Inspiring Leadership with Jonathan Bowman-Perks MBE

In this podcast, Graham Brown, the author of Brand Love: how to build a brand worth talking about, joins the conversation for a wide-ranging discussion on branding. They start by exploring the idea that a brand is the experience of both an individual and their organization. They emphasize the importance of 360 feedback to avoid blind spots and provide intelligence from others' perspectives. The conversation then turns to the Falklands War, with Jonathan sharing some stories of his colleagues who served with him.Moving on to personal branding and the "Attention Economy," they discuss how social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram impact personal brands. The importance of clear talking points and storytelling to refine one's brand is also discussed. They caution against being drawn to leaders' charisma instead of their integrity and character, as these are more important qualities. The podcast also covers the idea of having strong opinions loosely held and the dangers of advertising organizations preying on people's sense of inadequacy and imposter syndrome.Finally, the conversation touches on AI pattern recognition, and how it will replace many jobs like doctors, accountants, and lawyers. They conclude by asking listeners to consider their brand reputation, image, and impact, and how they can enhance it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jamie is the founder and CEO of JCW Group, a global recruitment business, and Search Capital, a human capital investment firm.Jamie founded his first business, JCW, in 2007 from his living room in Islington, London. JCW was established with the determination to build a business obsessed with service excellence that always delivers on its promises. After a year building JCW solo, Jamie moved into his first office in 2008 and the business has been growing organically, and without external investment, ever since. JCW has evolved to become JCW Group, a recruitment specialist with three brands (JCW, Catalyst Life Sciences, and Cybernetic Search) with 150 employees working across six offices in Europe and the USA. JCW was the foundation upon which Jamie built his portfolio of businesses by continuing to innovate and expand into new markets. The growth of JCW Group resulted in the launch of Search Capital, a business that provides investment, guidance, infrastructure, and support to fast growth firms within the human capital industry. Search Capital comprises more than 300 employees across 5 brands and 6 locations. As CEO, Jamie works closely with founders to create a strategy, culture, and platform for rapid growth. Jamie Woods’ top leadership tip is to always, no matter what you may have achieved, be acutely aware of your individual strengths and weaknesses, and to ensure that your role and team is structured accordingly. Surround yourself with individuals who will support your strengths, but perhaps most importantly, counteract your weaknesses. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Darrin Jahnel is the founder and CEO of Jahnel Group, a 150-person software consulting company headquartered in Schenectady, NY. Darrin leads with energy and is maniacally focused on creating an amazing work environment for his team.Darrin earned an undergraduate degree in Business Administration from the University at Albany and a Master’s Degree in Information Systems from NYU’s Stern School of Business.Prior to starting the company in 2012, Darrin worked as a Senior Software Engineer on Wall Street. Darrin has led numerous engineering teams on multi-million dollar projects and is a member of MENSA.He is happily married and has 4 children (2 adopted children and 2 birth sons). Darrin’s oldest son, Gideon, is from Nigeria. Although Darrin and his wife refer to Gideon as their son, they were not able to officially adopt him. Gideon has parents and 5 siblings back in Nigeria. Last year, Gideon worked 60 hours a week, all summer long, and earned enough money to buy his family a house back in Nigeria!Outside of work, Darrin enjoys working out, coaching basketball, drinking beer, and woodworking. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Amilya is one of the most sought after Human Behaviour & Strategic Advisor experts in the world.She has appeared as a regular business and behavior expert on The Oprah Winfrey Show, Steve Harvey Show & Dr. Phil. She has built or advised on over $2 Billion in sales with high profile clients such as Steve Harvey, Mike Tyson, Listerine Strips, Sharper Image, Cold Stone Creamery, George Foreman & more. Her "in the trenches' experience developing people, deep knowledge in building the value drivers in business & her Designing Genius systems, programs & “behavioural toolbox” makes her a leading expert on “people problems”. Her fierce work ethic and ability to immediately have impact make her an invaluable asset. Her tools that address the remote worker and leaders who want to succeed in today's fast, competitive & “people first”landscape. Amilya’s work has earned her global respect & numerous awards;The Women’s Economic Forum-”Women of the Decade 2019 Award”Wells Fargo-“Fastest Under Forty'' ”Best Places to Work” (3 time winner)The Kauffman Foundation -Entrepreneur AwardGrown 7 clients onto Inc’s. 500 list Nominated twice to Ernst & Young’s “Entrepreneur of The Year”. Featured in People Magazine, Time, Forbes, Inc., Smart Money, and Entrepreneur and named in “The 55 people you must meet” by Jack Canfield. As the CEO and Creator of Designing Genius, a powerful training platform that changes the paradigm on how companies, opportunities and our greatest asset “THE PEOPLE” come together in todays Gig Economy. With highly skilled behavioral and business teams we champion the "People Plan" development that amplifies a companies strategic business planning initiatives. We solve Hiring, Retaining & Mentoring Genius for individuals within the organization. Our behavior executives add exponential value throughout any company. Without the ability to attract and develop people there is no business. Amilya’s on the ground experience in leading more than 53,000 employees from around the globe throughout her career combined with her ability to drive value throughout companies to increase valuations, facilitate M&A and exit to some of the biggest market makers in the world. Designing Genius serves individuals, teams, corporations, families, education and industries alike. By bringing “People Tools” to solve “People Problems” with quick, easy and transformational behavior modification techniques, games, workshops and development. Our Designing Genius Behavior Officers unite together for people, purpose and companies for a synergistic and healthier way of living. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sam Instone is a British businessman who is the founder and current chief executive of AES International. This organization became the fastest growing UK financial services business between 2008 and 2012 and was the winner of Sunday Times/Virgin Fast Track United Kingdom's Best Management Team Award.He has become well known for promoting the mission statement 'Positive Change' as a means for the financial services sector to get better consumer outcomes and evolve from an industry into a profession.A graduate in War Studies from King's College London and The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, Instone served as an Airborne Officer in the operational and ceremonial squadrons of The Household Cavalry Regiment. In 2004, he founded AES to initially specialize in the provision of financial services to those in hostile areas or hazardous professions prior to diversifying into mainstream markets. Today, AES delivers wealth advisory, planning and corporate benefits advice to international executives around the globe.Instone aligned the organisation of this business to the core values, mission, structure, doctrine and operations of the western military in a manner that has become known as 'militology'. This led to The Economist Magazine describing Instone as 'The Field Marshal of Finance' and discussing the merits of applying military principles to commercial environments.Instone was a finalist in the 2013 Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year awards and was recognised by Sir Richard Branson for his work in promoting a different way of thought and leadership within financial services characterised as ‘missionary not mercenary’. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

General David H. Petraeus (US Army, Ret.) is a Partner in the global investment firm KKR and Chairman of the KKR Global Institute, which he established in mid-2013. He is also a member of the boards of Optiv and OneStream, a Strategic Advisor for Semperis, the Chairman of the International Advisory Board for Advanced Navigation, a personal venture investor, engaged in various academic endeavors, and co-author with British historian and biographer Andrew Roberts of the forthcoming book, Conflict: The Evolution of Warfare from 1945 to Ukraine.Prior to joining KKR, General Petraeus served over 37 years in the U.S. military, culminating his career with six consecutive commands as a general officer, five of which were in combat, including command of the Surge in Iraq, command of U.S. Central Command, and command of Coalition Forces in Afghanistan. Following retirement from the military, and after confirmation by the Senate in a vote of 94-0, he served as the Director of the CIA during a period of significant achievements in the war on terror. General Petraeus graduated with distinction from the US Military Academy and later earned a Ph.D. from Princeton University. He is the only individual to have been the top graduate of both the year-long Command and General Staff College Course and the demanding US Army Ranger School. He has held academic appointments with the US Military Academy, the University of Southern California, Harvard, Georgetown, and the City University of New York Honors College, and he is currently a Senior Fellow and Lecturer at Yale, an Honorary Professor at the University of Birmingham (UK), a member of the Trilateral Commission and the Aspen Strategy Group, Co-Chairman of the Global Advisory Council of the Woodrow Wilson Center, Senior Vice President of the Royal United Services Institute, and an Executive Advisory Board Member of World.Minds.Over the past two decades, General Petraeus has been named one of America’s 25 Best Leaders by U.S. News and World Report, a runner-up for Time magazine’s Person of the Year, the Daily Telegraph Man of the Year, twice a Time 100 selectee, Princeton University’s Madison Medalist, Prospect Magazine’s Public Intellectual of the Year, three times one of Foreign Policy magazine’s top 100 public intellectuals, and a LinkedIn Top Voice. General Petraeus has earned numerous awards and decorations, including four Defense Distinguished Service Medals, the Secretary of State’s Distinguished Service Award, the Bronze Star Medal for Valor, two NATO Meritorious Service Medals, the Combat Action Badge, Master Parachutist Wings, and the Ranger Tab. He has also been decorated by 14 foreign countries and sanctioned by Russia, and he is believed to be the only person who, while in uniform, threw out the first pitch of a baseball World Series Game and did the coin toss at a Super Bowl. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stuart Haire, CENG, MENG Stuart has enjoyed a career in senior roles within the UK Financial Services sector. Post the Financial Crisis, Stuart has attempted to rebuild the reputation of financial services through renewal of its social purpose and a greater focus on customer and societal outcomes. A strong and ethical Financial Services sector is crucial to Britain as she faces a period of changing economics and climate change. However the sector is tainted with historic scandals and, as a result, is heavily governed/regulated; often curbing the very advancements the are crucial to ongoing success. It is within this complexity that Stuart sees real meaning in his work and that of others. This week's guest is Stuart Haire, CEO of Skipton Group. Stuart has Chaired the Personal Services Board of UK Finance, the Finance Industry’s convening organisation and operated at Board level of three scale financial service organisations. Currently he is preparing to be CEO of Skipton Building Society. This is a very modern mutual organisation, with an impressive group of companies alongside the core Building Society including Connells and Contrywide. Prior to this, Stuart led HSBC’s personal business within the UK, covering brands such as HSBC UK, M&S Bank, first direct and John Lewis Financial Services. In a prior life, Stuart worked for a MoD consultancy firm and started his working life at the European Space Agency (ESA). Stuart holds a Masters degree in Physics and Electronics. Stuart divides his time between Birmingham, Yorkshire and his family home in Edinburgh where he helps run the local football team. He is a keen golfer and enjoys watching his two boys playing in their various sports interests. Travelling is a family obsession and, alongside his wife Fiona, Stuart is lucky enough to have visited many of the most beautiful locations across the world. Stuart Haire’s top leadership tip is to remember that leaders have three core tasks only. These are to create a shared context and strategy (which has meaning), to build capability (to deliver the context/strategy) and to create the motivation to drive after this goal no matter the challenges. In short: Context, Capability and Motivation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Resilience is an important trait to have when facing severe adversity, as demonstrated by Jonathan and Graham's experiences in endurance competitions, military training, and business ventures. However, pushing oneself to extremes can also have consequences and costs. The question is, are you willing to accept those consequences and pay the price? This conversation delves into the concept of being rejection-proof, learning from difficult experiences, and taking action. As Mike Tyson said, "everyone has a plan until I get punched in the mouth." This is especially true in combat situations, where extreme resilience may be necessary, but can also lead to numbing oneself to emotions and feelings, which can be detrimental to one's well-being in civilian life. Through sharing their favourite books on resilience and discussing various topics such as "chunking down," "touching the void," PTSD, and the "snowflake generation," Jonathan and Graham's stress the importance of combining resilience with agility and the ability to bounce back, in order to achieve true anti-fragility. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week's guest is Ben Bengougam. Ben is a highly experienced human resources professional who is currently serving as the Senior Vice President, Human Resources for EMEA at Hilton. He is based in the UK and is responsible for leading the Human Resources function for Hilton across the EMEA region, which includes over 60,000 team members in 70 countries and territories.Ben has a BSc in engineering science and a Master's Degree in HR Development, and he is a fellow of the Institute of Hospitality and a Chartered Fellow of the CIPD. Throughout his career, Ben has held a number of high-profile positions in human resources, including Group HR Director at the Dixons Group and HR Director at the Middle Eastern franchise operator MH Alshaya.Ben has a proven track record of developing and executing successful people strategies, and Hilton has gained consistent recognition as a Great Place to Work under his leadership. Ben is fluent in French and English and is also conversational in Arabic, Spanish, and Italian. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Roland Ladley and I were at six form school together, The Army's Welbeck college, and then met again later, a number of times, including two years at the British Army Staff College, where he was one of the many bright minds that I served alongside. After a successful army career Roland left aged 44 and went into teaching where he quickly became a deputy head. Now he runs a compassionate leadership consultancy, as well as writing some cracking books called the Sam Green series where Sam, the heroine find herself in some amazing scrapes and highlights the problems for people on the autism spectrum with ADHD and how she finds ways of overcoming that while fighting criminals and evil dark organisations.From the comfort of his caravan that he travels around Europe in, we discuss what compassionate leadership means, and share some of his views, experiences and life stories, which are fascinating to hear.On Amazon his review says:Roland Ladley’s detailed, but flowing narrative has been compared favourably to Le Carré and Deighton; Sam Green, his ‘flawed but resolute’ protagonist, to a female Jack Reacher – ‘only more edgy and much more prone to tears.’ His second spy thriller in the Sam Green series, Fuelling the Fire, won a publishing contract with Kindle Scout and went on to become a best-seller in its genre. His other six books in the series, Unsuspecting Hero, The Innocence of Trust, For Good Men to Do Nothing, On The Back Foot To Hell, Blood Red Earth and The Belmonte Paradox, have been equally well reviewed in both the UK and the US.If espionage is your bag – and you’re after realistic, up-to-date conspiracy thrillers with a strong female lead – then the Sam Green series is waiting for you. Or, if you’re after a softer, female-led action adventure try of Black Bulls and White Horses, Roland Ladley’s first non-Sam Green novel, written during the first covid_19 lockdown. Here teacher Emily Copeland follows her mother’s past to the lawless Camargue region of France. Love … and death followTo bring realism to his writing Roland Ladley draws upon twenty-five years military service, including complex tours of Bosnia, Afghanistan and Sierra Leone. Subsequent work as a teacher enables him to communicate lucidly to a wide audience, and two grown-up daughters ensure he can laugh at himself and find comic moments in his writing when the tension is at its greatest.Now a full time writer based in Bristol, UK, he lives an itinerant lifestyle with his wife in their motorhome, posting a travel/writing blog and marketing his six Sam Green novels. With the books’ cinematic style, it’s not surprising that the first, Unsuspecting Hero, has been turned into a mini-series screenplay and is being considered by a well-known British director.Find him via his blog: the.wanderlings. And follow him on Twitter, Instagram or via Facebook @rolandtheauthor. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.