The Courageous Leaders Podcast

In this episode of The Courageous Leaders Podcast, I share one of the hardest chapters of my leadership journey, being excluded, questioned, and broken down by the very people I was meant to lead alongside. I reveal the five lessons that helped me survive it and rebuild stronger. If you're stuck in a toxic dynamic, this episode is for you.We Cover: 01:00 – The moment I realised I wasn’t wanted on the team01:44 – What it feels like to be excluded and humiliated by peers02:18 – The self-doubt spiral that nearly broke me03:07 – How being excluded and humiliated reshaped my life and career03:42 – Lesson 1: Stop trying to win them over04:21 – Lesson 2: Find your allies, even if they’re outside the room05:21 – Lesson 3: Set boundaries and call out passive aggression06:42 – Lesson 4: Protect your mental space and reframe your thinking08:27 – Lesson 5: Speak up when you see toxic behaviour on your teamDon’t miss out on this powerful episode. 👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you!https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ 🚀 Elevate Your Leadership:Book a call for transformative leadership and team coaching:Website: https://thechangecreators.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannahowes/ → Join our newsletter for courageous leadership insights and advice. 👉 Subscribe here: https://the-change-creators.kit.com/1a5f3c9e54

Is your team's growth being silently blocked by toxic positivity, hidden politics, or a culture of avoidance? What if you could banish just one of these frustrations to unlock everyone's true potential?I put that exact challenge to three brilliant leaders in a special 'Leadership Room 101' debate. I welcomed Nishma Patel Robb (Founder, Glittersphere) , Ete Davies (EMEA EVP, Dentsu Creative) , and Natalie Winford (Chief Solutions Officer, Jellyfish) to each nominate the one leadership flaw they believe does the most damage in business today. The resulting discussion is a masterclass in identifying the root causes of team friction and building a culture based on reality, not pretence.We Cover: 01:57 – The 'Good Vibes Only' Trap: When positivity becomes toxic. 07:38 – A Leader's Most Powerful Tool: The choice to be vulnerable. 08:28 – Nishma on how relentless positivity can silence your team 12:46 – Exposing the Hidden Power Structure: The problem with organisational politics. 17:10 – How "corridor meetings" create a parallel culture of mistrust. 27:25 – Can you be a good person and good at politics? 29:29 – Natalie’s argument for banning the phrase "it’s above my pay grade" 35:07 – Why employees feel stuck: Is it evasion or a cry for help? 39:43 – Should you do a task before you're promoted for it?44:10 – The Final Verdict: The single most damaging leadership flaw is revealed.Don’t miss out on this powerful episode. 👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you!https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ 🚀 Elevate Your Leadership:Book a call for transformative leadership and team coaching:Website: https://thechangecreators.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannahowes/ → Join our newsletter for courageous leadership insights and advice. 👉 Subscribe here: https://the-change-creators.kit.com/1a5f3c9e54

In this powerful episode, I sat down with Abi Wright and Jen Toll, the inspiring founders behind Festival of The Girl. What started as a grassroots idea is now a powerful movement helping girls step into their power and challenge gender stereotypes from childhood.We talked about how courage can grow from anger, why shrinking starts in childhood, and how both boys and girls benefit when we reframe what confidence, risk-taking and visibility really mean. If you’ve ever wondered how to raise or lead with more intention, this episode will change how you see the next generation.We Cover: 00:36 – What does success really mean, and who decided it?01:36 – Why Jen’s journey into feminism began with motherhood02:42 – Abi’s wake-up moment while raising daughters04:17 – Launching Festival of The Girl with no budget06:35 – What courage looks like behind the scenes08:45 – “We were angry. That’s what drove us.”10:55 – The moment their daughters pointed out inequality at home13:40 – Why girls fear ‘getting it wrong’ more than boys14:53 – The real risks girls are afraid to take16:42 – Confidence doesn’t just appear. It’s taught.18:10 – Launching Festival of The Boy and what it means for boys Don’t miss out on this powerful episode. 👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you!https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ 🚀 Elevate Your Leadership:Book a call for transformative leadership and team coaching:Website: https://thechangecreators.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannahowes/ → Join our newsletter for courageous leadership insights and advice. 👉 Subscribe here: https://the-change-creators.kit.com/1a5f3c9e54

“What’s the biggest bullshit in leadership?”Chris Hirst answers without blinking. But you’ll have to watch to hear what he says.In this Fast & The Curious episode,Chris, former Global CEO of Havas Creative goes from sharp insight to guilty pleasures in under six minutes.☕ A very strong opinion on herbal tea🎸 A Nickelback moment he didn’t see coming🧦 And the one workplace trend he’d cancel foreverIt’s short. It’s sharp. And it’s leadership with a side of dry humour.📺 Watch now on YouTube and check out the full Courageous Leaders episode while you’re there.👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you!https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ 🚀 Elevate Your Leadership:Book a call for transformative leadership and team coaching:Website: https://thechangecreators.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannahowes/ → Join our newsletter for courageous leadership insights and advice. 👉 Subscribe here: https://the-change-creators.kit.com/1a5f3c9e54

What happens when you’ve spent years inside a failing business, then asked to take over as CEO and turn it around?For Chris Hirst, it wasn’t just a step up. It was a defining challenge that forced him to rethink everything he knew about leadership.In this episode of The Courageous Leaders Podcast, I’m joined by leadership expert, award-winning author, and former Global CEO of Havas Creative, Chris Hirst. Known for transforming struggling companies from within, Chris shares what it really takes to lead under pressure and why clarity, courage, and conviction matter more than ever.We Cover: 01:22 – Becoming CEO of a broken business, and why it felt like career suicide04:00 – The Harvard moment that changed Chris’s mindset and life05:50 – How to fix a failing company: honesty, clarity, and ruthless prioritisation08:00 – Why commitment beats capability when it comes to business growth10:23 – What makes a great CEO and how to build a high-performing culture13:18 – Attitude vs. aptitude: the core of Chris’s new book Indispensable16:49 – Workplace autopilot: why most people don’t show up with intention20:24 – Leading 100 CEOs: spotting the difference between good and great26:00 – Decision-making as a leadership superpower30:50 – Chris’s personal demon and the advice he’d give his younger selfDon’t miss out on this powerful episode. 👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you!https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ 🚀 Elevate Your Leadership:Book a call for transformative leadership and team coaching:Website: https://thechangecreators.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannahowes/ → Join our newsletter for courageous leadership insights and advice. 👉 Subscribe here: https://the-change-creators.kit.com/1a5f3c9e54

Many leaders still see empathy as a weakness.This is shortsighted as empathy is one of the most powerful skills to drive trust, performance, and real connection.In this episode, I explain what it means to lead with empathy and share three practical ways to integrate it into your leadership today. You’ll learn how empathy shifts behaviour, strengthens accountability, and builds a culture where people feel seen, safe, and motivated to give their bestWe Cover: 01:03 – What empathy in leadership really means01:39 – Real story: How one CEO shifted outcomes with one question02:24 – Why empathy is often misunderstood as “going soft”03:14 – Leadership shift: Empathy as a strategy, not sentiment03:41 – Tip #1: Always start with empathy04:22 – Tip #2: How to practice active listening05:02 – Tip #3: Check in regularly, beyond the task list05:39 – Final thoughts: Why empathy is good for performance and for youDon’t miss out on this powerful episode. 👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you!https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ 🚀 Elevate Your Leadership:Book a call for transformative leadership and team coaching:Website: https://thechangecreators.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannahowes/ → Join our newsletter for courageous leadership insights and advice. 👉 Subscribe here: https://the-change-creators.kit.com/1a5f3c9e54

What can a grizzly bear in a denim jacket teach us about leadership?More than you’d think.In this week’s Fast & The Curious, Dave takes us from Hackney to Hollywood (almost) with his usual cheeky, sweary brilliance.⚡ What leadership advice does he swear by?⚡ Why pink paint is his power colour⚡ And how he ended up designing a jacket for an 8-foot bearIt’s fast, funny, and full of the kind of wisdom only a rebellious artist can serve.📺 Dave’s full Fast & Curious episode drops today on YouTube. Don’t forget to check out his full Courageous Leaders interview while you’re there.👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you!https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ 🚀 Elevate Your Leadership:Book a call for transformative leadership and team coaching:Website: https://thechangecreators.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannahowes/ → Join our newsletter for courageous leadership insights and advice. 👉 Subscribe here: https://the-change-creators.kit.com/1a5f3c9e54

Naughty, and unfiltered – Dave Buonaguidi, ex-adman turned full-time artist, shares how he blew up a 35-year career, lost everything, and finally found joy. From co-founding iconic agencies like St. Luke’s and Karmarama to walking away from the industry (and his marriage) at 50, Dave tells it like it is – with plenty of swearing, sharp wit, and hard-won wisdom.If you’ve ever wanted to throw out the rulebook and build life on your own damn terms, this episode is for you.We Cover: 01:40 – “I just rebooted my life at 55” – The moment Dave walked away from it all07:20 – Wearing a mask at work for 35 years08:40 – Why he doesn’t see his past ventures as “success”10:05 – The brutal reality of founding a business12:00 – Ripping up the rulebook: doing things differently in advertising15:00 – Starting over after losing his agency – and his marriage18:20 – Going all-in with no plan B: the real reason he made it work20:00 – “If you’re doing it for the money, f*ck off”32:00 – Letting go: what Dave struggled with most41:00 – “I jumped out the burning building” – on walking away from everything42:20 – Why 2020 was the best year of his life43:00 – Advice for anyone ready to change their life46:40 – How a screen-printing class changed everythingDon’t miss out on this powerful episode. 👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you!https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ 🚀 Elevate Your Leadership:Book a call for transformative leadership and team coaching:Website: https://thechangecreators.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannahowes/ → Join our newsletter for courageous leadership insights and advice. 👉 Subscribe here: https://the-change-creators.kit.com/1a5f3c9e54

Can three top leaders agree on what’s killing modern leadership?What happens when you bring together a CEO, a president, and a CCO to tackle what’s dragging teams down and how to fix it?In this special 'Leadership Room 101' edition of The Courageous Leaders Podcast, I sat down with Jessica Tamsedge (CEO, Dentsu Creative), Josh Green (CCO, House 337), and Conrad Persons (President, Grey London) for a sharp, honest, and funny deep dive into the biggest leadership traps and what they’d like to banish into Leadership Room 101.We Cover: 00:00 – Introduction: Welcome to Leadership Room 10102:12 – Meet the guests: Jessica, Josh, and Conrad 05:28 – The leadership habit Conrad wants to ban forever09:45 – Jessica on why dabblers kill creativity and clarity14:40 – Josh takes aim at the empty chase for growth19:55 – Why leaders struggle to carve out time to think27:30 – The guilt trait: why taking time feels selfish for leaders33:12 – Closing arguments: which leadership trap should go into Leadership Room 101?36:15 – Conrad’s take on the “black box” leadership style37:23 – Jessica’s insight on “forcing time to think”38:50 – Joanna’s decision: the one habit we all need to kill42:45 – Final reflections + a thank you to the guestsDon’t miss out on this powerful episode. 👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you!https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ 🚀 Elevate Your Leadership:Book a call for transformative leadership and team coaching:Website: https://thechangecreators.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannahowes/ → Join our newsletter for courageous leadership insights and advice. 👉 Subscribe here: https://the-change-creators.kit.com/1a5f3c9e54

What if you had to pick one emoji…to sum up your entire personality?Chloe Davies didn’t flinch.In the latest episode of The Fast & The Curious, Chloe brought the same energy she brings to every room.Bold, brilliant, and a little bit cheeky.🎯 Watch the full F&TC episode to find out:⚡ What would Chloe do as Prime Minister for the day?⚡ What music track sums up her life?⚡ What food she would eat EVERY day forever?It’s fast, fun, and full of unexpected gems.👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you!https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ 🚀 Elevate Your Leadership:Book a call for transformative leadership and team coaching:Website: https://thechangecreators.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannahowes/ → Join our newsletter for courageous leadership insights and advice. 👉 Subscribe here: https://the-change-creators.kit.com/1a5f3c9e54