The Courageous Leaders Podcast

In this episode, we sit down with the brilliant Claire Hollands, CEO of Mullen Lowe.Claire passionately discusses the importance of flexible working and her tips on how to achieve this personally and across a business. Claire also openly discusses the challenging transition from being at AMV for 14 years, managing a department of 140 people, to becoming CEO at Mullen Lowe during COVID.We cover: 00:00:00 Introduction to the podcast and guest Claire Holland00:01:42 The courage to listen to instinct and leave Med School without a plan00:03:30 Letting go of the need to prove yourself00:06:20 Becoming a leader of 140 people at AMV00:09:00 The emotions of running a big department. Providing support but recognising you can't solve all the problems00:10.05 The challenges of the expectations of leaders today 00:12:30 Having the right leadership team around you00:18.46 Leaving AMV not how she thought she would00:17.05 The key learnings moving into a new agency00:21.28 Challenging transition to Mullen Lowe through COVID00:22.28 Batted with public speaking and overcoming this 00:25.51 Discussion on the perception of older professionals and the need for their expertise00:29:27 Adapting leadership styles to accommodate multiple generations in the workplace00:31:38 Remembering it’s a marathon not a sprint👍 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 episode, we sit down with James Hayhurst, the visionary founder of The Magic Sauce Programme. He shares how his experience working in both agency and client-side led him to create The Magic Sauce to help agencies and clients foster stronger relationships. He reveals the powerful role that anger played in leading him to establish The Parents Promise, a mission close to his heart. Join us as we delve into James Hayhurst’s courageous career moves, his commitment to making a difference, and the wisdom he’s gained along the way.If you are a parent who has been through a separation or an educational professional, please click here to participate in the 2025 Education Project Survey.📊 https://theparentspromise.org.uk/?check=true🌐Parents Promise website - https://theparentspromise.org.uk/🌐Magic Sauce website - https://magicsaucecourse.co.uk/Video Chapters:06:17 The difference between how Agencies and Clients judge success09:52 Clients and the Agency side need psychological safety12:11 The difference of working client-side16:00 Setting up the Parents Promise and why18:39 Parents need to talk about what we do if we separate 20:53 How anger can drive action and change24:45 Launching The Magic Sauce29:30 How healthy relationships allow constructive challenges and accountability32:41 Imposter Syndrome or Perfectionist Syndrome.👍 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 episode, I take you through an exploration of personal transformation, building on the success of our previous episode.I dive deeper into practical strategies for becoming the leader you want to be.The key areas we cover to help you are:The 3 fears everyone hasHow to be the boss of your mindHow to build certainty in yourself and grow in confidence.My practical advice and personal anecdotes provide valuable guidance for anyone looking to make meaningful changes in their life.Timestamps 01:05 Understanding the 3 fears we all have03:37 Overcoming fear of rejection and looking stupid08:11 How to have certainty in who you are 11:23 How to handle challenges with confidence13:20 Be in charge of your mind, not it in charge of you16:38 Techniques to catch your thoughts and improve decision making👍 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

Feeling lost or low on confidence? Patrick Jeffery, MD of Contagious, shares his journey of overcoming self-doubt and embracing the power of being a generalist. Patrick reveals how he turned his fear of failure into a driving force for success, drawing inspiration from sports legend Roger Federer on the importance of resetting and letting go.Whether you're at a career crossroads or looking to boost your confidence, Patrick's story will inspire you to embrace your unique path and find strength in your versatility.02:07 The risk of driving change too quickly 07:32 Becoming a ‘specialist generalist’ leader.10:20 Soft skills being a leaders superpower 15:15 How to make lots of decisions 17:40 The ability to build confidence 23:44 Being terrified of failure and how to navigate this 26:26 Imposter syndrome as a positive 31:01 Letting go of ‘what if’s’ and focusing on controllables 👍 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 episode, we sit down with Alex Grieve, CCO at BBH, who shares his transformative journey from a creative role to a leadership position.Alex opens up about the challenges he faced in his early career, navigating a highly competitive and alpha-male dominated industry. He discusses the immense pressure to constantly prove himself and deliver exceptional creative work, which often led to self-doubt and burnout.Alex also reflects on his initial reluctance to step into leadership and his experiences of learning from failures as a new leader. He reveals how he found his flow, leading with calm, clarity, and conciseness.00:00 Getting out of bed even on the difficult days04:16 The challenge of working in an elite performance culture09:35 Finding a collaborative environment at AMV12:01 Reluctant transition from creative to leadership16:14 Learning from early failures19:43 Importance of rest in combating burnout.22:21 Learning to be calm, enjoying the process and letting go of the outcome.25:00 Kindness and support in leadership is crucial 29:28 Learning to be honest and candid with people.33:50 Gratitude for teamwork is crucial in leadership.👍 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 episode, Emma Harris, CEO of Glow London, shares how a life threatening cardiac arrest transformed her perspective. After being saved by three nearby doctors, she moved from a mindset of constantly needing to ‘have more’, ‘be more’, and ‘earn more’ to prioritising what truly matters and preserving her energy to be present.Key timestamps00:00 - Leaving a successful career at Eurostar.04:05 - Overcoming frustration with company changes and finding a new path.08:53 - Unconscious behaviours have a greater impact on communication than we realise.12:33 - The value of authentic leadership and creating genuine connections with your team.16:10 - Recognising and listening to inner voices for guidance.17:50 - The positive influence of a Jewish mother’s voice with loving intentions.20:35 - A near-death experience prompts deep reflection on life’s priorities.23:04 - Focusing on what truly matters and fiercely protecting it.26:18 - Leading by example: your actions speak louder than words, so be mindful.29:54 - Shifting from decisions driven by FOMO to those that bring joy.34:27 - Posting a variety of content while being mindful of its influence.35:55 - The importance of self-acceptance and avoiding comparisonsJoin us for an inspiring conversation on slowing down, trusting the journey, and leading a more intentional and present life.👍 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 episode, we dive into the parallels between rugby and the workplace to uncover how competitive spirit and teamwork in sports can drive exceptional performance in professional settings. I was joined by the brilliant Arran Cruickshanks, Managing Director at mccglc and former professional rugby player, to explore these concepts in depth.Key Questions Discussed:How can we use the competitive spirit of sport to drive performance in teams?How can we understand team motivation to achieve the vision, akin to how rugby players are motivated to win?Rugby players have nutritionists, coaches, physios and a complete plan for their week, how important is structure to succeed? We also discuss:Have companies become too accommodating when dealing with people challenges Setting the expectations that there are going to be tough days and how to navigate themWhy a vision needs to be clear and to check everyone is aligned to have a seat on the busExploring how far into the future it is practical to set a vision in today's rapidly changing world.The difference between being on the Rugby pitch and in training on how the team works togetherBeing the final decision maker and taking on that responsibilityThe perception of having it all together but inside you don’tBeing okay to reach out for help00:00 Importance of leaders maintaining consistent vision despite changes.05:18 Scheduled days challenged motivation and leadership style.09:09 Competition drives improvement and identifies reliable players.11:39 Merit-based promotions ensure employee growth and fairness.14:06 Balancing work commitments with communication and understanding.18:28 Put feelings aside, buy into the vision.22:43 Transitioned from project management to client relations.26:38 Workplace stress and expectations need to change.27:29 Balancing owner's needs and protecting the team.32:49 Regret over risk aversion, need for change.34:25 Motivating staff to find job satisfaction.👍 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

Jade Tomlin - ECD at Huge Inc and previously Group CD at AKQA. Tune in to hear what it takes to truly stand for what you believe in, lead as an introvert and have the persistence to make great work (especially when everyone else has given up). Listen to podcast here:https://thecourageousleaderspodcast.buzzsprout.com/Register to join Leaders Connect Roundtables here:https://thechangecreators.com/leaders-connect/Jade shares how the book ‘Quiet’ by Susan Cain  inspired her.She also runs a journal and workshop series call CreativeAdventur.es which was inspired by talks she had with  Riverford Organice Farmers and Mette Lykke CEO at Too Good To Go 01:30 Challenging the belief in creativity or financial return.03:22: Working with someone who  you don’t get on with 06:44 Identifying negative traits, and the power of patience07:41 Building confidence in your team 09:55 Being female, BAME, LGBT, Dyslexic and wanting to defy the odds11:41 Creators are driven by emotion and can be very sensitive 12:54 Persistence to bring an idea to life when the support isn’t there15:28 The importance of vision 16:25 Art as self-expression, inspiration and execution.18:19 Different thinking styles: risk management vs opportunity-seeking.20:50 The challenge for Introverts in leadership 26:15 Handling big projects, feeling overwhelmed, and an unexpected call that helped.29:36 Expressing vulnerability and giving positive feedback is vital.35:03 Adapting leadership style, honing your vision and fostering teamwork.38:37 How innate drive propelled me to leadership roles.40:49 Addressing climate change challenges and sustainability efforts.👍 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

"A key to achieving success is to know who you want to be and to take steps every day to move closer to that vision."According to a study in Positive Psychology only about 20% of people feel they are living up to their full potential. In the latest solo episode of the Courageous Leaders Podcast, I break down the steps I’ve taken to move me closer to the person I want to become.This is a personal episode where I share how I’ve gone from a shy, reserved girl who constantly felt the need to prove herself to a confident woman embracing her true self with courage.This episode covers:How to build your self-esteem to have the courage to be unapologetically YOUThe process to understand why you do what you doHow to manage your energy to show up 100%How raising your standards frees you from your comfort zoneI am happy to share support, resources, and additional learning recommendations if you DM me.Subscribe to the Courageous Leaders Podcast to stay updated on future episodes here .Thank you for listening! Your journey to becoming a courageous leader starts here.00:00 Discovering true self and regaining confidence.05:46 Learning self-esteem, inner workings, and profiles.06:38 Insights on behavior and natural energy.11:26 Strive to show up 100% in life.14:03 Commitment to being your best, willing to work.👍 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, Jo engages in a candid conversation with Nishma Patel Robb, Founder and CEO of Glittersphere who shares her life experiences, career journey, and the importance of embracing vulnerability. Nishma opens up about her struggles with racism, exclusion, and the societal pressure to fit in. She recounts the pivotal moments that led her to make significant life changes, including leaving a 20-year marriage and a dream job at Google to focus on herself and her own dreams.Key Topics Discussed:Experiences of Racism and Exclusion: Nishma discusses the challenges she faced as a South Asian woman and the impact of feeling the need to fit in.Authenticity and Vulnerability: The journey from crafting an image and wearing business attire to dropping the mask in her forties and embracing vulnerability as a leadership strengthFacing Life Changes: Nishma’s courageous decision to leave her marriage and job to embark on a new adventure focused on self-discovery and growth.Time Management and Self-Awareness: Insights from both Jo and Nishma on the importance of managing one's mind, time, and self-belief for personal and professional development.Imposter Syndrome: Nishma's personal experience with imposter syndrome and her “yay me” folder for validating accomplishments.Self-Reflection: Jo Howes discusses overworking to prove herself due to a lack of confidence and beliefs, emphasising the need for self-reflection.Leadership and Career Growth: The importance of challenging norms, breaking protocols, and finding freedom within restrictive environments to drive personal and professional growth..Courageous Leadership: Defining courageous leadership as the ability to say yes and no to certain things confidently and without overthinking.Thank you for tuning into the Courageous Leaders Podcast! If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review. Stay courageous and keep pushing the boundaries!00:00 Johanna Howes welcomes Nishma Patel Wall, CEO, speaker.03:21 Leaving Google for self-discovery at 50.06:57 Creativity, self-reflection, and future aspirations.10:08 Discovering career direction through writing a bucket list.15:21 Rediscovering positivity and the power of belief.16:34 Self-awareness and managing your mind are essential.22:23 Counter imposter syndrome with a "yay me" folder.24:50 Transitioned through different career paths, facing pressure.28:13 Questioning societal expectations, forging one's path.30:37 Desire for change and exploration in work.34:51 Inspiring leaders to overcome restrictions and take action.35:52 Scribble, connect, ask, push, motivate, language, agency.41:33 Respect rules, but don't fear change.43:14 Overcoming fear by sharing personal life stories.46:36 Realising the power of vulnerability in leadership.51:17 Embrace curiosity, conversation, and childhood wonder again.👍 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