
Inspiring Leadership with Jonathan Bowman-Perks MBE
Show summary. Each week former British Army Officer, CEOs coach, Top Team coach and motivational speaker Jonathan Bowman-Perks MBE brings inspiring leadership themes and guest interviews to you. Jonathan’s wide cross-section of guests vary from Generals to distinguished SAS Officers, CEOs and business leaders. This podcast appeals to the full cross-section of leaders: from younger aspiring leaders, Entrepreneurs, experience managers to CEOs, Partners, MDs and Chairs of businesses. Stories of inspiration, failures, hard won lessons, top tips and practical leadership advice for you. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Latest episodes

Jun 30, 2025 • 1h 5min
374. Power Pressure & the Press - Chris Duncan's Media Leadership Journey
🎙️ Chris Duncan is a seasoned media leader with over 25 years of experience driving transformation and growth across the agency, national newspaper, and magazine sectors. He’s led strategic change in complex global environments for UK, US, and European businesses.From doubling revenue at a cloud CRM startup to launching the first iPad edition of The Times, Chris has consistently delivered innovation and impact. As Chief Customer Officer at NewsCorp, he spearheaded marketing and business development across UK brands, and as MD of The Times, he scaled its digital subscriptions to record highs.As CEO of Bauer Media UK Publishing, he oversaw 80 brands and 800 people, driving profitability and double-digit digital growth 📈. Today, he leads Seedelta, a media consultancy helping companies align strategy, technology, people, and processes to achieve sustainable revenue growth.🎧 Tune in now to hear Chris’s inspiring journey and powerful leadership insights that will challenge your thinking and spark new ideas. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 24, 2025 • 59min
373. Tornado Down! Leading through Uncertainty - John Peters
373. Tornado Down! Leading through Uncertainty - John Peters🎙️ This week on the Inspiring Leadership Podcast, we welcome John Peters — a former RAF pilot who was shot down and captured during his first mission in the Gulf War of 1991. Held as a Prisoner of War for seven weeks, he endured brutal interrogation and torture—experiences that would ultimately shape a remarkable second chapter in his life.Since leaving the RAF, John has become a respected leadership consultant, speaker, and author. He holds an MBA, has led executive education at top business schools, and founded the consultancy Monkey Business. His bestselling book Tornado Down and its award-nominated documentary brought his story to global attention.In this powerful episode, John shares what captivity taught him about resilience, leadership, and transformation—and how those lessons now help others navigate uncertainty and lead with purpose.Tune in to be inspired 🌍 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 16, 2025 • 45min
372: Drive, stamina & determination with turnaround CEO Dr Ferri Abolhassan
🎙️ Inspiring Leadership PodcastIn this episode of the Inspiring Leadership Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Ferri Abolhassan, Member of the Board of Management at Deutsche Telekom AG and CEO of T-Systems International GmbH, to explore what it takes to lead at the forefront of digital transformation.With a PhD in Computer Science and a career spanning leadership roles at Siemens, IBM, SAP, and now Deutsche Telekom, Ferri brings deep insight into managing complexity, innovation, and scale. Currently leading a global team of 26,000, he shares lessons from overseeing IT, launching Telekom Security, and transforming customer service for 30,000+ employees.Ferri also gives us a glimpse into his passion for the future of AI and research, as Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI) and his involvement with the Max Planck Instituteand Atlantik-Brücke.Tune in to hear a forward-thinking leader reflect on trust, tech, and the human side of transformation. 💡 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 9, 2025 • 1h 2min
371. Leading & Executing with Excellence - Will Casselton
Mission-Driven Leadership: Turning Strategy into Action with Will CasseltonThis week on the Inspiring Leadership Podcast, we welcome Will Casselton — CEO of McKinney Rogers and VP at GP Strategies — a visionary in strategy execution and leadership development. 🚀 With a background in Mission Leadership and a track record of transforming organizations, Will shares how he helps CEOs turn bold visions into real-world results. From pioneering tools like BEOS to guiding leaders through crisis and uncertainty, his insights are both timely and timeless. 🌍Tune in and be inspired! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 2, 2025 • 55min
370. Mark Urban - Spies & Special Forces with Sunday Times Journalist, historian, Podcaster & BBC broadcaster
🎙️ Inspiring Leadership – Mark UrbanJoin us for a powerful episode with Mark Urban – journalist, historian, Podcaster and former BBC Newsnight Diplomatic Editor – as he shares insights from a career spent on the frontlines of global conflict.Now a writer for The Sunday Times, and Podcast Cohost with former MP Amber Rudd (The Crisis Room) Mark has reported from the Gulf War to Afghanistan, served as a Royal Tank Regiment officer, and worked with EW teams such as Jonathan’s on the Cold War front. His bestselling books reveal the secret worlds of military operations and espionage.Ahead of the release of his latest book TANK (out 5th June) and his new podcast (launching 28th May), Mark discusses the leaders, decisions, and intelligence efforts that shape modern warfare. Don’t miss this episode with one of Britain’s most compelling voices on defence and leadership. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 26, 2025 • 57min
369: Healthy High Performance: Employee Wellbeing with Professor Sir Cary Cooper CBE
Leading Wellbeing with Professor Sir Cary Cooper, CBEJoin us on the Inspiring Leadership Podcast as we welcome Professor Sir Cary Cooper, CBE, a global authority in organisational psychology and workplace wellbeing. As the 50th Anniversary Professor at Alliance Manchester Business School, Sir Cary has authored over 170 influential books and championed healthier, high-performing work cultures. With honours including a CBE and a Knighthood, his leadership legacy is both profound and practical. Don’t miss this inspiring episode on how wellbeing is the key to unlocking business success.Tune in now to be inspired! 🎙️ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 20, 2025 • 57min
368. Pro rugby player. Striving to beat MND - Matt Gallagher
Turning Adversity into Action – Matt Gallagher’s Fight Against MNDIn this powerful episode of the Inspiring Leadership Podcast, we sit down with Matt Gallagher, former Coventry rugby player and founder of the Matt Gallagher Foundation, created following his diagnosis with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) in October 2023.Rather than stepping back, Matt has taken bold steps forward—raising over £600,000 through his foundation to support research, increase awareness, and provide hands-on support to the MND community. From charity runs and rugby matches to heartfelt public speaking and community engagement, Matt’s story is one of courage, resilience, and purpose.Tune in to hear how Matt is transforming personal adversity into a powerful movement of hope and solidarity. 🏉 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 13, 2025 • 1h 2min
367: Navigating the Financial Landscape: Leadership Insights from Steven Fine
Navigating Markets, Building Trust: Leadership Insights from Steven Fine, CEO of Peel Hunt.Get ready for an inspiring conversation on the Inspiring Leadership Podcast! This week, we welcome Steven Fine, Chief Executive Officer of Peel Hunt, a leading UK investment bank. Steven joined Peel Hunt in 2006 and was instrumental in leading the management and staff buy-out from KBC Bank in 2010. With roots as a founder member of D. E. Shaw Securities International, Steven brings decades of experience from global financial markets, having managed operations in Tokyo and London.As Deputy Chair of the FCA Markets Practitioner Panel and a non-executive director for the Quoted Companies Alliance, Steven is a passionate advocate for the interests of financial markets participants and quoted companies. He’s also been a judge for the Non-Executive Director Awards for over 15 years, championing governance and stewardship in UK boardrooms.Steven’s collaborative leadership style and transparent communication have helped build Peel Hunt’s reputation for long-term relationships and a strong partnership ethos. In this episode, he shares insights on navigating turbulent markets, the importance of governance, and how technology and culture drive success in financial services. Don’t miss this chance to learn from one of the City’s most respected leaders! 🌍Tune in and be inspired! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 6, 2025 • 1h 9min
366: Serve to Lead with Humility - Major General Himalaya Thapa
🎙️ InspiringLeadership Podcast: Major General Himalaya Thapa – A Life of Service, Strategy & Global Impact 🌍In this compelling episode of InspiringLeadership, we sit down with Major General Himalaya Thapa (Retd.), a highly decorated officer whose military and diplomatic career has spanned nearly four decades and five continents.From his beginnings in the Royal Nepalese Army in 1978 to his elite training at Sandhurst and strategic studies in Washington, D.C., General Thapa’s path reflects a deep commitment to leadership, learning, and global peace. He shares insights from his roles in critical UN peacekeeping missions—from Lebanon and Sierra Leone to Nepal—offering a rare perspective on conflict resolution and international cooperation.We explore his pivotal leadership during the 2015 Gorkha Earthquake, his time as Nepal’s Military Attaché to the UK and France, and his continued impact in academia, strategic policy, and diplomacy post-retirement.Now a Senior Thematic Expert for Nepal’s Policy Research Institute, General Thapa brings his wisdom to issues ranging from foreign affairs to climate change and national security.Tune in for a masterclass in purposeful leadership, international strategy, and a life dedicated to service and nation-building.🎧 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 29, 2025 • 1h 1min
365: World's 1st Disabled Skier to the South Pole - Jonny Huntington
🎙️ Jonny Huntington's World's 1st Disabled Skier to the South Pole❄️In this episode, we look back on an extraordinary feat of human endurance and resilience. In November 2024, Jonny Huntington made history by becoming the first disabled person to reach the South Pole solo and unsupported. Skiing over 900 kilometers through brutal temperatures dipping to –40°C, Jonny joined an elite group of only 51 people in history who’ve completed this kind of expedition.A former athlete and keynote speaker on Maximising Human Performance and the Power of Self Belief, Jonny’s journey to the pole was more than just physical—it was a powerful testament to mental strength. After surviving a brain bleed that left him paralyzed on his left side from the neck down, he refused to be defined by his limitations.Tune in to hear how Jonny pushed beyond the impossible and rewrote what it means to overcome. This is not just an expedition story—it’s a masterclass in grit and belief. 🏔️👉 Tune in now to be inspired by one of the most powerful stories of human determination. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.