About MAD Leaders Podcast: workplace culture, employee health and wellbeing
Got a workplace culture challenge you just can’t crack? Or an employee health and wellbeing problem that seems messy and overwhelming? But you really want to make a difference to individuals thriving at work?
You’re not alone, even though we know it may sometimes feel like it working in this field.
This is the show where ambitious professionals share real stories, real mistakes and real solutions to the toughest culture and wellbeing problems. Think of it like your own personal agony aunt.
Let’s make a difference, together :)
How can I make myself, and my profession, more credible to other functions? With Hannah Pearsall and Affinity Health at Work
In this episode we discuss why workplace wellbeing still lacks credibility in 2026 and what can be done about it.
Our experts this week are Hannah Pearsall, recent Head of Diversity, Inclusion and Wellbeing at recruitment giant Hays, and Claire Agate, Senior Consultant and Occupational Psychologist at Affinity Health at Work.
Pearsall has completed the University of Nottingham's MSc in Workplace Health and Wellbeing (graduating top in her year, no less!) and has been involved in Affinity’s research into creating a professional framework for the industry.
The conversation covers a raft of topics such as the lack of clear career pathways, the problem of language, lived experience as a common career entry point and Affinity's work on a new professional framework.
Time stamp of conversation
00:00 Welcome and Leaders Club
00:44 The Credibility Challenge
01:57 Why Roles Lack Definition
04:53 Qualifications Build Gravitas
07:23 Building a Professional Framework
09:46 Framework Pillars Explained
11:38 Proving Impact With Data
15:01 Future of the Profession
19:07 Educating Leaders and Government
24:05 Getting Boardroom Buy In
27:22 Alien Pitch Job Design
29:37 Wrap Up and Subscribe
17 Aug 2026
How do I set up a Domestic Abuse Strategy that actually makes a differences to employees? With Dawn Dallas at Allianz
In this podcast episode, Dawn Dallas, Director of People Experience at Allianz Insurance, talks about the practical steps involved in creating a Domestic Abuse Strategy that actually works.
As she says, statistics for England and Wales show that one in four women and one in six men will experience domestic abuse and the majority (51%) will not talk about it due to stigma. She believes it’s employers’ role to support employees in dealing with this issue, particularly line managers faced with a colleague experiencing it.
Topics covered include: psychological safety, face to face connection, engaging senior management, consistency, line manager training, mental health first aiders with specialist expertise, an online hub and the importance of communicating about the strategy.
Time stamp of the conversation:
00:00 Welcome to Leaders
00:35 The Workplace Challenge
01:37 Why Allianz Acted
02:34 The Support Gap
04:04 Lived Experience First
05:19 Building the Policy
08:09 Resources and Hub
09:10 Iterating the Strategy
10:10 Launching the Campaign
13:40 Challenges and Buy In
15:36 Employee Response
17:02 AI and Policy Writing
19:57 Top Tips to Start
21:36 Breaking Shame and Stigma
22:43 The Alien Question
25:13 Closing and Subscribe
29 Jul 2026
Leading with Humanity in an AI-Driven Workplace: Wellbeing, Fear & Burnout with Cisco’s Global Wellbeing, People & Communities Head
With AI transforming the workplace so rapidly, it has huge implications for not only employee productivity, but also health and wellbeing. For this week’s episode we’re joined by Sheila Champion-Smeeth, Cisco’s Global Head of Wellbeing, People, and Communities, who calls on professionals to “take a beat” and consider these implications carefully.
She argues AI should build capability and free time, but leaders and individuals must consciously use that space for strategy, skill-building, wellbeing, and human connection, rather than simply producing more.
She also talks about burnout - a topic close to her heart, having suffered personally - as well as the need for leadership role modelling and balancing automation with key human skills.
Fear of AI taking jobs is also addressed, with many practical tips for managers on how to lead constructive conversations.
00:00 Welcome to the podcast
00:35 This Week’s AI Challenge
01:06 Meet Sheila from Cisco
02:48 AI as Capability Builder
04:00 Using Freed Time Wisely
07:53 Recovery Like Athletes
09:51 Fear and Mindset Shifts
13:15 Automation vs Augmentation
17:38 Protecting Human Connection
21:44 AI and Burnout Risks
24:57 Hiding Struggle at Work
26:31 Happiness Summit Takeaways
28:10 The Alien Budget Pitch
29:57 Final Thanks and Wrap Up
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Contact MAD Leaders Podcast: workplace culture, employee health and wellbeing
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