
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

Nov 15, 2021 • 59min
#184 - Marty Martinez - Podcaster
Marty Martinez is a Brand and Marketing Strategist who partners with CEOs, executives and solopreneurs to grow their personal and professional brands, human-to-human through the power of story. Spending nearly a decade working on marketing for the US Army, in the Pentagon with the Army G8, a multimillion dollar defense contractor and startups, Marty knows what truly drives conversions, sold-out launches and how to land big interviews—and it’s not mastering the marketing flavor of the week. It’s how well you connect with the heart-beating people you’re trying to help and communicate your understanding back to them. Marty has landed coverage in print and broadcast outlets around the world, including The Washington Post, Stars and Stripes Magazine, and CNN. He is also in the Amazon Best Selling Book How to Speak Civilian Fluently and his own articles have been featured in Shift Magazine, Heart of Hollywood (Dec 2021), and his new Business Development book is scheduled for release in 2022. In addition to his extensive strategic planning and marketing experience, Marty is a trained business and marketing coach with his company Joint Task Force - 214. Marty holds a BA in Health and Fitness Management from Southwest Texas State University and is a StoryBrand Certified Guide. You can find him at Joint Task Force – 214: www.jtf214.com YouTube: www.youtube.com/loungewithlegends LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marty-martinez-jtf214/ StoryBrand: https://www.clarifyyourmessage.com/Marty-Martinez Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 8, 2021 • 48min
#183 - Belinda Agnew - Managing Partner at Enamus
Trailblazing in the B2B world, Belinda Agnew is Managing Partner at Enamus. She is a highly motivated entrepreneur who has experienced incredible success, is breaking the internet with her followers, and has made a real mark in the B2B world. Belinda’s approach to staffing combines digital know-how, leadership, management, pizzazz, and a no B.S. approach to dealing with business decisions. She is the founder of Foccus Group which falls into tech with a digital edge. Aside from her unique approach in utilizing tech to access and scale companies across the globe, she has an eye for brands and helping companies find their voice and build a presence online. Belinda aims to inspire others to realise what seems impossible. Passion. Branding. Talent. Tech. Belinda has years of experience in managing the digital and tech executions for several brands in and outside Australia, the USA, AND Europe. Belinda is helping companies reach digital marketing goals–whatever these goals may be. Leadership tip: allow your employees to build their own personal brands Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 31, 2021 • 56min
#182 Chris Pyle - Head of Lancaster Grammar School
Chris Pyle is Head of one of England’s oldest and most successful state schools. Lancaster Royal Grammar School has 1250 pupils including 170 boarders from the UK and across the world. The school traces its origins to the middle ages. Today it is heavily oversubscribed with outstanding academic results and extracurricular breadth. It counts two Olympic gold medallists and a Nobel Laureate amongst its current alumni. During the nine years of his headship the school has grown in size and global reach, welcomed Sixth Form girls for the first time, and given priority in admissions to pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds. The school’s last boarding inspection said: “Leaders and managers show exceptional levels of competency and compassion.” Chris works closely with the Boarding Schools Association and the Grammar School Heads’ Association. He was Founding Chair of the North North West Maths Hub which works with 300 schools across Lancashire and Cumbria. He writes on school leadership, and has published numerous resources for A-level geography students on environmental change and natural hazards. High trust – high challenge and leadership as service are his leadership themes. He believes that schools change lives, and that the goal of education is to help every individual to find their voice. Chris was previously Deputy Head of the Perse School, Cambridge, as that school grew rapidly and became fully coeducational. He gained his degree and PhD in physical geography from Cambridge University, worked for a water company, and has served as church trustee and warden. He is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and member of the Chartered College of Teaching. Born in South America, he is still working on his Spanish. Leadership top tip: You always overestimate what you can do in six months and underestimate what you can do in five years. Rome wasn’t built in a day – but the cement mixers were whirring from dawn till dusk! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 24, 2021 • 1h 6min
#181 Major General Andrew McKay CBE
Andrew Mackay is a former Army officer, business leader, speaker and author. Andrew Mackay started his career as an Inspector in the Royal Hong Kong Police. On leaving the RHKP and vowing to never wear a uniform again he joined the British Army the following year. His service in the British Army saw him experience operations in Northern Ireland, Cyprus, Bosnia, Kosovo, Lebanon, Iraq and Afghanistan. In the latter he commanded the coalition and British forces in Helmand. During the Helmand campaign he focused on the role of influence and behavioural economics whilst engaged in a counter insurgency. His interest in achieving influence in complex environments led to a series of papers on the subject and culminated in the co-authoring of Behavioural Conflict: Why Understanding People and Their Motivations Will Prove Decisive in Future Conflict. Andrew’s Helmand tour has featured in a number of books, papers and publications including a BBC long form web article called ‘The Art of Influence’ and a BBC Radio Documentary; Afghanistan: The Lessons of War. Andrew co-founded Complexas in 2012. The purpose of Complexas is to provide insight and foresight to a range of clients seeking to progress projects in complex environments. In doing so they seek to address and find solutions to uncertainty and enable resilience. The current focus is the utility of First Party data to communicate and promote ESG more effectively and to enable clients and communities impacted by social and environmental change. For the last six years he has worked with the Blavatnik School of Governance on their mentoring programme for students who are studying the Masters in Public Policy programme. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 17, 2021 • 50min
#180 George Wight - Managing General Partner - Legacy Exchange Partnership
Mr Wight is a lifelong entrepreneur, banker, trader, fund manager and private equity investor. With interests in aerospace, construction, electric vehicles, energy, maritime, technology and entertainment. He was the Keynote Speaker at the World Biofuels Symposium in Beijing China. His first company, Windsports, Inc. was a franchise of Wind Skate products for sailing, skiing and skating. This was started at age 14. At age 18 Mr. Wight began attending bank board meetings and at 21 was appointed to the Board of Directors of DucoBancshares, the holding company for Bank of Illinois. Several years latter he participated in the repositioning of the bank and ultimate sale for nearly 4 times book value. This was a very high sale measure as interstate banking was just opening up. During his tenure with Bank of Illinois he expanded the bank’s position in aircraft leasing. As an active pilot he was able to fly the bank’s Chairman to rural banks during the farm crisis and assist in recapitalizing them. During his formal Economics, Business and U.S. History training at Cornell College, Mr. Wight began a career as a standup comedian and club manager. This established his lifelong passion for entertainment and hospitality. Upon Graduation Mr. Wight went to work for DLJ, Pershing division at the Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE). Having worked at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) for Geldermann, Inc., in the summers, he was prepared for his successful floor and office trading career at the Chicago Board of trade.As an “upstairs” trader, Mr. Wight also began working with his families real estate, construction, engineering and private investment business. Mr. Wight developed, managed shopping centers, vacant land for development, class A office buildings and hotels & resorts. During this period Mr. Wight became an investor with Odyssey Marine, Inc. One of the World’s most successful wreck salvage and recovery business. The company was featured in 2 seasons of “Treasure Quest” on Discovery Channel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 11, 2021 • 1h 2min
#179 Manley Hopkinson - Leader, Round the World Skipper, Artic Explorer, Royal Navy Officer
Manley was schooled on leadership through a mix of practical and academic. He twice served as an Officer in the Royal Navy, re-joining for the first Gulf War and in between Manley was an Inspector in the Royal Hong Kong Marine Police. In 2000, he was selected as a skipper in the BT Global Challenge round the world yacht race, leading a team of volunteers, including novices, for 9 months in a 32,000 mile journey, the “wrong way”! Manley continued his adventures as part of the 3-man team that won the inaugural race to the Magnetic North Pole. The team faced polar bear attacks, and sub-zero temperatures, learning huge lessons about both surviving and competing in very difficult circumstances. The team’s record time of 10 days and 9 hours still stands. With many more adventures ahead, Manley considers himself to always be a “leader, in learning”. As an acclaimed and admired inspirational speaker Manley understands the impact of stories. Tapping into the power of story and metaphor to accelerate reflection, discovery and revelation, creates moments of deep understanding, breaking down barriers and leading to lasting transformational behavioural change. With the core of his talks revolving around his challenging experiences, Manley develops the personal themes of fulfilling your and your team’s potential and achieving far beyond your own perceived abilities, as well as drawing on the numerous leadership and team development lessons; give a team a real sense of purpose and direction, motivate and inspire them (lead them) and it is incredible what can be achieved. Manley subsequently applies his Leadership experience to great effect designing and delivered successful cultural change programs, and as an active board member of a number of organisations globally, delivering true “high performance cultures”. Rather than forcing “ compliance”, the focus is on gaining “commitment” by raising levels of self and team awareness, then aligning personal and organisational values & purpose leading to more effective business and personal relationships. In 2014, Manley published “Compassionate Leadership: How to Create and Maintain Engaged, Committed and High-Performing Teams”. In this highly acclaimed, entertaining and hugely readable book, Manley combines the two worlds of business and adventure to encourage leaders everywhere – at work, at home, in sports and mid-ocean – to take a new approach to creating teams of developed, self-aware and committed individuals. Having received a copy of Manley’s book, the Dalai Lama has commended Manley for his work on compassion. In 2018 Manley launched the Compassionate Leadership Academy (CLA) as a continuation of all his work designed to transform the way people access leadership and personal development and further spread the impact of compassionate leadership worldwide. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 4, 2021 • 57min
#178 Rodney C Flowers
Rodney Flowers is a best-selling author, speaker, entrepreneur, thought leader and resilience trainer. Flowers leverages his unique life experience and business acumen to help individuals, teams and companies cultivate resilience, crush their goals, and achieve peak performance. The game changer mindset was born in 1993 when Flowers was a star football player determined to reach the NFL. But one night, a bad tackle left him paralyzed from the neck down. Doctors told Flowers he’d never walk again. But Flowers rejected the prognosis. He pursued his goal to walk again relentlessly. Failure was not an option. Today, Flowers is no longer wheelchair bound. Since his traumatic injury, Flowers graduated college, earned his MBA, and enjoyed a productive career with the U.S. Department of Defense. Through his Game Changer Mentality resilience training program, Flowers teaches others how to develop the mindset that conquers any obstacle, to overcome limiting beliefs and achieve personal and professional goals. He combines expertise and charisma to encourage audiences to take courageous action and change the game altogether. His Leadership tip – Every adversity comes with the seed of opportunity. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 29, 2021 • 42min
#176 CEOs Inspiring Leadership Forum #5
A group of CEO Level executives get together to share their wisdom and experience and the best tips. This episode includes:Brian Hayworth: Co-Managing Partner of Lansdowne Partners, Mark Fleiner: President of Malvern Panalytical, David Harney: President and COO - Europe at Canada Life Group,Emma Kane: CEO SEC Newgate, (remotely)Leigh Bowman-Perks: CEO Inspiring Leadership TrustTop Tips :Never have AOB on an agenda - best way to get ambushed in a meeting - circulate agenda in advance and ask for all items to go on or if not covered will be picked up in next meeting.Never ask a question you don't want to hear the answer toNever say I'll give you a call or let's do lunch if you don't intend to do so. Always focus on the red lines on any transaction at the beginning and not the end of a deal - it saves a lot of time and money. If certain things are deal breakers and you will never get over them find out fast. Hire for attitude not for ability to purely pass exams - job or career. you can train people but you can't change their soul. Pick your battles - you don't have to win every point. Never be late for a meeting - it is rude and you are saying I am much more important than you are.Focus on the things where you add value and hire people to do the things you are not good at and invest in the very best people you can affordListen to the podcast for more great tips and practical hard fought lessons learnt Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 27, 2021 • 1h 1min
#177 Sophie Neary - Facebook Group Director UK & Ireland
Sophie Neary is Group Director for Facebook UK & Ireland. Sophie joined Facebook in August 2020 from Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA), where she was the Managing Director of eCommerce and Digital Retail Transformation and member of the executive committee for Boots UK & Ireland. Sophie has over 25 years leadership experience spanning Marketing, E-Commerce, Strategy and Digital Transformation roles for companies including; Reuters, Netscape/Sun Microsystems, Tesco, Asda, Jack Wills and WBA. Her start up experience includes JCP, sold to Sun Microsystems 2000 and aggregator BeatThatQuote.com, acquired by Google in 2011. Sophie is a passionate advocator and champion of women’s health in the workplace. As someone who is single and childfree, who divides her time between London and Chamonix, France, Sophie regularly speaks about embracing a life outside of the traditional expectations of society and helping to build a future where everyone has the greatest freedom of all – the choice to lead a life of their own choosing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 9, 2021 • 1h 1min
#175: Gary C Laney - CEO & Founder of Success Masters LLC
Gary C. Laney, Founder – CEO Success Masters LLC – Previous Co-Founder of Trustegrity Professional Business CommunityGary is a best-selling author, speaker, sales and process management trainer, global connector, business coach, start-up investor, and serial entrepreneur of 20 businesses. Industries include business networking, online media, e-commerce, training, and high-tech intellectual property.Gary has been recognized as a top presenter, motivating tens of thousands of entrepreneurs, professionals, and salespeople. Prior to his entrepreneurial run, Gary spent 25 years as an executive in corporate high-tech and commercial publishing primarily in sales, business development and marketing (e.g., Folio/Mead Data Central, OpenText Software, Eloquent/OpenText, Upshot/Oracle, Sendia/Salesforce, etc.). He is known for his ability to turn around businesses and create dramatic revenue growth. Gary has a triple major MBA from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management in finance, marketing, and policy, with a minor in Information Technology.In Gary’s new best seller book, The Power of Strategic Influence, he details 6 Spheres of Influence: Perspective, Accountability, Relationships, Leadership, Opportunity, and Strategic Influence. Within those spheres are 10 easy-to-follow steps called success factors of highly influential leaders, which will teach you how to access, utilize, develop, expand, and ultimately use your influence to help make the world a better place. These success factors act as a guide for anyone who wants to achieve success within any organization or industry. Top Leadership Tip: You cannot proclaim yourself to be influential. This is a position that others bestow upon you. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.