Mike Welch is a truly inspiring leader.Dr Michael Welch OBE founded Blackcircles.com, the world’s first click-to-fit online tyre retailer in 2002, selling the business to Michelin in 2015. Prior to Blackcircles.com, Michael started his career in the tyre business aged 15 in Liverpool, England, as a tyre installer with a local independent tyre dealer. He started his first online tyre business two years later, in 1995, after being made redundant. He subsequently sold that business to UK fast-fit chain Kwik Fit, where he was hired as the group’s first head of e-commerce in the lead-up to Ford’s £1 billion acquisition in 1999. In this role, he spent a few years between the UK and the US assisting the Ford group with their e-commerce execution.In 2016, during a brief period out of the tyre industry, he founded and chaired fashion retail startup Atterley.com, a global network of fashion boutiques. In 2019, Michael turned his attention to the US tyre market with his new venture, Tirescanner.com. The website serves as a platform for brick-and-mortar tyre retailers who are looking to compete with pure players for a share of the US online market. With an initial launch in Florida in 2019, Tirescanner.com has gone on to build a national network showcasing the very best of brick-and-mortar retail stores and mobile installation vans across the United States. The US tyre replacement market was valued at $42bn (USD) in 2019.In 2021, Tirescanner merged with Tirebuyer.com to create one of America’s largest online tyre retailers, with over 11,000 installers across the USA. Bringing Tirescanner’s strategy and expertise together with TireBuyer’s scale, the aim of the merger is to create the country’s leading online tyre experience.Michael established The Welch Trust in 2015 focusing on supporting children and young people in need of adoption and fostering, as a fostered and adopted person himself, as well as kids with critical and terminal illnesses. The Trust recently built its first ‘The Welch Learning Centre’, a school computer and library service for children in Bali, Indonesia. In May 2021, The Welch Trust partnered with the Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity and NHS Lothian to bring MRI-guided Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy (LITT) to Edinburgh’s Royal Hospital for Children and Young People (RHCYP). This was the first time this laser technology was made available in Scotland. Michael also sits on the board and is a Patron of The Prince’s Trust, the principal charity of HM the King. Michael was awarded an OBE (Officer of the British Empire) by the HM Queen Elizabeth ll in 2016 for services to business and charity. He also received an honorary doctorate in Enterprise from Edinburgh’s Napier University.——————————————About TirebuyerAt Tirebuyer our aim is to deliver the world’s best tire buying experience, underpinned by world class customer support. We’ve created an easy to navigate marketplace, coupled with an end-to-end concierge service, for the installation of your new tires. Tirebuyer simplifies tire shopping, provides quick and convenient tire installation with our local or mobile installation partners, offers fast and free shipping, and removes the guesswork on cost through guaranteed upfront payment. In 2021, Tirescanner merged with Tirebuyer to create an even better website with incredible customer support. We have a nationwide network of 11,000 mobile and in-store installation partners, all pre-qualified by our team. Your tires can be delivered fast and free to one of these tire shops – in some cases the same day you order. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jamie Waller - entrepreneur, philanthropist and adventurer Jamie Waller is a serial entrepreneur having started, built and sold many businesses over the past twenty years. Waller currently owns the majority of two businesses that trade globally, has eleven minority investments in the UK and US and is also the Founder and Chair of The Prince’s Trust Enterprise Network. Waller lives in London and currently splits his time between philanthropy, entrepreneurship, adventuring and writing. His first book Unsexy Business was a best seller and he is currently wring his second, titled: The Dyslexic Entrepreneur. Waller is currently training for the Africa Eco Motorcycle Race in 2024 and aims to travel to space in 2025. Waller's top leadership tip is: think differently and delegate well. https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-waller-0b04063/https://www.amazon.co.uk/Unsexy-Business-entrepreneurs-businesses-extraordinary/dp/0857197134 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hoffman has been called the ‘Rolls Royce’ of personal development workshops. Frequently in the press and on the radio and in podcasts, we are now in our 28th year in the UK. Our growth has been due to word of mouth as well as the recommendation of therapists, life coaches and people looking to develop human potential. Our 7-day residential course is available around the UK (www.hoffmanprocess.co.uk) and we offer places to around 500 people a year. As well as growing the business, I have also been part of the training of our trainers. I’m also a license holder and Administrator for Hoffman International our global franchise company.1989-1999 Personal Presentation LtdSerena worked as a corporate trainer with Julia Goodman who founded Personal Presentation ltd. Julia created a unique ‘You brand’ coaching methodology which was ground breaking at the time. Her company continues to work with blue-chip clients today.As a female entrepreneur, I’ve successfully juggled being a mother with an acting career and running a growing business.1985-2018 ActressSerena has had a varied TV, film and theatre career spanning 33 years. I trained at RADA (colleagues include Ralph Fiennes, Jane Horrocks, Imogen Stubbs, Neil Dudgeon). She spent six months as Superintendent Amanda Prosser in the Bill, was murdered twice in Midsomer Murders and kissed Pierce Brosnan in an Aston Martin in Goldeneye. See separate page for acting credits.Other skillsFor the Hoffman Process, Serena coach all our teachers in voice and breath work. She gave them tips on how to monitor their energy and use the appropriate performance levels to engage an audience over a long period of time. She also uses role-play to help them with their one-to-one skills, building trust, rapport and create a safe place for our clients to do their work.She hosts regular monthly talks in London and also facilitate all support groups for our Hoffman participants. She has held talks and co-facilitated courses in Ireland, South Africa, Dubai, Bahrain, Abu Dhabi and Amsterdam. I wrote and co-facilitated a Hoffman workshop specifically for teenagers that we launched at Bedales school in 2013 and hope to include in University programmes.As the face (and voice) of Hoffman UK, I engage with our social media on a daily basis. I inaugurated the Hoffman magazine and edited the first three issues. A few years ago, she designed the Hoffman App and co-wrote and published a Hoffman 365 day journal. She is currently upgrading her website, work which should be completed this year. In the past year, she has been working with a business consultant on the plan for Hoffman to transition to a not-for-profit organisation and ultimately a charity. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Karuna has been a leadership journeyman for a long time. Over nearly four decades of work and lived experiences, he has studied, observed, led, suffered, been mentored, and gained much from simply observing and learning from both amazing, and unfortunately, appalling leaders. His leadership journey began quite by accident at 19 at the Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, undoubtedly one of the finest leadership training institutions in the world. Over a year, his first conceptions of leadership were uprooted against the time-honoured traditions of the seafarer. For good reason, as the sea has always been and remains a harsh punisher of poor leadership and judgement. He went on to gain his sea legs working with ship-crews, and leading small numbers of highly capable and well-trained men and women. During his time in the Navy he also lived in Sweden, Australia and the United States, training with other navy men and women, and in the process learning how others chose to lead. He capped 19 years in the Navy in Singapore with two consecutive warship commands over six years, a 45-meter minehunter with 38-crew, and a 150-meter landing ship tank with 120 crew. Leaving the Navy after successful command at sea as the pioneer crew of the Landing Ship Tank was a forced choice. Karuna chose to prioritise his life at that stage to be a father to his two children, and a better version of himself to his wife, who had earlier already given up her career to stay home with the young son and daughter. Leaders make choices, and commit to those choices, and often find themselves in difficult trade-offs.Karuna again found himself another accidental opportunity in the newly created military leadership centre, where he spent a decade as part of the pioneer team to transform military culture through the development of leaders and values work. He successfully retired after three decades in the military, and went on to work for three years as the Singapore Government’s Senior Organisational Development Consultant. His work with Brunei Government leaders was acknowledged by the World Bank in 2016.Over the past 6 years, Karuna has coached and worked closely with Senior Leaders, organisational leadership teams, and middle managers to help them grow into the leaders they need to be. His success rate at supporting organisational transformation is evident from repeat client requests for his support.Karuna is a firm believer in RESPECT as the Core Value for Organisational Leaders. Respect underpins Empathy as a Leadership Practice, and when leaders began to empathise well, they might be described as humble, and demonstrating Humility. Respect is also key to Diversity and Inclusion, and a powerful anchor to much needed people and culture work. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dame Sara Thornton DBE QPM is a Professor of Modern Slavery Policy at the Rights Lab in the University of Nottingham where her focus is on research in the area of prevention, business responses, supply chains, and the role of the financial sector in tackling modern slavery. She is particularly focussed on the important role of investors and works as a modern slavery consultant for CCLA Investment Management.Dame Sara completed a three-year term as the UK Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner in April 2022, a role in which she spearheaded the UK’s fight against human trafficking and modern slavery. She joined the Metropolitan Police Service in 1986. During her 33-year career within policing she served as Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police from 2007 until 2015. She was the national lead on intelligence; Vice-Chair of ACPO Terrorism and Allied Matters; Director of the Police National Assessment Centre; and ACPO Vice-President. She was the first Chair of the National Police Chiefs’ Council from 2015 to 2019. She was awarded the Queen’s Police Medal in 2006, made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2011 and a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2019. She has been recognised with a Career Achievement Award from the Police Training Authority Trustees and the Sir Robert Peel Medal for Outstanding Leadership in Evidence-Based Policing. She is an Honorary Air Commodore in the Royal Air Force supporting the work of the auxiliary police squadron, Chair of the Government Skills and Curriculum Unit Leadership Advisory Board, and a trustee and board member of the Police Foundation.She is an Honorary Professor in Modern Slavery at the University of Liverpool and holds honorary doctorates from Durham University, Oxford Brookes and Buckinghamshire New University. Dame Sara’s top tip is to eat the frog for breakfast - get the nasty things over and done with. It is always tempting to procrastinate, to delay tough decisions, but that only leads to worry. A leader needs to be thinking clearly and not weighed down by worrying about things that they should have done. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ranked among the world’s top 10 CEOs for 2020, 2021 & 2023, in The World CEO Rankings Awards by Adria Management, LLC, Brian J. Esposito is the founder and CEO of Esposito Intellectual Enterprises, LLC, (EIE). An award-winning serial entrepreneur and business leader, he is recently renowned for being a core part of an innovative team to build Nodle—the world’s largest wireless network and ecosystem of connected devices—and as well as Turncoin, a registered SEC digital security that on a monthly basis shares 100% of the revenue generated from its TheXchange’s VirtualStaX platform to all Turncoin holders. TurnCoin is the only revenue sharing digital security that derives its value and yield from the sale of VirtualStaX. The Xchange is the First Global Talent Exchange and a one-of-a-kind platform that set to completely reimagine and disrupt the global fan economy. TurnCoin is presently sitting at just under a $15b and has the full support and investment from tremendous icons such as Drew Brees, Patrick Mahomes, Randy Jackson, David Meltzer, Luke Bryan, Von Miller, Cam Jordan, Wendell Carter, and many more to continue to be announced. For one of his early businesses, which ranked among The Fastest-Growing Private Companies by Inc. 5000 for six consecutive years. In December 2019, as well as August of 2022, he was featured in The Corporate Investment Times, the next-gen investment magazine in the Middle East. Recognized in 2020/2021 as one of the Top 100 People In Real Estate as well as in 2021/2022 recognized as one of the Top 100 Innovators and Entrepreneurs. In 2022, he co-led the development and launch of ChainTech Labs, licensed and registered out of the DIFC in Dubai, UAE. ChainTech Labs is the holder of NFT project sensations and communities such as BAPES/BAPESCLAN. ChainTech Labs also developed a revolutionary NFT airlines rewards system in partnership with Etihad Airways. With over 20 years of experience in high-profile executive roles involving complex business challenges and high-stakes decisions, Brian founded Esposito Intellectual Enterprises (EIE) in New York in 2013. Wholly owned by Brian, EIE currently consists of 95+ entities, 200+ joint ventures that have been accumulated around the world, and proudly operates in over 25 industry focuses. There is just one degree separating any industry or market that Brian may want to enter into and do business in. Brian is known for building businesses in both the public and private sectors that are based on sustainable healthy positive earnings and growth, and those businesses properly being valued at a multiplier of those net earnings. EIE is an arsenal of IP, technology, products, solutions, and services supported by exceptional management and those holdings wrapped with best in breed accounting, compliance, legal, and even private security that knows how to build value, boost balance sheets, and create real tangible returns or unlock dormant or distressed assets for stakeholders. With a technique that he spent years perfecting, Brian connects not only the right people, but the right people at the right time. “Integrity is at the core of who we are and what we do at EIE. We strive to do good business with good people, and we turn down more business than we take for that exact foundation” he says. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this podcast discussion, two former military officers share insights on leading in an uncertain world and how their experiences have shaped their leadership journeys.Andrew Griffiths, our guest, served in the Royal Navy for 22 years and now runs his own leadership practice while delivering global leadership programs for Duke Corporate Education.We explore the challenges leaders face, the rapid progress of AI technology, and the need to adapt to unexpected circumstances. Andrew introduces the acronym 'TAB' (Thinking, Attitude, and Behaviour) as a way to survive and thrive in this new world.We discuss the Nolan Principles and their relevance to the behavior of leaders in public office, acknowledging that leadership is a perception game in which we often fall short.Andrew shares valuable insights for strategic leaders, including finding the 'North Star,' getting on the balcony to gain perspective, and being self-aware while managing the leader's shadow.He debunks the myth of 'Command and Control' in the military and emphasizes the importance of being yourself with skill.Andrew's diverse leadership journey and extensive experience in facilitating and coaching make him a valuable resource for organizations navigating strategy implementation, change leadership, and complexity.He has worked with numerous global clients and is recognized for his expertise in leadership development.Andrew's top leadership tip is rooted in self-awareness and stoic philosophy: be yourself...with skill. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I had a fascinating conversation, as always, with Graham Brown. We covered all the themes that make up Inspiring Leadership in our wide-ranging discussion, including why it is important to see Inspiring Leadership as a lifetime journey that requires integration of all its elements. We also discussed how the impact of one person can rally people to achieve great feats of heroism in war or dangerous situations, such as the storming of the US Capitol. Additionally, we emphasized the importance of providing practical top tips, not just academic insight.MQ was the first topic we discussed, specifically what people do when they know they are operating in grey areas, such as in the PPI mis-selling scandal when they knew it was wrong. We also explored how missing components of Inspiring Leadership can cause a person to "disintegrate" rather than being fully integrated. When MQ goes wrong, things can become very toxic very quickly. We gave acknowledgement to Andrew Griffiths for highlighting "leadership myths" that people believe to be true but are actually false.HQ is a key component, particularly the foundation of sleep, movement, and fitness, as well as looking after emotions and their combination with RQ resilience. Overdoing resilience can deplete one's reserves, make them difficult, snappy, and poor at decision making. We also discussed Graham's move from Singapore to Japan, remote working, and bullying, including the British Deputy Prime Minister, Dominic Raab being moved from his post.A big topic close to Graham's heart is AI, as he studied it at university. We concluded that we still need human input and emotions in some key areas. Finally, we discussed the key elements of discipline, trust, and attitude. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

David Sole is Managing Partner of the School for CEOs which he co-founded in 2011 with Patrick Macdonald, the former CEO of John Menzies plc. David has worked as an Executive Coach since the end of 2000, firstly with the Change Partnership and Whitehead Mann and subsequently in his own business and latterly with the School for CEOs.The School for CEOs is a boutique executive education business which runs development programmes for aspiring business leaders, taught by an experienced faculty of current and recent CEOs, Chairmen and Non-executive Directors. They are also heavily involved in Inclusive Leadership, supporting leaders with their ED&I agendas.Prior to becoming an Executive Coach, David spent 11 years working for United Distillers and Diageo in global operations where he was ultimately responsible for the procurement of commodities and neutral spirit across the globe.Outside of work, he played international rugby for Scotland from 1986 to 1992 and was captain 25 times, a record which stood for over 25 years and included the famous victory over England in 1990 to win Scotland’s third Grand Slam. He also played for the British Lions in 1989 and the Barbarians. He was awarded an OBE for services to rugby football in 1993.David is currently Chair of Worldwide Cancer Research, where he has been a trustee since 2017. He was also Chair of AM Bid Services until 2020. He served on the Board of sportscotland for 8 years as well as the Board of Quality Meat Scotland. In the past he has been one of three external trustees of the HBOS Foundation, a trustee of the charity Missing People, Chairman of the Board of Governors of Cargilfield School, he has chaired committees of the Prince’s Trust – Action and has been a non- executive director of the Kilchoman Distillery Company.David has a number of other interests outside of work and was a Roving Brand Ambassador for The Balvenie Malt Whisky for over 12 years – something he describes as a labour of love. He is also a keen amateur photographer; beekeeper and smallholder but he especially enjoys watching his four children play sport.He has worked extensively with the media and has regularly written newspaper columns for both daily and Sunday papers; he has worked with the BBC, ITV, Sky and Eurosport, commentating on 4 Rugby World Cups and is an accomplished keynote speaker. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jim has over 44 years of service in the British Royal Navy, Royal Marines Commandos and now the Royal Australian Navy. His focus throughout his military career has been on leading and preparing men and women for operations. From his early experience of three tours of duty in Northern Ireland through later operations in Bosnia, Belize, Sierra Leone, Iraq, Kosovo, and Afghanistan his service has been on the ground, at sea, in operations rooms and joint headquarters, planning and conducting operations and leading in adversity. Since coming to Australia in 2011 he has supported the development of the new amphibious capability through coaching and mentoring of the three amphibious ships’ crews, and commanders and staffs of the amphibious headquarters, over a ten-year period.His career highlights include planning and conducting the amphibious assault into the Al Faw in Iraq in 2003 and the recent 20th anniversary saw him join with over 200 veterans from 40 Commando Royal Marines to remember the fallen and share tales.He commanded an Australian Joint Task Group of four warships around the south-west Pacific in 2018 for which he was awarded an ADF Gold Commendation. He uses his experience of leading and commanding on operations in the past to support the development of leaders today.Through his coaching company, 1 Life Coaching, he continues to coach and mentor amphibians within the Australian Defence Force and has worked with high performing business CEOs, COOs, and senior leadership as well as Defence leaders, offering anecdotal evidence and operational experience on what works in high-pressure environments.As one of the senior Navy coaches he is sought after to work with new coaches and is regularly asked to speak and facilitate in leadership fora around the ADF on leadership in adversity, change management and preparing for the certainty of uncertainty. He provides both Group and Individual Coach Supervision for Navy Coaches and conducts tailored coaching, mentoring, and facilitating for high quality individuals seeking to exploit their potential and build their resilience as leaders.His immersion in inclusivity and diversity through the Australia Human Rights Commission and work with the Navy Women’s Mentor Programme give him a unique insight into the challenges of working and leading in a multi-cultural workforce which is evolving its approach to the role of women in uniform.He has supported NSW as a Civil-Military-Police Advisor during the Bushfires and when Covid-19 gripped the nation in March 2020, he was seconded to the Department of Veterans Affairs, where he led the crisis and contingency planning for three months whilst coaching and mentoring senior leadership.Jim lives a full life. He sources military folk that would benefit from the great work of Remount, an equine therapy charity that puts PTSD sufferers on horseback. He is Vice-President of his local Business Chamber and is a regular at ParkRun both as a runner and volunteer.He gets great satisfaction from carving spoons from fallen wood and regularly has a stall at local markets where he demonstrates how to carve spoons and sells his products with his wife of over 40 years, Sally. They live on a 5-acre property in Yass, NSW, Australia, and Jim enjoys the combination of supporting others through coaching and sharing his love working wood. They have great friends in the local community and most look forward to seeing their son Ewan (36) who currently lives and works in the snow fields of Hokkaido, Japan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.