The Inspired Leader Andy Bird

Ben is the most successful Olympic sailor of all time, winning four gold medals and one silver between 1996 and 2012. More recently, he has helped the USA Oracle team win the America’s Cup in extraordinary circumstances and he is now leading a British team in an effort to win it for the first time in its 166 year history.

- How has Ben found the inspiration to achieve such phenomenal sporting success?
- What has he learned about leadership in his switch from solo to team racing?
- How did he help turnaround the performance of the USA Oracle team when it won the America’s Cup in 2013?

Katie was the winner of the Prince’s Trust ‘Young Achiever’ prize in their prestigious annual Pride of Britain Awards. A survivor of several personal traumas and horrific domestic violence, Katie has set up a successful beauty salon in Liverpool and now provides inspirational support to thousands of other victims through social media and unique salon sessions.

- How has Katie found the strength to overcome a series of devastating personal setbacks?
- How has she combined her business interests with a charitable service for victims of domestic abuse?
- What have her experiences taught her about leading other people?

Pip is Founder and CEO of The Dots, the rapidly growing professional networking platform for people in the creative industries. Pip is a champion of diversity and was recently named by The Sunday Times as one of the UK’s top disruptive entrepreneurs.

- What values and beliefs are driving Pip’s efforts to shake up the world of work?
- How is she coping with the highs and lows of life as a pioneering female entrepreneur?
- How has she learned to handle the challenges of dyslexia?

Jerry is the commanding officer of HMS Queen Elizabeth, the new aircraft carrier and the biggest ship ever commissioned by the Royal Navy. His career also includes roles as captain of HMS Ark Royal and HMS Illustrious, as well as commander of the Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth.

- How does Jerry handle the responsibility and pressure of leading such a high profile warship?
- How does he manage the spirit and motivation of the crew on board?
- What else has he learned about leadership from a lifetime’s experience in the navy?

Sir Vince became an MP surprisingly recently in 1997. He went on to become Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills in the recent coalition government and is now, in his mid 70s, the Leader of the Liberal Democat Party. Renowned for his straight-talking style, Vince has even found time in recent years to write a novel and to compete as a ballroom dancer.
- From where does Vince draw the motivation to continue serving in such a high profile public role?
- How did his earlier career unfold and what impact has this had on his outlook on life?
- What has he learned about leadership from the experience he had serving in the Cabinet?

Martha rose to fame as a digital pioneer through her role as Co-Founder of Lastminute.com. She has since served as the government's digital inclusion champion and now leads the think tank Doteveryone. She also serves on various boards, including Twitter and M&S, and became the youngest woman in the House of Lords in 2013.
- How has Martha built on her early business success to have such a broad social impact?
- What has she learned from pushing herself outside her comfort zone?
- How has she coped with the crippling effects of the road accident she suffered in 2004?