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Today we’re privileged to be joined by Sir David King, Co-Founder of the Clean Growth Leadership Network and founder and Chair of The Centre for Climate Repair in the University of Cambridge.

Sir David’s vast accomplishments include, being elected Fellow of the Royal Society in 1991, receiving his Knighthood in 2003, working as the UK Government Chief Scientific Adviser (2000-2007), and being the Foreign Secretary’s Special Representative on Climate Change (2013-2017) – his achievements and work are as inspiring as they are important.

Sir David’s message is clear; we are dealing with a crisis of enormous proportions with regard to climate change. He believes “our civilisation has never had to face up to a challenge as big as this one, and what we do over the next five to ten years will determine the future of humanity for the next millennium”.

As the discussion progresses and we deep dive into the complexities and facts around this important subject, Sir David explains more about the Conference of the Parties meeting, explaining that the 26th session is due to take place in November of this year and world leaders will come together with one focus – to discuss climate change. As he highlights scary statistics, it’s clear just how important these meetings and subsequent actions are, and the speed at which they’re executed.

This episode will open your eyes more than ever before, to the crisis that confronts us regarding climate change, and the importance of the part we play. Speaking candidly, openly and informatively, Sir David shares incredibly thought-provoking findings and experiences with us, in a message we all need to hear.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 29:16 — 26.8MB)

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Today we’re joined by Kay White, career coach, mentor and author, recently recognised as one of the top 49 Elite Women in Insurance 2021.  Her success as a global podcast host and motivational speaker demonstrates that Kay truly is a leader in all she does. It seemed truly fitting she joined us on International Women’s Week.

Starting her career as an ‘enthusiastic and naïve’ secretary in Willis, Kay spent over 20 years working her way up the ladder, eventually becoming a global director in the Global Property and Casualty sector. As she reflects on being one of just six broking women at the time, Kay recalls the twists and turns, rollercoasters and experiences gained during that stage of her life.

As she discusses her journey into the world of coaching, Kay tells us about the safe space she strives to create for her clients highlighting how beneficial this can be for an individual. Her passion for neurolinguistics has further strengthened her approach to the way she coaches, and the time taken to understand and learn more about this has proven invaluable.

This discussion touches on powerful subjects, one of which encourages women to stop waiting to be asked and instead to take the power into their own hands. Kay’s wealth of knowledge, passion for diversity & inclusion, and natural mentoring ability makes this a captivating conversation that’s not to be missed.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 26:15 — 24.1MB)

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On today’s show we’re joined by Gail Lowney Alofsin, Keynote Speaker, Author, University Professor, Humanitarian, and Sales & Marketing Executive.

Gail begins by talking about always having been a people person, even from a young age. Gail takes us back to when she was a student in a Catholic school, door knocking, trying to sell religious items, and highlighted that even those who said ‘no’ got a ‘thank you for opening the door’ note from her. Fondly remembering the connection she made with individuals so early on, it’s easy to see where her passion for working with people began.

Fast forward a few years, aged only 19, Gail’s father took her to volunteer on a medical mission in Haiti.  Following the news that he only had a year to live, Gail’s father chose to travel to Haiti every three months, as a practising dentist outside Mother Theresa’s ‘Home for the Dying’.  When asked by Mother Theresa to help the people of Jeremie in Haiti, he did just that, founding the Haitian Health Foundation, an outpatient clinic providing healthcare to 200,000 patients a year and where Gail still volunteers to this day.

As a true believer of ‘eat the frog for breakfast’, Gail explains why she thinks addressing the things you don’t look forward to, first thing every day, is so important for productivity. Her various personal and professional triumphs are a clear indication that this approach to life has really worked for her.

Sharing her tips for success and her infectious energy with us, this episode will reshape your mind set and make you look at life differently. Even in the face of pain and adversity, Gail’s constant drive and determination has seen her through the hard times, and into the life she now leads with so many achievements under her belt.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 24:07 — 22.1MB)

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On today’s show, we welcome Rachael Flanagan, leader, entrepreneur and CEO of Mrs Buckét Cleaning Services.

In 2005, Rachael was 18, sitting her A-Levels, and helping her mum clean the family home. Originally seeing this as a means to earn ‘beer money’ for the local pub, Rachael quickly recognised the positive impact her help was having around the house, and her dream began to grow and take shape.

As Rachael explains her humble beginnings, she tells us how her entrepreneurial spirit sparked as a seven-year-old selling sweets in her dad’s shop, and how this evolved to become a 300-strong team of staff based across Wales and Bristol, offering commercial cleaning. It’s incredible to believe she started aged 18, armed with just £20 worth of fliers and a hoover.

Rachael’s energy is infectious and her success is truly down to her determination, motivation, sacrifice and drive. Reflecting on a quote a swimming teacher once told her, she explains how she applied the words “there’s no way of improving yourself unless you’re in the pool first, and leave the pool last” to everything in her life.

This episode is a stark reminder that with fire in your belly and a determination to succeed, you can and will be a success. Rachael’s fantastic energy and perseverance to prove her doubters wrong has been the catalyst for a business empire, and we look forward to seeing what’s next in store for her. You can find Rachael on LinkedIn and keep up to date with her latest updates!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 29:34 — 27.1MB)

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Today we’re joined by Joanne Collins, former military personnel, woman in technology, and born leader.

Having grown up in a military family, Joanne followed suit and worked as both Military Police and Telecommunications Officer during her time in the forces. Looking back, Joanne explains that on graduation from Airborne School, she was one of just five women, compared to 400 men. She credits this part of her life for teaching her resilience, how to think on her feet, and the importance of teamwork.

Speaking of the challenges she’s faced along the way, and the mind set instilled within her, Joanne touches on the importance of feeling the fear and doing it anyway. Her refreshing take on failure, and the idea that it really isn’t something to be afraid of, is a key part of the success she’s achieved throughout her life.

Becoming a single mother when her children were ages five and seven, Joanne was running a national support desk while trying to move it to a 24/7 model. While touching on the support she cobbled together from family, friends and social groups, Joanne explains the importance of diversity of thought within organisations, and the challenges around outdated systems that prevent this happening.

Joanne covers powerful topics with passion and candour. This episode brings the importance of diversity, inclusion and thought leadership to the forefront of discussion, providing us with lessons we can learn from and build upon.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 26:59 — 24.7MB)

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Today we’re joined by Touker Suleyman, fashion retail entrepreneur, investor, business owner and of course one of the highly respected moguls on hit television programme, ‘Dragons’ Den’.

From a young age, Touker explains that he was always ambitious. After leaving the world of accountancy in his late teens, he asked himself two questions; ‘how am I going to be successful?’ and ‘how am I going to be recognised?’. From there, Touker embarked on a journey comprising of successes, challenges and above all, opportunities to learn.

In his twenties, Touker was the chairman of two public companies and as the youngest in this role at the time, would regularly be referred to as a ‘tycoon’ by the press. However, after investing into a business that went bust, Touker lost everything. In his own words, he had to start again, but with a very important lesson under his belt – always do due diligence.

Looking back, Touker still has a deep appreciation for the lessons he learned from loss. When offering advice to others, he says that listening to your gut is paramount, and that taking risk is a must in business, but not until you’ve done your research. In Touker’s eyes, the importance of having passion and wanting to add value is high on the priority list, and this paired with hard work and an all-important mentor, is a winning combination.

From earning £5 a week in his teens, to being the owner of a multi-million pound empire, Touker’s business acumen, approach to leadership and positive energy, makes this a must listen episode for all. Are you in?

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 25:36 — 23.5MB)

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Today we’re joined by Jeff Nischwitz, founder and ‘chief story debunker’ of The Nischwitz Group, speaker, motivator, and facilitator of truth.

Starting out in the legal world, Jeff now describes himself as a ‘snow globe shaker’ for those that he serves. Following a very successful career in law, Jeff came to the realisation that although he was good at what he did, he didn’t enjoy it, and so began a journey in search of something he loved. Traditional success wasn’t what he was striving for, and in the pursuit of something he was both good at and enjoyed, he came to be where he is today.

Growing up in a culture where it was deemed crazy to enjoy what you did for a living, Jeff describes how dangerous he finds this mindset and how it can stifle a person’s growth and development. Perhaps one of the most inspiring things to takeaway from listening to Jeff speak is the passion he has for what he does, and his belief that extreme discomfort, always precedes great things.

Speaking of the stories he debunks for those around him, Jeff helps people ‘cut the chain’ to what is holding them back. His passion for helping people and leaders that are willing to improve themselves has enabled him to build The Nischwitz Group, a platform where he helps to transform individuals and organisations ‘one truth at a time’. Jeff’s mission is clear and powerful – to stop people basing their success on stories they’ve been told, and instead encouraging them rewrite their own.

Passionate, motivational, and jam-packed with golden nuggets of advice, this show isn’t one to miss.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 26:51 — 24.6MB)

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On today’s episode, we’re joined by Jamie Peacock MBE, former Rugby League player, motivational speaker and mentor. During his career, he played for the Leeds Rhinos, the Bradford Bulls, captained Great Britain and England at international level, and that’s just a handful of his achievements. In 2011, he was awarded an MBE for services to the game.

From the get-go, Jamie’s motivation shines through. He explains the route he had to take to break through into the first team, and how this was as much to do with his mindset and self-discipline, as his rugby skill – and sometimes even more so. Jamie’s dedication is no doubt a large factor in his continued success, on, and off the pitch.

Now an accomplished motivational speaker and mentor, Jamie’s career and life experience has enabled him to share his knowledge with others, with the focus on making them better. The leadership fundamentals he gained during his time as a captain and team member, and the challenges he faced, have allowed him to build a successful empire, all based around helping others.

In his own words, Jamie overcame a lack of natural “sporting” talent and became one of England’s best captains. His achievements speak volumes and his infectious energy and drive makes him a true pleasure to listen to. The overarching message is to BELIEVE – believe in yourself, play to your strengths, listen and learn from those around you, practice self-discipline, and be patient.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 26:43 — 24.5MB)

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Today we’re joined by Leigh Ashton, CEO and founder of The Sales Consultancy, a business focussed on shifting the way people think and giving them a Sales Growth Mindset.

Casting her mind back to 1985, Leigh explains that as she stepped into a sales role, she felt like she was living a dream come true. The one to one conversations, people she got to meet and businesses she engaged with made her feel as though she was getting ‘paid to chat’ and her passion for sales only grew from here. But so did the frustration with the inconsistent performance of her sales team. Driven to find out what was causing and contributing to these inconsistencies in her team, she became motivated and inspired to find solutions to fix these, and in 1995, The Sales Consultancy was born.

Specialising in mindset, Leigh now shares her expertise and experience with others. She explains that as times have changed, and technology has become such a core part of our lives, that people’s fear often takes over. Back in 1985, people could only compare themselves with their immediate peers, and now we’re able to compare to anyone, anywhere – all via our phones or computers.

Leigh believes her experience of feeling like a failure at times, and learning from the ‘gurus’ around her has allowed her to share her wisdom and learnings with others, to enable them to be better. She tells us that ‘frustration is what happens just before growth’, and that if we don’t let that frustration pull us down, we will benefit from the opportunity to learn something that takes us to the next level.

This episode is powerful beyond measure. Leigh’s passion for helping others, dispelling the myths of ‘sales people’, and sharing her experience has allowed her to create a culture where people ‘have a go’. With a refreshing view on how people should be lead, and a focus on helping people grow, Leigh is a pleasure to listen to.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 30:15 — 27.7MB)

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Today, the fantastic Jennifer Walsh (photographed above with Becki Lammond, podcast producer), innovative thinker, world wanderer and leader in life, joins us for her second time on the show.

Since her last appearance on the show back in 2018, Jennifer has been as busy as ever, and a pandemic wasn’t going to get in her way. Talking about her current projects, including consulting for beauty brands, writing, and appearing on various TV segments, Jennifer speaks about her passion for nature, and how this has translated across into her business.

‘Walk with Walsh’ is an initiative started by Jennifer to get people out and about. The video series features Jennifer and different guests, from CEOs to philanthropists, as they discuss how they’re using nature in all that they do, while also making an effort to protect it. The ‘why’, is Jennifer’s belief that “healthy, positive leadership with an awareness of the importance of nature not only builds healthy teams, but also a strong bottom line, and a healthy thriving community.”

This episode puts a refreshingly positive spin on what’s been a tough time for everyone. Time with, and awareness of nature is something that Jennifer believes is needed now, more than ever. Giving us the opportunity to learn about our surroundings, and exploring our own backyards, is something that has enabled us to learn about and appreciate the eco-systems that surround us.

Listening to Jennifer will leave you feeling motivated to get outside, breathe in fresh air and learn about the nature surrounding us. Her infectious passion, experiences, and portfolio of exciting projects, come together, which makes listening to Jennifer a true joy.