Inspiring Leadership with Jonathan Bowman-Perks MBE

In this episode, we dive into the incredible journey of Zara Lachlan, a 21-year-old adventurer who’s about to take on one of the most daunting challenges imaginable. This October, Zara will row solo and unsupported across 3,600 miles of the Atlantic Ocean, from Portugal to French Guiana. If successful, she'll set three world records: the first female to complete this crossing solo and unsupported, the youngest person to do so in any boat, and the youngest female to row from mainland to mainland across the Atlantic.But this isn’t just about records. Zara will be rowing 15 hours a day through orca and shark-infested waters, battling waves up to 30 feet high—all on her very first ocean crossing. And the first time she’ll ever row on the open ocean? The moment she leaves the shore in Portugal.This epic journey wouldn’t be possible without the support of her sponsors, including Team Forces, Collins Aerospace, Telent, Civica, and Spectra Group. Zara’s mission is also a fundraising effort for two causes close to her heart: Women in Sport, Team Forces, Qioptiq and JET connectivity.Tune in as Zara shares her top tips for pushing through limits and making dreams a reality. This is an episode you won’t want to miss! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we sit down with John Browett, a seasoned leader with an impressive track record in the business world. John currently serves as the Non-Executive Chairman for several prominent organisations, including The Institute of Directors, Octopus Group, and Cifas, among others.With a wealth of experience, John has led transformative initiatives across various sectors, from digital overhauls at Dunelm Group and Monsoon Accessorize to a major turnaround at Dixons Retail. He’s also held key roles at Apple Inc., Tesco plc, and The Boston Consulting Group. Join us as John shares insights from his extensive career, offering a unique perspective on leadership, strategy, and the evolving business landscape. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After achieving his commerce and law degrees and selling his first startup, he immigrated to Canada to do his MBA at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management. While at Rotman, he worked in the Creative Destruction Lab (CDL), where he met three Ph.D. students—all immigrants like him—who were working to discover how AI could solve the declining productivity of drug discovery. Together, they founded BenchSci in 2015 and launched the ASCEND™ platform in 2023. Since their time at CDL, BenchSci has gone from four co-founders to a more than 350-employee operation that has raised more than $200 million from top investors, including Generation Investment Management, TCV, iNovia Capital, F-Prime, Gradient Ventures (Google’s AI fund), and Golden Ventures, and works with 16 of the world's top 20 pharma companies, over 4,500 academic institutions, and more than 50,000 scientists.As CEO, Liran strives to inspire team members to be the best version of themselves and positively impact the world. Liran is a 2021 Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year finalist and is passionate about using AI to exponentially increase the speed and quality of life-saving research. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dan Helfrich is the dynamic CEO of Deloitte Consulting LLP, leading the firm through significant innovation and growth. With over two decades at Deloitte, he is known for his strategic vision, client dedication, and commitment to creating an inclusive culture. Helfrich's educational background in government, economics, and business from Georgetown University laid the groundwork for his rise in Deloitte, where he excelled in strategy and operations.Before becoming CEO in 2019, Helfrich led Deloitte's Federal Government practice, driving public sector innovation. As CEO, he has championed digital transformation, social impact, and corporate responsibility, emphasizing diversity and inclusion within the firm. Helfrich is also a respected thought leader, speaker, and advocate for education, serving on Georgetown University's board of trustees. His leadership journey exemplifies dedication and visionary change in the consulting industry. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

s promise to captivate listeners and provide a deeper understanding of the efforts behind creating realistic and respectful military portrayals on screen.Paul Biddiss is a former paratrooper and highly sought-after military action advisor for film and television. With over two decades of experience, his blend of real-life military service and cinematic expertise has made him invaluable in the entertainment industry. Serving in the elite 3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment (3 PARA), Biddiss participated in numerous high-risk operations, gaining extensive training in airborne operations, close-quarter battle, survival skills, and tactical warfare.After retiring, he transitioned to advising on films and TV, known for his meticulous attention to detail and commitment to authenticity. Biddiss has worked on high-profile projects like "1917," "Indiana Jones 5," "Jason Bourne," and "War & Peace," enhancing the realism of military scenes. He also trains actors to authentically portray soldiers through rigorous boot camps.His contributions have earned him widespread recognition, making military portrayals more authentic and providing audiences with a deeper appreciation of soldiers' experiences. As a podcast guest, Biddiss offers valuable insights and behind-the-scenes stories from his unique perspective on military service and cinematic storytelling. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Neil Basu QPM - Former Assistant Commissioner Special Operations Met Police (Counter Terrorism)Neil Basu is a prominent figure in British law enforcement, known for his role as Assistant Commissioner for Specialist Operations at the Metropolitan Police Service, leading the Counter Terrorism Command. With over three decades in the force, Basu has significantly impacted national and international security.Born in 1968 to an Indian father and a Welsh mother, Basu's multicultural upbringing in Staffordshire influenced his policing approach. He joined the Metropolitan Police in 1992 after studying Economics at Nottingham University. Rising through various roles, he gained extensive experience in frontline policing, investigations, and strategic leadership.In 2016, Basu became Deputy Assistant Commissioner for Specialist Operations, focusing on counter-terrorism. He led the UK's efforts against terrorist threats, advocating for a holistic strategy combining enforcement with community engagement. His work on the UK's Prevent strategy and leadership during the Salisbury poisonings investigation in 2018 were notable achievements.A strong advocate for diversity and inclusion, Basu promoted representation within the police force and received the Queen's Police Medal in 2016. Retiring in 2022, he continues to influence security and policing through advisory roles and public engagements. As a podcast guest, Basu offers valuable insights on leadership, counter-terrorism, and diversity in law enforcement. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Juan Jaysingh is President and CEO at Zingtree, leading the company's mission to transform complex processes into clear actions for businesses around the globe. Call centers that use Zingtree achieve better business outcomes, such as improved Average Handle Time (AHT), First Contact Resolution (FCR), faster Agent Onboarding, and increased compliance while empowering customers with self-service tools. Juan joined the company as a consultant before becoming CEO in January 2020. Under his strategic leadership, the company has flourished, scaling its operations to serve an impressive roster of over 700 enterprise customers in 50 countries and driving customer success and profitability. At the core of Juan's leadership philosophy lies a deep-seated belief in the transformative power of technology to simplify even the most complex business challenges. Juan started his career in technology consulting roles before founding ZeeMee, a social media community platform for high school students transitioning to college. With the help of college admissions leaders, Juan and his co-founder built ZeeMee to empower students to showcase their passions and interests during the application process and connect with peers. Under his leadership, ZeeMee was named to the inaugural CNBC Upstart 25 in 2017. Juan's years of experience in tech entrepreneurship also include his time at Universal Tennis working on UTR Powered by Oracle, which is a global tennis rating system that uses a unique algorithm to assess a player's skill level based on their actual match results and allows users to track progress and find matches. Juan led the GTM strategy and rollout of UTR's community platform to elite clubs and tennis academies worldwide. His role at UTR was a continuation of his love for tennis. An accomplished tennis player, Juan immigrated to the United States alone from India at the age of 14. A chance encounter landed him full tennis scholarships to study and compete at Georgetown Prep and then at American University. While he never achieved his goal of becoming the #1 player in the world, he learned critical life skills and connected with people who played a pivotal role in his career. Juan sees many parallels between sports and business, especially tennis and startups. Both domains are characterized by frequent ups and downs and demand composure in the face of adversity. The skills Juan honed on the court serve him as he navigates the business world. Juan says passion and integrity drive his work ethic. He likes to say, "If it's too easy, it's probably not worth it." He believes challenging yourself to tackle hard problems is key to growth and fulfilling your potential. These principles guide his leadership approach at Zingtree as he works to transform how the world's biggest companies support and delight their customers. Tips:* Treat your customer as a long-term business partner vs a transactional event. * Being real and authentic is critical* Success is being on a journey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oz Alashe MBE is CEO and Founder at CybSafe, a behavioural science and data analytics company that builds cybersecurity software to better manage human risk. A former UK Special Forces Lieutenant Colonel, Oz is focused on making society more secure by helping organisations address the human aspect of cybersecurity.He has extensive experience and understanding in the areas of intelligence insight, complex human networks, and human cyber risk & resilience.Heʼs also passionate about reducing societal threats to stability and security by making the most of opportunities presented through advancements in technology.Oz was made an MBE in 2010 for his personal leadership in the most complex of conflict environments.Oz chairʼs the UK Governmentʼs DSITCyber Resilience Expert Advisory Group. He also sits on the Advisory Board for the Research Institute in Sociotechnical Cyber Security RISCS. Heʼs an Expert Fellow at The Security, Privacy, Identity and Trust Engagement NetworkPlus SPRITE as well as the Royal United Services Institute RUSI.He and his team have developed a cloud-based cybersecurity SaaS platform that uses telemetry to provide deep human cyber risk insights, and automate tasks that scientifically shape workforce behaviors.Ozʼs dynamic and socially-driven mission approach has attracted attention and interest from social commentators and decision makers keen to address the realities of cyber security and the impact on people, business and community. He is regularly asked to comment in national print and broadcast press. He often talks about issues relating to intelligence, cyber security, impactful leadership and the socio-tech challenges faced by society.Oz is also a keen advocate of social investment and has worked with several mentorship schemes and charities that aim to help young people from all walks of life to fulfil their potential. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Philip Grindell is an esteemed security expert and founder of Defuse, a consultancy dedicated to mitigating risks and safeguarding everyone from high net-worth individuals, organisations, and those in the public eye from various threats. With a distinguished career spanning from senior roles in Scotland Yard to establishing protective intelligence teams in Parliament, Philip brings expertise in protective intelligence, behavioural science, and security management.   Having spearheaded initiatives to protect public figures and organisations, Philip understands the complexities of managing physical, reputational, and psychological risks. His comprehensive approach combines rigorous data analysis with bespoke strategies tailored to each client's unique circumstances.   Philip's background as a former senior detective, coupled with his experience in counter-terrorism and security coordination, underscores his commitment to delivering top-tier protection services. Through Defuse, he provides clients with the same level of expertise and service afforded to government officials and political leaders.   As a podcast guest, Philip Grindell offers invaluable insights into the nuances of risk management and security in today's dynamic landscape. His expertise in identifying and addressing threats, coupled with his emphasis on scientific approaches and practical solutions, makes him a compelling voice for audiences to engage with. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Martin Gonzalez is the bestselling author of The Bonfire Moment, and the creator of Google’s Effective Founders Project, a global research program that decodes the factors that enable startup founders to succeed. He also works closely with Google’s engineering and research leaders on org design, leadership and culture challenges. Martin is a frequent lecturer at Stanford, Wharton and INSEAD, and has advised leaders across the Americas, Europe, Africa and Asia. He has been recognized as a Fellow by the Aspen Institute's First Movers Program and as a Thinkers50 Radar awardee, both for his contributions to shaping the future of management and leadership. He studied organisational psychology and behavioural science at Columbia University and the London School of Economics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.