers, plumbers, HVAC techs, and pest control operators across the US. With a current customer base of over 1,500 and a target of 5,000 by end of 2028, Lucas explains how getting brutally honest with churned customers, narrowing the product focus, and building a culture obsessed with the customer's customer has put Signpost back on a growth curve.
Key takeaways:

Low ego, high want: the best teammates don't care who gets the win — they care that the team wins
There are two types of damaging ego: arrogance and fear — and fear-based ego is harder to fix
The first move after taking over was calling thousands of churned customers to understand why they left
Narrowing focus to a core customer (home service pros) and a core problem (communication) was the turning point
AI should be invisible — embedded in the product, not announced as an initiative
Equitable opportunity matters more than equal treatment — people need different tools, styles, and timing
Patience is a leadership skill: farming teaches you that everything has stages and you can't skip to the end
Top three tips for driving change: be passionate about what you're solving, lose both types of ego, and know your end goal

Connect with Lucas Wilson:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lukewilsonsignpostceo
Website: signpost.com
If you're a home service business owner looking to streamline your customer communication, visit signpost.com to get started.

I hope you enjoy this episode! Give it a like, share, and subscribe to not miss the content coming your way weekly.
– Mark and the Who's Your Captain podcast team

Connect with Mark Francis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-francis-78b3061/
Visit The Uspire Partnership website here: https://theuspirepartnership.com
Preview Mark's book here: https://www.book2look.com/book/5PLGQaM16K

Listen to Who's Your Captain on the following Platforms:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/097OvlL7btd8f7bplgIfv0
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/whos-your-captain/id1875226706
Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/c6109160-6448-4d95-9850-07456d5adbca/who's-your-captain

#WhosYourCaptain #MarkFrancis #LeadershipPodcast #ExecutiveCoaching #BusinessLeadership #Mentorship #LeadershipDevelopment #PurposeDrivenLeadership #TransformationalLeadership #BusinessGrowth #ExecutiveThinking #Leadership 

Hosted by Mark Francis, founder of The Uspire Partnership and former senior leader at Burberry and Tesco, this podcast provokes fresh thinking, energises purpose, and transforms how leaders perform. With over 25 years of experience in learning and development, organisational change, and executive coaching, Mark brings deep insight to every conversation. He's worked across retail, FMCG, logistics, and professional services, helping leaders and organisations unlock potential and drive meaningful transformation. Whether you're building a business, leading a team, or navigating your own path, you'll discover practical wisdom and inspiration from those who know what it takes to steer the ship.

If you're a business leader, entrepreneur, or professional looking to elevate your leadership, find inspiration from great mentors, or understand what drives transformational performance, this podcast will give you the insights and energy to chart your own course with confidence.

In this episode, host Mark Francis sits down with experienced trader and educator James Brodie to explore the often-overlooked psychological side of trading.

While many people focus on charts, numbers, and strategies, successful trading is just as much about mindset, discipline, and emotional control. James shares insights from years of experience working with traders and explains why ego management, resilience, and risk control are critical for long-term success in financial markets.

The discussion dives into how new traders are trained, the importance of psychological resilience during market volatility, and why developing the right mindset can be the difference between success and failure in a trading career.

James also explains how AI is beginning to play a role in trading education, helping traders analyze data, improve strategies, and accelerate learning while still maintaining human judgment and decision-making.

Whether you're an aspiring trader, finance professional, or someone interested in trading psychology, this conversation provides practical insights into what it really takes to succeed in the markets.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

Why psychology plays a major role in trading success

How traders manage ego and emotions under pressure

The importance of resilience during losses and market volatility

How induction training prepares new traders for real markets

Why risk management is essential to avoid major losses

How AI is transforming trading education and strategy development

Tips for building a long-term career in trading

Key Takeaways

Trading is not only about technical skills — mindset, discipline, and emotional control are equally important. Traders who understand their biases, manage risk effectively, and continue learning are far more likely to succeed over the long term.

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction to James Brodie and His Career
02:43 The Role of Psychology in Trading
05:43 Training New Traders: Induction and Development
12:34 The Importance of Resilience in Trading
19:25 Measuring Psychological Growth and Performance
23:30 Creating a Positive Team Environment in Trading
26:30 The Importance of Cohorts in Trading
27:21 Developing Managers in Trading
28:13 Real-World Trading Experience
28:53 Engaging Training Methods
29:39 Continuous Self-Education
31:27 Integrating AI in Trading Education
35:46 The Reality of Trading Careers
39:42 Understanding Psychological Factors in Trading
43:26 Ongoing Learning for Experienced Traders
44:46 The Role of Psychology in Trading
48:04 Top Tips for Aspiring Traders

I hope you enjoy this episode! Give it a like, share, and subscribe to not miss the content coming your way weekly.
– Mark and the Who's Your Captain podcast team

Connect with Mark Francis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-francis-78b3061/
Visit The Uspire Partnership website here: https://theuspirepartnership.com
Preview Mark's book here: https://www.book2look.com/book/5PLGQaM16K

Listen to Who's Your Captain on the following Platforms:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/097OvlL7btd8f7bplgIfv0
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/whos-your-captain/id1875226706
Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/c6109160-6448-4d95-9850-07456d5adbca/who's-your-captain

#WhosYourCaptain #MarkFrancis #LeadershipPodcast #ExecutiveCoaching #BusinessLeadership #Mentorship #LeadershipDevelopment #PurposeDrivenLeadership #TransformationalLeadership #BusinessGrowth #ExecutiveThinking #Leadership 

Hosted by Mark Francis, founder of The Uspire Partnership and former senior leader at Burberry and Tesco, this podcast provokes fresh thinking, energises purpose, and transforms how leaders perform. With over 25 years of experience in learning and development, organisational change, and executive coaching, Mark brings deep insight to every conversation. He's worked across retail, FMCG, logistics, and professional services, helping leaders and organisations unlock potential and drive meaningful transformation. Whether you're building a business, leading a team, or navigating your own path, you'll discover practical wisdom and inspiration from those who know what it takes to steer the ship.

If you're a business leader, entrepreneur, or professional looking to elevate your leadership, find inspiration from great mentors, or understand what drives transformational performance, this podcast will give you the insights and energy to chart your own course with confidence.

Bruce Martin didn't set out to be a CEO. He spent years in finance, from Vodafone to private equity, before taking the top job at Tax Systems — and in three and a half years, he's doubled revenue, completed international acquisitions, and led the business through a full SaaS transformation. In this episode, Bruce shares how a competitive sporting mindset shaped his approach to leadership, why clarity is the foundation of everything, and what it really means to build a high performance culture from the inside out.
We dig into the practical mechanics of running a PE-backed tech business: OKR frameworks, manager development, decision-making at the coalface, and why transparency with your investors is a non-negotiable. Bruce is refreshingly honest about the nerves of stepping into the CEO seat, the value of good scaffolding early on, and how his thinking on vision and mission shifted completely once he was the one responsible for owning it.
Key takeaways:

Leadership starts with clarity — without direction, empowerment just creates noise
High performance is about consistency, speed, quality, and the ability to fail fast and adapt
OKRs only work when they're specific, cross-functional dependencies are visible, and success measures are crystal clear at every level
The best individual contributors don't always make the best people managers — developing your managers is its own discipline
In a PE environment, full transparency with investors is a competitive advantage, not a risk
A strong North Star isn't just corporate language — it's what gets you out of bed and keeps the whole business aligned
High standards attract the right talent; don't treat them as a harsh thing

Subscribe to Who's Your Captain for more conversations on leadership, business growth, and what it takes to build high performance teams.
Connect with Bruce Martin:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brucemartin6/
taxsystems.com

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– Mark and the Who's Your Captain podcast team

Connect with Mark Francis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-francis-78b3061/
Visit The Uspire Partnership website here: https://theuspirepartnership.com
Preview Mark's book here: https://www.book2look.com/book/5PLGQaM16K

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Hosted by Mark Francis, founder of The Uspire Partnership and former senior leader at Burberry and Tesco, this podcast provokes fresh thinking, energises purpose, and transforms how leaders perform. With over 25 years of experience in learning and development, organisational change, and executive coaching, Mark brings deep insight to every conversation. He's worked across retail, FMCG, logistics, and professional services, helping leaders and organisations unlock potential and drive meaningful transformation. Whether you're building a business, leading a team, or navigating your own path, you'll discover practical wisdom and inspiration from those who know what it takes to steer the ship.

If you're a business leader, entrepreneur, or professional looking to elevate your leadership, find inspiration from great mentors, or understand what drives transformational performance, this podcast will give you the insights and energy to chart your own course with confidence.