Mandy Hickson has over 30 years experience within aviation. She joined the Royal Air Force in 1994 and was a the first woman to fly the Tornado GR4 on the front line, where she operated in hostile environments, including patrolling the ‘No Fly’ zone over Iraq. Since leaving the RAF she retrained as a facilitator and coach in human factors where she draws on her experience of calculated risk-taking, decision-making under pressure and the critical role of the human in the system, to transfer vivid lessons from the cockpit to management and leadership contexts.As an Aviation Ambassador for the Department for Transport, Trustee for the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust and Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society she continues to inspire the next generation into STEM related endeavours and into the world of aviation. She continues to foster her adventurous spirit, completing expeditions to the summit of Kilimanjaro and base camp of Everest in recent years. Mandy is now a highly demanded keynote speaker, where she talks with humour and great passion to inspire those around her. She has been invited to share her insights with some of the most successful organisations across the world where she describes the strategies & behaviours that can be adopted when the stakesare at their highest. She has recently launched her bestselling book, ‘An Officer, not a gentleman’, her inspirational journey to become a pioneering female fighter pilot. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sarah Bolt is the visionary founder and CEO of Forth, a health tech company pioneering personal health management. Forth provides vital insights into biological health, empowering individuals with the knowledge to manage their wellbeing and extend their healthspan. Ten years ago, Sarah began experiencing health changes due to perimenopause. The lack of knowledge and data about her own body highlighted a critical gap in personal healthcare. Sarah foresaw the need for individuals to become proactive in managing their health due to the rising pressures on national healthcare systems and the desire by people for more data about their own body. This realisation inspired her to found Forth in 2016.Forth was created to offer a service that Sarah needed herself: an accessible way to understand personal health without visiting a GP. The company gives people easy access to laboratory blood testing and distils data into an easy-to-understand digital formats, allowing people to track changes as well as supporting them in health improvement. Since its inception, Forth has become one of the leading remote testing companies in the UK and Europe. Over the last 4 years Forth's has become increasingly focused on addressing the shortcomings in women’s health. In 2021, the company sought to address the limitations of single-day hormone testing for women and launched its ground-breaking product MyFORM®. MyFORM® is the first hormone test in the world to use a combination of AI and blood testing to map how a woman’s reproductive hormones fluctuate throughout a woman's unique cycle. MyFORM® is an example of what Sarah terms the 2.0 phase of home health testing which leverages AI for better interpretation and greater understanding of personalised health. Sarah Bolt's entrepreneurial journey is marked by significant achievements. She is one of only 2,000 female founders in the UK to raise over £1 million, securing £2.6 million through three funding rounds. Her efforts have been recognised with awards such as the Health & Wellbeing Entrepreneur at the Great British Entrepreneur Awards as well as a finalist for the Natwest Female Entrepreneur of the Year Awards.To date, Forth has conducted nearly 1 million tests, providing individuals with essential data to make informed decisions about their own health. Beyond impacting people’s health, Sarah is committed to helping other female founders navigate the challenging start-up journey. Through mentorship programs like Set Squared, a Tech Accelerator in Bristol, she assists women in overcoming start-up challenges and securing funding.Sarah Bolt's journey from a health-conscious individual to a pioneering health tech entrepreneur is a story of passion, innovation, and impact. Through Forth, she has addressed a critical healthcare gap, setting a new standard for personal health management. With significant investment, numerous awards, and a growing base of users, Sarah and Forth are poised to continue advancing preventative care through innovative health tech solutions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Vijay TellaChief Executive Officer & Co-FounderVijay is the CEO and co-founder of the Enterprise Automation platform, Workato. He has led the creation of market-leading integration technologies for over 25 years. Prior to Workato, he was the CEO of Qik, a consumer video communications company that was acquired by Skype. Before Qik, he helped create two multi-billion dollar integration products. He was part of the team that created the world’s first middleware platform, TIB (The Information Bus) at Teknekron Software Systems, which was acquired by Reuters Plc, in 1994. He was also on the founding team and SVP, Engineering of TIBCO through its IPO. As Chief Strategy Officer, he then helped launch Oracle’s Fusion Middleware platform in 2005. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As CEO of 6sense, Jason Zintak leads the company’s mission to help customers revolutionise revenue creation. Leveraging AI and data-driven intelligence, 6sense answers profound questions every B2B sales and marketing teams face, like which accounts are most likely tobuy, who should we reach out to, and what should we say to engage?Since Jason joined 6sense in 2017, the company has grown significantly by every measure, including increasing revenue from $5MM to $200MM+ ARR. Under his leadership, 6sense has been recognised for market-defining technology by Forbes Cloud 100, Inc. 5000, Deloitte Fast 500, Forbes AI50, Financial Times, Gartner, Forrester, and customer review platforms G2 andTrustRadius. The company has received recognition for its strong culture by Fortune and Inc.Magazine. Jason has also been honored by Goldman Sachs as one of the Most Exceptional Entrepreneurs of 2023. These accolades stem from Jason's focus on making smart moves, prioritizing people, andcreating a culture of innovation where every employee is inspired to challenge the status quo and create a better future.Jason is a proven leader with a winning record of excellence in scaling marketing and sales organisations in growth-stage B2B software companies. Over the past 23 years, Jason has helped establish disruptive platforms in marketing technology, ERP, CRM, and supply chain.Most recently, he was CEO of Platfora, a pioneer in big data analytics, which was acquired by Workday in 2016. Prior to that, he was CRO at Responsys, which was acquired by Oracle in 2013 for $1.5B, and EVP of worldwide sales and marketing for JDA Software (now Blue Yonder). He also spent eight years at SAP, where he served in various sales and leadershiproles spanning multiple technology categories and industry verticals.Jason's top leadership tips are to be curious and listen to understand; be genuine and practice humility; challenge yourself to aim high and then give it all you've got; have fun and enjoy the journey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mike Deeks CSC, Group Managing Director, Blue Ocean Marine Tech Systems Pty Ltd Mike assumed the role of Group MD of Blue Ocean Marine Tech Systems (BO-MTS) in September 2021. BO-MTS is a proudly Western Australian company servicing the offshore energy and defence sectors in Australia and the UK, utilising disruptive persistent uncrewed autonomous underwater vehicles fitted with an array of mission specific sensors.  Prior to joining BO-MTS, Mike was based in London as the Western Australian Agent General. Mike’s role was to represent Western Australian interests and promote Western Australia, throughout the UK, Europe and Israel, as a great place for investment, trade, research and development, education, training, and tourism. Mike had a 32-year naval career including command of three Oberon class submarines and the Fleet Replenishment ship, HMAS Success. His last role in the Royal Australian Navy was as the Commander of the Australian Submarine Group and the Senior Defence Officer in WA. He retired in the rank of Commodore in 2005. Awards include the Conspicuous Service Cross, the Australian Service Medal (Special Operations clasp), the Defence Force Service Medal (three bars) and the Australian Defence Medal. He is a Freeman of the City of London. Mike has a wealth of experience in Marine and Defence Industries, previously holding senior executive roles with L3 Nautronix, Raytheon and Civmec.Mike is currently a Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Governance Committee for Parkerville Children and Youth Centre, a NFP organisation.Past Board roles include Non-Executive Directorships with the Pilbara Ports Authority and Dampier Port Authority, Deputy Chair of the Governing Council of Challenger Institute, member of the WA State Training Board, Chair of Stepping Stones Child Development Centre, member of the Menzies Australia Institute Advisory Board, Kings College, London, and member of the Britain Australia Society Advisory Board. Mike holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of New South Wales and a Master of Management from the Macquarie Graduate School of Management (NSW). He is a Graduate (with Distinction) from the US Naval War College (Newport, RI) and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.Mike is very happily married to Jenny and they have three wonderful children and six delightful grandchildren. Mike’s pastimes and other interests include sailing (having completed four Sydney to Hobart yacht races), walking, bike riding, family times, attempting to play the bagpipes (it only has nine notes – how hard can it be!!), reading and practicing his Christian faith. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Days before his 21st birthday, Justin’s life changed irrevocably. A cough caused a herniated disc with subsequent surgeries all failing, resulting in paralysis and almost 18 months in hospital.Sport has always been a key aspect of Justin’s life and it promptly became a lifeline and career. In Wheelchair racing, Justin has won 29 marathon titles across the globe. Justin is also the World and European Champion in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Winning his 2nd World championship this year in Abu Dhabi. In 2022 Justin and a friend completed the 1st non supported crossing of the USA by handbike, towing his wheelchair behind him. The over 3000mile journey was completed in 48 days raising over £200,000 for a disabled children’s charity.A staunch activist for equality and human rights, Justin works tirelessly to see fair treatment for everyone.A mentor to newly injured civilians and veterans, in 2019 Justin was named in the Top 10 most powerful and influential disabled people in the UK. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the co-founder of OasisX, Jimi is driving the innovation and growth of a company that leverages technology and decentralization to create new opportunities and solutions in various industries, such as real estate, trading, and gaming. With a passion for emerging technologies, he entered the cryptocurrency space in 2016 by establishing a successful crypto mining farm in Lebanon, and has since become a reputable crypto trader and investor, with a commitment to empowering talented individuals to shape the future.Jimi is also a partner of Jamil Ibrahim Establishment, one of Lebanon's leading family-owned high-end residential development companies, where he applies his diverse background and expertise in real estate, FNB, tech, and entertainment to identify and execute profitable investments across the globe. Equipped with the skills and knowledge to navigate the complex and dynamic markets and sectors he operates in, a true visionary, Jimi is dedicated to making a lasting impact on the world through his entrepreneurial pursuits. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Roland Rudd – Founder & Chair, FGS Global Roland Rudd is a founder and Chair of FGS Global, the leading stakeholder advisory group created through the combination of Finsbury, Hering Schuppener, Glover Park Group and Sard Verbinnen. He provides personal counsel to board members and senior executives at the most critical moments for their companies. Prior to founding the strategic communications company Finsbury in 1994, he worked as a political and financial journalist at the Financial Times and The Times. Roland is also the Chair of Tate, which he has been involved with for the past 25 years, first serving as a Patron, Chair of the Business Advisory Group and then as Deputy Chair. He has also been a Trustee and fundraiser for the Royal Opera House and is currently a Trustee of the Bayreuth Festival, as well as a patron of Grange Park Opera and the Holburne Museum. He is currently Chair of the Governors for Millfield School, a Trustee at Speakers for Schools, an ambassador for Made by Dyslexia and an Honorary Fellow at the Centre for Corporate Reputation, Regents College, Oxford University. He also serves as a Specially Appointed Commissioner at the Royal Hospital Chelsea and is an Ambassador for the Alzheimer’s Society.Top Leadership Tip: Be focused: it’s so easy to waste time on things that have little or no relevance to what you are doing. Most people waste at least half their time doing irrelevant stuff.  Be effective: make what you are doing count, by making a difference. Don’t put things off; do them now. Have fun: you are best at what you are most passionate about. And in pursuing what you like best, it’s important to have fun.  Summary 1-line: “Be focused, be effective, and have fun – you are best at what you are most passionate about, and in pursuing what you like best, it’s important to have fun”. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr STEPHEN BARDEN, DprofDr Stephen Barden is a respected strategic, business and operational partner to corporate leaders and their organisations. After decades of experience at CEO and executive board levels across the media, technology, and communications sectors, Dr Barden established a thriving private practice in 2001, working extensively in the UK, Europe, the USA and Asia. Stephen is one of a few individuals who took up coach mentoring after having been at the top of the corporate ladder. And it is this experience of running entire organizations that has grounded his practice in both pragmatic wisdom as well as holistic strategy. His approach has helped his clients achieve strategic zenith whilst maintaining enough transparency “on the ground” to monitor ethical integrity. At an individual level, he empowers leaders and managers to wield their authority effectively, ensuring their true potential is harnessed. If his road to coach-mentoring was not via the usual HR-led path, neither was that to corporate leadership. Born in Tanzania, his parents sent him to what was then Apartheid South Africa after his birthplace’s liberation from colonial rule. His subsequent work in South Africa as broadcaster and political activist resulted in his being detained and then deported to Britain, where he landed with his wife, one year old son, a reel-to-reel tape recorder, 300 dollars and one contact. Realising that the on-screen/on mike star-roles were closely guarded, he focused on management in the media and later technology. Within 10 years he had reached the level of Managing Editor, then COO and finally CEO. He worked with, and for, such colourful characters as Rupert Murdoch, Jonathan and Tim Aitken, Bruce Gyngell and Guy Hands – involving projects in the UK, the US, mainland Europe and Asia. Dr Barden is also a writer and podcaster. His book, "How Successful Leaders Do Business with Their World," is a testament to his passion for fostering partnerships between leaders and stakeholders, arguing that the most successful leaders, partner with their stakeholders, to optimise access to the best ideas for both strategies and execution. As he puts it, “leaders who do not partner with their world risk shrinking their organisations to the size of their heads – and no one has a head that large.” Meticulously researched, very readable and strikingly insightful, his book shows how the experiences and assumptions, formed by children about the power balance they hold with their world goes on to help shape the way they wield authority and power as individuals. Drawing from interviews with top military, corporate, and educational leaders, Stephen’s book provides a wealth of practical wisdom for real-world application. Stephen presents and produces two podcasts: Migrant Odyssey, in which he explores the narratives of refugees and migrants; and The Power of Balance, which expands on the themes of his book. This extraordinarily rich experience has gifted Dr Barden with both the ability and appetite to shift perspectives, catalyse transformation, and empower organisations to not be left behind by the unforgiving changes sweeping the world. With a proven track record of driving success through ethical partnering leadership, Stephen is a sought-after speaker and partner for organisations and leaders dedicated to making a meaningful impact. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

David P. Kasperson is co-author of the Wall Street Journal bestselling book, Trust & Inspire: How Truly Great Leaders Unleash Greatness in Others. He has been building high-trust partnerships and innovative solutions for clients of FranklinCovey’s Global Trust Practice for more than 15 years, and has been instrumental in developingand teaching the Speed of Trust content. David is a collaborator with Stephen M. R. Covey, managing his speaking business and custom client solutions as the Director of Business Development. An expert on trust, he has served clients via consulting, coaching, program design, and keynote speaking in more than twenty countries.Prior to leading the Speed of Trust speaking business, David managed the Leading at the Speed of Trust Executive Workshop program held in Sundance, Utah, a premier senior-level leadership training, where he worked with hundreds of senior level and influential leaders from across the globe.His client experience includes work with multinational organizations, Fortune 500 companies, franchising, nonprofit, small businesses, educational and governmental agencies, pharmaceutical companies, and financial institutions, including Procter & Gamble, Microsoft, Adventist Health, Kash Group, Lockheed Martin, Nestle, Real Estate Board of New York, Chevron, Yale New Haven Health Center, Astellas, eBay, LinkedIn, Lend Lease Asia, and Utah Valley University.David graduated Summa Cum Laude with a BA & an AA in Communication Theory & Practice from Utah Valley University. He recently served on the Board of Trustees at Mountainville Academy, a “Leader in Me” school that incorporates The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People into its curriculum.David resides with his wife and children in Utah’s beautiful Rocky Mountains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.