Welcome to "Leading to Here," a podcast diving deep into the journeys of accomplished individuals from various sectors, unravelling their stories of triumph, challenge, and the moments that led to their success. Every episode presents a rich mosaic of experiences, from industry-changing entrepreneurs to CEOs and business leaders who've defied the odds.
Beyond mere achievements, we delve into the guests' inspirations, dreams, and the seeds of ambition driving them. Through their stories, we uncover the wisdom of their unique paths, empowering listeners to pursue their dreams and realise their potential.
Join us on "Leading to Here" to discover the untold tales of those who've shaped our world. Tune in, be inspired, and learn from the journeys that led them to where they are.
Laura Kerby, CEO of Prostate Cancer UK, shares her journey from commercial leadership to driving men's health awareness and improving experiences through treatment.
30 Aug 2024
Leading to Here with Jon Dawson
Meet Jon Dawson, a keen follower of his beloved Everton Football Club and the UK and Ireland Director of STAAR Surgical, a leading developer, manufacturer, and marketer of the EVO family of Implantable Collamer® Lenses (EVO ICL™). Their lenses provide visual freedom to patients, lessening or eliminating the reliance on glasses or contact lenses.
Jon's inspiring career started in the family business, a local printer. He took it upon himself to go door to door to drum up business in his local area. He navigated various sales and management roles before taking the opportunity to lead STAAR's strategy in the UK and Ireland.
Listen as Jon shares who inspired him in his career. He talks openly about his personal realisations and lessons learned on his journey. He expands on his secrets to success and how he learned from previous managers to shape his own style.
Tune in to Jon's story.
26 Jul 2024
Leading to Here with James Knight
Meet James, CEO of Innserve, whose mission is to 'Keep Britain Pouring'. James' inspiring story takes him from retail financial services to telephony, bookmaking, and membership organisations before settling at InnServe. In this podcast, he shares some powerful lessons from his diverse career journey and talks openly about how, at times, he felt like an imposter.
If you enjoy James' story half as much as we did, then you're in for a real treat. Listen as he shares those who influenced him and the pivotal moments in his career. He unpacked when he joined an organisation that conflicted with his values, how it made him feel and how he resolved it.
Tune in and listen to James' story.
20 Jun 2024
Leading to Here with Rachel Hurst
This episode of Leading to Here is a must-listen for everyone looking for inspiration, especially women in business.
It was an absolute pleasure to spend time with Rachel Hurst, the Chief Operating Officer of Domino Printing Sciences. She's understated, thoughtful, and nothing short of a trailblazer in her field. A successful woman in a male-dominated world, she has overcome obstacles and challenges to excel as she carved out her career in engineering.
Rachel has sat on the board of a FTSE 250 company, seen many acquisitions, and was part of a team that found a new parent company in Brother, which went on to acquire Domino to unlock huge market potential while maintaining its core values.
Rachel's story is a beacon of inspiration for those seeking personal and professional growth. Her journey is particularly empowering for female leaders, aspiring female engineers, and women in business. Despite her natural introversion and shyness, she's a leader who removes blockages and creates an environment for people to get things done.
24 May 2024
Leading to Here with Steve Britton
This latest episode of Leading to Here is a must-listen; Steve Britton shares his story, his journey to here that includes a life-changing experience as he turned up to a football match looking forward to seeing his beloved Liverpool FC in the 1989 FA Cup semi-final that quickly descended into a tragedy.
Listen to how Steve navigated life in the immediate aftermath and how another life-changing moment meant he had to take a job before embracing every opportunity that came his way. Hear how he transitioned from 'old-school' into a modern people-focused leader who leads with passion and energy and someone who proudly says, "I love my job."
8 Mar 2024
Leading to Here with Ian James
Join us as we talk to Ian James, who shares his journey from an insurance claims handler to Head of Global Risk and Control for a major global bank. His progressive attitude to risk management stands him out from the crowd, and his desire to be at the inception of ideas means he can be an enabler rather than the nay-sayer when he's left on the periphery of thinking.
Ian shares how he channelled his early dislike for formal education into his work life as he hoovered up a wide range of knowledge and skills and developed a passion for developing people. This passion extended beyond work as Ian coached a rugby team, developing them from eight years old through to eighteen. He also led a scout group and volunteered to help many Duke of Edinburgh award groups. He's even turned his hand to judging for Regional Enterprise awards in Birmingham.
Ian's passion for developing people with exceptional engagement scores in almost every role he has undertaken. He shares how several people influenced him in his career and how he has paid that forward many times.
19 Jan 2024
Leading to Here with Barry Mellis
Join us as we talk to Barry Mellis, who shares his journey from Golf Professional to General Manager for Asics in South Africa and Africa.
Early in his career, he swapped the fairways for selling golf equipment. Having found his niche in sales, he joined the world's leading sports brand - Adidas. He spent 20 years developing and honing his skills, preparing him for opportunities in New Balance and Intersport before finding his way into several senior roles in Asics.
Barry shares his insight, lessons, and those who influenced his career, highlighting three key people who nurtured his career, which has found its way into Barry's leadership style as he has paid it forward to his people. Barry speaks proudly of people who have gone on to greater things, having spent time under his wing.
Tune in next month to see who will be sharing their story that has led them to here.
15 Dec 2023
Leading to Here with Nicola Marshall
Join us as we explore the inspirational story of Nicola Marshall. Nicola ‘Nic’ is a driven and focused individual who combines a demanding role for one of the UK’s best-known brands with being a wife, mum of a teenage daughter and a cockapoo, yet still finds the time to train and compete in marathons and even a triathlon.
Nic is the People Director at Welcome Break, the UK’s largest Motorway Service Area Provider and a member of the Senior Leadership Team of the parent company Applegreen, where she leads the people functions across Welcome Break and Applegreen in the UK, ROI and US and is Chair of the Welcome Break Charitable Fund.
Listen as Nic shares how her passion for people led her from operational roles into the world of people development & HR with some of the UK’s leading hospitality businesses, including Whitbread, Greene King & Travelodge. Nic talks about her hopes, fears, and experiences that have shaped her career and how role models inspired her to succeed.
Coming up next time is Barry Mellis, who has worked for some of the world's leading sports brands on his way to becoming General Manager for Asics - South Africa and Africa.
3 Nov 2023
Leading to Here with Neil Lloyd
Dive into the riveting story of Neil Lloyd, how a career banker became the Managing Director of a full-service law firm - without even being a lawyer!
Listen as Neil recounts the significance of mentors in his formative years and discover the leadership principles that have guided him seamlessly across starkly different sectors. From sharpening his prowess in banking to architecting growth strategies at FBC Manby Bowdler, Neil's ascent to Managing Director is nothing short of inspiring.
Neil was recently recognised with an Honorary Fellowship by the University of Wolverhampton, and The Lawyer magazine included him in their Hot 100.
But there's much more to Neil; off the clock, he's an avid marathon enthusiast, conquering some of the world's most iconic races from London to New York.
Join us for a narrative of ambition, adaptability, and passion, and uncover how Neil Lloyd is redefining the boundaries of career trajectories.
6 Oct 2023
Leading to Here with Michael Smith
Join us as we talk to Michael Smith, a humble lad from the North East of England who rose to become Chief Commercial Officer of a Silicon Valley medical technology company focused on saving teeth from tooth decay. Listen as he shares why he wrote to the Home Secretary!
Michael leads the commercial side of Sonendo®, which develops and manufactures the GentleWave® System, an innovative technology platform designed to treat tooth decay by cleaning and disinfecting the microscopic spaces within teeth without the need to remove tooth structure. Michael walks us through his journey and how his dream to join the police soon shifted to the corporate world of healthcare.
In this episode, Michael shares with us the crucial roles his role models and mentors played in his personal development, preparing him for leadership. Michael shares insight and lessons behind his journey and offers many great takeaways for everyone.
If you like this type of content, please like, share and subscribe, be sure to follow us on your chosen platform to ensure you know when the next episode is out!
Coming up next time is Neil Lloyd, who is featured in The Lawyer Magazine's Hot 100 for 2023 and he's not even a lawyer!
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