Who's Your Captain?

About Who's Your Captain?

Who's Your Captain explores the leadership lessons hidden in the stories of sports' greatest captains. Hosted by Mark Francis, this podcast dives deep into what separates good leaders from legendary ones—on the field, in the locker room, and beyond. Each episode features conversations with elite athletes, coaches, and sports professionals who've experienced world-class leadership firsthand. From the mental resilience required to lead under pressure to the communication strategies that unite divided teams, Mark unpacks the principles that make exceptional captains unforgettable. Whether you're leading a business, managing a team, or navigating your own personal challenges, the insights from sports captains translate directly to everyday leadership. These aren't just sports stories—they're blueprints for building trust, inspiring performance, and leading with integrity. Mark Francis brings his passion for sports and leadership together to deliver authentic, actionable conversations that inspire listeners to step up and lead in their own lives. New episodes drop weekly, bringing you closer to understanding what it truly means to captain your own ship. Subscribe to join a community of leaders who believe the best lessons come from those who've done it at the highest level.

Publisher

Mark Francis

Category

business

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

6 Feb 2026

Latest episode

9 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

35 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   9 Oct 2026

   SE01E35 Judo Thinking for Leaders I Ben Almond

   In this episode of the ActionCOACH Business Spotlight Podcast, Mark Francis sits down with Ben Almond, author of Judo Thinking, to explore how the principles of judo can transform leadership, teamwork, business decision-making and personal development. Ben Almond shares how more than 50 years of experience in judo, combined with his career in investment banking, real estate and international leadership, shaped the ideas behind Judo Thinking. They discuss how judo can teach business leaders to embrace complexity, become comfortable with conflict, build trust and use failure as a measure of progress. The conversation explores the five key Judo Thinking mindsets, including attraction to complexity, comfortable conflict, pursuit of imperfection, constant personal improvement and mutual support. Ben also explains the importance of yielding, inclusion and trust, and how these principles can help teams move away from avoidance and passive aggression toward productive conflict and better decisions. Mark and Ben also discuss Ben's experience as a parent and judo coach, including the powerful story of his daughter Emma's first international competition and how preparation, purposeful practice and learning from setbacks can build confidence. Ben explains how his Judo Thinking workshops bring these principles into the workplace through experiential leadership exercises and business simulations, helping teams develop stronger communication, collaboration and decision-making skills. Key topics covered: • Judo Thinking and business leadership • Judo principles for personal development • Leadership and team development • Comfortable conflict and conflict with care • Building trust and inclusion • Embracing complexity in business • Learning from failure and setbacks • Pursuit of imperfection • Mutual support and collaboration • Yielding as a leadership strength • Purposeful practice and preparation • Experiential leadership training • Judo-inspired business workshops • The connection between sport, leadership and business Learn more about Ben Almond and Judo Thinking: https://www.linkedin.com/in/judothinker #JudoThinking #Leadership #BusinessLeadership #Teamwork #PersonalDevelopment #ConflictManagement #Judo #BusinessPodcast I hope you enjoy this episode! Give it a like, share, and subscribe to not miss the content coming your way weekly. – Mark and the Who's Your Captain podcast team Connect with Mark Francis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-francis-78b3061/ Visit The Uspire Partnership website here: https://theuspirepartnership.com Preview Mark's book here: https://www.book2look.com/book/5PLGQaM16K Listen to Who's Your Captain on the following Platforms: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/097OvlL7btd8f7bplgIfv0 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/whos-your-captain/id1875226706 Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/c6109160-6448-4d95-9850-07456d5adbca/who's-your-captain #WhosYourCaptain #MarkFrancis #LeadershipPodcast #ExecutiveCoaching #BusinessLeadership #Mentorship #LeadershipDevelopment #PurposeDrivenLeadership #TransformationalLeadership #BusinessGrowth #ExecutiveThinking #Leadership Hosted by Mark Francis, founder of The Uspire Partnership and former senior leader at Burberry and Tesco, this podcast provokes fresh thinking, energises purpose, and transforms how leaders perform. With over 25 years of experience in learning and development, organisational change, and executive coaching, Mark brings deep insight to every conversation. He's worked across retail, FMCG, logistics, and professional services, helping leaders and organisations unlock potential and drive meaningful transformation. Whether you're building a business, leading a team, or navigating your own path, you'll discover practical wisdom and inspiration from those who know what it takes to steer the ship. If you're a business leader, entrepreneur, or professional looking to elevate your leadership, find inspiration from great mentors, or understand what drives transformational performance, this podcast will give you the insights and energy to chart your own course with confidence.

2. 

   18 Sept 2026

   SE01E34 Enfinium and beyond I Mike Maudsley

   Mark Francis visits one of enfinium’s major operating sites for a fascinating conversation with Mike Maudsley, Chief Executive Officer of enfinium, on leadership, operational excellence, waste-to-energy, decarbonisation, carbon capture, innovation, and the future of energy infrastructure. In this episode of Who’s Your Captain?, Mike Maudsley takes Mark behind the scenes at Ferrybridge to explore how unrecyclable waste is transformed into energy for homes, communities, and businesses. He shares his journey from being told he was “thick” at school because of dyslexia to becoming a CEO, and explains how judo, discipline, persistence, and finding his strengths shaped his approach to leadership. Mike also discusses enfinium’s three horizons for growth: operational excellence today, major construction projects for the future, and innovation through carbon capture, energy networks, and opportunities to support data centres and AI infrastructure. The conversation covers: • Mike Maudsley’s leadership journey and lessons from dyslexia • How judo helped build confidence, discipline, and resilience • How energy from waste supports communities • Operational excellence and infrastructure management • Carbon capture and decarbonisation • The potential for energy from waste to support data centres and AI • Developing employees through apprenticeships and leadership exposure • Health, wellbeing, and creating a supportive workplace • Succession planning and developing future leaders • Working with shareholders, government, and other stakeholders • Mike’s approach to strategic thinking and innovation • The future vision for enfinium and its role in UK energy infrastructure Mike’s leadership philosophy is simple: care about the people, care about the industry, keep improving, and make sure everyone understands where the business is going. Watch the full conversation to hear Captain Mike Maudsley share his story, leadership lessons, and vision for the future of enfinium. Connect with Mike Maudsley on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-maudsley-5480a417/ I hope you enjoy this episode! Give it a like, share, and subscribe to not miss the content coming your way weekly. – Mark and the Who's Your Captain podcast team Connect with Mark Francis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-francis-78b3061/ Visit The Uspire Partnership website here: https://theuspirepartnership.com Preview Mark's book here: https://www.book2look.com/book/5PLGQaM16K Listen to Who's Your Captain on the following Platforms: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/097OvlL7btd8f7bplgIfv0 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/whos-your-captain/id1875226706 Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/c6109160-6448-4d95-9850-07456d5adbca/who's-your-captain #WhosYourCaptain #MarkFrancis #LeadershipPodcast #ExecutiveCoaching #BusinessLeadership #Mentorship #LeadershipDevelopment #PurposeDrivenLeadership #TransformationalLeadership #BusinessGrowth #ExecutiveThinking #Leadership Hosted by Mark Francis, founder of The Uspire Partnership and former senior leader at Burberry and Tesco, this podcast provokes fresh thinking, energises purpose, and transforms how leaders perform. With over 25 years of experience in learning and development, organisational change, and executive coaching, Mark brings deep insight to every conversation. He's worked across retail, FMCG, logistics, and professional services, helping leaders and organisations unlock potential and drive meaningful transformation. Whether you're building a business, leading a team, or navigating your own path, you'll discover practical wisdom and inspiration from those who know what it takes to steer the ship. If you're a business leader, entrepreneur, or professional looking to elevate your leadership, find inspiration from great mentors, or understand what drives transformational performance, this podcast will give you the insights and energy to chart your own course with confidence.

3. 

   11 Sept 2026

   SE01E33 Why Great Leaders Must Lead Themselves First I Cheryl Smith

   In this thought-provoking episode, Mark Francis sits down with Cheryl Smith, Owner of The Self-Led Leader™, to explore what it really means to lead with humanity, authenticity, resilience, and self-awareness. Cheryl shares her powerful leadership journey, including her experience leading a COVID ward during the pandemic and how that extreme environment shaped her understanding of self-leadership. They discuss the connection between leadership development and the human being behind the leader, and why learning to lead yourself is just as important as learning to lead others. The conversation explores the loneliness of leadership, the importance of having a thought partner, authentic leadership under pressure, and why leaders often need a safe space where they can be honest without being judged or fixed. Cheryl also introduces the idea of the Glen Eagles standard, inspired by her experiences at Glen Eagles, and explains how exceptional organizations create a culture where employees feel valued and cared for. She shares why leadership is ultimately about stewardship, legacy, and understanding the impact your leadership has on people long after a conversation or decision has been forgotten. They also discuss resilience, failure, succession planning, developing future leaders, and why humanity may be one of the most important qualities a leader can bring to the workplace. Whether you're an experienced executive, emerging leader, entrepreneur, manager, or someone preparing for a leadership role, this conversation offers practical insights into self-leadership and what it takes to become a more authentic and impactful leader. Topics covered: • Self-leadership and personal growth • Authentic and human leadership • Leadership during COVID • The loneliness of leadership • Leadership resilience • Thought partners and leadership coaching • The Glen Eagles standard • Stewardship and leadership legacy • Humanity in leadership • Learning from failure • Developing future leaders • Leadership succession • Building strong workplace cultures Cheryl Smith is the Owner of The Self-Led Leader™ and the author of Self-Led, a book focused on the human being behind leadership and the importance of understanding yourself in order to lead others effectively. Connect with Cheryl Smith on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryl-smith-4748b1170/ #Leadership #SelfLeadership #AuthenticLeadership #LeadershipDevelopment #CherylSmith #TheSelfLedLeader #ExecutiveLeadership #LeadershipCoaching #HumanLeadership #Resilience I hope you enjoy this episode! Give it a like, share, and subscribe to not miss the content coming your way weekly. – Mark and the Who's Your Captain podcast team Connect with Mark Francis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-francis-78b3061/ Visit The Uspire Partnership website here: https://theuspirepartnership.com Preview Mark's book here: https://www.book2look.com/book/5PLGQaM16K Listen to Who's Your Captain on the following Platforms: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/097OvlL7btd8f7bplgIfv0 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/whos-your-captain/id1875226706 Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/c6109160-6448-4d95-9850-07456d5adbca/who's-your-captain #WhosYourCaptain #MarkFrancis #LeadershipPodcast #ExecutiveCoaching #BusinessLeadership #Mentorship #LeadershipDevelopment #PurposeDrivenLeadership #TransformationalLeadership #BusinessGrowth #ExecutiveThinking #Leadership Hosted by Mark Francis, founder of The Uspire Partnership and former senior leader at Burberry and Tesco, this podcast provokes fresh thinking, energises purpose, and transforms how leaders perform. With over 25 years of experience in learning and development, organisational change, and executive coaching, Mark brings deep insight to every conversation. He's worked across retail, FMCG, logistics, and professional services, helping leaders and organisations unlock potential and drive meaningful transformation. Whether you're building a business, leading a team, or navigating your own path, you'll discover practical wisdom and inspiration from those who know what it takes to steer the ship. If you're a business leader, entrepreneur, or professional looking to elevate your leadership, find inspiration from great mentors, or understand what drives transformational performance, this podcast will give you the insights and energy to chart your own course with confidence.

Contact Who's Your Captain?

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.