Leadership Listening

Leadership Listening
  • 5.0 (3)
  • MANAGEMENT

Leaders come and leaders go, quite often without knowing why they succeeded - and why they failed. Debate rages as to what leadership is, what makes it work well - and why failure happens all too often. Leadership Listening gets inside the soul and stories of leaders of all kinds – public and private sector, ‘not for profit’ - those who lead well, and those who hit the leadership wall. Hosted by Lawrie Philpott, outspoken and highly experienced – his approach is informed by decades of coaching, working with over 300 C-Suite executives and more than a 100 leadership teams across the globe. Hear his perspective on leadership and analysis of leadership failure. If you’re already a leader, or on your way to the C-Suite, in HR, coaching, or academia, there’s bound to be something for you - even disagreement! Join us - let’s take leadership to a better place

  1. 12 APR

    Leading with resilience and purpose in the charity sector - with Julie Bentley

    Lawrie Philpott of Philpott Black and host of Leadership Listening talks with Julie Bentley, Chief Executive of Samaritans.   Julie shares her journey from a working-class upbringing in Essex, to discovering her calling through charity work, and building a distinguished career leading the Suzy Lamplugh Trust, the Family Planning Association, Girl Guiding, Action for Children, and now Samaritans. She reflects on what changes across different organisations and what stays constant in her leadership style, how to handle intense media scrutiny and online trolling as a woman in public life, and why the hardest weight in leadership is always the people — staff, volunteers, and service users. Julie explores what the CEO of Samaritans learned about truly listening, why leaders rarely admit what support they actually need, how to lead with moral compass under public scrutiny, and the delicate balance between transparency and necessary boundaries. She discusses the relentless financial pressures facing the charity sector, what shaped her leadership through mentors and feedback, and a pivotal lesson about power that changed how she leads.   00:00 Intro 03:51 Early Life and Background 05:21 Finding A Calling Through Charity 06:54 Leading Across Different Charities 08:16 What Has Changed in the Workplace 09:20 What Stays Constant in Leadership 11:32 Media Scrutiny and Public Life 12:58 Online Trolling and Resilience 16:14 What Feels Heaviest in Leadership 18:58 Connecting the CEO With Volunteers 23:48 Why Volunteers Are the Backbone of Society 25:27 Supporting Volunteers Through Difficult Work 26:15 Learning About Listening 26:50 Listening to Hear, Not to Respond 29:10 The Power of Leaving Space 30:40 What Support Leaders Need but Rarely Admit 32:31 The Importance of Praise for Leaders 35:38 Leading When Every Decision Is Judged Publicly 36:02 Anchoring Leadership to a Moral Compass 38:28 Are we in a Post-Moral-Compass World? 40:09 Sensitivity, Transparency and Necessary Boundaries 42:25 Bounded Transparency in Practice 44:07 Hard Financial Decisions in the Charity Sector 46:32 What Has Shaped How Julie Leads 47:02 Mentors, Peers and Feedback 48:42 The Power CEOs Hold and What to do with It 49:33 Closing Questions   Contact the show! Email: podcast@leadershiplistening.com   Head to https://www.leadershiplistening.com/ to explore more videos and search for key topics   Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/6GYu887sTu4   Podcast episode: 14   ✅ Subscribe Here: www.youtube.com/@LeadershipListening?sub_confirmation=1   📱 Follow Us On Socials: Instagram:  / https://www.instagram.com/leadershiplistening LinkedIn:  / https://www.linkedin.com/company/leadershiplistening/ Bluesky: / https://bsky.app/profile/leadershiplisten.bsky.social   SUBSCRIBE, SHARE & JOIN US IN TAKING LEADERSHIP TO A BETTER PLACE

    51 min

  2. 16 MAR

    Strategy, Competitive Differentiation and Leading at Pace - with Chris Outram

    Lawrie Philpott of Philpott Black and host of Leadership Listening talks with Chairman Emeritus and co-founder of OC&C Strategy Consultants Chris Outram, about leadership and modern strategy. Chris recounts his early life in RAF postings, boarding school, Atlantic College, a dual degree in engineering and economics, early roles including BCG and corporate strategy, then founding OC&C, now a global specialist firm. He argues strategy is fundamentally about competitive differentiation, made harder by abundant data, faster competitor reactions and shorter strategy lifespans, with CEOs needing to own strategy and review it every six months alongside team capability. He discusses why strategies fail (poor analysis/design, weak commitment/execution), CEO strengths, board agenda gaps, and strategic risks including geopolitical uncertainty, competition, talent, and pace. Chris outlines where AI will first affect strategy work and closes with his pet hate and secret passions. 00:00 Intro 01:42 Early Life And Education 04:27 Career Turns And Founding OC&C 07:28 What High End Strategy Means 08:52 How Strategy Has Changed 14:06 Shorter Horizons Long Term Markets 16:08 Six Month Strategy And Talent Reviews 18:40 Why Strategies Fail 21:03 CEO Skills Vision Analysis Execution 22:58 Commitment Execution And Common Traps 25:46 Focus And Top Team Belief 27:37 Purpose And Success 28:49 Uncomfortable Board Truths 31:41 Holding Strategy Accountable 33:00 AI And Strategy Work 38:01 First Mover Or Moat 42:38 Risks Boards Underweight 45:37 AI In Professional Services 47:33 Futurology With Data 52:14 Closing Questions Contact the show! Email:podcast@leadershiplistening.com Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/U9v_0YlSjPs ✅ Subscribe Here:  www.youtube.com/@LeadershipListening?sub_confirmation=1 Head to https://www.leadershiplistening.com/ to explore more videos and search for key topics 📲 Follow Us On Socials: Instagram: / https://www.instagram.com/leadershiplistening LinkedIn: / https://www.linkedin.com/company/leadershiplistening/ Bluesky: / https://bsky.app/profile/leadershiplisten.bsky.social SUBSCRIBE, SHARE & JOIN US IN TAKING LEADERSHIP TO A BETTER PLACE

    56 min

  3. 26 JAN

    Collaboration is the new leadership - with René Carayol MBE

    Lawrie Philpott of Philpott Black and host of Leadership Listening talks with renowned global leadership coach René Carayol about the complex world of modern leadership. They delve into the qualities that make great leaders, the importance of inclusive environments, and the challenges faced by today's leaders. René shares his personal journey, including anecdotes from his time at Pepsi and his coaching experiences with prime ministers, professional boxers and CEOs. Together, they explore themes such as vulnerability, accountability, and the future of leadership in an ever-changing, fast-paced world. This engaging discussion is packed with valuable insights and practical advice for aspiring and current leaders alike. 00:00 Intro 02:00 René's Career Journey 03:22 The PepsiCo Experience 06:24 Transition to Coaching 09:57 The Essence of Leadership 13:23 Global Perspectives on Leadership 21:44 Challenges of Modern Leadership 28:53 The Power of Vulnerability in Leadership 29:31 Understanding Accountability vs. Responsibility 31:08 Empowerment Over Delegation 33:20 The Concept of Primary Team 37:31 Leadership in a Fast-Moving World 44:34 Balancing Work and Personal Life 46:47 Challenges in Public Sector Leadership 50:51 Future of Leadership: Embracing Diversity and Inclusion 53:51 Closing Questions Contact the show! Email:podcast@leadershiplistening.com Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ri-KcJCVXzM ✅ Subscribe Here:  www.youtube.com/@LeadershipListening?sub_confirmation=1 Head to https://www.leadershiplistening.com/ to explore more videos and search for key topics 📲 Follow Us On Socials: Instagram: / https://www.instagram.com/leadershiplistening LinkedIn: / https://www.linkedin.com/company/leadershiplistening/ Bluesky: / https://bsky.app/profile/leadershiplisten.bsky.social SUBSCRIBE, SHARE & JOIN US IN TAKING LEADERSHIP TO A BETTER PLACE

    57 min

  4. 15/12/2025

    From Arrogance to Accountability: Lessons in Leadership Failure - with Suzanne McKie KC

    Lawrie Philpott of Philpott Black and host of Leadership Listening chats to Suzanne McKie KC about critical legal challenges faced by senior executives.  Suzanne specialises in employment, diversity law, regulatory law and high court litigation. Her law firm Farore Law - http://www.farorelaw.co.uk specialises in discrimination, whistle-blowing and misconduct and partnership law - in the workplace.   Together they talk about a range of topics, including: the intricacies of leadership failures, whistleblowing, misconduct issues, and the importance of effective communication. The conversation also highlights Suzanne's experiences with cases involving sexual harassment, drug use, and the vital role of good leadership in preventing disputes. The dialogue emphasises the significance of training for C-Suite executives, maintaining emotional control, and understanding the legal aspects of their actions. Additionally, they discuss the necessity of agreed exit statements, the impact of media interactions, and how leadership dynamics influence organisational behaviour. This enlightening session aims to demystify the legal perspectives for leaders and underscores the importance of empathy, proper training, and strategic communication in leadership roles.   00:00 – Intro 02:49 – Types of Cases: Whistleblowing, Misconduct, and More 03:56 – Leadership Failures: Behind the Curtain 05:27 – Emotions in the C-Suite 06:45 – Communication Breakdowns 08:08 – Arrogance and Policy Blind Spots 09:45 – Ignorance of the Law & Arrogance in Leadership 11:00 – The Role of HR and Legal Advice 12:00 – CEO Missteps: When Success Breeds Blindness 13:20 – Everything is Discoverable: Digital Evidence 14:30 – The Importance of Feedback and Training 16:50 – Resignation vs. Battle: Navigating Exits 19:00 – Bullying, Harassment, and Strong Leadership 21:10 – Difficult Conversations: Best Practices 24:00 – Record Keeping and E-Discovery 26:00 – Coaching and Supporting C-Suite Through Investigations 29:00 – Whistleblowing: Leadership’s Response 32:00 – Exit Statements and Managing the Narrative 34:00 – Preventing Disputes: The Power of Good Leadership 36:00 – Founder Syndrome and External HR 38:00 – The Big Ask: What Makes a Great CEO? 40:00 – Lessons Learned: Personal Growth in Leadership 43:00 – HR Phrases to Outlaw 45:00 – Growth, Happiness, and the Future of Leadership 48:00 – Closing questions   Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/iTMF1g6wFfw    ✅ Subscribe Here:  www.youtube.com/@LeadershipListening?sub_confirmation=1   Head to https://www.leadershiplistening.com/ to explore more videos and search for key topics   📱 Follow Us On Socials: Instagram: / https://www.instagram.com/leadershiplistening LinkedIn: / https://www.linkedin.com/company/leadershiplistening/ Bluesky: / https://bsky.app/profile/leadershiplisten.bsky.social   SUBSCRIBE, SHARE & JOIN US IN TAKING LEADERSHIP TO A BETTER PLACE

    56 min

  5. 17/11/2025

    From Trading Floor to Boardroom: A Banking CEO’s Leadership Journey - with Keith Meekins

    Lawrie Philpott of Philpott Black and host of Leadership Listening chats to Keith Meekins, a seasoned investment banker who rose from the ground floor of the financial services industry to become the Chief Executive of Daiwa Capital Markets Europe. In this episode, Keith shares insights from his 40-year career, detailing his early life influences, his rise through the ranks, and the challenges and triumphs he experienced along the way. They discuss the demanding environment of investment banking, the importance of having strong leadership qualities, and how Keith managed various cultural dynamics between the UK and Japan. The conversation covers Keith's approach to leadership, especially during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic. The episode concludes with Keith revealing his pet hate—lateness—and his secret passion for fly fishing and supporting Deal Football Club. This episode provides a comprehensive look at the complexities of leadership in the high-stakes world of investment banking. 00:00  Intro 01:39  Keith's Early Life and Career Beginnings in Investment Banking 07:00  Challenges and Learning in Settlements 10:35  Transition to Trading and Early Success 14:48  Navigating Japanese Banking Culture 18:38  Commerzbank and Electronic Trading 23:43  Joining Daiwa and Leadership Insights 32:00  From Trading to Chief Executive 33:00  Cultural Differences in Business Practices 34:00  Regulatory Challenges and Leadership Changes 36:01  Navigating the Role of CEO 40:40  Building an Executive Team 45:49  Impact of COVID-19 on Business Operations 49:56  The Importance of Board Relationships 55:53  Reflections on Leadership and Retirement 01:01:32  Closing questions   Contact the show!  Email: podcast@leadershiplistening.com  Head to https://www.leadershiplistening.com/ to explore more videos and search for key topics Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/tikNIC-gFCE Podcast episode: 10   ✅ Subscribe Here:  www.youtube.com/@LeadershipListening?sub_confirmation=1  📱 Follow Us On Socials: Instagram:    / https://www.instagram.com/leadershiplistening  LinkedIn:    / https://www.linkedin.com/company/leadershiplistening/  Bluesky:    / https://bsky.app/profile/leadershiplisten.bsky.social    SUBSCRIBE, SHARE & JOIN US IN TAKING LEADERSHIP TO A BETTER PLACE

    1hr 7min

  6. 03/11/2025

    Leadership and workplace culture from a generation Z perspective

    Lawrie Philpott of Philpott Black and host of Leadership Listening chats to Calypso Kulasegram, Eugene Rotherham and Lucas Pepper about leadership and workplace culture from a generation Z perspective. Together they talk about a range of topics, including: stereotypes of Gen Z in the workplace, opportunities and barriers of using AI at work, mentoring for graduates, the use of  the term “snowflake”, if universities are doing a good job of equipping graduates for the world of work, are Gen Z more ethically and morally minded when it comes to decisions about who they will work for?  Are Gen Z workers “entitled”?  Are Gen Z afraid of feedback? Neurodiversity and inclusion, trust, values, behaviours, social media, workplace culture and change.   00:00  Intro 07:02  Gen Z in the workplace – are the stereotypes true? 12:26  Adjusting to the use of AI in the workplace 13:48  Mentoring for graduates 14:15  Are young people really “snowflakes”? 16:02  Are universities equipping graduates for the world of work? 16:38  Gen Z making ethical decisions about work 19:10  Are Gen Z workers “entitled”? 21:04  Getting communication right – Are Gen Z afraid of feedback? 24:30  Neurodiversity and Inclusion – Meeting different needs 30:15  What does Gen Z want from its leaders? 32:15  Trust as a leadership value 36:00  Values in organisations 38:25  Behaviours and values – Walking the talk 41:11  Social media, Gen Z and workplace culture 44:59  What would Gen Z change about leadership? 50:06 Closing questions   Contact the show!  Email: podcast@leadershiplistening.com  Head to https://www.leadershiplistening.com/ to explore more videos and search for key topics Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Z3dgtDgOktE Podcast episode: 9   ✅ Subscribe Here:  www.youtube.com/@LeadershipListening?sub_confirmation=1 📱 Follow Us On Socials: Instagram: / https://www.instagram.com/leadershiplistening LinkedIn: / https://www.linkedin.com/company/leadershiplistening/ Bluesky: / https://bsky.app/profile/leadershiplisten.bsky.social   SUBSCRIBE, SHARE & JOIN US IN TAKING LEADERSHIP TO A BETTER PLACE

    53 min

  7. 27/10/2025

    Stress, burnout, mental health and narcissism in the workplace - with Dr Daksha Hirani

    Lawrie Philpott of Philpott Black and host of Leadership Listening chats to chartered clinical psychologist Dr Daksha Hirani (DClinPsy, AFBPsS), all about stress, burnout, mental health and narcissism in the workplace. Together they talk about a range of topics, including: Workplace culture, safety and feeling unsafe at work, burnout, feeling trapped in your job, stress, holistic mental health, numbing and self-medication, bodily sensations, thoughts, urges and feelings, re-entering work or leaving a toxic workplace, knowing yourself and your needs, narcissism and bullying in the boardroom, coping skills, tools and strategies, therapy, occupational health, motivation, the character and morals of senior leaders, trust in leaders, leadership values and behaviours, mental health challenges for start-up leaders, narcissists, recovering from being affected by a narcissist, how to spot the signs of a narcissistic boss, gaslighting, leaders acting with awareness of their intention. 00:00  Intro 03:23  Workplace cultures 04:44  Feeling unsafe at work 05:33  Burnout 06:11  Feeling trapped in your job 07:55  The differences between stress and burnout 10:04  Signs of burnout 10:47  Thinking about your mental health holistically 12:12  Numbing and self-medication 13:45  Sensations, thoughts, urges and feelings 14:29  Re-entering work or leaving a toxic workplace 17:11  Knowing yourself and your needs 18:20  Narcissism and bullying in the boardroom 19:44  Coping skills, tools and strategies 22:10  The difference therapy can make 23:50  Occupational health, therapy and motivation 25:27  The character and morals of senior leaders 27:15  Being able to trust your leaders 27:49  Leadership values and behaviours 28:46  Specific challenges for start-up leaders 29:36  Narcissism in the workplace 31:53  Do narcissists change? 32:53  Recovering from being affected by a narcissist 33:41  How to spot the signs of a narcissistic boss 36:35  Why are some people narcissists? 39:59  Gaslighting 43:17  Advice to leaders – what’s your intention? 44:47 Closing questions   Contact the show!  Email: podcast@leadershiplistening.com  Head to https://www.leadershiplistening.com/ to explore more videos and search for key topics Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ZiFtUUR37ic Podcast episode: 9   Further information about pre-ordering Dr Daksha’s upcoming book “Healing from Narcissistic Abuse: How to Cope, Survive and Thrive”: https://www.parmi.co.uk/    ✅ Subscribe Here:  www.youtube.com/@LeadershipListening?sub_confirmation=1  📱 Follow Us On Socials: Instagram: / https://www.instagram.com/leadershiplistening  LinkedIn: / https://www.linkedin.com/company/leadershiplistening/  Bluesky: / https://bsky.app/profile/leadershiplisten.bsky.social  SUBSCRIBE, SHARE & JOIN US IN TAKING LEADERSHIP TO A BETTER PLACE

    47 min

  8. 14/10/2025

    Being a CEO that builds trust and empowers teams - with Chloe Straw

    Lawrie Philpott of Philpott Black and host of Leadership Listening chats to Chloe Straw, CEO of Audio UK, all about becoming a CEO.  Together they talk about a range of topics, including: the impact of education, personal aspirations and early careers on becoming a leader, the journey to becoming a CEO, the role of a CEO, leadership challenges and strategy, developing your team, board relationships and governance, strategy implementation and adaptation, culture, values, and organisational growth, AI in the creative industries, leadership advice and insights, building trust and empowering teams. 00:00  Intro 02:18  Early Career and Education 03:06  Journey to CEO Position 06:27  Entry into Media Production 13:48  The Role of a CEO 16:52  Leadership Challenges and Strategy 18:30  The Role of the CEO and Team Building 21:10  Board Relationships and Governance 23:30  Strategy Implementation and Adaptation 25:00  Culture, Values, and Organisational Growth 26:59  AI in the Creative Industries 35:10  Culture and Values 35:48  Leadership Advice and Insights 37:01  Building Trust and Empowering Teams 40:59  Personal Reflections   Further information about Alex Mahon referenced at 31:02 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alex_Mahon  Further information about Melanie Perkins referenced at 32:40 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melanie_Perkins  Further information about the book Father Figure by Emma Forrest referenced at 43:04 - https://www.weidenfeldandnicolson.co.uk/titles/emma-forrest/father-figure/9781474620611/    Contact the show!  Email: podcast@leadershiplistening.com  Head to https://www.leadershiplistening.com/ to explore more videos and search for key topics Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/vVPY1dT31_s Podcast episode: 8   ✅ Subscribe Here:  www.youtube.com/@LeadershipListening?sub_confirmation=1  📱 Follow Us On Socials: Instagram:    / https://www.instagram.com/leadershiplistening  LinkedIn:    / https://www.linkedin.com/company/leadershiplistening/  Bluesky:    / https://bsky.app/profile/leadershiplisten.bsky.social SUBSCRIBE, SHARE & JOIN US IN TAKING LEADERSHIP TO A BETTER PLACE

    45 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Leaders come and leaders go, quite often without knowing why they succeeded - and why they failed. Debate rages as to what leadership is, what makes it work well - and why failure happens all too often. Leadership Listening gets inside the soul and stories of leaders of all kinds – public and private sector, ‘not for profit’ - those who lead well, and those who hit the leadership wall. Hosted by Lawrie Philpott, outspoken and highly experienced – his approach is informed by decades of coaching, working with over 300 C-Suite executives and more than a 100 leadership teams across the globe. Hear his perspective on leadership and analysis of leadership failure. If you’re already a leader, or on your way to the C-Suite, in HR, coaching, or academia, there’s bound to be something for you - even disagreement! Join us - let’s take leadership to a better place

Information

  • Creator
    Leadership Listening
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    15
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 to present. All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Leadership Listening