The Awakened Leader

Juliette Lee

Leadership beneath the surface Not a conventional leadership podcast. This explores what sits beneath performance—the hidden dynamics shaping how leaders think, decide, and act when established ways of leading begin to reach their limits. Through conversations with leaders and practitioners, it surfaces what is often left unspoken—and what shapes decision-making under pressure and complexity. With over 20 years working with senior leaders in global organisations—and a background as a chemical engineer and biotechnology commercial leader with ICI and Zeneca—I’ve seen where conventional approaches stop being enough. A leadership threshold. This podcast explores what happens at that point—and how leadership then changes.

  1. Jan 14

    Episode 22: What Horses Can Teach us About Leadership with Midi Fairgrieve

    In this episode, I’m joined by Midi Fairgrieve, founder of Awakening Through Horses, to explore how horses can transform the way we lead. Together, we discuss how equine-led work offers a profound, embodied way for leaders to see themselves more clearly and lead with greater presence and authenticity. Horses have an extraordinary ability to reflect what’s happening beneath the surface. In our discussion, we unpack how they reveal leadership blind spots, expose hidden team dynamics, and challenge our relationship with power, control, and uncertainty. We also explore what it means to move away from hierarchical leadership models and towards a more shared, responsive approach - one grounded in awareness, connection, and trust. Key themes include: Embodied and experiential learningShifting from hierarchical to shared leadershipRevealing personal incongruence and unseen team dynamicsExamining our relationship with power and controlLeading effectively amidst uncertaintyWith decades of therapeutic experience, Midi blends counselling, trauma-informed therapy, and equine-assisted development to support individuals and leaders in cultivating emotional clarity, authentic presence, and healthier relationships. Her work is widely recognised for helping people move beyond purely intellectual leadership into a more intuitive, heart-led way of being. To discover how the wisdom of horses can transform the way you lead and relate to others, learn more about Midi Fairgrieve’s work at www.awakeningthroughhorses.co.uk. The Awakened Leader Podcast Leadership beneath the surface www.juliettelee.co.uk

About

Leadership beneath the surface Not a conventional leadership podcast. This explores what sits beneath performance—the hidden dynamics shaping how leaders think, decide, and act when established ways of leading begin to reach their limits. Through conversations with leaders and practitioners, it surfaces what is often left unspoken—and what shapes decision-making under pressure and complexity. With over 20 years working with senior leaders in global organisations—and a background as a chemical engineer and biotechnology commercial leader with ICI and Zeneca—I’ve seen where conventional approaches stop being enough. A leadership threshold. This podcast explores what happens at that point—and how leadership then changes.