PJ Tips Podcast Leading Business Change

As it's National Apprenticeship Week in the UK, we have recorded a podcast to discuss and promote the value of Apprentices and Apprenticeships, with particular regard to Leading Business Change and bridging the Skills Gap in Digital Transformation.

Unlocking the Potential of Apprenticeships: A Journey with Alison Galvin MBE

Embark on a transformative voyage as we delve into the world of Apprenticeships with Alison Galvin, MBE, the visionary Chief People Officer at INV Group, a group of cutting-edge technology companies. Join us in this compelling podcast as Alison sheds light on the critical role apprenticeships play in bridging the digital skills gap, especially in the public sector where their impact is most needed.

Recent reports from Forbes highlight a staggering 93% of UK businesses grappling with an IT skills gap, with 42% attributing the challenge to the rapid pace of technological advancements. The ever evolving landscape of technology, encompassing artificial intelligence, data analytics, and cloud computing, underlines the urgency of addressing this gap. Training and development deficiencies are cited by 41% of businesses, while 37% identify the lack of relevant educational programs as contributing factors.

Against this backdrop, apprenticeships emerge as a powerful solution, presenting a viable strategy to cultivate a skilled workforce and bridge the divide. In this podcast, Alison Galvin shares her invaluable insights, drawing from her role as the driving force behind INV Group's apprenticeship program. Under her leadership, the program has produced a cadre of leaders, including board directors, creating a talent pipeline securing the group's future.

Alison's active engagement in the Government's South East 'Apprenticeship Ambassador Network,' her position on the Board of Surrey Chambers of Commerce, and her involvement in the Surrey Skills Leadership Forum and the Enterprise M3 Skills Advisory Panel position her at the nexus of business and government. This unique vantage point enables her to contribute meaningfully to addressing the skills shortage in Surrey across diverse sectors.

Tune in to my PJ Tips Podcast to discover Alison's philosophy on recruiting, training, and nurturing apprentices. Gain valuable insights into the culture, strategy, and leadership behaviours that empower apprentices and foster the success of apprenticeship programs. Explore the untapped potential of apprenticeships in the dynamic realm of digital and tech, where businesses struggle to keep pace with rapid change. Alison's firsthand experience includes nurturing senior managers and directors, including two Managing Directors, who ascended through the apprentice program.

Is engaging apprentices a sound business decision? According to Alison, the figures speak for themselves, highlighting the mutually beneficial relationship between apprentices and employers. As she unveils the symbiotic advantages, it becomes evident that apprenticeships not only make business sense but are integral to leading transformative business change. Join us in this podcast and unlock the full spectrum of possibilities that the Apprenticeship Scheme holds for both individuals and businesses.

#NationalApprenticeshipWeek

#NationalApprenticeWeek

#NationalApprenticeshipWeek2024 #Government

#ApprenticeshipScheme

#BuildBetterBusiness

#LeadingBusinessChange

#DigitalTransformation

#Technology

#SkillsGap

#Education

#TalentPool

#SuccessionPlanning

#Coaching

#Culture

#Leadership

#Strategy

#GrowthStrategy

In this PJ Tips Podcast on Leading Business Change, our guest Gwen Stirling Wilkie shares insights, stories and top tips on Beyond Hybrid Working.

Gwen has recently published a book Omni-Working, which talks a lot about the need and value of flexibility in work. Not just where we work, but how we work.

If you think Omni or Flexible working is tough to achieve in your world, imagine integrating Omni working into a Construction Firm on the building sites.

Over the last few years, I have worked with and spoken to many leaders and bosses who (excuse the expression) have their proverbial 'knickers in a twist' over whats right and wrong when it comes to flexible working.

Clients such as a Dubai Bank to UK Rail Co are wrestling with this topic. A Top Tip from Gwen is to 'experiment'. You'll hear her use this term a number of times in the conversation.

But, as we discuss, do you - and the business - have the leadership skills and underlying culture to encourage and support experimentation.

We usefully discuss two levels of Leadership :

The strategic level of leadership that vision and strategy for omni working, and

The second tier of leaders who have to try and implement the strategy.

One could argue there's a third level, and that's leadership of self to live the strategy honestly and effectively, not just in service of self, but in service of the project, team and overall purpose.

Given that, in the UK, figures for Performance and Productivity are (relatively) low, we need to upskill (or re-skill) leaders to Lead Business Change. Unfortunately change is most often difficult, expensive , emotional, time consuming .... and failure intensive.

How can Omni Working impact on Performance and Productivity? Listen in to hear Gwen's insights and practical tips for Leaders, leading this change.

For more insights on Omni Working, connect with Gwen Stirling-Wilkie on LinkedIn and Twitter, and her book is available online : Omni-Working: Work effectively in all ways, from all places.

For more insights and top tips on Leading Business Challenge, connect with me PJ Stevens #PJTips

#leadingbusinesschange

#omniworking

#beyondhybridworking

#performance

#productivity

#culture

In this PJ Tips podcast on Leading Business Change, Neil Barrie talks us through the new playbook for 21st century brand building, and shares his purpose to 'challenge leaders to create a positive cultural legacy’.

Its a high energy ride, so hang on. It so worth it!

Neil was CSO of Chiat Day Los Angeles from 2014-2018, and spent most of his time working on Airbnb. Here he met up with Jonathan Mildenhall and they worked together when Airbnb was just a squiggly logo and helped grow it to the global travel brand we know it as today.  

Having left in 2018, they decided to create a business together. A business that would utilise their incredible knowledge of Brand Building for good. TwentyFirstCenturyBrand was born with the mission to launch, build and scale the most influence brands of our time.

After 5 years growing their business and helping others do the same, they joined up with Common Interest who now have a 51% stake in the business.  

Neil openly discusses why they created 21stCenturyBrand, the good work its done and will do as part of the Common Interest collective.

When talking with Neil on this PJ Tips Podcast I got the overwhelming sense of Human, of being Human and Human interest. Indeed, Neil tells us about their core value ‘Ambush with Humanity’, meaning they go out of our way to create a safe space for people to be vulnerable, creative and challenging, both internally and with clients. Neil says it’s so important that people are themselves, not who they think they ‘should’ be.

This bears out in his views on ‘discuss the undiscussable’ and how to create a safe space for leaders to do this.

Purpose flows through the conversation. When asked about TwentyFirstCenturyPurpose, Neil offers surprising insights. He talks about seeking a deeper purpose above that of their vision, and that they went away for a few days with the team who decided on ‘Challenging leaders to create a positive cultural legacy’ as their leading purpose.

I had heard people use the term ‘explosion of creativity’ and I was buzzing with energy talking to Neil, which makes more sense when you hear why sold shares to Common Interest and join the collective. Its all about partnering with other businesses with a common interest and services that combined can add more value.

The term collective brilliance springs to mind. By working with Common Interest they can expand services whilst remaining true to themselves, their skills and brand.  

I referred to it as a merger in the conversation, and it’s not that. It’s more of a purposeful coming together.

Given the successes Neil and the team have enjoyed to date, one can only imagine the good they can do in the next period.

Here’s some of the questions that Neil answers in this podcast:

• What is brand and what isn’t it

• Definition of brands

• How do you build a brand with particular regard to people and behaviours

• How does a brand help you in tougher economic times and pressures

#LeadingBusinessChange

#PurposeLedBrands

#BusinessForGood

#Failure

#GrowthStrategy

#CollectiveBrilliance

#Brand

#BrandBuilding

#21stCenturyBrands

#Culture

#CultureChange

#Legacy

In this PJ Tips podcast, I talk Sport, Leadership and Sustainability with the World's Greenest CEO, Henry Staelens.

Having sold a couple of businesses, Henry became the youngest football club CEO when he took over at Forest Green Rovers.

Henry has very clear views on leadership and sustainability, and since recording this, has started a new challenging role as CEO at Ice Hockey UK - why, because of the massive potential he sees.

Forest Green Rovers were once described as the hippie club everybody hated, but the world has moved on and Forest Green Rovers are a global phenomenon leading the way in sustainability in football, and are 'everyone's second favourite club'. Hundreds of Clubs and Businesses have been to see FGR, ho are a model for change, even Wimbledon has been to visit the tiny Gloucester Club. In the conversation Henry talks about Wimbledon's famous Strawberries and Cream, and their trial of Strawberries and Vegan Cream. The results might surprise you. Check out their Green Code work.

Henry believes in leadership and accountability, not micromanagement and establishes a 'belief system that’s bigger than just on the pitch'. He's highly motivated, purpose led and had a very clear mission & strategy at FGR. It was about being the Worlds First where they could, such as having the worlds first vegan/organic pitch. They believe in the notion of do it first, then tell people you’ve done it! Rather than tell them about ideas or plans you have to XYZ in 2030 and then fail to execute.

You can feel the innovation and intention in Henry's comments and insights.  So does this mean other Football Clubs are typically lazy or slow to change?

FGR does more with less – they are over achievers by their own admittance and in the nicest possible sense.  They have bigger audience than any club of its size. Indeed they have 120 international fan clubs. Made profit every year including Covid; Hospitality has grown 300%  and fan numbers grown by 400%. This impacts on the fan experience, income, sponsors and merchandise.

FGR have some amazing sponsors. Henry talks about Quorn who were their biggest sponsors and who are now middle tier as new sponsors have come onboard. This has happened as sponsors have bought into the vision and purpose.

There's no greenwashing at FGR. And they have been careful with new sponsors, checking their green behaviours and governance. So with this in mind, I ask about their relationship with Innocent Smoothies, owned by Coca Cola. The response might surprise you.

So what does sustainability mean and does it make good business sense.  Sustainability takes a culture, decisions and investment. But it seems that at FGR it does indeed make great business sense. People (fans) buy into consistency and authenticity. So dont just have one Carbon Neutral Game and then revert to BAU, make sustainability BAU.

Is Forest Green Rovers a Football Club or Small business? The main product is still football. They have a green stadium, but its still about football. However they are nimble, agile and able to make fast decisions. When Henry joined there was great potential to do more with what they had. The combination of Leadership and Change , was brought about in 2010 when FGR nearly went bust, and Dale Vince invested. He realised it needed more than money, it needed leadership and to be run properly and sustainably.

Culture plays an important part in any committed change. And the overall role of Culture, on and off the pitch is key in FGR. So if FGR can change and become 'green', why cant the likes of Newcastle? Henry talk about football have a wonderful opportunity to lead sustainability in Sport.

We talk about Culture, how to build and create and we talk about managing people, personalities and roles, including the relationships with Owners and Managers and how that helps or hinders Clubs.   

Henry's Top Tip: Change can feel hard and cumbersome. However – do the right thing, and change and commercial value will come.

“As a leader, it’s about the actions you take, not the words you use.”

This was one of the references that Emma Hardaker-Jones makes in the podcast. Its big and brave as are many of the other insights and information she shares about herself as leader, the business and the changing face of leadership today.

Emma is Group HR Director at Legal & General, though her title might better be described as Chief of Stuff. Since joining Legal & General in 2017, her role has expanded to include internal communications, sustainability, real estate investments as well as sitting on the board of the housing business that L&G bought in 2018. 

How does she manage all the projects whilst keeping her health, sanity and effectiveness high - she reveals all in our chat.

In the podcast, Emma talks to us about the bravery of leaders today, the changes required in leaders and leadership, and gives some insights into the changing leadership at the top at L&G as Chief Executive of Legal & General, Nigel Wilson, is to retire after more than a decade leading Britain’s largest asset manager and insurance group. L&G, which manages £1.5tn worth of assets for clients, including workplace pension schemes, is now on the hunt for a successor. Will Emma be that successor - I ask the question.

Presumably there's a bunch of in-fighting from people in the business who want that CEO job? And how will the business manage if an 'outsider' is recruited into the most senior leadership role. Imagine trying to follow Nigel Wilson. Emma gives an authentic overview of this situation, how to manage the business, protect people's investments and lead Changing Leadership.

Emma offers some wonderfully personal and professional insights, such as why she joined L&G, how its purpose from 1836 of creating a better society lives in todays culture, and where they are today and why they will exist in the future? Today L&G are a leading financial services group and major global investor, safeguarding people's financial futures around the world with over 10,000 staff and £1.5TRN AUM

So what does leadership and the Bravery of a Leader mean to Emma - and how does she live it. 2021 was a tough year for Emma and she talks through the realisation and changes that had to be made, and how well she and the business maturely embraced this. Her insights include how to and why to make space for self and the importance of self maintenance. This level of leadership has proved a benefit to L&G and had a positive impact on her family.

It takes courage to change and one of Emma's top tips, which she heard elsewhere is that Leaders need to ‘’watch the feet, not the lips’’. What are people doing, not just saying - are they staying in the business or exiting to pastures new? She is clear on what did leaders do well in pandemic,  what behaviours do we want to preserve and will this help. The notion of 'we may not get it right' is inspiring.

Emma talks openly about the ebb and flow of Engagement, and lessons hey learned about to treat people and importance or power of listening.

As a result of extensive listening - and an increase in staff engagement - Emma and the team at three key points to work on: 

• Work life balance       
• Tech
• Get things done easily

The first two may be more obvious in this day and sage, but what about the third? Getting things more easily is perhaps common sense, but then again, does it happen, or are too many of us making things more complicated, more difficult than needs be. I can name some businesses where people thrive on making things tough, to look important and valuable for their own purposes. Emma shares what this means to L&G and broader community.

Finally we look at how not only do Leaders need to drive and lead change in organisation, but how to create and maintain shifts in culture and behaviours. The landscape is constantly shifting

 Thanks to Emma and Legal & General.

#Leadership #LeadingBusinessChange #Bravery #Change #Culture #ChangingLeadership

The topic for this podcast is the Value of Boards, and more specifically about value and impact of Non Executive Directors ( NEDs).

Are NEDs a waste of money or an essential part of the business?

And to help us unpick and better understand it, is Ian Shepherd.

Ian is Chairman of the PE-backed retailer Bensons for Beds. Over the last 25 years, Ian has served as CEO, COO and in a number of senior commercial roles for a variety of leading retail, hospitality and media brands including Odeon, Vodafone, Sky and Game where we met 10-12 years ago.

Ian is also the author of 2 books on retailing - Reinventing Retail and The Average Is Always Wrong - and writes a weekly newsletter on retail and business topics at Moving Tribes ( movingtribes @ substack.com )

So it is with great pleasure I introduce Ian to you and thank him for his valuable insights and information, and more over his desire to help build better business and businesses.

This podcast will interest people who are generally interested in Boards, Board Behaviours, when to have a Board and the principles of Boards. Its fair to say that, should he be minded, Ian could probably deliver very entertaining comedy show on the subject, given his wealth of practical experience and dry humour!

More specifically, if you are thinking about whether you need a board, the good and bad of having a board, the ups and downs, want to understand the difference between a Chair of a Private Co, Plc or PE backed organisation, or are thinking about being a NED, this podcast is for you. You may be a shareholder wondering what a board is doing for you, and Ian will help.

Ian and I discuss how the world is changing in unprecedented ways: Climate change, Covid, war close to home, financial instability, food costs, high street store closures and energy prices, and in UK we had three Prime ministers in 6 weeks! One might aptly refer to this as #PolyCrisis.  I was fascinated to hear how Ian leads against this backdrop, and given the situation, what part do boards play, or should play in navigating this period?

Boards and DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) is a topic close to my heart, but more importantly its one I see businesses and boards wrestling with. Ian talks very openly about his thoughts, experiences and suggestions on this matter. As he points out, he doesn't know all the answers, but certainly has some challenging views and sets high standards for himself and the broader NED community.

What does a diverse board look and feel like. When is a diverse board not a diverse board? Listen in to Ian's thoughts or send us your views.

Topics and questions discussed include:

• Why and when do we need a board
• Are NEDs more or less useful than Christmas Tree decorations or Bidets
• How could or should NEDs add value
• What is the role of a NED and what isnt it
• Whats the role of the Chair person, and how does Ian see himself in that space
• To what degree should the board be involved in ESG
• Does a Board set the tone or Culture for the business
• Whats the coasts for the business in getting it wrong when it comes to Boards and NXDs

Two questions from listeners:

• Why do so many companies seek NEDs with FD experience – surely they should be looking for more diverse thinking
• How much influence should boards have - Ours feel quite disruptive

I very much hope you found the views and ideas in this conversation of value.  If you have any questions, views or feed back on this podcast, or want to suggest a guest, please get in touch with me pj @ pjstevens.co.uk

#leadingbusinesschange

#culturechange

#Board

#Chairman

#PrivateEquity

#BusinessGrowth

#EDI

#NonExecutiveDirectors

#BoardBehaviours

#ESG

#Governance

#Shareholders

Our thirst for the freedom to travel at will causes many challenges against the back drop of climate change, behaviours and manufacturing, so how can we solve the multiple challenges and retain our freedom, and at what price?

Are Electric Vehicles the answer to our mobility?

Whats better for the environment, a new EV or an old 100,000 mile diesel - is new the best option? 

Who is responsible for leading and delivering a more sustainable mobility agenda? 

Indeed, should car companies selling as many cars as they do?

These and other questions are covered in this conversation with guest Ian Digman. Ian is an automotive engineer by education and has spent the last three decades in the industry. He has worked in functions ranging from advance concept development and strategy through to production and marketing. And has worked across Europe, Asia and Middle East in global corporations and small start-ups alike, including time at Ford, Nissan and McLaren.

He is now an independent consultant and joined the podcast to share his passion and knowledge of the industry as it goes through a once in a lifetime revolution.

I invited Ian because I'm fascinated by the power of collaboration, the eco-system and infrastructure, and equally baffled and challenged by its seemingly lack up connectivity, direction and ownership. Example, charging points placed in areas, such as underground parking where the mobile signal fails, making it a challenge to download the app to use the charger. 

I was also hoping he'd tell us about some the superstars and characters in the automotive industry....  the good leaders and the not so good!! 

How do leaders need to respond, how will behaviours need to change regarding EV Sustainability as a model for change. In your view, who is doing it well?

Do you think people will continue to own cars, will we move to a subscription or rental based model? 

Given the unprecedented changes globally, perhaps we will be jumping in and out or Ubers or flying in Jetsons spaceships? 

I love ICE cars, the sound of a normally aspirated V12, the whine of a supercharger on a monster V8.....   these emotions are deep in me, but aren't the future. So what is? Ian has a whole bunch of ideas and insights.

If you have any questions or feedback, please get in touch with me pj @ pjstevens.co.uk 

#futureofmobility #EV #sustainability #rawmaterials #network #socialresponsibility #rangeanxiety #transportationmodel #engineering #projectmanagement #leadingbusinesschange #automotive #cars #mclaren #electricvehicles #leadership #government #carbonneutral #environment 

The Red Arrows, Britain’s best loved High Performance Team, is the topic for this podcast with guest Red Arrow Mike Ling, MBE.

This podcast is about High Performance Teams and Teamwork. Mike shares deep insights into what makes the Red Arrows such a High Performing Team and suggests ways in which businesses can learn from the Red Arrows and improve their business, performance and team work.

For many years I have delivered team work, team development and team building sessions for clients - from the Warehouse to the Boardroom - and in these high performance teams sessions, the Red Arrows are regularly held up as a model for high performance. I think the Red Arrows as a team, both on the ground and in the air, is a solid example of a top team.

So why is Mike Ling the best of the best?

The numbers behind Mike’s RAF and Red Arrows career are truly outstanding. Of his 21 years in the RAF he has completed 10 display seasons in the Red Arrows . In that time he’s flown over 2500 sorties in Red Arrows aircraft, taken part in 700 public displays and flown the famous red Hawk jet in nearly 50 different countries from USA to China.

During those ten Seasons of flying in the famous display team he’s held a number of positions in the air and on the ground. He has been Team Supervisor and one of the Synchro Pair.

Why do the Red Arrows exist?

The quintessentially British brand, was created to promote Britain, in true best of British style. For nearly 60 years the Red Arrows have flown displays of excellence. In this podcast Mike talks about the importance of the Red Arrows work stating the value from the 2016 Great British Campaign supporting British brands – such as Aston Martin and Brompton bikes - in Singapore producing £8BN trade deals on 9 weeks.

What are the Hallmarks of High Performance Teams?

There’s much talk of the hallmarks or criteria which elevate good teams to high performance teams. But what are these hallmarks?  Typically you hear about Communication, Leadership, Goals and Trust, and these are mentioned in this conversation, along with a few others that you might find interesting. Hearing Mike talk about Pride and Heritage adds a new depth of engagement, whilst his very specific insights into their view of Feedback and Self-Critique takes the notion of ’feedback is the food of champions’, to the next level. Perhaps this is singularly the main hallmark that sets them apart, what do you think?

In the high tech world of flying, Mike notes that at times good old fashioned communication wins through. I thoroughly enjoyed the way he compares Social Media and WhatsApp to their WAM communication. Whats WAM, have a listen, it might be the simplest and easiest Top Tip to take from this podcast to help you in your business.

What is the Recruitment Process like for Red Arrows and what can business learn from it? After the initial application a number of Pilots are invited to a week long practical process with the Team. In the business world here recruitment is constantly under review and is often a poor process, the Red Arrows have a few top tips to share. 

Mike answers questions on: ego, nicknames and how many people are in the Red Arrows team, including the Ground Crew...  How many do you think it is? 

Finally there's a piece on personal leadership and resilience, as Mike talks through his 800 mph head on crash and months of rehabilitation. The honest insight must be heard to be believed. 

And for fun, who do you think Mike names as his example of a great team, and why? 

#Teamwork #HighPerformance #TopTeams #LeadingBusinessChange #Leadership #HighPerformanceTeams #BestOfTheBest #TopGun #TomCruise #RedArrows #BritishBrands #Trade #ForeignTrade #AstonMartin #PJTips #TopTips 

Why businesses must stop trying to empower women, and put their money where their mouth is. 

In this provocative, insightful and current conversation with Rebecca Leppard, she tells why we must stop trying to empower women, and what businesses need to focus on. And yes, that means money! No, not just in salaries, but in infrastructure, education, support and even health care. 

I can already hear a bunch of blokes cringing. Indeed Rebecca addresses the challenges and discomfort many men might feel talking about this topic, and she does her best to coach 'blokes' through her insights, information and stories. Love or hate it, you'll benefit from it. I certainly did. 

No topic seems off limits in the conversation. If you're a Pale, Stale Male, afraid to address women's issues or don't know whether to hold the door open or not, Rebecca has the answers. 

'Stop talking about Aunt Flo, grow up, use the proper term.... its not a period, a punctuation mark....  its a menstrual cycle.' She continues to talk about Tampons, Cups and the importance of health care. Though I'm fascinated by the menopause, we agreed to keep that for another day. 

She talks about Equity in a truly refreshing way. Does she think Women should be paid the same as Men in Sport, listen in. 

More importantly we discuss why investing in Women makes great business sense, and why businesses need to care about DE&I for real. 

We talk about:

• Women's health, well being and child care
• Equity and Equality 
• Women in the Boardroom
• Profitability and business growth, Marketing and Customer base 

A couple of questions that listeners asked include.....

• Is it true that a diverse board makes better decisions …? Mark from a Pharma Co 
• Why are we still talking about equity in this day and age? When will people see the value in inclusion and outcomes, not just who shouts the loudest…. Julia, Head of Comms, IT co

What questions do you have about this topic, let us know. 

In this PJ Tips Leading Business Change podcast, guests David Blower Executive Director at Stonewater Housing Association and Merje Shaw, Design Researcher and Strategist, join me to discuss 'Staying Human: Ethics as an Advantage' 

Stonewater is a leading social housing provider, with a mission to deliver good quality, affordable homes to people who need them most. With well over 30,000 homes and 70,000 residents, Stonewater supports many people to have a place they can call home.

Given that number of people and range and importance of services and support that Stonewater offers, Artificial Intelligence, Data, Tech and Ethics are high on the agenda. How to enable customers to have a better, more efficient service is central to the Stonewater community. So how can data better inform and improve customer experience, whilst managing those human needs in a digital first world. 

David offers insights into what good use of tech and data mean to customers at the group and individual perspective. He questions how can we foster trust with our customers, when one might consider there is an absence of trust not just in data and business, but in society. Therefore, where is the opportunity to develop trust through better use of data and tech, and in those human on interactions. 

Merje has some challenging and broad ranging views on how much can be automated in our day to day working, and indeed what cant it. She offers some interesting insights into the notion of empathy in this space, and reminds us that Tech is fallible. 

#artificialintelligence

#businessimprovement

#customerexperience 

#userexerience

#data

#bigdata

#customersatisfaction

#humanonlytaits 

#loyalty

#trust

#technology 

#empathy

Daniel Lamarre, is the long time CEO and now Executive Vice-Chairman of the Board at Cirque du Soleil

He is widely regarded as the driver behind Cirque du Soleil's successful global strategy. He is named in books and the (Blue Ocean) case study is used in MBA programmes globally.

Originally composed of 20 street performers in 1984, Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group completely reinvented circus arts and went on to become a world leader in live entertainment. Established in Montreal, the Canadian organisation has brought wonder and delight to over 180 million spectators with productions presented in 450 cities in 60 countries. Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group currently employs 4,000 people, as Daniel will explain, including 1,300 artists, who originate from nearly 50 countries. In the podcast he shares that its like 'the United Nations' in the cafeterias at Cirque.

It is worth remembering the Mission of Cirque du Soleil: to invoke the imagination, provoke the senses and evoke the emotions of people around the world.

Can you imagine running 44 shows in a dozen countries, a billion dollar show on earth, and then Covid hit? Daniel talks us through closing the business from 44 shows to zero, but more usefully perhaps, talks about the leadership behaviours during the time they were closed, and how they kept in touch with the several thousand staff and 1,000+ performers 

The Mission makes me tingle with excitement, but how do you bring that to life?  Daniel tells us about being a creative powerhouse, about creative friction and some of the elements required to develop creativity in your people, culture and at the heart of your business. 

Daniel takes the old adage that without creativity there is no innovation to a new level. He believes that without creativity there is no business. Listen in to find why he believes and what stops people and businesses being creative. Creativity extends far beyond business improvement, it needs to exist at the core of the business.

One of the problems I experience with clients is that they hold workshops with the idea that 'now we will be creative'....   Sometimes we get lucky, often we don't. Why? Because creativity is not in their DNA, its not in the Culture. The culture does encourage or enable creative thinking, conversations and ideas. 

If you are interested in creative thinking and problem solving, Richard Draisey from McLaren Formula One Team, talks about how the Budget Cap pushed creativity - particular between finance and engineers in the Podcast I recorded with him. 

You may be wondering, as was I, how a very human centric business can thrive in a largely digital world. We cover this off in the conversation, with, of course, a reference to creative thinking, developing a view of the future and being constantly open to new ideas. 

I would like to thank Daniel Lamarre most dearly for joining me on this global PJ TIPS PODCAST, Leading Business Change, focusing on Creativity and Leadership. 

#leadingbusinesschange #creativethinking #blueocean #businessimprovement #strategy #culture  

Nicole Bearne is Head of Internal Communications at Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team. 

Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Motorsport is the works Formula One Team of Mercedes-Benz and competes in the FIA Formula One World Championship, the pinnacle of world motorsport and the largest annual sporting series in the world. The team has a combined workforce of some 1500 people, based at two world-class technology centres in the UK. 

In this PJ Tips podcast she shares how internal communication powers performance at the globally successful Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One team, one of, if not the most winning teams of all time. Her stories and insights on the importance and power of communication includes how good comms saves time and money, drives up engagement and leads business change, performance and value.  

What do you think Internal Communications is and what makes great internal comms? It's the first question(s) I put to Nicole because I sense its not fully understood or valued in businesses. I found listening to the depth and breadth of her answers both educational and exiting. The power that internal communications can unlock in people and performance is very real. 

Internal communication informs and circulates information, it encourages collaboration between the participants in the teams and business. It links with the purpose, vision and values, it offers clear insights sharing the right amount of information in the right way.  Listening, it feels like professional internal communications is a mix of many skills, experience, resources and models including Leadership, Management, Psychology, PR, Organisational Change, Feedback, Risk Management, Relationship Awareness, Diversity & Inclusion and Social Sciences.

I assumed it would be easy to lead Internal Communications when you're winning, yet Nicole tells us how consistent the work and messaging is whether you're winning or losing. So much of the communication is about how can we improve, what the opportunities are, the goals, strategy, vision and values.  

Perhaps internal communications is the antidote to Chinese Whispers, helping reduce misunderstanding, uncertainty, moaning and misinformation across the business. Nicole has many great insights into how well structured and intentional communications adds value to the business from both informal and formal perspective. 

Does every business have or need dedicated internal communications professional? If you are an SME owner, leader or director without a well thought through internal comms process, might like to this to this chunk of the podcast. 

The purpose of my podcasts is to inform and inspire others to lead business change, more efficiently and effectively, through the practical insights and stories of credible experienced leaders in their field. Time and time again I say how privileged I feel to meet and talk with leaders, how amazing they are..... and how inspirational and valuable their insights are, and they keep on coming with Nicole Bearne. 

In closing, Nicole shares some very personal insights into personal change, brought about through Covid. She talks about decluttering your wardrobe - metaphorical and actual - and making space for joy. We both talk about the notion of decluttering your behaviours, clearing out behaviours that are no longer fit for purpose, simply don't fit or are no longer appropriate, especially given changes during and post CV. 

I have suits I may never wear in business again, should I keep them or throw them out. Is that the same with behaviours I no longer need? 

Thanks for listening to my PJ Tips Podcast with Nicole Bearne from the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 team on Leading Business Change through the power of Internal Communications.

#People #Communications #Performance #CSuite

Why HR Cannot be responsible for Organisational Culture, with Vindou Duc. 

Vindou joins us from Switzerland for this PJ Tips Podcast, where she is based and runs her Consulting business. Vindou has nearly 30 years global business experience ranging from Formula One to Pharmaceuticals with companies such PwC and Novartis. 

She left corporate life a few years ago, and set up Next Step Management Consultancy, with the mission to help you lead your organization through its business transformation, from the 'inside out'.

I invited Vindou to join us as she has both a broad Global view of Culture and in-depth practical experience of culture change in its own right, and as part of transformational programmes. I wanted to get her views on: 

• The current challenges that businesses face regarding understanding their current culture and defining the future desired culture
• The stats that show a big gap between what C Suite think culture is and the reality of the employee experience
• Why many business leaders struggle to get to grips with culture
• The frustrations that occur when the business gives culture to HR

HR is, in many respect, a service provider, a central support service concerned with Tupe, Pensions, policies, procedures, holiday pay, tribunals and the like....  therefore how on earth can HR be expected to lead a culture change when they don't have the time, resources or authority to do so. They need help....  

In this new world, HR needs to be developed to be a facilitator of change, becoming a partner and advisor to the board and business.

One of the challenges I see, is that HR are being rebranded as People and Culture, but that doesn’t make it so. I can rebrand myself as a Formula Driver or Play Boy tomorrow….. but I'm sorry to say I lack most of the resources to deliver anything other than disappointment

If HR is not responsible for CULTURE…. Who is?

Vindou offers answers, insights and top tips to help you on your culture journey. 

#culture #change #transformation #culturechange #organisationculture #leadingbusinesschange #pjtips #potential #businessimprovement 

Let me introduce you to my esteemed guest for this podcast, Lord Mark Price.

Lord Mark Price is the former government Minister of Trade, former Managing Director of Waitrose, and Deputy Chairman of the John Lewis Partnership. Mark was also Chairman of Business in the Community. Mark is the president of the CMI, a board member of Coca Cola European Partners and founder of WorkL. He has spent over forty years unlocking the power of people in organisations. Mark knows all about creating engaged and happy people at work who in turn create longer-term sustainable success for organisations. 

This podcast will appeal to the most senior of leaders, Board members, CEO's, C-Suite, People & Culture Directors, HR Leaders, M&A Specialists and Business owners who want to unlock the huge potential that exists in people for the all our sakes. Creating happiness for people makes common sense and great business sense. 

In this time of political challenges, stressed supply chains, recruitment costs and a potential recession looming, the happiness of staff may never have been more important. Happiness is central to recruitment and retention. 

Mark has been studying the value and impact of Happiness for many years and offers academic and leadership perspective of how happiness leads to commercial success, higher performance, productivity and customer service, and reduced defects, turnover and waste.

Mark shares with us his Six Top tips and measures for creating an environment for real happiness, and Pool Tables and Pizzas are not on the list!  

It isn't just the list that's useful, its the practical meaning, the links and combined impact of these that Mark shares that offers the real value. 

1. Pay & Recognition

2. Information Sharing

3. Empowering People

4. Wellbeing

5. Sense of Purpose and doing something Worthwhile

6. Job Satisfaction 

Happy staff stay longer, work harder, will want more training, be more productive and deliver better customer service. 

Don't waste money on surface level short term incentives or tricks to develop happiness, invest in meaningful matters such as developing managers and their ability to cultivate relationships with staff which will directly impact on retention, recruitment and engagement.

Happiness, as Mark will share, is critical to the success of your business. 

The purpose of my PJ Tips podcasts is to inform and inspire listeners to build better businesses and lead change more successfully, through the practical insights from authentic leaders. I hope you'll agree after listening to Lord Mark Price that he is a truly exceptional guest. 

If you have any questions or feedback, please DM me. 

#LordMarkPrice

#WorkL

#LeadingBusinessChange 

#StaffEngagement 

#JobSatisfaction 

#Communication 

#Purpose 

#CommercialAdvantage 

#BetterPlaceToWork 

#BrandValue 

In this PJ Tips Podcast on Leading Business Change we welcome Chris Cook, Olympic Swimmer, successful Business owner, Speaker and Coach.... who's chuckle is infectious. 

He'll tell you about the difference between self belief... and self knowing... and he shares a story about Adam Peaty and Usain Bolt to underline this. 

If you want reduce distractions and resistance, and Speed up your Performance, listen to this podcast.

Chris' over arching message is to ''simplify what you can in this world of complexity''. In his world, it was all about Swimming two lengths of a pool as fast as possible. Leading to an array of medals, records and success on the European, Commonwealth and Olympic stage.   

However Chris admits getting overwhelmed and stressed by how much distraction and 'to-dos' that he allowed to threaten his core activity, leading him to simplify his entire process. This reduced stressed and increased happiness - you can hear it in his voice and his 'chuckle'.  

According to Chris, despite what we may think, much of our world is in fact fairly constant and consistent. Consider what is more or less the same in his world for a moment:

• A swimming pool is 50m long, the water is always c26 degrees
• There are (almost) always spectators, film crews and interviewers
• There's always competitors, swimming the same stroke, over the same distance - in this case, two lengths of breaststroke

He encourages clients to simplify and be very clear on what they can and cannot control, what their job actually is..... and then get better and better at it. 

I was amazed to hear how he has a different view of the '1% Gains' made famous through Dave Brailsford and the Sky Cycling Team. Rather than looking at lots of little things, he chose to focus on the two or three big chunks that mattered to him, and he encourages clients to do likewise. For him it was a great dive off the blocks, a fast and effective turn and then sprint back to the finish. 

Two lengths. Done.. or 'Gone in 60 seconds'. 

I sense that some clients use the '1% Gains' as an excuse not to deal with the Elephant in the Room. Sometimes 1% change just wont cut it! In addition, I wonder if clients want to over complicate matters as a cover for their ineffectiveness and poor performance.

World Record Holder Adam Peaty now Swims the dame two lengths of the pool '100M Breaststroke' c5% quicker than Chris, who is now retied. Imagine what a 5% reduction in cost or time would do for your business. Chris talks about reducing procrastination, decision making and complication, increasing the pace of change and therefore moving to value faster. As he says, its simple, but necessarily easy.

He further gives insights into how sport, in particular Swimming and the governing body FINA need to lead through changes, such as the hot topic of Transgender in Sport, particularly Transgender Women. Chris talks us through some of leadership challenges therein. 

Thanks for listening to this PJ Tips Podcast on Leading Business Change. If you have any questions or feedback, do get in touch. 

If you liked this podcast, you may like the Michael Duberry (ex Chelsea Footballer) episode on high performance or listen to Mark Preston (Team Principal of World Champion Formula E team DS Techeetah) talking about winning on and off the track.

#leadership #change #leadingbusinesschange #business #sport #performance #olympics #transition #transgender #inclusion #fairness 

Many businesses are seeking to improve performance in businesses and in teams. Businesses want more for and from their people. 

Businesses often say they feel they have reached the limit of growth and improvement through standard processes and models and are now looking more deeply into the wealth of potential, knowledge and creativity that exists in people, to help the business grow. 

With the impending doom of a recession on the horizon, perhaps businesses need to invest more in, and take more note of people performance. 

In this podcast Michael and I talk Elite Performance, Team work and Leadership. 

Top Tips and Insights you might like in this recording:

• The difference in the same team from a winning year, to a losing year.  
• How to stay humble whilst winning.
• How to and why to have a conversation about your mental well being.
• Top notch Leadership Traits. 
• What female mega star to dress as when you are footballer.

Michael Duberry is a leadership coach, speaker and mentor, specialising in elite performance, including leadership, behaviours and resilience. 

Michael has come from professional and elite sport. He was a professional football and Cup winner at a number of Clubs including Chelsea and Leeds. Michael was also an England U21 player. 

In this PJ Tips Podcast, we discuss what Elite Performance is, and what businesses and leaders can learn from sports top performers. 

We do talk about Football. Whether you like football or not, we hope you get some real insights and practical tips for you and your business. 

Some of the lessons or insights might be obvious, like excellent training facilities and player development programmes. Its obvious. Businesses know it. But do businesses invest appropriately? 

Other obvious lessons include Team work. 11 players on the pitch working together. We see Defenders supporting the Attackers - we see defenders scoring! - and Attackers coming back to Defend.... Do you ever hear some one say 'that's not my job'...?   I hear that in business. 

Some of the less obvious lessons from Elite Performance might include humility and resilience. 

What is your understanding of resilience and what it means and how to recognise it? We hear it talked about so much in business. Michael has a very specific definition and ways to identify it. And his views on the importance of resilience in the real world, linking to mental health as well as personal performance and development, is grounded and honest. 

We are not saying all professional sports people and teams are perfect. They are not. But in the conversation we examine elite performance, indicators and insights from Michael. 

If you are interested in straight talking honest insights into some of the things businesses and leaders can learn from sport, this podcast is for you. 

Hopefully, we have a laugh too?  If Michael went to a fancy dress party as a Spice Girl, which one would it be? He discusses this openly, and tells us which female character he did indeed dress up as in Oxford! Its surprising.....   But what does it tell us about the man? You'll have to listen and tell us. 

Top Tips and Insights you might like:

The difference in the same team from a winning year, to a losing year.  

How to stay humble whilst winning.

How to and why to have a conversation about your mental well being.

Top notch Leadership Traits. 

#eliteperformance #teamwork #businessimprovement #change #goals #winning #leadership #resilience #wellbeing #mentalhealth #mensmentalhealth #spicegirls #recession #

In this episode, Rita Gupta, a family lawyer who specialises in Divorce and HNWI gives us insights into the impact divorce can have on people and business, and she shares some top tips to help leaders lead through Divorce.

We have probably all seen the personal impact of divorce on family and friends; the emotional rollercoaster, financial impact and the financial trauma that people suffer. Lives can be seem like they are ripped apart. 

If some one is going through a divorce, imagine what it might do to their energy, their capacity for work or their personal time? Suddenly they may find themselves homeless, separated from their kids and trying to create a new schedule, all of which will impact on the individual, their well being and capability to work.

Divorce may affect people to a greater or lesser degree. One lady I knew started going clubbing again to 'celebrate' divorce and every other weekend she partied hard, and by her own admittance was 'probably still suffering from excess alcohol on Monday morning'

So how does this impact on business? 

Rita talks us through Divorce and Business from three perspectives: 

Staff members who are going through divorce. The issues they may have, support they may need and how it might affect their team, projects and work. 

Leaders or business owners who are going through divorce, including at times where both parties are directors/shareholders of the business. Think about what might need to be in place to support an owner through divorce and how to look after the business during such times.

Thirdly, how the business and leaders can lead through the changes that divorce brings to the work place. 

#familylaw #highnetworthindividuals #HNWI #divorce #leadership #business #leadingbusinesschange #csuite #businessowners #shareholders #divorcelawyer #wellbeing #mentalhealth

Are you wrestling with Transformation, Change or Business Improvement? Are you planning a Transformation, or are you simply interested in hearing war stories of Transformation.

In this PJ Tips podcast on Leading Business Change, my guest Karen Thomas-Bland and I talk Transformation from the Trenches. 

The purpose of these podcasts is to offer listeners practical insights and information from experienced leaders in order to help us all lead and deliver change more effectively and meaningfully. I don't believe we need more theory of change, I think leaders want to connect, share and learn from others who have done it. What do you think?

Karen is an Interim Executive Committee member, Consultant and NED with 25 years’ experience leading complex enterprise-wide Transformations and M&A integrations to $105bn turnover. As a consultant, her clients have included Accenture, Microsoft, National Grid, RELX Group and PE funds where she has successfully led major programmes of change. Karen has been on Private Equity backed Boards to drive value creation and achieve a major fundraise or exit, working alongside major investors. Prior to her interim career she was an Executive in IBM Global. During this time, she was based out of New York, Dubai and Sao Paulo and led IBM’s global transformation, integrated ten major software businesses, run a $4.5 bn top accounts full P&L, and rapidly scaled a new global consulting and data analytics business to £500m turnover.

Karen discusses Business Transformation programmes she has delivered and tells two stories - one good, one bad! Its valuable to hear her bounce around the topics of new Strategy, Markets, Client Segments, Re-orientating the Business and new Ops Models.

She goes into some detail about what is Business Transformation and what isn't it? What the difference is between Transformation, Improvement and Change? And why its important to understand these. From my perspective, a big part is expectation. It seems Transformation is more than just ERP.

I hear clients talk about Transformation, but what they mean is Change, but what they are prepared to do is make a few small Improvements. 

Transformation programmes are people led, meaning they can be emotional, difficult and unsettling. Thinking about Culture, and taking care of people, engaging and enabling them are key elements to delivering a successful transformation. As leader you have your own emotions to deal with and you need to lead both the business and the people in the business. 

There is an old SAS saying: grip Self, the Team, and then the Task. Note the first two elements are people centric. Failure to do these will almost certainly end in a failed business programme. Perhaps this a useful way of thinking that any change starts with me? 

Karen has her views on Leading Business Transformation regarding Culture and Leadership Behaviours required to lead businesses and people through any change or transformation. 

Finally she leaves us with Three Top Tips on Leading Business Transformation. 

#Business #Transformation #Change #LeadingBusinessChange #Culture #Digital #Technology #People #Leadership #BusinessTransformation

Stats tell us that Change is expensive, difficult and failure intensive, but it doesn't have to be that way. I have a Five Step Process, tried and tested at Cranfield and used in Change programmes, M&A, Projects and Transformation to c $30Billion successfully. The process will significantly tip the likelihood of success in your favour. It does this by unearthing the wealth of potential that exists in your business but remains untapped... your greatest asset... people. 

If you have any feedback on the podcast, the matters the discussed or want to chat Transformation, give in touch. 

Richard and I hope you enjoyed part 1 of our conversation exploring Boardroom behaviours, where we looked more at the poor behaviours experienced in and out of the boardroom. 

In this, part 2, we look at Boardrooms Behaving Better. Richard shares specific examples of the roles and responsibilities of Boards and together explore what good behaviours look and feel like. 

Richard Cartwright is an Enterprise Fellow at Southampton Business School, an experienced NED, chartered Accountant and enthusiastic academic! He brings diversity to life in teams and boards with clients such as the NHS and NAO. 

Its often easier to spot and comment on poor boardroom behaviours and poor governance, as these are the examples that make the headlines. Good behaviours are not simply the opposite of the bad ones, though there's a relationship of course. Good behaviours often requires better personal leadership, interpersonal skills and alignment. Diverse thinking for example can be a huge benefit to the board, but to have it, you must be open to including difference and listening to it openly. It might be easy to recruit in ones own image but it may not get your the true value you want. Employing board members with the difference of opinions, experience and back ground you think you want, may require a different set of skills than you have to fully embrace these differences. 

Companies need their boards to function effectively. Board members provide executives with a different perspective and direction, drawing on their wider external experiences. The most effective boards meet regulatory requirements, keep the company accountable and provide sound strategic counsel.

Sarah Bell from Grant Thornton notes that, ''Truly effective boards clearly define their role and purpose, and have directors who can work well as a group while fulfilling their individual roles, such as overseeing succession planning, acquisitions and capital allocation.''

What do you think makes a good board, and what are better boardroom behaviours you experience? 

Listen to Richard discuss some simple and practical ways of improving board room behaviours and effectiveness. He talks specifically about Cyber Security and Cyber Attack which is hot topic. 

As always, I welcome your feedback, insights and stories pj@pjstevens.co.uk 

If you want to discuss anything you have heard in this podcast or chat about what resources are available to help you personally as a board member, or if you want to develop the effectiveness of your board, then please get in touch. Richard and I have a set of structured sessions, facilitated workshops, group and individual coaching options to support you. 

#leadingbusinesschange #boardroom #directors #nonexecutivedirectors #change #businessimprovement #ESG #cybersecurity 

In this podcast on Boardroom Behaviours, my guest Richard Cartwright explores Bad Behaviours in the Boardroom. 

Richard is a dynamic Academic and Non-Executive trusted by the NHS, NAO, Motability, ICAEW and is an Enterprise Fellow at University of Southampton, he brings lived experience of diversity to both the classroom and into boardrooms. For his sins he is a qualified Accountant and trained within the Big 4. More importantly for me, he's a great chap, hugely knowledgeable and very able to offer listeners practical insights into bad boardroom behaviours and the cost to businesses and their communities.

You may think that all boards and board members behave well. They don't. Richard and I have experienced first hand some shocking bad boardroom behaviours, but also much more subtle yet no less destructive poor behaviours. 

So what is board? A board of directors is an executive committee that jointly supervise the activities of an organisation. The board acts as a governing body for a company or organisation. The primary goal is often said to be to protect the assets of the shareholders by ensuring an organisation's management acts on their behalf and that they get a good return on their investment in the company. Though of course these days purpose is important, as is ESG and therefore the way the ROI is created is much more important. In short there are three main areas where a board focuses attention: governance, strategic direction, and accountability. 

So given this responsibility and clarity, you might be forgiven for thinking that everyone works well together, is equally aligned, committed and so on. However,  like any team or group, their are egos, agendas, differences, personality clashes and so on that can cause problems. Poor leadership of self and others can be seen, poor decision making skills, lack of diversity and relationship skills all contribute to unhealthy environments and less than high performance in the boardroom. 

Do you remember the old adage, 'Agree or Disagree, but Commit' which I first heard from Prof Sumantra Ghoshal. In the Boardroom this might be considered key, yet too often it isn't. 

Richard may cast humour into this pot of conversation, but underlying is a very real need to improve the behaviours of boards for the sake of the businesses, stakeholders, shareholders and the wider community. 

I wonder how many people will listen to this thinking that their board - even themselves - behave well, and on reflection might find some bad behaviours that resonate. 

Richard and I have run sessions with Boards, and shown videos of board room behaviours, which has shocked participants and led to very valuable conversation and significant improvements. 

It may seem a little unfair picking on the bad behaviours but after all its poor governance that makes the headlines, rarely the great governance! 

In the second part of this two part topic, Richard and I discuss Better Boardroom Behaviours.

The aim of these podcasts is to promote thinking about the behaviours of your boards, what you do well, and not so well, and therefore what you can improve, and why. For some this might be a conversation and some simple improvements, for others you might want some help, and we'd be delighted to have a chat and offer some insights, suggestions or come and work with you to facilitate changes and improvements. 

In the meantime, have a listen to myself and Richard exploring bad boardroom behaviours. Feel free to message me with your thoughts and examples.co.uk

Look out for Part 2, Boards Behavinboardroom #boards #executive #committee #poorperformance #governance #management #shareholders #ROI #purpose #ESG #accountability

PJ Tips Podcast on Leading Business Change, with thanks to Richard Cartwright 

If you are interested in business transformation, leading business change and navigating your growth strategy with a Private Equity investor, this podcast is for you. 

Simon Grosse is CEO of FSP, a people-centric technology and change specialist with an award-winning workplace culture, head quartered in Reading, and an office in Barcelona. Simon is a very people-centric leader, and believes their ethos helps clients to transform their ways of working and to realise the value of their technology investments. Their clients successes are significant in the growth strategy of FSP. 

In this podcast, Simon talks through the history of the 12 year old company, and how his purpose led style and award winning culture has brought about success for his staff, clients and the shareholders.

There was a material change in the business a couple of years ago when LDC backed FSP’s ambitious management team. According to Simon, the deal marked a key step in Foundation SP’s growth journey and very importantly, he knew that partnering with LDC would help FSP to scale while remaining true to our culture and ethos. Indeed Simon was keen that LDC understood the culture of FSP and not just what they did, but how and why they were different. 

I hope you will learn from his insights about business life before and after Investment, and how the change helped FSP to mature in many ways. Is PE for everyone - you'll have to listen to his views on this, and his strong views on Organic vs Inorganic business growth, such as Buy and Build / M&A. 

If you are considering a PE Investment, I sincerely hope Simons view will be of good use. Personally, I wonder how many businesses would fail to make the (mature) adjustments that Simon talks about which might lead to a failed investment prior to or during the deal period. By listening to this podcast, I hope you learn how to better prepare your management team and business for the required changes.

What strikes me about Simon and FSP, is that for tech company -  offering consulting, digital services, managed services, cloud, cyber security and Microsoft cloud suite for modern workplace - they are very people focused. I'm not sure Simon is that tech orientated himself, but perhaps the strength of the man, to build a business where those that do love tech can grow and develop self and services in a meaningful way.  

I think its certain that Simon loves business and the value that good business and businesses brings to communities. 

The purpose of the PJ Tips podcasts is to share very practical insights and information to enable us to lead better businesses, navigate change and release the potential that exists in our people and businesses. Please give me feedback on whether you think this podcast hits the mark. 

If you learn anything from listening or feel others could, please share this recording. 

#privateequity #leadingbusinesschange #LDC #culture #businessgrowth #growthstrategy #ambition #technology #cloudservices #microsoft #digitalstrategy #change #businesstransformation #PEbacked #awardwinningculture 

Andrew doesn't deal with arseholes, and he'll tell you why in this down to earth podcast on leading business change globally. 

If you think being purposeful or purpose led is a cliché or strapline, listen to this podcast with Andrew Powell who demonstrates how being deeply purposeful can lead to a global change. 

Andrew has founded, created and led a dozen businesses with many ups and a few downs, the lessons from which he shares openly and practically in this recording. Insights from having to close a business growing too fast and working with Private Equity Company LDC to run a business that he subsequently took through an MBO, are just two of the stories he shares. 

What is it about Andrew Powell that makes him the leader he is? Perhaps you could comment or email me your thoughts. 

There's no doubt in my mind that part of the answer is a deep seated purpose, a social conscience and ambition to do better business in a better way. The results of this internal drive are evident, not just in his boundless energy for an old man ( just joking, Andrew!!) but in the commercial outcomes that allow for additional community benefits. 

One lesson for me was the comment on the power of focussing on three things. Makes sense! 

Unfortunately if you are looking for a successful, driven Humble Entrepreneur and CEO to lead your business, he's unavailable. Andrew has found a new home where he can align his love of sport, commercial brain and focus on social mobility at the Lighthouse Group. The Lighthouse Group serves those in ‘high intensity careers, and specialise in working with talent across the worlds of Sport & Entertainment. The Group have a clear purpose to help maximise the individual’s potential, and to create sustainable financial futures.

With all is acumen and influence, and being a lifelong supporter of Swansea City Football Club, why-oh-why didn't he buy the Club when the opportunity arose? You've got to love his honest answer. 

No doubt Andrew is a wonderful guest with numerous practical insights and information to help develop us as leaders and inspire listeners to lead and build even better business and businesses. 

If Andrew was to run a Master Class, it might be titled : Businesses with purpose can change the global landscape. Here's how to do it.  

Should you have any questions, feedback or suggestions for future guests, please email pj @ pjstevens.co.uk or connect with me through LinkedIn. 

#PJTips #LeadingBusinessChange #Purpose #Entrepreneurship #PrivateEquity #LDC #SocialMobility #Sport #Entertainment #Education 

In this Episode of the PJ Tips Podcast on Leading Business Change, guest Gareth Rogers, CEO Farnborough International and ex CFO and CEO Southampton Football Club talks about his leadership experiences from Football, and perhaps more importantly, as CEO of Farnborough International. 

This podcast is for those interested in hearing practical insights and learning from leaders who want to share their experiences in the hope it will help us to build and lead better business. Whilst there are some comments about Football, this is more about Leadership and Business. If you want deep dark secrets from the Premier League, this is not the podcast for you. If you are interested in financial strategy, change, business transformation, hard work, honest and credible leadership, and leading business change, then tune in to hear Gareth Rogers talking Top Flight Leadership.... Top Flight... top flight football, top flight Aviation... get it?! 

Gareth is, by his own admittance, a professional Accountant. And it was whilst he was at Deloittes that the opportunity came up to do an interim role at Saints. He joined the year after Administration in a CFO role. He soon took the full time role and went on to be CEO at the Club.  During his tenure Saints enjoyed some decent success in Premiere League and got into Europe. During this period revenues grew from some £11 – 175M .

Football seems a peculiar business, to me, with some of its own rules and behaviours. Yet in essence, it should be a simple business. Gareth offers some very matter of fact insights into the business of football and how it is similar but different from more main stream business.

From Saints, Gareth moved to the role of CEO at Farnborough International. They organise the world's best Air Show, and are an International Events organiser and have invested in and built one of the Top 5 Conference centres in the UK at a cost of some £35M. 

Listening to Gareth talk through the last two years, the challenges of running an Air Show virtually, putting customers first and the mindset change that took, is inspiring. Listen out for the break through moment he describes, it's quite something special. 

The Farnborough Air Show has been around since 1948, and Gareth and his team are tasked with building on that and ensuring it remains current and relevant to the global Aviation players. How are they going about that, Gareth explains. I was enthralled hearing him talk about what Farnborough International should or could be in the business space, how it can help people ‘convene’ and deliver thought leadership around aviation. Certainly aviation is big business in the UK and he talks about the need and value to getting people together around Farnborough as a global hub for the industry.

Did you know that in recent years, they have set up film studios, stored cars and host the British Car Show? Demonstrating the business transformation and ambition of the team at Farnborough.

I asked Gareth what were the common lessons learned from Saints and from his first few years at Farnborough. The common thread is mind set and how to change and develop thinking, beliefs and behaviours. Notably how do you turn a business that delivers a massive air show every other year into an online show and conference for the market place? 

We may be fed up with the C-word, but Covid really has left a positive mark on Farnborough and its people, by 'forcing' them to get creative, move quickly and create a Virtual Air Show, whilst ensuring clients felt loved. No mean feat! 

Major world shows and events have disappeared, so how will Gareth future proof our air show. How will they listen to customers and transform in order to be sustainable and successful in the New world….? You'll have to listen. 

My thanks to Gareth Rogers from Farnborough International, and to you for listening. 

In this episode of the PJ Tips Leading Business Change podcast series, our guest is Jami Taylor from the Bay Area, West Coast USA.

Jami Taylor joined us from the West Coast of the US, she is an expert in innovation, change and growth strategies, and has a wealth of experience in M&A on a global scale, particularly in Pharma, BioTech and MedTech space.

She spent nearly 15 years at global pharma giant Johnson & Johnson in leadership roles in Corporate Affairs and founding team, Johnson & Johnson Global Public Health. Her current roles include Biotech Executive, Advisor & Board Member, Vice President, Corporate Affairs at Protagonist Therapeutics and Board Member at Object Pharma and Aneira Pharma.

J&J have been involved in over 1000 Mergers & Acquisitions, and many more will have been researched and rejected. In this podcast Jami gives insight into The Good, The Bad & The Ugly of M&A, and offers some very practical lessons from case studies.

We nearly called this episode 'Know M&A, Know the Future of Business', have a listen and let us know your thoughts.

First off Jami gives us an over view of some of the key growth strategies for business, and when different strategies are more appropriate for businesses. I found it fascinating how she talks us through the value of Organic Growth, the hard, dirty, yet often over looked hands on work that adds significant value to businesses. Organic Growth can often be less risky, if not as sexy as Inorganic Growth including Joint Ventures and M&A. 

I ask Jami 'What is an M&A, and why should business leaders engage in M&A?'. Her experience affords us specific insights and valuable lessons. She talks us through examples of failed M&A, and give us some useful insight into the hurdles and losses. Listening to this might help listeners to think very precisely about potential hurdles or losses that might occur - or have occurred - in their growth. 

So what ae the ingredients in a good M&A?  Jami tells us in this podcast. 

Change, as we know, is often risky, expensive and failure intensive. I do a lot of work with clients on identifying, understanding and managing potential pitfalls to any change or project, including M&A, and I use I tried and tested process to show management precisely where to pay more and less attention in order to reduce those pitfalls and greatly improve the likelihood of success. 

When you hear Jami talk about de-risking mergers and acquisitions ( integration etc), she shares some useful and practical suggestions from her years of experience, and even suggests a tippy-toe / softly-softly approach to M&A, such as get to know the potential target, do some work together, deliver a project and so on. This gives first hand insight into how they they work, they values, culture and ways of being. A great strategy or deal can be undermined and brought to its knees by a clash of culture or failure to find a 'fit'. 

Finally we talk about the importance to buyers in the Medtech and Biotech fields of acquiring business with clear Purpose, Green Credentials and ESG strategy.

Thanks to Jami Taylor, thanks to you for listening. Please message with any questions, feedback or suggestions for future guests.

On this PJ Tips Leading Business Change podcast, our guest is Oliver Hoffman, Head of M&A at Mazars. Oliver gives us his Straight Talking M&A views, practical insights and information in this episode. 

If you are interested in understanding more about M&A generally, why some work and others don't, or if you are thinking about participating in M&A activity, this podcast is for you. 

PJ Tips podcasts promise practical tips from experienced leaders. Here's why Oliver is worth listening to: 

Oliver advises owner managers, families, entrepreneurs and private equity houses on the sale of their businesses, usually seeking well funded larger corporates as buyer. He also works with larger corporate clients on divesting their non-core subsidiaries and finding acquisition targets. In recent years a high proportion of the transactions Oliver and the team at Mazars have advised on have been cross-border deals with the purchasers and vendors based in the UK, Europe, North America and the Far East. He and the team have been involved in hundreds of deals, and Oliver shares insights and tips from that combined experience.

Oliver answers questions such as:

What is an M&A Deal? 

What are the typical elements or characteristics of a successful deal?

What are the hurdles or failings that lead to an unsuccessful deal or even stop deals being done?

How is is different working with Entrepreneurial Businesses and Family Owned Businesses

How do Sellers and Buyers fair Emotionally in M&A? 

What do Buyers and Sellers want from a deal - and how do you help facilitate the deal?

Oliver tells us about what owners need to think about in selling and offers a few tips to help better prepare. He also shares what buyers look for, and therefore what can we learn? The piece I enjoyed hearing in talk about, is the need for Certainty from Buyers. Let me know what you think? 

Given that any change is failure or risk intensive, and that some 70% of M&A fail to meet expectation, I ask Oliver why this is, and what he suggests we do to improve the odds. 

This is a space I operate in for clients, and can show clients potential hurdles to delivering M&A, so they can see precisely where to pay attention to significantly tip the likelihood of success in their favour.

Finally Oliver answers a few fun quickfire questions from listeners. 

Thank you to Oliver Hoffman @ Mazars for giving us in-depth and practical insights and information to better prepare for Merges and Acquisitions. 

If you have suggestions for guests on this show, please get in touch. Thank you for listening, and I hope you laughed at the Door Bell moment! 

#M&A  #mergers   #acquisition #change #leadingbusinesschange #crossborder # familyownedbusiness #entrepreneurialbusiness #preptosell 

This episode of PJ Tips Podcast on Leading Business Change features Matthew Wragg, Chief Customer Officer at Gattaca who tells us why you need to stay paranoid in business, and how Covid helped transform their mission and ‘change up the game’.

Gattaca provide collaborative workforce solutions and recruitment services, tailored for the engineering & technology markets. Gattaca is a group of companies, including Matchtech, and has 500-600 staff globally.

If you want to hear more about practical challenges in mergers and integration and how having a clear purpose can help build an even better business, this is worth a listen. Unearthing your purpose, engaging and embedding it is not a quick fix. You need to commit and listen – really listen to people – and when you get it ‘right’ the transformation is palpable. Don’t believe me, check out this podcast.

Topics covered include:

Bringing Purpose to Life

Mission, Vision and Values

Clarity of message

What does good and bad look like

Merger M&A

Sustainability

Integration and Business transformation

Leadership in Change

Transformation through Tribes to Villages

If you are in any doubt about how purpose affects people, then listen carefully to Matthews voice and energy change as he starts to share insights about crafting the ‘new’ Mission and Vision.

I particularly love the bit where he shares how the Purpose is brought to life in some many aspects inside and outside the business, including the Children’s Christmas ( Party) Challenge this year. It clearly demonstrates that Purpose is not just a marketing phrase or hollow words on a job spec.

The story he tells starts with the challenges of a merger and integration. The purpose and mission existed, but was not unified, understood and really lived, though as he admits, it could have been ok. His points about trust and leadership are important elements of the learning from the journey. In essence the merger and integration could have been better and more efficient, and with their new purpose and better aligned business, doubtless new acquisitions will be much easier.

If you are interested in Matthews points about Tribes and Villages, these are referenced from Author of Blitzscaling, Chris Yeh, who talks about understanding how an organisation grows, the Five Stages and challenges. You might find it interesting to read this and cross reference with this podcast.

The story continues from working from the office to be almost entirely home based due to Covid. At this time the business set some goals and challenges to engage staff and have some fun. The outcomes turned out to be much more than fun, indeed it led to rethinking their Mission, Vision and Values, and gave them a new clearly defined Purpose. The 12 month process was engaging and collaborative. Matthew admits he could have written a decent purpose on his own. In reality none of his words made the final version. What does that say about the importance of engaging staff, listening and finding that common purpose.

The fun challenges mentioned included ‘Helping 1000 people get back to work’ during Covid. In fact they achieved twice this number in less time than expected. Why?

Matthew has done a few Marathons, even his slow ones are quicker than me! But did you know he did a Marathon around his garden in support of the NHS in Lockdown. What’s this got to do with purpose and leadership – may be very little, or perhaps there’s more to it?

Matthew offers many examples of how the Mission, Vision and Values are brought to life and lived in the business. You get the sense it really is integrated and understood.

Finally his Top Tips for Leading Business Change:

· Execution

· Authentic

Stay Paranoid ( you need to hear the narrative to understand this) 

Thank you to Matthew, and thank you for listening.

In this episode of the PJ Tips podcast ‘Leading Business Change’, we hear from Zoe Bailey, Head of Strategic Operations at Withers & Rogers, with responsibility for the development and management of the firm’s strategic operational activities. Zoe is ex-BDO, where I first met her.

This podcast conversation is about Purpose , and more specifically, the Purpose (or power) of Purpose.

We hear the word Purpose touted around a lot, its on websites and marketing material and I’ve seen it written on walls but what does really mean and what value – if any – does it offer people and businesses.

Zoe helps defines Purpose and offers a very interest sailing analogy. Listen to it and see what pictures it helps your create.

We explore what purpose is and why in a post pandemic world it could be argued that purpose is more important than ever. Zoe talks about the agile disconnected workforce, fragmented culture, critical decision making, scenario planning, strategic planning and the importance of trust.

She references agile working policy at W&R, the rationale for it, how it is working and some of the challenges and advantages.

Zoe talks about how being purposeful can provide clarity for the business, it’s people and clients, and offers a specific example from BDO and oil and gas sector example and how this works alongside the focus on GDPR. She continues on this thread with reference to Withers & Rogers moving from a European focus to Winning World Wide and how this recognised the purpose of being a Global business.

I found it useful to hear her practical insights ( and hard work) on bringing purpose into the business, it has to resonate, it cannot be imposed, and she shares the approach taken by BDO and the approach being taken now in a smaller firm at W&R to unearth and instil purpose.

We know that the practical benefits of purpose are wide ranging, and it’s simply fascinating to listen to Zoe bring it back to the simple and powerful things such as increased trust and improved decision making. She goes on to talk about the power of certainty around direction, clarity around vision and strategy, and purpose as a bedrock to values and behaviours. This leads to doing what you know you are capable of and are good at, it improve collaboration and stops you being so easily blinded by shiny objects – a challenge that many teams and business face!

Zoe expects that this approach will enable W&R to become more strategic and have the confidence to invest more readily in the future, and to trial and pilot new things.

I really wanted to explore trust in this recording, as its ever more important. Trust is key in any business. Trust is central in effective relationships, good leadership and problem solving, yet many businesses sense a low level of trust in their leadership, and varies surveys and papers inc HBR support this. So how can purpose help?

Zoe tells us about how increased levels of trust lead to decisions being made swiftly and importantly supported and implemented even when there are varying levels of agreement.  In essence, having Purpose liberates a business – but everyone has to buy into this – otherwise it quickly falls apart.

It could be asked that ‘trust’ in business, trust in business leaders, trust in each other has been challenged as we all take stock of decisions that have been taken in the last 18 months.

Having purpose may well improve profits, but it comes as a result of really bringing the purpose to life. There are surveys and data that show purposeful companies are 12% more profitable than their counter parts

As an example Purpose, we talk about Air BnB and WeWork, or rather I have a rant about the two examples!

In closing here’s a few Top Tips:

Commit - It’s not necessarily quick and easy.

Don’t assume

Engage people

Embed

The Role of the CEO in Transformation.

In this PJ Tips Podcast, Global CEO Julio Bruno shares his experiences and insights into the role of the CEO in business transformation. Julio was the CEO Of Time Out Group, comprising two businesses - Time Out Media and Time Out Markets. 

He is an Investor, Non Executive Director, Award Winning Business Leader and recognised as an advocate for the environment and for human rights around the globe. He is recognised for his work in Diversity and Inclusion, and offers some powerful views on why this matters to business and the broader community.

Julio shares his thoughts on the very practical activities that a CEO needs to pay attention to in Transformation, including:

Digital Transformation

IPO 

Strategic Alignment

Culture Change

Business Growth 

Problem Solving 

Julio talks specifically about taking the business Public in the Summer of 2016, raising £195M, prior to the Brexit Vote and the subsequent uncertainty and questions arose in the market. He shares the challenges of taking the business global, opening up new Time Out Markets, and then taking a business focussed on Time OUT, to a business that needed to pivot to a business helping people spend Time IN necessitated by Covid - imagine all the work that would have taken not just in the digital change and online content, but the challenge of aligning peoples beliefs and confidence in the strategy and change. 

The importance of clarity in strategy, culture and communication in transformation is clear, though its not easy! Listen to Julio's practical tips and consider which ones will best be of interest and use in your business. 

Julio is now a Non Executive Director, Investor and Speaker, with global experience. Get in touch with Julio or me, PJ Stevens, if we can be of service. 

#leadingbusinesschange #culture #transformation #business #ipo #merger #acquisition #fundraising #diversity # inclusion #culturechange #strategy #strategicalignment #ceo #leadership #communication #nonexecutivedirector #conferencespeaker #facilitator #digitaltransformation #globalmarkets #pjtips #buildingbetterbusiness 

In this Podcast on Leading Business Change, our guest Richard Draisey talks about Purpose, Strategy & Transformation and Why Business Leaders Must Think BIG!

Richard is the Chief Financial Officer at the newly founded E1 Series and is the ex Director, Financial Strategy & Transformation at McLaren F1 Racing Team, he is a qualified Accountant and yet is surprisingly human! An experienced strategic finance leader, skilled in complex business transformation – perhaps more importantly, he’s a true believer and participant in the purpose led business movement and aims to make a positive contribution to the sustainability revolution to protect our planet and future generations.

In this podcast Richard shares his views on Transformation is. He shares in some detail about the financial strategy and transformation programmes they ran at McLaren F1. Further, he gives us insights into the systems and changes he put in place to specifically improve business and transformation.

During Richard's time at McLaren the Spending Cap in F1 was introduced, Richard tells us how it impacted the business, decisions and behaviours. There are some very practical and useful lessons learned (and shared), including the transformational relationships between Finance and Engineering. Rich shares how the recognition of the importance and value of the Finance Department changed, and how the innovation and collaboration developed out of necessity. 

I asked Rich how can teams talk about sustainability and then go racing in cars? How do you manage Sponsors wanting to win with sustainability and broader purpose?  We talk about that purpose and sustainability and the conflicts that might exist in Formula One F1.

Richard reveals his personal interest in sustainability and the planet, and how it offered him the opportunity to join Rodi Basso CEO and Founder of the E1 Series. The E 1 Series is the first and only World Electric Powerboat Series. These guys have been said to be the coolest Team of the Sport Industry to build a new exciting sport show and spectacular city events. E1 will accelerate the electrification process of the Marine Industry.

E1 do not claim to be the fastest and most impressive form of motorsport. There are turbine powered cats doing well over 200mph and boats costing many millions £$£ setting records across the Atlantic. So the E1 electric boats, 7m long and doing 50kts may not seem exciting. E1 will be innovative and capable of running races much closer to spectators than offshore power boats. Racing side by side in City Docks or Harbours will undoubtedly be a spectacle. More over, the E1 Series will be a development platform for electrification in the marine industry. 

Finally, Richard ends with some Tip Tips on leading business change. 

Having listened to the Podcast, we hope you understand what Richard means 'Why Businesses must think BIG regarding, Purpose, Strategy and Transformation. 

#business #ambition #leadingbusinesschange #culture #finance #financedirector #transformation #purpose #formulaone #f1 formula1 #formulae #marineindustry #sustainability #racing #innovation #motorsport #pjtips #engineering #spendingcap #businesstransformation #leadership #electrification #powerboats #E1 #E1Series #strategy #startup #branding 

Disruption and High Growth Business Strategies 

This Podcast will be of interest to Business Students, Managers, Leaders and Company Owners, those starting a business and those thinking about exiting a business. This podcast is a Leadership MBA Masterclass from Aaron Montgomery, who founded Carlotz in 2011 with two colleagues, in 2020 they IPO'd the business for some $300M. 

The purpose of PJ Tips Podcasts is to offer listeners insights and information to inspire practical change. My hope is that together we help build even better business, for all our sakes. 

Aaron hails from Detroit and was in the car business before going to Harvard. The aim of Carlotz was to disrupt the market and improve service for both buyers and sellers. 

Carlotz was founded out of some frustration, from what the founders saw as a broken system. Their view was if you wanted to buy or sell a car, you could either take the easy way and lose your shirt with a dealership or the hard way and do it all yourself. Whichever way you went, you had to be prepared for headaches and hassles and that simply wasn’t good enough. The system lacked trust in their opinion. 

The innovative Carlotz model put the value back in the hands of their guests. Sellers get what their car is worth without the hassle of selling it themselves, and our buyers pay below traditional dealership prices. Carlotz do not pay pay staff commission, so their only incentive is to help they buyer find a car. Likewise, as cars are sold for a set fee, there is no incentive to buy or trade a car in cheaply. Its all very clear and the differentiator is transparency. 

In this podcast, Aaron shares his insights from starting the business through to its public offering after nine years. He talks about planning and financing the growth, some of the challenges of growth and how he as leader played his part in growing and developing Carlotz and the culture. 

Aaron is no longer full time in the business, but remains its greatest cheerleader. He has since written a book - Suspend Your Beliefs - and is supporting a company called Mission Lane which is company set up to help people find fair credit. 

Aaron's story is an MBA in a nutshell! 

#Start up  #MVP #MinimalViableProduct #TestingAssumptions #Funding #BusinessModelCanvas #FastGrowth #Expansion #Culture #Controls  #Governance #Differentiation #MarketPenetration #CustomerService #Purpose #IPO #Exit #Ansoff #Leadership #EatYourBreakfast #Car #Automotive #PESTEL #BlueOcean #RedOcean  

In this, the 15th Episode of PJ Tips Leading Business Change, we are joined by special guest Ralf Specht discussing 'Why Business Must Have Soul'

The purpose of these podcasts is to inform and inspire listeners through practical insights from exceptional leaders. So it is with great pleasure that in this podcast we meet and hear from Ralf Specht, who, together with a couple of colleagues, founded the global Customer Experience Agency SPARK 44 ten years ago. Spark 44 went from start up - with no Head Office - to 4 global offices in year one, to 19 offices in 18 countries within ten years. 

There is much to be learned from Ralf, working in what was in essence a 'virtual' start up, where zoom was normal as the teams connected, communicated and operated globally. Spark was set up with one P&L, to avoid competition for revenue, and to give customers the best experience the business could offer and 'make amazing things happen'.

Ralf shares how they moved from an idea to a business plan, to running a business in a few months and with four global offices in just months. The start up was a Joint Venture with Jaguar Land Rover, and was the first JV of its kind in the industry.

In the podcast Ralf talks about the purpose and culture of Spark 44, how they set about creating a culture - from start up - where people could have challenging and creative conversations safely, make amazing things happen whilst working remotely in many aspects. In addition, Ralf gives practical insights into leading across many countries and cultures. 

Through out his many years managing and leading businesses Ralf has unearthed the purpose and power of deep seated Purpose, which, when lived in a very practical way, he calls Soul. His view is that businesses must have Soul, and he is on a mission to make Soulless companies a thing of the past. 

Its very well worth listening to Ralf talk about the how he defines Purpose and Soul, and differentiates between the two. 

It’s no secret that a shared purpose is crucial for the success and longevity of an organisation and in fact, purpose-driven companies grow three times faster than their competitors, and they enjoy higher rates of customer and employee satisfaction. Yet when it comes to envisioning and creating a Corporate Soul, far too many companies are left in the dark.

Ralf has created the SOUL SYSTEM which is about very clearly having shared purpose and understanding, and helps you move from the dark to the light. He further shares data as to the value of being a Soul-full company and some practical tips in how to find and develop Soul in the business. 

If you are interested in how and why purpose can elevate your people and business, this podcast is well worth a listen. There really is no room for soul less companies, and the future businesses must find their purpose and soul if they are to compete on a higher level in the 'new world' 

This PJ Tips podcast on Leading Business Change is hosted by PJ Stevens and features Ralf Specht founder of Spark 44, if you would like to find out more about PJ or Ralf, or share your needs and thinking about leasing business change, purpose or culture please get in touch. 

PJ@PJStevens.co.uk 

#pjtips #leadingbusinesschange #culture #purpose #change #soul #corporatesoul #businessambition #remoteworking #futureproof #leadership 

In this episode of my podcasts on Leading business Change, my guest Daksh Gupta - the automotive authority who leads Marshall Motor Group - talks about his Leadership Principles.

There is a lot of talk about the theory of leadership principles and you can read dozens of articles by experts purporting to know what these principles should be. In this podcast on leading business change, Daksh will share how he lives leadership principles in a very practical way. If you want to hear insightful, informative and practical leadership principles, this is the podcast for you. 

From a business perspective, Daksh talks about Marshall Motor Group's phenomenal financial figures this year, and how this performance relates to the wider market. He explains how they have looked after their staff, backdated pay and repaid government furlough loans, and still posted incredible profit numbers.

Importantly Daksh shares insights into his personal motivational drives, deep seated beliefs and leadership principles. These principles help him navigate the day to day business and enable him to manage relationships with investors and stakeholders. Can you imagine telling investors you believe its more important to repay loans and back date staff pay before thinking about any directors bonuses or shareholder payments? 

Daksh has some very strong views on behaving and leading in a way that creates a culture where staff feel respected, valued and can be at their best. He talks openly about keeping staff safe in Covid crisis and indeed he made the decision to close showrooms before the government announcement in March 2020.

Finally, we talk EV electric vehicles, and my guests shares his views on leading the change to drive EVs and why he now drives an electric vehicle. Can you guess what car he drives?  

#LeadingBusinessChange #LeadershipPrinciples #Culture #OutPerformance #Stakeholders #Leadership #Purpose #PJTips #Podcast #electricvehicles #CEO #Board

What is Mental Toughness and why does it matter in our lives? 

In the podcast in the PJ Tips series on Leading Business Change, Penny Mallory, former Rally Champion with Ford, TV Presenter and professional Speaker talks about Mental Toughness. Did you know there is a very clear definition of mental toughness and that you can measure it? 

My question to Penny was if you are not mentally strong, does that mean we are mentally weak? This is not the case and Penny explains why, and importantly how to develop our metal strength and well being. 

What are the four components of mental toughness that you can measure, you'll have to listen to find out. In isolation the four components are doubtless very useful, but in combination, you can feel the power from them as Penny discusses them in some detail. 

My assumption is we don't need more theories of leadership, and that people want insights and actions to develop practical leadership. In this podcast, Penny talks about the very practical leadership elements of mental toughness, from the individual level of living and developing mental well being and toughness - and shares her intensely personal story -  through to the value and importance of mental toughness in teams and organisations. 

One of the toughest team environments is probably being in a Rally Pit Crew, changing tyres, servicing and repairing cars in the middle of the night on a Rally Stage, often in rain and snow, out in the open in freezing conditions. Penny offers first hand insight into Driving Rally Cars flat out through the forest and working in a Championship Winning Rally Team at Ford. Has Penny got the credibility and authority to talk about Mental Toughness, you bet your **** she does! 

I admire Penny on many levels, but why I like her so much is she has the wonderful ability to 'cut the crap'. 

In a world where people are under more pressure to manage change and deliver projects, off the back of a very turbulent time for many, I believe Penny's insights into Mental Toughness and how to help yourself be more resilient and able to manage and lead change is even more valuable to individuals, families, communities and businesses. Remember, its people who drive a business forwards or slow it down, therefore investing in people, well being, toughness and leadership makes great business sense. 

I have a few friends struggling with life at the moment, and several couples have split up, and the pressures of Covid are in some way to blame for this. Businesses I work with have people struggling with the notion of coming to the office, travelling, meeting in groups and so on. There is much Dis-Ease in the world. Doctors can help of course, but ultimately I believe our well being is our responsibility, we must help ourselves and help eachother. Penny's four key areas of mental health and toughness are a good starting point for conversations, or you can seek professional support based on the four elements. 

Penny can help you measure and develop Mental Toughness at the individual and team levels, helping you create a better place to work, happier and healthier environment where people have a better chance of flourishing. 

Those of you who know me or have listened to my podcasts will know I often bang on about Purpose and Culture being central to success. Culture is the environment we live and operate in. Creating and developing a Culture we want and need, by design, is favourable for us. 

The Vision and Purpose of Leadership is a hot topic discussed here with Daniel Fitzhenry, businessman and Leader of Southampton City Council. 

In the PJ Tips Leading Business Change series, this podcast looks at the vision and purpose of leadership required to influence and lead others when you have have little or no direct control or authority over them. 

Some business managers may use command and control to 'lead' - or tell - people what to do, which may work in certain circumstances for a limited period. But how do you lead a City, how do you influence and unite people to join a journey together, willingly, playing their part in transforming a City and unearthing and developing its potential for everyone's benefit? 

Leading, or leadership, takes many forms in different contexts, leading people by necessity in crisis or disaster such as a sinking ship scenario or war time is different to leading people on a journey of choice over a long period. Both have a vision and purpose. We look at the latter in this podcast.  

Daniel talks about his views on creating an environment of inclusion and purpose where people want to contribute and collaborate. Remember that people are not forced to do what he wants, they are not forced to follow, so what behaviours does Daniel think is required to lead in a way that people see their purpose and vision come to life as part of the common mission, vision and purpose? 

Why does the City of Southampton have so much potential, and how can we tap into that for all our sakes? Daniel has some very clear views and feels a great sense of responsibility to include the people of Southampton on this journey. 

Interested in football? 

#influencingskills

#football

#europeanfootball

#womensfootball

#cityofculture

#leadershipskills

#leadingbusinesschange

#pjtips

#southamptoncitycouncil

#southampton

#sport

#culture

#maritime

#cruiseindustry 

Listen to Phil Popham on Driving Business Change, episode 10 of my PJ Tips Podcasts on Leading business Change. 

Phil shares insights and information from his senior roles at Jaguar Land rover, his (turnaround) Transformation at Sunseeker as CEO, and more recently leading a bunch of changes at Lotus. Having worked at three Premium British Brands through a raft of changes, acquisitions and investment and owners, Phil is uniquely placed to talk transformation. 

Phil gives tools and techniques to data driven decision making, better decision making processes, improving pride and engagement and of course driving business change, effectively. There are few people more experienced in successful transformations, than my guest on this podcast. 

So if you want to get first hand insights in very practical leadership tips on leading business change, then give tgis podcast your full attention. It was described by one leader who had a preview as a masterclass in transformation. Perhaps thats what we should have called it.....  a masterclass. 

#masterclass #leadingbusinesschange #transformation #drivingbusinesschange #CEO #BoardMember #BritishBusiness #premiumbrands #LandRover #Lotus #Sunseeker #Jaguar #JLR #LotusCars #businessimprovement #engagement 

In this PJ Tips Podcast on Leading business Change with Luke Evans Vice President General Manager, The Estée Lauder Companies, we talk about Luke's Leadership journey, and more recently his thoughts on ripping up the rule book to grow the business through covid, take on other brands, attract and develop new people , and figure out how to interpret the mission in a digital world. 

Given that the beauty industry is very much a personal experience, from trying to buying, listen to how Luke's teams were able to transform the business and grow it, remotely. 

Luke shares some tough insights and challenges, his view of inspirational and practical leadership, and why sometimes you need to rip up the rule book, listen and take massive action. 

Luke's energy is high, his drive clear and if you cut him in half he'd read 'Go for it'. 

For a fascinating insight into leading people and business through change, check out the podcast. 

#leadingbusinesschange #transformation #change #leadership #beauty #beautyindistry #business #digital #peoplefirst #performance #businessambition 

In this PJ Tips podcast Great British Athlete, Olympian and World Championship Gold medallist Roger Black shares his insights into the importance of having a clear shared vision, golden team work and planning to win.

If you want to develop teams, team work and performance behind an agreed compelling vision, check out this podcast. 

Partner of the BackleyBlack business with Steve Backley, and owner of Roger Black Fitness - which he took be control of in lockdown - shows the determination and drive of this man. Like a stick of rock, Roger has performance written through out him. Roger Black is a lovely guy, but make no mistake, there's an edge, a golden edge. He is a superb conference speaker, businessman and entrepreneur, and he shares his winning ways in sport and business, in a way that makes the knowledge accessible to listeners.

Hear him talk about the importance of self awareness as a leader, and the difference between leading self and others. 

The highlight in the podcast for me, was hearing the in-depth story of how Roger and team mates Kriss Akabusi, John Regis and Derek Redmond won Gold in the Mens 4x400 Relay at the 1991 World Championships. Roger gives precise details of their winning strategy including what they did - and didn't do - as a team in order to work together to win. I urge you to listen carefully, because sometimes it's what you don't do that leads to victory. The leadership awareness of these athletes is really quite staggering. Roger explains very clearly how were they able to work together as a team (of individual performers) where many other teams have been unable to do so.

I got off the podcast buzzing with energy, hope you do to. More importantly, we both hope that the insights and information shared in some way inspires performance. 

Roger's top tips to leading business change include:

Ensure a clear shared vision

Planning to deliver the winning strategy 

Needs based leadership 

Talk about what needs talking about 

Commit

Leadership awareness 

#leadingbusinesschange #olympics #worldchampions #goldmedal #teamwork #performance #performanceimprovement #planning #winning #pjtips #rogerblack #britishathletics #leadership 

This episode focuses on B Corp, the true value of business, with guests Raoul Perfitt and Tim Wookey sharing details, insights and purpose of their business and B Corp journey. 

Both guests got the B Corp certification at similar times, though both are at very different times in their business life cycle. Tim, entrepreneur and founder of amamus coffee is at the early stages of building a brand, on purpose. Whilst Raoul, MD of Herb UK - organic hair care and colouring products - has been in business 30 years, and is setting up the business for his management team to take the lead.  

Tim and Raoul discuss what B Corp is, the value of B Corp, how being B Corp is part of their mission, vision and purpose, and they think about businesses doing good in the local community and broader global network. Tim talks about his purpose to improve the coffee eco system and well being of those involved in the coffee growing, production, distribution and drinking network. Tim loves coffee and is purposeful through and through. 

Raoul has been doing business on purpose for many years, and so becoming B Corp certified, was in essence an easy journey. He talks about having to check his processes and systems to get B Corp, but their behaviours, beliefs and purpose meant it was a very clear and natural fit. 

So, is being B Corp good for business or just a green washing exercise? Tim and Raoul answer this very clearly. 

Both guests heartily belief that businesses must do good for the sake of people and planet, and can make very good profit in pursuit of that purpose. 

Is B Corp for everyone? Hear what Tim has to say. 

Thank you to my Podcast guests, talking B Corp, as part of the PJ Tips Leading Business Change series:

Tim Wookey, owner of amamus coffee, is proudly B Corp certified, and creates joyful coffee experiences in your workplace, your home and as a gift. 

Raoul Perfitt, Managing Director at Herb UK Ltd, the natural hair colour experts

#Values #business #purpose #change #doinggood #peopleplantetprofit #BCorp #leadingbusinesschange #profit #onpurpose #purposeledbusiness 

PJ Tips Podcast Leading Business Change with Entrepreneur, Businessman and Formula E Team Principal Mark Preston on winning on and off the track and translating those lessons into leading business change.  

The race to win on the track and in business is a podcast with Mark Preston who leads a bunch of start ups in tech, autonomous vehicles, sustainable fuel, first and last mile delivery vehicles. Mark expertly translates theories and models from academia and business, into very simple practical leadership insights that we both hope will inspire listeners. 

Mark is Team Principal of DS Techeetah, the most winning team in Formula E, having both the Team World Championship twice and the Individual Driver Championship 3 times. Mark talks about his career moving through TWR Racing with Tom Walkinshaw and Ron Dennis at McLaren, to starting a Formula One F1 Team in 100 days! 

Listen to Mark talking about his Purpose and the Purpose of Motorsport, and the future of Motorsport, Technology and Mobility. 

Finally, Mark shares his Top Tips for Leading Business Change.....   

What do I value and respect about Mark Preston - apart from the fact he wins! - its the way he gathers information and makes sense of it. Is he the greatest out of the box thinker in motorsport? 

#leadingbusinesschange  #formulae #motorsport  #racing #purpose #purposeledbusiness #dstecheetah #entrepreneur #change #leadership #winning #ontrack #winningways #culture #worldchampions #teamwork #technology #mobility #F1 #Formula1 

How many business owners and leaders fear taking time off work or can only do so with their phones and laptops strapped to their body?

In this PJ Tips Podcast on Leading Business Change, David Furby CEO Novatech talks about his business experience over 35 years and offers up a wealth of insights into his business, beliefs, leadership behaviours and shares how to and why to set your business up so the owner can take time away from the business.

Over 35 years David has seen many changes, has predicted some and managed others, and continues to grow and innovate. Having started the business in the late 80's he now heads up a £40M business providing a range of tech products from PCs and Desktops to Gaming and Business Simulation. 

David covers such topics as leading into (and out of) crisis, developing a management team for the future, changing the sales process and preparing a business so that he - owner and CEO - can have extended time off. Do you think its a risk? David talks you through how to derisk it.

In the podcast David doesn't use clichés and buzzwords, like authenticity, in fact as many of you will know, words like passionate and authentic drive me nuts! So I'm using the awful word authentic, because I cant think of another work that better suits his style of Leadership. 

Check out the podcast on Leading Business Change, with David Furby from Novatech and suggest you have a pen and paper handy or listen to the poddy twice as he shares some very practical leadership tips.

In our next chat with David , I'm hoping he will tell us how his Covid project is coming along to install Tesla battery power into his Nova car - which the business is named after. 

In this episode of my PJ Tips podcast on Leading Business Change, I talk about the Future of Aviation with Colin Russell who is an Aviation Security expert and change leader. Colin has worked for the likes of Thomas Cook (7500 staff) and Flybe. He has led growth, change and been through administration twice and offers very practical Leading Business Change insights to help inspire change. Colin has a significant depth of knowledge in Security and Risk, and has very strong and clear views on the importance of people and culture in safety and change. 

Prior to Aviation, Colin was in the Navy and shares interesting thoughts on the role of leaders and some key leadership behaviours that translates into business today. 

Colin talks about the future of aviation and EVTOL (Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing) aircraft. He is currently working on a new adventure setting up a network for EVTOL (sometimes called eVTOL) travel. Watch this space! 

#LeadingBusinessChange

#eVTOL

#FutureOfAviation

#Administration

#Leadership

#Aviation

#ChangeManagement 

#Culture

#Safety

#AviationSafety

In this episode, Louise Goodman, TV Presenter on Formula 1 (F1) and British Touring Car Championship (BTCC), shares stories and insights from F1, education, diversity and inclusion, from Lewis Hamilton to Jenson Button.

Who's the great leaders of Formula One? Toto Wolff, Christian Horner, Eddie Jordan? 

Louise has has a long career in Motorsport, having driven Rally Cars and then joined Eddie Jordan at Jordan Grand Prix. 

Louise is the only woman to have been in a live Pit Stop Crew in an F1 Race, and gives us an inside view of the culture and team work in F1 teams. She talks about leadership, communication and handling mistakes, which link directly to high performance teams. 

We discuss education, diversity and inclusion, and how to increase the talent pool from which teams can draw the best people, and Louise has strong views on this. 

Innovation is a key part of Formula 1, Formula E and now there's Extreme E with its strong message and news of Hybrid vehicles in the BTCC. 

Louise's broad and varied experience makes her a superb guest to talk all things Racing, Motorsport, F1 and D&I. 

Give my PJ Tips Podcast a listen. Louise is brilliant.  

Louise Goodman

Formula 1

British Touring Cars

F1 Pitstop

High Performance Teams

Diversity & Inclusion

Girls on Track

STEM 

Motorsport

Formula E

Extreme E 

Leading business Change

PJ Tips Podcast Leading Business Change

Strategic transformation and business acquisition

PJ Tips Podcast Leading Business Change with Gary Whittle, Commercial Director at Meachers Global Logistics talking Strategic Transformation and Business Acquisition. This podcast offers practical insights and solutions from a leader and business growing successfully through Covid, Brexit and the uncertainty of the current world.  

Gary covers many points including how to create a positive narrative around growing the business beyond the big characters in the business; acquiring businesses and the importance and values of spending time in those businesses with staff and clients; and the power of listening in leading business change. 

Gary has a wonderful ability to 'cut the crap', engage others and pay attention to what needs attention. I think you'll enjoy listening to him. 

In this PJ Tips podcast episode, we focus on Business Improvement with Business Improvement and Continuous Improvement expert Robert Chapman. We discuss business improvement insights and a specific case study where Robert reduced waste, saved time and money, showing a 92% improvement. We also discuss the importance of a business improvemnent mindset, how business improvement is not to be left in the hands of just a few  BI and CI professionals, and the cost to the business and culture of leaders who have stopped changing themselves and therefore slow or derail business changes such as improvement. 

The Business Impriovement Culture and Mindset are two key parts of Roberts work. Listen to his views and see what ignites your interest.