ExExecs Podcast

John Newton
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Nobody tells you the truth about what it takes to lead. ExExecs is three former CEOs from banking, education and private enterprise, with careers spanning nine countries and over 80 years of leadership between them, having the candid conversations they never had access to on the way up. Mistakes, turning points, loneliness at the top and the lessons that actually matter. Built for ambitious professionals who want to climb smarter, lead better and avoid the traps that derail good people.

Episodes

  1. 13h ago

    Leading Through Disruption

    Disruption has stopped being the exception and become the job. Three former chief executives on how to lead through it. John Newton, Tarek Anwar and Robin are the ExExecs - three former executives from banking and education who talk honestly about what leadership actually demands. No guest this episode, just the three of them on the topic every exec is living right now. It's Monday morning. Tariffs, conflict in the Middle East and AI are all landing at once, and you're the one people look to. This episode is a practical answer to "what do I do?" - how to gather your team and run a fast, honest crisis session, why trust decides whether anyone tells you the truth, and how to treat AI as a chance to remodel your team rather than a threat to survive. It is full of real stories, including a few that did not go to plan. Key takeaways: Run the reverse-brainstorm: give the team five minutes to say how they would destroy the business, then flip every answer into a fix. Disruption is the new business as usual - practise for it with ten provocative minutes at the end of an ordinary meeting. Anticipate risk early and act on it, the way a good school leader prepared for the VAT change years before it arrived. Lead from the front: take the pay cut, fly economy, walk the floor, be present. Do AI with your people, not to them - automate the humdrum, hire for critical thinking, become ambidextrous. Chapters: (00:00) Introduction (00:26) The disruption leaders face now (01:08) Cost of living and firefighting (03:02) Comfortable being uncomfortable (04:23) Monday morning: gather the team (05:37) Destroy your own business (09:14) The school VAT risk lesson (11:43) The shark in the marina (13:37) Trust and psychological safety (14:31) Ownership, notes and brunch (16:30) Missing the obvious (17:53) A fleet-footed culture (19:15) The fishmonger who pivoted (20:31) Protecting your staff (23:56) A COVID pay cut (25:40) Lead from the front (28:52) The AI challenge (30:06) Remodel the team (33:17) The ambidextrous company (34:24) Words matter: the CEO megaphone (36:06) Wrap-up Mentioned: the previous ExExecs episode, Crisis Management with Hania, who led HSBC in Cairo through the Arab Spring. Search "ExExecs" on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to hear it. If this was useful, follow ExExecs and send us a question or a topic you would like us to take on. We read everything: 3exExecs@gmail.com Hosts: John Newton, Tarek Anwar and Robin.

    37 min

  2. May 7

    Crisis Management with Hania

    On 28 January 2011, Hania was COO of HSBC Egypt. She woke up to find her country had no internet and no mobile phones. Every number on her crisis-team list was unreachable. So she picked up an old phone book. For Episode 5, John, Tarek and Robin are joined by Hania for the inside story of running a bank through the Arab Spring and what came after. Robin knew the story from the regional COO seat in Dubai. This conversation has been twenty years in the making. What you'll hear: The morning of 28 January 2011 - and the paper phonebook that saved the response"Emotional stability" - what one senior member of staff said that changed how Hania ledWhy the right person in a crisis is rarely the most senior person in the roomHow to keep the CEO and the regulator informed without crushing the team doing the workThe queue outside head office that became the proudest moment of her careerThe CEO who came back from abroad and didn't believe his team had handled it"Don't waste a good crisis" - the post-event discipline that compounds across a career Chapters: 00:00 Welcome and the three-host introduction 01:11 Robin introduces Hania 01:34 Hania on ten years as COO of HSBC Egypt 02:25 Tarek's first question 03:08 28 January 2011: no internet, no mobiles 04:40 Stay calm. Systems fail. 05:58 How do you stay calm when you're panicking? 06:55 "Emotional stability" 07:37 Choosing who is in the room 08:00 Why Hania went to the number two 09:33 The IT outage tension 11:05 Visibility and being seen 13:08 Priority communications 13:50 Cash, queues, and the ATM withdrawal limit 14:27 The queue she looked at with real pride 14:59 The HSBC brand 16:04 Call trees and earthquake-readiness 17:24 Did creativity play a part? 18:37 What you can prepare for 20:44 Drills are too easy 21:43 The Christmas Eve thought experiment 23:34 Bromley + Croydon: the Bank of America story 25:30 Working with the regulator 27:28 Managing up: the CEO came back suspicious 29:53 Seeing seismic risk early 30:43 The cost of having no one in-region 31:47 Recognising vs dispelling a crisis 33:30 Don't waste a good crisis 34:34 Crises that prolong, and team fatigue 34:55 John's recap If you lead anything that has to keep running when the lights go out, this is the one. Get in touch: 3exExecs@gmail.com

    37 min

  3. Apr 2

    The Art of Delegation

    Most leaders say they delegate. Most leaders are lying to themselves. Three ex-executives - John, Tarek, and Robin - break down why delegation fails, what trust actually looks like in practice, and why the best leaders employ people brighter than themselves. Tarek shares the moment he told his chief of staff "No, send it" and watched her confidence transform. John confesses to the mistake every new leader makes: still doing your old job. Robin challenges whether delegation is something you are born with or something you learn. Timestamps0:00 - Introduction and meet the ExExecs3:00 - The Art of Delegation4:00 - No, send it. I have got your back6:30 - Why you must delegate8:00 - The neuroscience of trust: 50% higher productivity10:30 - Cautionary tale: still doing your old job13:30 - Team ownership over food15:45 - Delegating outside the comfort zone19:30 - Is delegation natural or learned?23:00 - When your boss will not delegate28:30 - The repeat-back technique35:00 - The buddy system38:30 - Next: Crisis Management with Haniya Sadiq Next Episode: Crisis Management with Haniya Sadiq - former COO of HSBC Egypt, Forbes 100 Most Influential Muslim Women. Contact: 3exExecs@gmail.com

    41 min

  4. Mar 5

    Having Difficult Conversations (with Empathy, Courage, and Preparation) #Ep3

    Having Difficult Conversations (with Empathy, Courage, and Preparation) Three former executives, Robin, Tarek, and John share lessons from decades in complex corporate environments, introducing difficult conversations. They discuss being both the instigator and recipient, with examples including an unexpected mediocre appraisal, redundancy conversations shaped by HR scripts, and a father-son moment about asking permission before giving feedback. Key ideas include using empathy and humanity, choosing timing and context carefully, getting to the point, preparing with evidence and examples, avoiding procrastination by committing to a meeting time, and recognizing that difficult conversations often benefit the recipient. They also cover giving feedback upward to a boss, handling forced decisions like redundancies and calibration, and John shares formative feedback from his father about finding “fire in the belly.” 00:00 Meet the Hosts 01:19 Who This Podcast Serves 02:23 Today’s Topic Difficult Talks 02:48 Robin’s Toughest Moments 04:36 Tarek’s Permission Lesson 07:26 Timing Empathy and Context 10:16 When HR Makes It Cold 13:14 John’s Crisis Communications 16:57 Don’t Delay the Hard Talk 17:24 Crossing the Evidence Line 19:33 Gather Evidence Without Bias 20:08 Commit to the Conversation 21:07 Reframe Difficulty as Feedback 21:57 Know Your Why as Leader 23:09 Giving Feedback to Your Boss 25:24 When You Lack Conviction 28:58 Redundancy and Forced Ranking 30:58 Personal Story on Passion 32:14 Key Takeaways and Next Topics

    36 min

  5. Feb 12

    How to Present Without Boring Everyone to Death

    Mastering Presentation and Storytelling: Insights from Ex-Executives Join three ex-executive officers, John, Tarek, and Robin, as they delve into the essential skills of presentations and storytelling in leadership. This episode covers practical tips for improving public speaking, from handling pre-presentation nerves and mastering the elevator pitch to the power of pauses and engaging your audience. They share personal anecdotes, such as John's impactful assembly speeches and Tarek's creative analogies, exploring the importance of authenticity, rehearsal, and emotional intelligence. Ideal for anyone climbing the career ladder or looking to enhance their professional presence. Tune in for valuable advice on making unforgettable presentations and effective storytelling. 00:00 Introduction and Hosts' Backgrounds 00:38 The Importance of Presentation Skills 03:06 Storytelling in Presentations 07:04 Practical Tips for Effective Presentations 08:32 Overcoming Nervousness and Engaging the Audience 14:46 The Power of Authenticity and Pauses 20:17 Diversity and Anecdotal Openers 20:54 Relating to Previous Speakers 21:36 Engaging Openers: The Rat Story 26:05 Creating a Safe Space for Practice 32:07 The Power of Q&A 35:28 Handling the Press 36:17 Conclusion and Sign Off If you would like to connect with Tarek, Robin or John please email 3exexecs@gmail.com

    38 min

  6. Feb 12

    Meet the ExExecs: 90 Years of Leadership Laid Bare Episode #1

    Lessons in Leadership: Insights from Three Former Executives Join three former executive officers, Tarek, Robin, and John, as they share their professional journeys, leadership lessons, and personal experiences in this insightful podcast episode. From navigating cultural differences in international banking to the importance of continuous learning and self-management, the trio provides valuable advice for aspiring leaders. They discuss critical topics such as the importance of storytelling in presentations, overcoming career challenges, and the benefits of coaching. Whether you're climbing the corporate ladder or just starting your career, this conversation will offer practical wisdom to help you succeed. 00:00 Introduction and Purpose 01:02 Meet Tarek: Banking and Beyond 02:46 Meet Robin: Global Banking Experience 04:35 Meet John: Educational Leadership 06:47 Key Career Turning Points 09:15 Embracing Discomfort and Learning 15:52 Lessons from Sports and Leadership 18:04 Handling Tough Questions in Presentations 18:47 The Power of Storytelling in Leadership 19:22 Games and Techniques for Effective Presentations 20:59 Learning from Mistakes: Personal Reflections 21:40 The Importance of Self-Promotion 23:45 Cultural Differences in Corporate Environments 24:48 Rewiring the Brain for Better Leadership 28:03 The Role of Coaches and Mentors 28:33 Dealing with Crisis and Grief in Leadership 30:44 The Loneliness of Leadership 33:01 Conclusion and Future Topics If you want to contact John, Robin and Tarek please email them at 3exexecs@gmail.com

    35 min
  • 6 Episodes

About

Nobody tells you the truth about what it takes to lead. ExExecs is three former CEOs from banking, education and private enterprise, with careers spanning nine countries and over 80 years of leadership between them, having the candid conversations they never had access to on the way up. Mistakes, turning points, loneliness at the top and the lessons that actually matter. Built for ambitious professionals who want to climb smarter, lead better and avoid the traps that derail good people.

Information

  • Creator
    John Newton
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    6
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 John Newton
  • Show Website
    ExExecs Podcast