
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

Mar 31, 2021 • 41min
#144: Roman Roberts - RealTalk Podcaster and SF interrogator
Roman Roberts is a business consultant and podcast host, of the Real Talk with Roman Podcast. Roman focuses on helping businesses and individuals improve their communication leveraging the skills and mistakes he made around communication in foster care, interrogation, business, and his daily life. Roman served as a U.S. Army Interrogator and deployed multiple times with special operations teams and has also supported intelligence agencies, foreign special operations teams, diplomats, among others. Throughout his time as an interrogator, he conducted thousands of interrogations and wrote reports that were used at all levels of the military, and even the White House intelligence committee. Upon leaving the military Roman found that despite having all the communication skills he was not communicating honestly and effectively with himself and those around him. This lack of communication almost cost him his marriage and his life and is the driver behind his podcast and his focus on effective communication. Roman has also worked with various manufacturing, financial, non-profits, small businesses, and fortune 500 companies as a leader and consultant helping them improve their communication and operations to become effective business In this episode, Roman dives deep into effective communication, how it relates to leadership, and how his past experiences and traumas helped him become the communicator and leader he is now. Roman provided many great tips in this interview, but as a former interrogator and consultant focused on communication, his top tip is to get comfortable with the fact that effective communication is not a skill most are born with, so get comfortable with honing, growing, and evolving your communication to be the effective communicator you, your family, your business, and the world needs. This is an amazing episode you do not want to miss. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 28, 2021 • 1h 2min
#143: Ann Pickering - Advisor, KPMG LLP
Ann Pickering is an Advisor to KPMG LLP, appointed in June 2020. She recently stood down from her role as Chief Human Resources Officer and Chief of Staff at Telefònica O2 UK, a role she had held since 2008. She was also a member of the UK Executive Team, Global HR Executive Team, as well as Chair of the Pensions Committee and Responsible Business Forum. Ann’s long career at Telefònica O2 began in 2004 as Head of HR Customer Service becoming Human Resource Director in 2008, a role she held for 10 years. In 2017 she took on the dual role of HR Director and Chief of Staff. In her early career Ann held HR roles at Xansa PLC (now Steria PLC) Fidelity Investments Services Ltd and Marks & Spencer PLC. Ann was voted ‘UK’s Most Influential HR Director’ in 2018, and Top 5 ranking prior and post this; in 2019 she was recognised in the HERoes global top 50 Women Role Model list. (‘Women who are ‘leading by example and driving change to increase gender diversity in the workplace’) Ann currently has a number of non executive and educational interests. She is a trustee of Breast Cancer Now, as well as Step Up To Serve, a social action charity for 10-20 year olds. She is a visiting professor of HRM and Employability at Sheffield University Management School and also chairs the school’s Advisory Board. Ann is a Chartered Fellow of the Institute of Personnel Development and holds a BA in English from the University of London. She was a CBI nominated Employment Tribunal member between 1995 and 2008. Her Leadership tip – Start by Starting #InspiringLeadership #leadership #CEO #MotivationalSpeaker #teamcoach #InclusiveLeadership #Boards Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 25, 2021 • 55min
#142: Brian Ashton MBE - Former Head Coach England Rugby
Brian is an ex-schoolmaster and Head Coach of Bath, Ireland and England Rugby. After a successful playing career, including touring with England and playing in France and Italy, Brian began to focus on refining his Teaching / Coaching styles. Originally a Command Control practitioner he transformed over the years into a Mission Control People centred approach. In the past 12 years Brian has mentored in the fields of sport and education. Whilst Rugby Union is his main sporting expertise, he has also worked with coaches from; Rugby League, Premier League Football, England cricket board, England Netball. During this period Brian has been the only Northern Hemisphere Coach to work in the International Rugby Academy of New Zealand, helping to develop coaches from around the world. He has been described in the media as; Visionary with a Touch of Steel; Messiah or Misfit; The Lost Prophet of England Rugby. His Leadership tip - Status Quo - a great rock group but an ineffective way to live and lead in life. #InspiringLeadership #leadership #CEO #MotivationalSpeaker #teamcoach #InclusiveLeadership #Boards Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 22, 2021 • 59min
#141: Dr. Margaret Casely-Hayford - Chair Chancellor NED
Margaret Casely-Hayford was appointed Chair of Shakespeare’s Globe in January 2018, the same year in which she was appointed Chancellor of Coventry University. She has been an elected member of the Board of the Co-op Group since 2016. She was awarded a CBE in the Queen’s Honours list, for services to charity and for promoting diversity, in 2018, upon ending her term as trustee and Chair of international development Charity ActionAid UK., and was awarded an Honorary Fellowship of her former University college: Somerville, Oxford. She’s a trustee of the Radcliffe Trust, which supports the development of skills in classical music and traditional arts and crafts. She chaired a diversity review of the Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Awards for CILIP (the Libraries Association); and served on a panel that oversaw the 2018 strategic review of the British Council, making recommendations to the Foreign Secretary. She was Director of Legal Services and Company Secretary for the John Lewis Partnership for nine years. Before that she worked for twenty years with City law firm Dentons where she had been a partner and jointly led an award-winning team in planning and development work), she’s now retired from executive roles. Her portfolio includes advising young entrepreneurs, and supporting and advising organisations on governance and advising those, in particular women and BAME or LGTBQ+ people, who wish to embark upon board careers. She is passionate about establishing diversity on boards and is an ambassador of Board Apprentice. She champions better governance and democratic processes, and this year, was appointed to the Institute of Directors’ Governance Advisory Board, and made a Fellow of the Institute of Public Impact. Her passion for education sees her also as Chair of the Advisory Board of award-winning Ultra Education, an enterprise which provides teaching of entrepreneurial skills to primary school children; and as Patron of the John Staples Society a body created across the Leathersellers’ Federation of Schools, to develop social mobility by providing opportunities and access. She is also a member of the Rhodes Commission looking at the future of the statue of Cecil Rhodes and the impact of his legacy. Top Tip- leadership strapline would be: Redress the imbalance, and all else will follow#InspiringLeadership #leadership #CEOs #MotivationalSpeaker #teamcoach #Boards Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 18, 2021 • 56min
#140: Steven Foster - CEO and Founder at One Golden Nugget
’m on a mission to raise the consciousness of humanity by sharing wisdom, truth, venerability and positive vibes from some of the world’s most inspiring people. I started my first business aged 19 with a loan from The Prince’s Trust and by the time I was 28 had achieved a level of success I could never have imagined. 3 years later I was cleaning toilets in a factory for minimum wage. A humbling experience. Until I started Nugget I was one of those people who built my dream and then continuously ended up losing it. By the time you get to your mind 40’s those lessons that keep repeating should have been learned. So I started asking people for one thing I could do to improve, their Nugget. From that spawned an incredible adventure. #InspiringLeadership #leadership #CEOs #MotivationalSpeaker #teamcoach #Boards Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 15, 2021 • 57min
#139: Michael Jacobsen - Business Coach, Media Presenter, Entrepreneur & Author
Michael is an active Entrepreneur in Entertainment & Leisure Property and holds investments in technology companies. He is a High-Performance Coach for Entrepreneurs, Business Owners, and Corporate Executives. He also acts as a Consulting Advisor to corporations and Governments on entrepreneurialism and innovation. He has delivered programs for many large corporations in addition to being a formal Advisor to the Minister of Economy of the Slovak Republic during their recent European Union Presidency, has advised government agencies in the Czech Republic, Romania, Poland, and the UK. As an entrepreneur, he Co-founded an entertainment and leisure property empire that owned the international Intellectual property rights to produce the household name brand of Dirty Dancing on stage. He developed, owned, or operated many of the world’s leading entertainment and leisure properties (arenas, convention centers, and theatres). The author of The Business of Creativity and Entrepreneurs, Mavericks, and Empire Builders, Michael was also the Host of Nothing Ventured on Australia’s Sky News. Michael’s primary focus these days is on coaching and he chooses to work 1 on 1 with leaders in business, entertainment and government in multiple countries around the world. His experience of building international businesses combined with his history as an author, speaker and educator, helps him give the high achievers he works with an even greater edge in their own organisation. He credits Brian Tracey’s ‘Zero Based thinking’ as being one of the most transformational techniques he uses. Michael says that entrepreneurs, CEO’s, entertainers and Government Ministers come to him for a similar reason-because they want to build something that leaves a legacy, achieve extraordinary results(financial or another measurable metric) in the shortest possible time and be fulfilled. #InspiringLeadership #leadership #CEOs #MotivationalSpeaker #teamcoach #Boards Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 11, 2021 • 54min
#138: Jeff Nischwitz – Coach Author Motivational Speaker
Known as a Snow Globe Shaker, Jeff Nischwitz is a man on a mission to help people shift how they lead and thereby shift their leadership impact. As an international leadership, team engagement and culture speaker, Jeff Nischwitz is known for his unique perspectives, challenging traditional thinking, and delivering tangible shifts for leaders to grow their people, businesses and relationships. Jeff is the Founder of The Nischwitz Group, a speaking, consulting and coaching company that transforms people and organizations—one truth at a time! As a leadership and personal transformation coach, Jeff uses his gifts of intuitive listening, pattern spotting and questions to help his clients identify their obstacles and overcome them so that they can grow themselves, their businesses and impact. Jeff is also the co-founder of Cardivera.com, a leadership and personal development ecosystem. He also co-hosts the Impact Leadership Podcast (www.impactleadershippodcast.com). Beginning as a successful lawyer, Jeff first modelled courageous change when he left the corporate law firm where he was a partner to take the leap into entrepreneurship to create his own law firm. After building and growing that firm into a northeast Ohio success story, Jeff did what few dare to even consider: he left that which he knew and which was successful to go in search of his true calling. For Jeff, merely succeeding without loving what he does was not acceptable. Like many entrepreneurs, Jeff’s journey had many twists, turns and yes, stumbles, which Jeff openly shares and speaks on as part of his authentic story telling—the good, the bad and sometimes the ugly. After several years of trying to fit into the traditional corporate and business world, Jeff once again leapt into his true life when he founded The Nischwitz Group. His leadership Top Tip – Leadership is about building people and trust is the foundation of growing, developing and leading people. In order to build trust leaders must embrace the one leadership superpower … vulnerability. #InspiringLeadership #leadership #CEOs #MotivationalSpeaker #teamcoach #Boards Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 8, 2021 • 55min
#137: Ronel Lehmann - Founder & Chief Executive at Finito
Ronel Lehmann, the eldest of three sons, was born to Talia and Ralph Lehmann in July 1964.He was educated at Montessori, New End Primary School, The Hall, Orley Farm and City of London School, before studying at the University of Buckingham, where he graduated in Business Studies in 1986.He has previously served on the Council of the University of Buckingham, as a director of an international Chamber of Commerce, chaired a £6.5 million Capital Appeal for Demelza, assisted the Ballet Rambert Campaign Committee to raise £19.6 million for Britain’s National Dance Company, a Trustee of Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice and Chairman of giveonthemobile.He is a Governor of the City of London School and a former President of the John Carpenter Club which represents Old Citizens of the School. He has helped Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice to raise £10 million for a state-of-the-art building which recently opened in Barnet and has been appointed Chair of the University of Buckingham Capital Appeal which is raising £50 million.#InspiringLeadership #leadership #CEOs #MotivationalSpeaker #teamcoach #Boards Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 4, 2021 • 41min
#136: Mikkel Juel Iversen - Founder of Under One Sky & Co-founder of TerraMedia
Mikkel is an entrepreneur with one foot planted firmly in the media industry and the other in social change. For the last 16 years he has been part of the media industry in functions such as International Insights Director at Universal Studios and managing the integration of Sky’s TV distribution business into NBC’s global TV organisation. Mikkel has been involved in the distribution of 100s of films/TV series internationally as well as advising Hollywood Studios heads on corporate activity. In 2003 he switched from the financial markets to media where he’d worked in equity research and commodities trading.In 2012 he set up non-profit Under One Sky with the mission to make people affected by homelessness feel seen and heard. At the end of 2020 UOS had provided more than 50,000 interactions with people living on the streets of London, Cambridge and Madrid. UOS has more than 1000 volunteers but 0 employees which makes for a unique leadership challenge. UOS’ work has been featured in both UK and international media. Both a book and a documentary are being developed about Under One Sky.In 2019 Mikkel co-founded the impact media agency TerraMedia which operates within the filmed entertainment industry exclusively focusing on development, packaging and financing of content created to deliver social impact. He works with creatives, producers, distributors, NGOs, social enterprises, investors and foundations on feature film, documentary and TV projects on subjects such as climate, mental health, equality and social justice to mention a few. TerraMedia’s activities are guided by the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).Mikkel is also producing two feature films based on true stories currently in development. One is centred around Islamophobia and the fear-based society while the other is about the intelligent universe.Mikkel is a London School of Economics and LA Film School Alumni. He is part of Top Tier Impact which is a global network of impact leaders focussed on solving the most critical issues of our time in partnership with World Economic Forum and United Nations Development Programme. Mikkel is also a member of international changemaker network WholeWorld-View which brings together science and spirituality as a way of developing new solutions.His Leadership tip – Be authentic#InspiringLeadership #leadership #CEOs #MotivationalSpeaker #teamcoach #Boards Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 1, 2021 • 59min
#135: Cecile Frot-Coutaz - Head of EMEA YouTube
Cecile Frot-Coutaz; Leads the business of YouTube in Europe, The Middle and Africa, formerly CEO of Fremantle, one of the leading global producers of entertainment programming. Cecile derives her leadership insights from decades of experience at the helm of creative teams and businesses. The phrase “People are at the heart of what we do” is true for most companies but it takes a special meaning in the creative world. Not being a creative herself, Cecile had to develop different muscles to be effective and is taking those lessons with her.Cecile joined YouTube in October 2018 as the Head of YouTube for Europe Middle East and Africa, in charge of the YouTube business, strategy and content partnerships in the complex and ever changing region.Prior to joining YouTube, Cecile was CEO of Fremantle, one of the largest global creators, producer and distributor of entertainment, drama and factual content. Cecile started her media career at Pearson, following an MBA from INSEAD. She helped transform Pearson Television to a leading international producer. She led the case for the Fremantle acquisition, which led to senior roles running Pearson’s operations in Spain, Italy and France. After a short stint in San Francisco creating online and interactive strategies for Pearson Television, Cecile joined the North American headquarters of the newly re-branded FremantleMedia in 2002 where she had a number of senior roles leading to her promotion to CEO, North America in 2005, and subsequently CEO of the Group.Outside of work, being a native of the French Alps, she loves spending time in the mountains, as well as travelling to remote places. Top tip: Lead with humility and humanity, from a place of deep conviction. Build the story that will inspire, surround yourself with the best and listen deeply to others in order to find the variation that will lead to innovation.#InspiringLeadership #leadership #CEOs #MotivationalSpeaker #teamcoach #Boards Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.