Leadership Listening

Leadership Listening
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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. Jul 26

    Operational Leadership: Lessons from PwC’s COO - with John Berriman

    Lawrie Philpott of Philpott Black and host of the Leadership Listening podcast talks with John Berriman about leadership grounded in execution, drawing on Berriman’s career as a PwC audit partner, founder of its cybersecurity advisory practice, board member, and UK firm COO with 1,400 reports, plus later work as global COO at global law firm Norton Rose Fulbright and Chair of national learning disabilities and autism charity MacIntyre. Berriman describes formative influences, his “completer-finisher” operational mindset, and what makes bosses difficult or effective, emphasising understanding people and motivating them. He explains COO pressures in a partnership - profit variability, budgeting, communication, technology spend, service reliability, and crisis tracking during 9/11 and the London bombings - along with methods to enforce operational discipline via strategy, thresholds, and accountability. They discuss misconceptions about PwC, judgment versus intelligence, complexity in large organisations and nonprofit governance challenges (especially funding and staffing). 00:00 Intro 00:46 Meet John Berriman 03:01 Early Influences 04:57 Operational Mindset 09:23 Handling Tough Bosses 14:12 Mentors Who Backed 17:11 COO Pressures 28:17 Discipline In Partnerships 34:47 PwC Misconceptions 39:58 Judgment Versus Intelligence 47:05 Lessons From The Top 51:49 Nonprofit Leadership Realities 55:14 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/Fe8cN3vlUmg Podcast episode: 17 ✅ 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

  2. Apr 26

    Why traditional leadership playbooks no longer apply - with Nik Gowing

    Lawrie Philpott of Philpott Black and host of Leadership Listening talks with Nik Gowing, veteran BBC World News presenter and author of Thinking the Unthinkable, about leadership, disruption, and a darkening world. Nik shares his core research findings — that most leaders are dangerously unprepared for the speed and complexity of modern disruption — and maps out his prescient warnings from 2009 and 2018. He argues the world is entering a period of fundamental instability driven by AI-driven unemployment, geopolitical rupture, weakened institutions, and the collapse of long-held assumptions about prosperity. He calls on leaders to think the unthinkable, break from zombie orthodoxies, and upskill for an era where traditional playbooks no longer apply. Together they examine why politicians and civil servants struggle to speak truth to power, how Trump has distorted truth and inspired imitators globally, the concept of corporate mendacity, and the leadership lessons embedded in Nik's most memorable journalistic moments — including the fall of the Berlin Wall and the announcement of Princess Diana's death. They close with what universal leadership traits will matter most for the rest of this decade. 00:00 Intro 00:53 Introducing Nik Gowing 03:21 A Dark And Sinister Prognosis 07:44 The End Of Stability And The Pinball World 10:19 Leaders Failing To Grip The Enormity 13:19 Upskilling For A New Reality 16:24 Civil Service And Public Sector Failure 17:26 Thinking The Unthinkable In Government 20:11 Trump, DOGE And Decimated Public Life 22:39 Zelensky As A Leadership Model 24:35 Leaders On Camera — Credibility Under Pressure 27:12 Media Adversarialism And Being First Fast Flawed 29:13 Leadership Fitness And The 2500-Hour Year 33:08 Bravery, Opportunism And Real-Time Leadership 36:16 Flattery As Diplomacy — The Washington Weekend 37:09 Post-Truth And The Distortion Of Facts 41:39 Corporate Mendacity And Deliberate Distraction 45:28 Most Memorable Journalistic Moments 47:32 The Fall Of The Berlin Wall 48:56 Announcing The Death Of Princess Diana 52:28 Universal Leadership Traits Across Cultures 57:37 Cynical Or Hopeful About The Future 59:25 Closing Questions   Since 2014 Nik has been founder and director of the Thinking the Unthinkable project - https://thinkunthink.org/ Using interviews with, and access to, the highest levels of business, public service and governments the ongoing and dynamic project reveals candidly why so many leaders at every level face new difficulties adapting to the scale of unthinkables and unpalatables. 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! Podcast episode: 16 ✅ 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

  3. Apr 12

    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/RKq07VFBicc   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

  4. Mar 16

    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

  5. Jan 26

    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

  6. 12/15/2025

    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

  7. 11/17/2025

    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

  8. 11/03/2025

    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

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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
    17
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 to present. All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Leadership Listening