Behind the Big Desk is a podcast that dives into the realities of leadership, entrepreneurship, and business strategy. Featuring candid conversations with CEOs, industry leaders, and innovators, the show explores the highs, lows, and pivotal moments that define success at the top.
From navigating high-pressure decisions to scaling businesses and adapting to change, Behind the Big Desk offers unfiltered insights into what it truly takes to lead. Each episode delivers practical wisdom, leadership lessons, and personal stories, making it a must-listen for anyone looking to elevate their career, business, or mindset.
Tune in for engaging discussions, expert perspectives, and a behind-the-scenes look at the challenges and triumphs of those who sit Behind the Big Desk.
Calum Hawley, Managing Partner of BTC Global, discusses optimizing travel programs for businesses without dedicated travel managers, drawing from his expertise in crisis management and policy design in this interview.
5 Dec 2025
S2- EP05- Gen Z, Jet Set and Kindred Keys with Justine Palefsky
Justine Palefsky, CEO of Kindred, discusses building a global home-swapping community centered on trust and connection with host Dani Ives, highlighting a new generation's approach to travel in this interview.
28 Nov 2025
S2- EP04 - Behind The Generations, Abby, Dan and Dani At The Big Desk
Hosts Abby, Dan Hayward, and Dani Ives explore generational differences in the workplace, drawing on insights from recruitment expert Emma Gregory and wellbeing specialist Aron Jamson in an interview episode.
21 Nov 2025
S2- EP03- Generations at Work, A Recruiters Eye View
Recruiter Emma shares insights with host Dan about generational differences in the recruitment market, revealing candidate expectations and employer strategies in this interview.
7 Nov 2025
S2- EP02- Living Wellbeing at Work, Aron Jameson joins Dani Ives
Aron Jameson discusses with Dani Ives how leaders implement daily rituals and coaching techniques to foster genuine workplace wellbeing, not just promote it, in this interview.
31 Oct 2025
S2- EP01- The Desk Just Got Bigger
Hosts Daniel Hayward and Dani Ives discuss how different generations collaborate in the workplace, exploring the friction and benefits of mixed-age teams and offering leaders insights for fostering a thriving environment in this interview episode.
20 Jun 2025
EP10: Claire Herbert: Sales, Sass, and Showing Up Authentically
Abby interviews Claire Herbert, Sales Director, about authentic leadership and challenging perceptions, revealing the power of being true to yourself in professional settings in this interview episode.
13 Jun 2025
EP09: Dean Mitchell: Kindness rules!
Aviation enthusiast Dean Mitchell discusses his lifelong passion for flight and how building genuine relationships has fueled his career, emphasizing trust and collaboration in aviation, in an interview on accessible travel.
16 May 2025
Episode 08: James Marchant's Secret
Get ready to swap the conference table for sun, sand and surf in this special “Behind the Big Desk” episode with James Marchant, Head of Business Development at easyJet. We took our cameras to the beach to uncover how James navigates the fast lanes of aviation, turning bold ideas into partnerships ready for the runway and breakthroughs driven by data, all while balancing the ripple effects of sustainability. With waves lapping in the background, James shares sun-drenched stories of forging unexpected alliances, charting growth in turbulent markets and keeping customers flying high on innovation. It is the same big desk wisdom you love, now with a fresh saltwater twist—perfect for anyone curious about the future of travel or just craving a laid-back conversation that goes beyond the usual corporate script. Kick off your shoes, tune in and let James Marchant show you how easyJet makes big moves under the wide open sky.
9 May 2025
EP07: Edward Leigh Is Breaking Travel as We Know It
In this episode of Behind the Big Desk, we sit down with Edward Leigh — Chair of Azure Luxury Travel and Founder of Independents Powered by Azure — to explore how he’s flipping the traditional travel model on its head. With over 30 years of leadership in both luxury and corporate travel, Edward shares how he’s putting power back in the hands of independent agents, creating a new standard of support, commercial strength, and true autonomy.
We talk leadership legacy, disrupting outdated systems, and what it really means to champion others in business. This is a must-listen for anyone ready to challenge the norm and lead with purpose.
2 May 2025
Episode 06: Chris Airey (Diversity Travel)
Behind the Podcast: Chris Airey – A Journey of Purpose and Progress
In this powerful episode of Behind the Podcast, we sit down with Chris Airey, the visionary founder of Diversity Travel. Chris shares his inspiring journey from the ground up, revealing how his values shaped a business that puts ethical trading, diversity in the workplace, and inclusive travel at its core.
From redefining the workplace model to championing underrepresented voices, Chris offers an open and engaging conversation about building a business that truly makes a difference. If you're passionate about purpose-led leadership and creating meaningful impact, this episode is a must-listen.
🎧 Tune in now – your perspective on modern business might just change.
#DiversityInBusiness #EthicalLeadership #NewWorkplaceModel #BehindThePodcast #myexecuk
4 Apr 2025
Episode 05: Dani Ives
This episode features the brilliant Dani Ives, a dynamic leader whose passion and energy have always left a lasting impression. Abby had the pleasure of working closely with Dani and was instantly struck by her commitment, positivity, and ability to bring people together. Their collaboration was a reminder that leadership isn’t always about what you can teach someone, but just as often, about what they can teach you.
It's an absolute joy for Abby to welcome Dani onto the podcast for a candid conversation exploring generational differences in leadership, what it truly means to lead in today’s world, and the pivotal moments that inspired Dani to step into leadership herself. Get ready for an inspiring and insightful episode with one of the most vibrant voices in business travel.
28 Mar 2025
Episode 04: Dave Clare
This week, we’re joined by Dave Clare, a well-known figure in travel, media, and events. With a career that’s taken him from the press rooms to the global stage of event planning, Dave has spent decades bringing people together across borders, cultures, and industries. Whether telling stories that inspire wanderlust or curating events that connect the very heart of the travel community, his career has always been about creating experiences and lasting connections.
In this episode, Dave shares his journey through the evolving world of travel, the lessons learned along the way, and how at every turn it’s always been about people, places, and the power of bringing them together.
21 Mar 2025
Episode 03: Matt Gatenby
In this episode of Behind the Big Desk, I’m joined by Matt Gatenby, Senior Partner at Travlaw LLP, one of the UK’s leading travel law specialists.
Matt has spent decades advising businesses across the travel industry on everything from regulation and compliance to risk management and commercial contracts. His deep understanding of the unique challenges facing the sector makes him one of the most respected voices in travel law today.
We’ll be diving into the legal landscape shaping the industry right now, discussing everything from protecting customer money, trust accounts, and escrow, to what operators and consultants should really be thinking about as they plan for growth in an ever-changing market.
If you’re in the travel sector, whether running a business, advising clients, or just curious about the legal framework behind the scenes, this episode is packed with insight you won’t want to miss.
Let’s get started.
14 Mar 2025
Episode 02: James Diaz
In this episode of Behind the Big Desk, we dive into the dynamic career of James Diaz, a leader who started as an entrepreneur, transitioned into the corporate world, and is now making the leap back into entrepreneurship.
James shares the lessons he learned from building his first business, what drew him into the structure and scale of corporate leadership, and why he’s now returning to the fast-paced, high-stakes world of entrepreneurship. We explore the highs and lows of both paths, the skills that translate between the two worlds, and what it takes to take the leap—twice.
If you’ve ever wondered about the trade-offs between running your own business and leading within a corporate structure, this episode is packed with real-world insights, reflections, and strategies for navigating both.
7 Mar 2025
Episode 01: Dame Irene Hays
In the very first episode Behind the Big Desk, we’re thrilled to welcome Dame Irene Hayes, a renowned leader in the travel and business sectors. Dame Irene’s remarkable career and her unique perspective on leadership make her an ideal guest to discuss the personal and professional challenges of leading at the highest levels.
Who has been a guest on Behind the Big Desk
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Calum Hawley
Justine Palefsky
Emma Gregory
Aron Jamson
Emma
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
4
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Spotify
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 30 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
34
Social presence
0
YouTube
63
Engagement
0
Contact Behind the Big Desk
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