HOW DO LEADERS LEAD?

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In this podcast, journalist James Ashton brings together people from the top of very different organisations in the worlds of business, charity, the arts and beyond to discuss their take on leading vital causes, famous brand names and multi-million-pound enterprises.

His two guests swap stories of success and failure, the skills they have picked up, the challenges they face every day and the advice they offer to others.

LATEST EPISODE: 25 MAY CANAL & RIVER TRUST

LISTEN HERE

SEASON 3

EPISODE 1:​

MACMILLAN CANCER SUPPORT

& RHODES TRUST

Lynda Thomas and Elizabeth Kiss join James Ashton to discuss supporting the NHS, funding future leaders, career pivots and imposter syndrome. This episode was recorded before the coronavirus lockdown.

EPISODE 2:​

GREAT ORMOND STREET HOSPITAL & PWC

Kevin Ellis and Matthew Shaw join James Ashton to discuss trust in business, audit quality, shattering hierarchy and lifelong learning. This episode was recorded before the coronavirus lockdown.

EPISODE 3:​

BUPA

In this special lockdown episode, Evelyn Bourke joins James Ashton to discuss leading through crisis, working closely with the NHS, the future of healthcare and early career failure.

EPISODE 4:​

ST JOHN AMBULANCE

In another lockdown episode, Martin Houghton-Brown joins James Ashton to discuss battling Covid-19, dealing with the latest financial pressures, reorganising for the future and finding time and space to switch off.

EPISODE 5:​

LONDON METAL EXCHANGE

In another lockdown episode, Matthew Chamberlain joins James Ashton to discuss trading through the crisis, swapping an investment banking career to become CEO and respecting tradition at his 143-year old organisation.

EPISODE 6:​

CANAL & RIVER TRUST

In another lockdown episode, Richard Parry joins James Ashton to discuss safeguarding staff and visitors, developing new income streams and swapping commercial for charitable leadership at the helm of one of the UK’s largest not-for-profit organisations.

SEASON 2

EPISODE 1:​

O2 & 

ENGLISH NATIONAL OPERA​

Mark Evans and Stuart Murphy join James Ashton to discuss coping in a crisis, the myth of creativity, keeping connected and standing your ground.

EPISODE 2:​

UNIVERSITY OF LIVERPOOL & 

MONTESSORI ST NICHOLAS

Dame Janet Beer and Leonor Stjepic join James Ashton to discuss thinking on your feet, financial discipline and female role models.

EPISODE 3:​

BRITISH SWIMMING &

ANGLIAN WATER

Jack Buckner and Peter Simpson join James Ashton to discuss learning from the approach of top athletes, developing a winning culture and the power of long service

EPISODE 4:​

THE CROWN ESTATE &

AMANDA WAKELEY

Dame Alison Nimmo and Amanda Wakeley join James Ashton to discuss juggling responsibilities, the power of coaching, trusting your team and putting your name over the door.

EPISODE 5:​

THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL &

LEON

John Vincent and Craig Hassall join James Ashton to discuss putting on a show, screwing up, finding the right mentor and how to tackle US expansion.

EPISODE 6:​

ENTREPRENEUR FIRST &

RSPB

Alice Bentinck and Beccy Speight join James Ashton to discuss campaigning conservation, fashioning leaders from founders and megalomaniac tendencies.

EPISODE 7:​

HAVAS CREATIVE NETWORK &

TRAINLINE

Clare Gilmartin and Chris Hirst join James Ashton to discuss fostering creativity, staying resilient and reinventing yourself at Harvard.

EPISODE 8:​

PHARMACY2U & METROPOLITAN

THAMES VALLEY

Mark Livingstone and Geeta Nanda join James Ashton to discuss their biggest challenges, merger tactics, building a team and getting lucky.

EPISODE 9:​

ENGLAND ATHLETICS &

BRITISH LAND

Chris Jones and Chris Grigg join James Ashton to discuss battling adversity, Olympic legacy and fixing company culture.

SEASON 1

EPISODE 1:​

DELOITTE & 

TEENAGE CANCER TRUST

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David Sproul and Kate Collins join James Ashton to discuss humanising tough decisions, being elected as leader, retaining a maverick spirit and making staff talk in the lift.

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EPISODE 2:​

MIND &

DIRECT LINE

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Paul Farmer and Paul Geddes join James Ashton to discuss staying in touch with the frontline, respecting the past, picking the right mentor and the importance of leaders’ own wellbeing.

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EPISODE 3:​

BUSINESS IN THE COMMUNITY &

THE SCOUTS

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Amanda Mackenzie and Matt Hyde join James Ashton to discuss promoting better business behaviour, mobilising a volunteer force, magpieing great ideas and showing some vulnerability

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EPISODE 4:​

HEATHROW &

ENGLISH HERITAGE

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John Holland-Kaye and Kate Mavor join James Ashton to discuss investing in the past, building for the future, being yourself as the boss, changing staff culture and selling the best cake.

EPISODE 5:​

ROYAL SOCIETY &

PORT OF LONDON AUTHORITY​

Julie Maxton and Robin Mortimer join James Ashton to discuss the art of problem solving, tracking public opinion, natural leadership insecurity and keeping maritime traditions alive.

EPISODE 6:​

FIRST DIRECT &​

NORTHERN BALLET

Joe Gordon and Mark Skipper join James Ashton to discuss keeping up with customer expectation, battling budget cuts, riding your luck and the excitement of opening night.

EPISODE 7:​

FLUTTER ENTERTAINMENT &​

FAIRTRADE

Peter Jackson and Michael Gidney join James Ashton to discuss digital transformation, personal development, empowering their people and switching from non-executive to CEO of the same organisation.

EPISODE 8:​

DESIGN MUSEUM &

SHELTER

Polly Neate and Alice Black join James Ashton to discuss delighting visitors, the joy of campaigning, forever fundraising and the importance of self-knowledge.

EPISODE 9:​

WELLCOME TRUST &

PARKRUN

Sir Jeremy Farrar and Nick Pearson join James Ashton to discuss taking risks, campaigning voices and making a difference in the world’s wellbeing.

CONTACT US

To find out more about the podcast and James, please click here