Failure is uncomfortable - especially when it’s our children experiencing it. But what if failure is one of the most powerful teachers we can give them? In this episode of ConnectForHealth, host Scott Armstrong, Founder of mentl, and co-host Maissa Al Khafajy, Head of Government Affairs and Strategic Communications at Cigna Healthcare Middle East & Africa, explore The Power of Failure and what setbacks can teach our kids about resilience, confidence, and emotional intelligence. Joining the conversation are two powerful voices: Sebastian Bates, Founder and CEO of The Warrior Academy and The Bates Foundation, whose work in character education is shaped by personal experience - from childhood bullying to a life-changing accident - and who has mentored over 50,000 families across seven countries.Lee Ryan, Manager of Sports Excellence and Athlete Development for Cognita Schools Middle East through the Enrich ME programme, bringing a coach’s perspective on how challenge, loss, and failure in sport can shape stronger, more resilient young people.Together, they unpack: Why shielding children from failure can do more harm than goodHow setbacks build confidence, emotional intelligence, and self-beliefThe role parents, coaches, and schools play in reframing failureHow sport and physical challenge help kids process disappointmentWhat failure teaches children that success never canThis is a must for parents, educators, coaches, and anyone involved in shaping young people’s lives. Chapter List 00:00 – Welcome & episode context Introduction to Connect for Health and why resilience and failure matter for children. 03:06 – What is resilience really? Sebastian Bates and Lee Ryan define resilience as coping, recovery, and repetition. 05:24 – The parental instinct to shield children Why protecting children from pain can unintentionally weaken resilience. 09:02 – Reframing failure Failure as unmet expectations, learning loops, and the foundation of success. 12:37 – Lived experience and bullying Sebastian shares his childhood bullying story and how it shaped his work today. 17:47 – How bullying actually works Body language, empathy, confidence signaling, and practical tools for children. 22:54 – Cyberbullying and digital resilience Why online bullying is different and how parents can reduce harm and build self-worth. 30:43 – Working parents and quality time Non-negotiable connection, presence over perfection, and daily rituals that matter. 39:39 – Supporting children through failure Practical advice for academic pressure, exclusion, and confidence after setbacks. 55:00 – Final reflections and key takeaways Courage, character, and why failure is a teacher, not a threat.
