Leadership BITES

Psychometric assessments can provide significant insight, but they should never be mistaken for a definitive answer.

In this episode of Leadership Bites, I speak with occupational psychologist Peter Rhodes about what psychometric assessments can genuinely tell us, where their limitations sit and why every result needs to be explored, tested and corroborated.

We discuss personality, resilience, conscientiousness, ambition, emotional i...

Marc Jantzen, Founder of The Consultancy Growth Network, joins Guy Bloom to explore what it really takes to build, grow and lead a successful consultancy. 

Marc reflects on selling Blue Sky, taking time away from work and eventually returning to build something new in The Consultancy Growth Network. He shares how he tested his proposition, launched with only six members and adapted the business when lockdown made its original m...

In this episode of Leadership Bites, Guy Bloom speaks with Sharath Jeevan OBE, legacy expert, Oxford lecturer, author of Inflection: A Roadmap for Leaders at a Crossroads, and founder of the Generational Success Lab at Saïd Business School.

Sharath describes legacy not as something leaders think about at the end of their career, but as the mark they are choosing to leave right now. The conversation explores why legacy matters in a w...

In this episode, Guy Bloom sits down with long time colleague Jamie MacPherson for a conversation grounded in real leadership experience. 

This is not theory. It is what leadership looks like in practice when expectations are high, pressure is real, and people are watching. 

Together, they explore: 

•  The gap between knowing and doing in leadership 
•  What shows up under pressure 
•  The behaviour...

In this episode of Leadership Bites, I sit down with Gary Clarke, Group Head of Learning and Development at Qatar Airways, based in Doha. 

Gary leads group wide learning across a 65,000 person organisation, with a team of around 80, covering everything from operational training that keeps aircraft flying, to leadership and capability, learning tech, digital content, and vendor partnerships. Along the way, we get into what it re...

In this episode of Leadership Bites, Guy Bloom sits down with Dr Steven Farmer DBA MPhil MBA, Chief Executive Officer of Alconex Infrastructure and Solutions Ltd, author of Soft Skills, Hard Numbers. Steve leads a multi utilities business delivering gas, water and electric connections to homes, while expanding into energy transition work across data centres, battery energy storage and solar. 

Steve shares a straight talking lea...

In this extended studio conversation on Leadership Bites, Guy Bloom sits down with Danny Nelson, MD WINVIC, Industrial & Logistics who has grown with a construction business from its early days into a billion pound organisation. This is not a polished leadership story. It is a real one. 

Danny talks openly about starting out as an apprentice, learning the craft from tough early experiences, and what changes when you move fr...

In this first ever Leadership Bites conversation between Guy Bloom and Jamie MacPherson, two long time colleagues finally press record and get into what sits underneath the glossy talk of culture. 

They explore a blunt question: can the promise of a great culture ever meet expectations, or does it always fall short once real people, real pressure, and real leaders show up. 

They unpack the gap between the marketing story an...

In this episode of Leadership Bites, I interview Guido Palazzo, Professor of Business Ethics,  University of Lausanne, who explores the dark side of corporate behaviour and the systemic issues that lead to ethical failures. We discuss Guido's background, the concept of his brilliant book 'The Dark Pattern: The Hidden Dynamics of Corporate Scandals' in corporate scandals, and the importance of understanding the systems and cult...

In this episode of Leadership Bites, host Guy Bloom engages with Peter Cappilla & Ranya Nehmeh, authors of 'In Praise of the Office: The Limits to Hybrid and Remote Work.' 

They discuss the evolving dynamics of work in the post-pandemic world, exploring the challenges and benefits of remote and hybrid work models. 

The conversation delves into the importance of social interactions, the generational divide in workplace c...

This with Jeanne Hardacre conversation explores Jeanne's book The Culture Trap the profound impact of emotions on behavior change, emphasizing that while knowledge and beliefs are important, it is ultimately our feelings that drive transformation. The discussion delves into how understanding behavior and the role of emotions can lead to more effective change strategies. 

Takeaways

• What we think and know is important, but act...

In this episode I sit down with author, entrepreneur and thought-leader Margaret Heffernan to explore two of her seminal ideas: the hidden dangers of conforming to systems that blind us to obvious truths (from her book Willful Blindness) and the vital importance of embracing uncertainty, especially through the lens of writers, artists and creatives (from her latest work Embracing Uncertainty).

 We talk about how organisations a...

In this episode of Leadership Bites, Mita Mallick shares her journey from being a bullied child to becoming a champion for inclusion in the workplace. She emphasizes the importance of consistency and discipline in achieving success and discusses how creating inclusive cultures starts at home. Mita highlights the need for respectful conversations in the workplace and the role of leaders in fostering psychological safety. She also in...

Guy Bloom interviews Kate Atkin, a speaker, facilitator, author, and author of The Imposter Phenomenon. They explore Kate's journey from a farming background to becoming an expert in the field, discussing the differences between the imposter phenomenon and imposter syndrome, the role of external validation, and the impact of societal expectations. Kate shares insights from her research on coping strategies and emphasizes the import...

In this episode of Leadership Bites, Guy Bloom interviews Erin Lee, the CEO of Flow Neuroscience, a company that has developed a wearable headset designed to treat depression through mild electrical stimulation of the brain. 

Erin shares her journey into the healthcare sector, the science behind the headset, and the promising results from clinical trials. The conversation explores the integration of Flow's technology with tradi...

In this episode of Leadership Bites, Guy Bloom interviews Rod Cartwright, a crisis management expert, who shares insights on the importance of crisis preparedness, the role of human systems, and the impact of social media on crises. Rod discusses his background in public relations, the significance of leadership in crisis situations, and the need for organizations to focus on character and culture. He also highlights the importance...

In this episode of Leadership Bites, Radhika Dutt discusses her journey as a product leader and speaker consultant, focusing on the importance of transformative products and the pitfalls of traditional goal-setting methods. 

She introduces her new book, 'Escaping the Performance Trap,' which critiques the use of goals and targets in organizations and proposes a new framework called OHLs (Objectives, Hypotheses, Learnings) to fo...

In this episode of Leadership Bites, Francesca Donnellan the CEO of 29 London and Global Talent Network Group shares her entrepreneurial journey, discussing the challenges and triumphs of running her PR and marketing businesses. 

She emphasizes the importance of discipline, time management, and the need for authenticity in branding. 

The conversation explores the evolving landscape of PR, the impact of AI, and the significa...

Jack Barsky shares his extraordinary journey from being a KGB agent in East Germany to living in the United States. He discusses the complexities of his dual identity, the romanticized notions of communism, and the realities of espionage. Barsky reflects on his recruitment into the KGB, the challenges of living a double life, and the impact of ideologies on personal choices. He also shares insights on his transition to life in Amer...