Welcome to a very special New Year’s Eve edition of Truth, Lies & Work! Normally, we'd be bringing you our regular Tuesday episode with the news roundup, workplace surgery, and hot takes, but today we’re doing something different.

It's the holiday season—time to relax, reflect, and spend time with loved ones. So, to mark the occasion, we’re sharing the full, never-before-heard interview with one of our most exciting guests to date, Professor John Amaechi OBE.

Professor John Amaechi is an extraordinary individual with an inspiring journey and impressive credentials. He’s the first Brit to play in the NBA, a Professor of Leadership at the University of Exeter Business School, founder of APS Intelligence, and non-executive director for a FTSE 250 company. John is also the author of the Sunday Times bestseller

The Promises of Giants, where he offers a bold new approach to leadership. He’s a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion, self-awareness in leadership, and the power of critical thinking. Plus, he’s got some very strong opinions on Star Wars and peanut butter—trust us, you’ll want to hear this.

In this extended, unedited conversation, Leanne and John dive deep into what makes a great leader, the challenges of diversity in leadership roles, and the importance of self-awareness.

Key Topics:

Leadership vs Management: What sets true leadership apart from management and why this distinction is vital.
Diversity & Inclusion: How inclusive leadership impacts business success, and why mediocrity is the real enemy in workplace diversity.
The Importance of Self-Awareness: Why great leadership begins with understanding yourself, and how this critical skill can shape your effectiveness as a leader.
The Role of Leadership in Society: Why leaders must be responsible for shaping both the culture within their organizations and the wider community.
Star Wars & Peanut Butter: John’s take on the best Star Wars film (spoiler: it’s a good one) and the only acceptable way to eat peanut butter. Yes, we went there.

Why You Should Listen:

This interview is one for the books. Whether you’re a business leader, an aspiring entrepreneur, or just someone looking for a fresh perspective on leadership, John’s insights are invaluable. This episode dives into the real, human side of leadership, touching on vulnerability, self-awareness, and why leading with authenticity can be the key to success.

Grab a coffee, relax, and get ready to be inspired by one of the most influential thinkers in leadership today.

More from John Amaechi:

Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amaechi/

The Promises of Giants: https://www.amazon.com/Promises-Giants-John-Amaechi/dp/1529345871

APS Intelligence LTD: https://www.apsintel.com/

General Support with Mental Health and Well-being

If you have been affected by any of the themes in this episode, or are currently struggling with your mental health, the following resources may be useful.

Mind website: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/

If you are feeling in distress or despair, including feelings of suicide, please do consider calling the Samaritans for free on 116 123 (UK) or email jo@samaritans.org (Rest of World)

Connect with Al and Leanne

Join the Conversation on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/truthlieswork/

Connect with Al on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisalelliott/

Connect with Leanne on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetleanne

Email: Hello@truthliesandwork.com

Book a Call with Al & Leanne: https://savvycal.com/meetleanne/chat

Ep 194: A Look Back at 2025 (with Whitney Putnam and Eric Case)

The Global Leadership Podcast

David Ashcraft simplifies vision

The AI-powered Podcast Player