The Courageous Leaders Podcast aims to inspire leaders to step into their courageous zone, be the leader they know they can be and discover the mindset skills and behaviours to take their leadership to the next level. So listen in, get inspired on how you can grow your leadership impact. Leave a legacy you can be proud of, and build an environment for future leaders to thrive. Who is Joanna Howes? Joanna Howes is an award-winning international coach, behavioural expert, specialising in leadership and performance coaching and No 1 best selling international co-author. Her focus is to help individuals and teams activate their full potential, so they can step into their courageous zone to maximise their influence, build their resilience and take the action needed to become high performers and future-ready leaders. Joanna is a unique phenomenon within her industry, with over 20 years’ experience working internationally with some of the world's most awarded advertising agencies and leading them to operational and leadership success. Her blend of both innovative operational and transformative change solutions empowers organisations to create environments that are supportive and fearless for their employees. Website: https://thechangecreators.com/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannahowes/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@courageousleaderspodcast IG: https://www.instagram.com/the.changecreators/ Podcast IG: https://www.instagram.com/courageous_leaders/ Newsletter: https://the-change-creators.kit.com/1a5f3c9e54
5 Bad Leadership Behaviours Every Leader Should Avoid
What are the bad leadership habits that quietly hold a team back? In this solo episode of The Courageous Leaders Podcast, I share the five leadership behaviours driving me crazy right now, and what to do instead if you want to lead well over the next few years. Consider it a rant with a purpose. From leaders who struggle to manage stress to the ones avoiding hard conversations, burning out and calling it “high performance,” or making everything about themselves, I break down why each habit damages a team and the honest shift each one needs. If you lead people, this is a wake-up call worth five minutes. What We Cover: 00:00 The five leadership behaviours driving me crazy 00:06 No self-management: reacting and offloading stress onto your team 01:01 Avoiding difficult conversations (and the time it wastes) 01:33 Not looking after yourself, and what “high performance” really means 02:42 Getting a coach but doing none of the work 03:32 Being too self-focused, and why that isn’t leadership 04:08 Why leadership needs empathy and compassion 04:20 Leadership takes daily effort, not just a title 👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ 🚀 Elevate Your Leadership: Book a call for transformative leadership and team coaching: Website: https://thechangecreators.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannahowes/ → Join our newsletter for courageous leadership insights and advice. 👉 Subscribe here: https://the-change-creators.kit.com/1a5f3c9e54
Is Ruthlessness the Price of Reaching the Top? | A Leaders' Panel Discussion
What’s the one toxic leadership behaviour you’d banish forever? In this special Leadership Room 101 episode of The Courageous Leaders Podcast, three industry leaders each argue to banish one leadership behaviour for good: busyness, fear-based leadership, or pay-to-play culture. I’m joined by Katy Wright (Chief Client & Business Officer, AMV BBDO), Sergio Lopez Ferrero (Global CEO, Omnicom Production), and Sachini Imbuldeniya (Co-Founder & CEO, House of Oddities). Each leader gets around ten minutes to make their case, and at the end I pick just one to send into Room 101. The debate is honest, funny, and at times a little controversial, and each argument says something real about how leadership and the creative industry work today. What We Cover: 00:00 Trailer 00:50 The Leadership Room 101 concept, and meet the three leaders 01:50 Katy's nomination: Busyness as a badge of honour 06:20 Is being "busy" really pride, or is it fear? 10:20 The fear of not looking busy enough 12:50 The link between rest, sleep, and real creativity 19:50 Sergio's nomination: Fear-based leadership 21:50 Why blaming an unnamed "head office" erodes trust 24:50 Can a little fear actually be healthy in leadership? 27:20 Why "alpha" leadership is over, and vulnerability is rising 27:50 The uncomfortable debate: do CEOs have psychopathic tendencies? 40:50 Sachini's nomination: Why pay-to-play is rigging the industry 45:50 Awards and access: is success bought or earned? 47:50 How pay-to-play shuts out great creative work 48:50 My verdict: which behaviour goes into Leadership Room 101 Key Leadership Insights: Why “busy” has become a status symbol, and what it often hides How to hear what your team are really telling you when they say they’re busy Why a small amount of healthy fear can sharpen accountability Why vulnerability now makes leaders more followable, not less How pay-to-play systems in awards and pitching hold the industry back Why fixing fairness at the top can change a whole company culture Part debate, part masterclass, and a lot of fun. By the end you’ll be deciding which leadership behaviour you’d banish too. 👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ 🚀 Elevate Your Leadership: Book a call for transformative leadership and team coaching: Website: https://thechangecreators.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannahowes/ → Join our newsletter for courageous leadership insights and advice. 👉 Subscribe here: https://the-change-creators.kit.com/1a5f3c9e54
Why It's Okay to Upset People When You Lead | Joanna Howes
Why is avoidance the biggest killer of performance in teams? In this solo episode of The Courageous Leaders Podcast, I explain why it’s okay to upset people, and why giving honest feedback without fear is a skill every leader needs. Most leaders tiptoe around their teams, scared of upsetting someone. But avoiding hard conversations doesn’t protect people, it holds them back. I share why we waste so much energy “mind reading” how others will react, how that robs them of the chance to grow, and how to deliver tough feedback while staying calm, present, and human, even when someone gets upset. What We Cover: 00:00 Why it's okay to upset people 00:40 You can't control how someone reacts (the "mind reading" trap) 01:30 Why avoiding it is really about protecting yourself 02:00 My personal story: the feedback that changed everything 02:55 How to give feedback without it feeling like an attack 03:25 How to stay present when someone cries or gets angry 04:19 Why backtracking is the worst thing you can do 04:38 Show up for them, even when it's uncomfortable 👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ 🚀 Elevate Your Leadership: Book a call for transformative leadership and team coaching: Website: https://thechangecreators.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannahowes/ → Join our newsletter for courageous leadership insights and advice. 👉 Subscribe here: https://the-change-creators.kit.com/1a5f3c9e54
Esther Marshall on Grief, High Achievement, Emotional Resilience & Holding It All Together
Some people don’t just achieve, they achieve as though their life depends on it. In this deeply honest episode of The Courageous Leaders Podcast, I sit down with Esther Marshall, former global gender diversity leader at Unilever and founder of Sophie Says, to ask a question so many of us avoid: who are you when achievement isn’t enough? This is a conversation about grief, high achievement, emotional resilience, and the pressure of holding everything together when life refuses to cooperate. Esther shares her story with extraordinary openness: losing her sister Rebecca to suicide, caring for grandparents through Alzheimer’s, a miscarriage during IVF, and losing her mother to pancreatic cancer, all while building a business and refusing to stop proving herself. It is also the story of the breakthrough that finally let her stop failing quietly and start succeeding loudly. If you have ever tied your worth to what you achieve, this one will stay with you. If you or someone you know is affected by anything discussed in this episode, you can contact Samaritans free, 24/7, on 116 123 or at samaritans.org. What We Cover: 00:00 Intro 01:30 Why "High Achiever" Can Tip Into "Never Enough" 04:41 Climbing the Ladder at Unilever, and Being "Hard to Manage" 10:14 Leading a Team When Your Standards Are Sky High 11:37 The Maternity Leave Project That Became Sophie Says 14:29 Losing Rebecca to Suicide 16:34 The Book Written the Night She Passed Away 20:21 The Rainbow, and Learning to Let People In 21:29 Carrying a Legacy, and the Weight That Comes With It 23:08 Alzheimer's, and Grief That Wouldn't Stop 24:18 IVF, Miscarriage, and Learning to Keep Going 25:48 The "Miracle" Baby, and a Mother's Pancreatic Cancer Diagnosis 30:13 Why She Chose to Run a Marathon the Day Her Mum Died 34:52 The Therapy Breakthrough That Changed Everything 38:46 "I'm Failing Quietly, but I Want to Succeed Loudly" 41:00 Building Sophie Says Into a Movement for Generational Change 48:53 Learning to Walk Before Running Again 50:13 A Message for Anyone Sitting in Fear, Ready to Begin 51:40 What Courage Really Means to Esther Key Reflections: • Why high achievement can quietly become a form of self-harm • Why grief isn't something you "get over," and why returning to normal too quickly often makes healing harder • How to separate your self-worth from your achievements and results • Why asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness • How changing the way you frame a failure can completely reshape your life • Why children need emotionally safe parents, not perfect ones Esther’s honesty is a reminder that courage isn’t the absence of pain, it’s getting up and showing up through it. If this episode moves you, I’d love to hear your biggest takeaway in the comments. Find out more about Sophie Says: https://www.sophiesaysofficial.com/ Follow Esther Masrshall: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sophiesaysofficial/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thegrievingfounder 👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ 🚀 Elevate Your Leadership: Book a call for transformative leadership and team coaching: Website: https://thechangecreators.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannahowes/ → Join our newsletter for courageous leadership insights and advice. 👉 Subscribe here: https://the-change-creators.kit.com/1a5f3c9e54
Why a ‘C’ in your Title Doesn’t Automatically Make You an Executive Leader | Leadership Coach Joanna Howes
Why are so many executive teams underperforming? In this solo episode of The Courageous Leaders Podcast, I break down the biggest leadership mistakes I see inside executive teams today, from social loafing and siloed thinking to oversized leadership teams and “Game of Thrones” behaviour at the top of organisations. I explore why executive leadership is about far more than titles, why leadership teams must operate collectively instead of protecting departments, and why CEOs need the courage to reshape teams when they are no longer serving the business. If your leadership team feels political, disconnected, slow, or overly comfortable, this episode will challenge how you think about executive leadership. What We Cover: 00:00 – Why executive teams lose effectiveness 00:52 – Why titles do not equal executive leadership 01:24 – The danger of oversized executive teams 02:24 – Executive teams acting like working groups 02:42 – “Game of Thrones” leadership behaviour explained 03:07 – Why the executive team must become the first team 03:52 – Why CEOs need the courage to challenge comfort Key Leadership Insights • Executive teams shape what becomes acceptable in company culture • Leadership titles do not automatically create leadership capability • High-performing executive teams think collectively, not territorially • Oversized leadership teams slow down decision-making and accountability • CEOs must be willing to challenge comfort and restructure leadership teams • The behaviour at the top becomes the standard for the entire company Reflection Questions for Leaders • Is my executive team truly operating as one team? • Where are politics or silos damaging decision-making? • Have titles become more important than impact? • What difficult leadership change am I avoiding right now? 🎧 Listen to the full episode for the best practical leadership coaching: https://thecourageousleaderspodcast.buzzsprout.com/ 🚀 Ready to elevate your team and leadership? Book time for transformative coaching and training: Website: https://www.thechangecreators.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannahowes/ 👍 Stay inspired – subscribe, leave a comment, and help us build a community of courageous leaders across the UK. → Want honest leadership insights in your inbox? 👉 Sign up to the newsletter: https://the-change-creators.kit.com/1a5f3c9e54 #ExecutiveLeadership #LeadershipTeam #CompanyCulture #CEO #CourageousLeaders 👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ 🚀 Elevate Your Leadership: Book a call for transformative leadership and team coaching: Website: https://thechangecreators.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannahowes/ → Join our newsletter for courageous leadership insights and advice. 👉 Subscribe here: https://the-change-creators.kit.com/1a5f3c9e54
Rory Sutherland on Leadership, Courage & Unconventional Thinking
We often hear the ideas of great thinkers, but rarely get to understand how they actually think or who they are as people. In this episode of The Courageous Leaders Podcast, I am joined by Rory Sutherland, President Emeritus of Ogilvy UK, best-selling author, and one of the most influential voices in advertising, behavioural science, and decision-making. If you’ve ever wondered why some ideas take off and others die fast, why the little things in business matter more than you think, or how to rethink productivity for your team, you’ll find something practical and eye-opening in this conversation. We cut through business theory and get honest about human behaviour, team culture, and leadership decisions that work in the real world. You’ll come away with new ways to look at decision-making, organisational performance, and what it takes to lead bravely in uncertain times, especially with the rise of AI, complexity, and shifting workplace cultures. What We Cover: 00:00 Intro 01:41 Dare to Be Trivial: Why Small Things Matter 13:23 Leadership, Influence & The Power of Great Teachers 14:50 Why Business Is Learned Through Real Experience 18:03 Time, Stress & How Rory Thinks About Control 24:12 Creativity, Uncertainty & Not Knowing Yet 28:00 What Leaders Miss in Strategy & Collective Thinking 30:17 Why Human Businesses May Win in an AI World 34:51 Why Teams Fail & The Problem with Over-Measuring 35:45 The Disappearance of PAs & What It Means for Leaders 36:55 Redundancies & The Danger of Short-Term Thinking 40:34 How Rory’s Mind Works & Why He Avoids Talking About Himself 49:45 The Influence of His Mum & Understanding Human Behaviour 51:22 Neurodiversity Is a Feature, Not a Bug 54:24 Final Reflections & Closing Thoughts Key Leadership Insights • Why great leaders focus on influence, not control • How creativity comes from being comfortable with uncertainty • Why measuring individuals destroys team performance • The hidden cost of short-term thinking in leadership • How silos quietly break organisations from within • Why neurodiversity is a competitive advantage, not a weakness • The courage required to back ideas others doubt • Why founder-led businesses often outperform corporates If you want to lead better, think differently, and understand how great leaders actually operate, this episode will challenge how you see leadership. 👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ 🚀 Elevate Your Leadership: Book a call for transformative leadership and team coaching: Website: https://thechangecreators.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannahowes/ → Join our newsletter for courageous leadership insights and advice. 👉 Subscribe here: https://the-change-creators.kit.com/1a5f3c9e54
The Challenge & Care Framework for Better Leadership & Culture | Leadership Coach Joanna Howes
Is your company culture too nice to perform? In this solo episode of The Courageous Leaders Podcast, I break down the Challenge & Care Framework and why many teams are stuck in cultures that feel good on the surface but quietly damage standards, accountability, and results. I explore the four zones every workplace can fall into: apathy, comfort, fear, and courage, and how the best teams combine high care with high challenge. Because great leadership is not about being nice or being tough. It is about creating an environment where people feel supported, challenged, and clear on what excellence looks like. If your team avoids hard conversations, lacks accountability, or feels stuck, this episode will help you identify why and what to change next. What We Cover: 00:00 – Is your culture too nice to perform? 00:23 – The Challenge & Care Framework explained 00:33 – The Apathy Zone: low care, low challenge 00:50 – The Comfort Zone: high care, low challenge 01:46 – The Fear Zone: high challenge, low care 02:24 – The Courage Zone: where high performance lives 02:58 – What true high performance actually means 03:31 – Compassionate feedback as the key skill 03:44 – Start with your leadership team first 04:04 – Your current zone explains your results Reflection Questions for Leaders • Where am I over-helping instead of empowering? • What am I still controlling that I should let go? • Which conversation am I avoiding right now? • Where have I been indirect instead of honest? 👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ 🚀 Elevate Your Leadership: Book a call for transformative leadership and team coaching: Website: https://thechangecreators.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannahowes/ → Join our newsletter for courageous leadership insights and advice. 👉 Subscribe here: https://the-change-creators.kit.com/1a5f3c9e54
Why We Need to Talk About Death, Sex & Money More Than Ever | Charlotte Pearce
Why do we avoid talking about sex, death, and money when they shape so much of our lives? In this episode of The Courageous Leaders Podcast, I am joined by Charlotte Pearce , an award-winning entrepreneur, speaker, and CEO & Founder of Inkpact , who is reinventing direct mail into a future-facing medium rooted in human connection and behavioural science. From leading 150 people at just 19 to building a business through uncertainty, motherhood, loss, and reinvention, Charlotte’s journey is a powerful lesson in leadership and life. In this conversation, we explore growth, confidence, self-expression, and why even the strongest leaders need support. Her story is one of resilience, courage, and turning life’s biggest challenges into opportunities for growth. We Cover: 00:00 – Introduction 01:00 – Charlotte’s early influences and entrepreneurial mindset 05:20 – Leading 150 people at 19 years old 09:00 – Building Inkpact and creating a new category 10:30 – Leadership lessons, humility, and evolving as a founder 12:00 – Why every leader needs coaches, mentors, and support 13:50 – Crisis year: motherhood, business pressure, and cashflow stress 16:00 – Family loss, grief, and holding everything together 20:20 – Why we need to talk more about death 21:30 – Why sex, money, and hard conversations matter 24:40 – Sexuality, confidence, and female self-expression 28:50 – Money mindset, ambition, and owning success 32:30 – The surrender experiment and letting go of control 36:00 – Burnout, stress, and protecting your energy 39:00 – Comparison, identity, and success on your own terms 45:00 – Courage to be yourself and change direction 48:00 – Letting go, having fun again, and final reflections If you are navigating change, building something meaningful, or ready to stop shrinking yourself, this conversation will stay with you. 👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ 🚀 Elevate Your Leadership: Book a call for transformative leadership and team coaching: Website: https://thechangecreators.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannahowes/ → Join our newsletter for courageous leadership insights and advice. 👉 Subscribe here: https://the-change-creators.kit.com/1a5f3c9e54
How to Know If You Are Emotionally Fit as a Leader | Leadership Coach Joanna Howes
Most leaders are never trained in how to manage their emotions. In this solo episode, I break down emotional fitness and why it plays a critical role in leadership, decision-making, and performance. When emotions take over, we react instead of respond, avoid difficult conversations, and make decisions driven by fear rather than values. I explore the difference between emotionally fit and emotionally unfit leadership, along with practical ways to build awareness, regulate emotions, and lead with clarity under pressure. If you want to improve how you show up as a leader, this is a skill you can’t afford to ignore. What We Cover: 00:00 Introduction: The skill leaders aren’t trained in 01:00 Why emotions override logic 01:30 What emotional fitness really means 02:10 Emotionally fit vs unfit leaders 03:00 Reacting vs responding 03:40 Common emotional patterns (fear, defensiveness) 04:20 Making decisions from values vs emotions 05:10 Building awareness and catching reactions 05:40 Labelling emotions and shifting state 06:10 Practical tools to regulate emotions 06:40 Emotional fitness and leadership under pressure 07:00 Final takeaway Reflection Questions for Leaders • Where am I reacting instead of responding? • What emotion is driving my recent decisions? • Where am I avoiding tension instead of addressing it? • What would it look like to lead from my values instead of fear? #Leadership #EmotionalIntelligence #ModernLeadership #CourageousLeaders 👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ 🚀 Elevate Your Leadership: Book a call for transformative leadership and team coaching: Website: https://thechangecreators.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannahowes/ → Join our newsletter for courageous leadership insights and advice. 👉 Subscribe here: https://the-change-creators.kit.com/1a5f3c9e54
How Narcissistic Traits Show Up in Leaders (And Why It Matters) - Kathleen Saxton
What if the way you understand people is incomplete? In this episode of The Courageous Leaders Podcast, I am joined by Kathleen Saxton , Psychotherapist, Executive Coach, and Best-Selling Author, to explore the psychology behind behaviour, leadership, and one of the most misunderstood traits, narcissism. This conversation goes beyond labels. From how narcissism actually shows up in men and women, to identity, emotional patterns, and leadership blind spots, this episode challenges how we interpret people, power, and performance. Because often, what we think is happening is not the full picture. If you want to better understand human behaviour, navigate complex personalities, and become more self-aware as a leader, this episode will shift your perspective. What We Cover: 00:00 – Trailer 02:00 – The Courage to Walk Away from Toxic Situations 04:10 – Why People Stay in Toxic Jobs & Relationships 07:30 – Trauma, Therapy & Personal Backstory 10:15 – Narcissistic Relationships & Validation Trap 12:00 – What Narcissism Really Looks Like 14:10 – Narcissism: Traits vs Personality Disorder 18:00 – How Narcissists Manipulate & Control You 21:10 – The Dark Triad Explained 22:30 – Why Narcissists Become Leaders 26:15 – Why Companies Protect Toxic High Performers 31:40 – How to Handle a Narcissistic Boss 43:20 – Covert vs Grandiose Narcissists 47:10 – Can Narcissists Change? 50:10 – Are Narcissists Good Leaders? 58:00 – Character vs Performance in Leadership 01:05:00 – Final Advice: Protect Yourself & Your Integrity This is not just about understanding others. It is about understanding how you lead and show up. 👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ 🚀 Elevate Your Leadership: Book a call for transformative leadership and team coaching: Website: https://thechangecreators.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannahowes/ → Join our newsletter for courageous leadership insights and advice. 👉 Subscribe here: https://the-change-creators.kit.com/1a5f3c9e54
Power Moves You Must Know As a Leader | Leadership Coach Joanna Howes
Power is always present in leadership… whether you realise it or not. In my work with leadership teams, I see how often power shows up in ways people don’t talk about. Not in obvious or intentional ways, but in the small moments. Who speaks first. Whose opinion carries weight. What gets challenged… and what gets left unsaid. In this episode, I break down the four ways power shows up inside executive teams, and how these patterns can quietly shape your culture, your decisions, and your results. From dominance and control, to holding back and avoiding challenge, these dynamics are happening in every team… whether you’re aware of them or not. This isn’t about removing power. It’s about understanding how you’re using it. Because the moment you can see it, you can change it. 00:00 How power shows up in your leadership 00:33 Where power shows up in executive teams 01:00 Why avoiding power creates problems 01:40 Power over when control takes over 02:35 The impact of shutting down discussion 03:23 When performance hides poor behaviour 03:46 Power under when leaders stop speaking up 04:38 The illusion of alignment in teams 05:06 Power with working as a collective 05:34 Power within building self trust as a leader 06:01 How pressure shifts leadership behaviour 06:26 Why people stop speaking up across the business 06:50 Three shifts to change how power is used 07:42 Why strong teams don’t avoid tension 08:08 Final reflection on how power is really being used This Episode Explores • Power dynamics in leadership teams • Executive team behaviour and decision making • Psychological safety and speaking up • Leadership self awareness • Managing dominance and control • Building stronger team alignment • Creating healthier leadership cultures Reflection Questions for Leaders • Where might I be using control instead of creating space for others • When do I hold back instead of speaking up • How do I react when I’m challenged • What is the impact of my behaviour on the team If this episode makes you pause or reflect, that’s where the real work starts. Leadership isn’t about removing pressure or power. It’s about understanding how you show up within it. 👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ 🚀 Elevate Your Leadership: Book a call for transformative leadership and team coaching: Website: https://thechangecreators.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannahowes/ → Join our newsletter for courageous leadership insights and advice. 👉 Subscribe here: https://the-change-creators.kit.com/1a5f3c9e54
Elite Leadership Lessons from Former Military Leaders | Military Leaders Panel Edition
What does leadership look like when everything is on the line? In this episode of The Courageous Leaders Podcast, I’m joined by three extraordinary leaders, Mandy Hickson , former RAF fast jet pilot, Mark Fetters , Bomb Disposal Squadron Commander, and Rob Keeping , former military professional turned Managing Director. From being shot at mid-air, to leading bomb disposal missions, to making high-stakes decisions under extreme pressure, this is leadership in its rawest form. This isn’t theory. This is what leadership looks like when failure isn’t an option. We explore what courage really means, why fear is part of the process, how elite teams are built, and what modern leaders are getting wrong when it comes to burnout, performance, and growth. If you’re leading a team, building a business, or navigating uncertainty, this conversation will challenge how you think, act, and show up. What We Cover: 00:00 – Trailer 01:07 – Why This Military Leadership Panel Is Different 01:28 – What Courage REALLY Means (Not What You Think) 03:32 – Courage Isn’t the Absence of Fear 05:26 – Bomb Disposal Mindset: Confidence vs Caution 08:02 – Fear of Failure: Military vs Corporate Reality 11:46 – Leading a War Mission as a Junior 13:07 – Shot at by a Missile… Then the Mission Changed 16:24 – “Only Do What Only You Can Do” 19:00 – Why Relying on an A-Team Will Kill Your Company 25:22 – The 80% Rule (Peak Performance Without Burnout) 27:05 – Burnout, Stress & Why Leaders Are Breaking Today 34:03 – Failure, Rejection & Becoming a Fighter Pilot 45:30 – Final Reflections & Leadership Takeaways 51:30 – Final Message & Closing Thoughts Leadership isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about how you show up when it matters most. 👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ 🚀 Elevate Your Leadership: Book a call for transformative leadership and team coaching: Website: https://thechangecreators.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannahowes/ → Join our newsletter for courageous leadership insights and advice. 👉 Subscribe here: https://the-change-creators.kit.com/1a5f3c9e54
Are You a Toxic Leader Without Realising? | Leadership Coach Joanna Howes
Are you leading your team… or unknowingly holding them back? In my work as a leadership coach, I’ve seen how easy it is for well-intentioned leaders to fall into toxic patterns, without even realising it. In this episode, I break down the subtle behaviours that quietly build into toxic leadership. The ones that don’t look harmful on the surface, but over time, create dependency, frustration, and disengagement within your team. From being the “fixer” to micromanaging, avoiding conflict, or slipping into passive aggression, these are patterns I’ve seen in countless leaders… and ones I’ve had to confront in myself too. This is not about blame. It’s about awareness. Because the moment you can see it, you can change it. 00:00 – Are you a toxic leader without realising it? 00:40 – The toxic leadership pyramid explained 01:10 – The “fixer” trap: helping vs control 02:00 – Why micromanagement limits your team 02:50 – Avoiding conflict and the need to be liked 03:40 – Passive aggression and emotional awareness 04:30 – When toxicity turns into bullying 05:00 – How to recognise and shift these behaviours This Episode Explores: • Toxic leadership behaviours • Micromanagement and control patterns • Emotional intelligence in leadership • Workplace bullying awareness • Leadership self-awareness • Building empowered teams • Breaking unconscious habits Reflection Questions for Leaders • Where am I over-helping instead of empowering? • What am I still controlling that I should let go? • Which conversation am I avoiding right now? • Where have I been indirect instead of honest? If this episode feels uncomfortable, that’s a sign you’re paying attention. Leadership isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being aware enough to do better. 👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ 🚀 Elevate Your Leadership: Book a call for transformative leadership and team coaching: Website: https://thechangecreators.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannahowes/ → Join our newsletter for courageous leadership insights and advice. 👉 Subscribe here: https://the-change-creators.kit.com/1a5f3c9e54
Change Doesn't Happen When You Play It Safe | A Leaders' Panel Discussion
What does it really take to have the courage to change? In this episode, we unpack the real, messy, and powerful moments behind choosing change in your career and life. I sit down with Amber Shand , Founder of She Bites Back ; Catherine Peacock , Co-Founder of 05:37 ; and Georgie Rechner , Bodybuilder and Founder of Midlife Rebel , who all found the courage to change their lives. This isn’t about overnight success or glossy highlight reels. It’s about the struggle to shift your identity, let go of old job titles, handle fear of judgement, and actually put in the work when things get tough. We dive deep into what makes bold change possible, and why being true to yourself matters more than anything. Whether you’re thinking about leaving your job, starting something new, or just need a bit more resilience, this conversation will help you see what courage really means, from losing people to building your own path. We cover: 00:00 – Introduction 01:24 – What it takes to make real change 02:41 – Shifting your identity and asking for help 03:04 – Launching a business and finding courage 05:21 – The moment you decide to go for it 07:27 – What pushes people to make big changes 11:05 – Facing your biggest fears 12:49 – Dealing with judgement and self-worth 15:16 – Losing your identity and finding what’s next 19:03 – The price of happiness vs material comfort 21:02 – Keeping confidence going during tough times 23:28 – Visualising the future and being true to yourself 25:32 – Why failing isn’t really failure 27:26 – Action, liminal spaces, and getting through anxiety 29:19 – The reality of hard work in entrepreneurship 33:38 – Balancing rest, joy and burnout 45:55 – The grief and loss that comes with change 49:09 – How midlife gives us ‘no tolerance for bullshit’ 51:54 – Building visible strength and confidence 55:06 – Physical strength as mental strength 58:27 – Introvert myths and running a business 01:01:08 – Would you change anything? No regrets Don’t miss this honest and practical conversation about courage, change, and finding your own way. 👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ 🚀 Elevate Your Leadership: Book a call for transformative leadership and team coaching: Website: https://thechangecreators.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannahowes/ → Join our newsletter for courageous leadership insights and advice. 👉 Subscribe here: https://the-change-creators.kit.com/1a5f3c9e54
The Experimental Mindset Every Leader Needs - Anne-Laure Le Cunff
How do you lead when certainty disappears? In this episode of The Courageous Leaders Podcast, I’m joined by Anne-Laure Le Cunff, Neuroscientist and Author of Tiny Experiments. This conversation genuinely changed how I think about leadership, productivity, burnout and decision-making. We talk about what happens when your identity is tied to your job. And how an experimental mindset can change your life What procrastination is really trying to tell you. Why goal setting is broken. If you’re a leader who feels stuck and tired of pushing harder but not seeing better results… Stay to the end. Anne-Laure shares a practical way to replace the illusion of certainty with curiosity. And it’s something you can apply immediately in your workplace, your team, and your own internal world. We cover: 00:00 – Introduction 02:00 – Leaving Google and the wake-up call that changed everything 04:00 – Identity, external validation and starting again 06:00 – Why our brains hate uncertainty 08:30 – The illusion of control and compensatory control 11:00 – Why leaders feel trapped (and how tiny experiments create agency) 14:40 – Linear goals vs experimental loops 17:00 – How to build a culture of experimentation in your team 22:00 – Procrastination is not laziness (head, heart or hand?) 30:00 – Fear, psychological safety in the workplace and uncertainty 34:30 – Time anxiety and why we make our worlds smaller as adults 38:50 – Better decision making: internal vs external signals 44:00 – Self anthropology and how to observe your burnout patterns This episode explores: • Tiny experiments in leadership • How to stop procrastinating at work • Leadership under uncertainty • Psychological safety in the workplace • Decision making under uncertainty • Burnout recovery and time anxiety • Overcoming imposter syndrome • Curiosity in leadership • Profound insights into personal growth and self improvement If you’ve ever felt pressure to have all the answers as a leader, this conversation will feel like a breath of fresh air. 👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ 🚀 Elevate Your Leadership: Book a call for transformative leadership and team coaching: Website: https://thechangecreators.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannahowes/ → Join our newsletter for courageous leadership insights and advice. 👉 Subscribe here: https://the-change-creators.kit.com/1a5f3c9e54
Breaking the UK’s ‘That’ll Never Work’ Mindset with Cano Water's Josh White
Struggling to break free from the UK’s “play it safe” mindset? In this explosive episode, Josh White , founder of Cano Water , gets real about why British culture is stuck in a cycle of skepticism, lack of support, and shutting down bold ideas before they can breathe. He shares raw truths about growing up with ADHD, battling addiction, and constantly being underestimated. He exposes how our resistance to backing innovators and celebrating success holds the UK back, while the US supercharges visionaries. If you know you’re meant for more, but keep hitting a wall of doubt and gatekeeping, this conversation will hopefully inspire you and give you the resilience to keep going. We Cover: 01:08 – How growing up as the underdog shaped his drive 03:03 – The moment ADHD was diagnosed and what changed 06:18 – Understanding the link between ADHD and addiction 09:09 – How addiction masked deeper struggles (and why sobriety mattered) 12:06 – What it’s actually like to live and work with ADHD 16:00 – How to build a company without ‘fitting in’ 20:18 – Creating Cano Water when nobody believed in it 25:10 – Why being different matters, and the truth about risk 28:12 – The real problem with the United Kingdom mindset and backing new ideas 33:07 – Fixed mindset vs growth mindset: what’s holding us back 37:43 – Small things any of us can do to build a more supportive culture 40:20 – Nurturing belief and creativity, why it starts young 44:13 – The courage to show up and keep leading (even when it’s hard) Don’t miss this emotive and thought-provoking episode packed with practical ideas for ambitious leaders, creative thinkers, and anyone who’s ever felt underestimated. 👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ 🚀 Elevate Your Leadership: Book a call for transformative leadership and team coaching: Website: https://thechangecreators.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannahowes/ → Join our newsletter for courageous leadership insights and advice. 👉 Subscribe here: https://the-change-creators.kit.com/1a5f3c9e54
The Three Intelligence Centres EVERY Leader Needs - with Leadership Coach, Joanna Howes
Why do so many successful leaders still feel stuck, disconnected, or self doubt, even when things look good on paper? In this solo episode, I explore how senior leaders, founders, and leadership teams can build self-trust by listening to their three intelligence centres: head, heart, and gut, especially when making difficult decisions or designing a life that truly fits. This reflection draws on my work with CEOs and leadership teams, alongside my own journey of learning to trust myself beyond logic, external validation, and “what I should do.” This episode is an invitation to slow down, tune in, and reconnect with the internal signals that guide brave leadership, aligned decision-making, and sustainable success, so you can lead, decide, and live with more courage and clarity. 00:00 – Why so many successful leaders still feel disconnected 02:15 – Courage starts with listening, not confidence 05:10 – The three intelligence centres every leader has 08:30 – The Head: clarity, logic, and the overthinking trap 12:40 – The Heart: values, emotion, and what really matters 17:20 – The Gut: instinct, timing, and quiet courage 22:10 – What happens when one centre dominates your leadership 26:30 – Designing a life that actually feels like yours 30:40 – Simple questions to build self-trust in decisions 35:10 – A closing reflection on choosing courage differently Reflection Questions for Leaders • Which intelligence centre do I default to under pressure? • What has my gut been trying to tell me that I’ve rationalised away? • Where am I living a version of success that looks right — but feels wrong? • What would a 10% more courageous decision look like right now? Don’t miss out on this powerful episode which can help your leadership and personal development. 👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ 🚀 Elevate Your Leadership: Book a call for transformative leadership and team coaching: Website: https://thechangecreators.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannahowes/ → Join our newsletter for courageous leadership insights and advice. 👉 Subscribe here: https://the-change-creators.kit.com/1a5f3c9e54
What Change Really Demands From a CEO with Simon Cook
How do you lead with conviction when everything is changing around you? It’s the big question for every UK leader right now and exactly why I invited Simon Cook, CEO of Cannes Lions, onto the podcast. In this episode, we get honest about what it really takes to let go of control, build true trust in your team, and stay resilient even when things don’t go as planned. We dive into: • When to keep going, and when to let go • The link between conviction and coordination in leadership • Why control feels safe – but stops growth • Managing failure without losing momentum • Leading through mergers and high-stakes change • How to stay calm and mentally fit (even when your diary explodes) It’s practical, candid, and focuses on what UK leaders need now: leading bravely, staying relevant, and keeping your energy focused. 00:00 – Introduction 01:00 – Why leading with conviction can become a weakness 04:21 – Building a smarter team and learning to trust 07:11 – The role of failure in leadership 09:37 – Conviction and coordination: the keys to change 10:33 – How Simon navigated a 500-person business through a major acquisition 12:29 – Staying confident when you actually feel uncertain 14:01 – The importance of staying grounded and calm for your team 15:51 – Learning from mergers, culture shifts, and tough decisions 17:26 – Evolving your leadership style as everything changes 19:00 – What’s really happening in the UK marketing industry right now 22:40 – Where UK creativity is heading next 24:06 – The advice Simon would give every agency CEO 28:17 – Protecting your brand and your time under pressure 33:02 – Practical ways to help leaders prioritise, focus, and say no 35:19 – Why emotional intelligence matters more than ever 36:22 – Leading through failure, and making learning collective 37:23 – Being bolder, more disciplined, and mentally fit for the future Don’t miss this down-to-earth, actionable conversation. If you’re navigating organisational change, agency mergers, or just struggling to keep your team steady, this episode gives you the kind of real, UK-focused leadership advice we all need. In a world of constant strategic change, this conversation focuses on how to manage change effectively within your business, emphasising practical management techniques for organisational design and personal development. 👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ 🚀 Elevate Your Leadership: Book a call for transformative leadership and team coaching: Website: https://thechangecreators.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannahowes/ → Join our newsletter for courageous leadership insights and advice. 👉 Subscribe here: https://the-change-creators.kit.com/1a5f3c9e54
When Your Company No Longer Fits You - Sedge Beswick on Identity, Fear and Hard Decisions
How do you know when it’s time to walk away - even from something you’ve built yourself? Sedge Beswick, consultant, advisor, speaker, and founder, digs deep into what it really takes to make bold career moves, step back as a CEO, and create space for what matters most. If you’ve ever wondered how to balance ambition with family, deal with overwhelm, and lead with honesty, this episode is for you. We cover: 00:00 – Introduction 01:28 – The courage to change 02:51 – Breaking the “hamster wheel” cycle 05:49 – Building success without a rulebook 07:55 – Childhood confidence and workplace impact 11:31 – The blunt reality of being direct at work 13:38 – Managing people older than you 16:32 – ASOS culture and handling growing pains 18:00 – When opportunity changes your course 19:35 – The power of community for business growth 21:52 – Courage to step down as CEO 22:27 – Mistakes made during maternity leave 23:15 – Hard lessons from deal fatigue 24:43 – Watching someone else lead your business 25:57 – Selling shares and choosing a new path 28:35 – Creating a life with more presence 29:22 – Letting go of identity and titles 32:38 – Pivoting your career with purpose 36:46 – The challenge of saying no and setting boundaries 39:45 – Building a portfolio career and helping others 42:42 – Managing overwhelm and keeping priorities straight 44:01 – Finding headspace as a working parent 45:04 – Do ambition and family ever truly integrate? 48:30 – Advice your future self would give now 50:01 – The power of pausing before big decisions Don’t miss out on this powerful episode on entrepreneurship, business growth, motherhood and more! 👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ 🚀 Elevate Your Leadership: Book a call for transformative leadership and team coaching: Website: https://thechangecreators.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannahowes/ → Join our newsletter for courageous leadership insights and advice. 👉 Subscribe here: https://the-change-creators.kit.com/1a5f3c9e54
How to FIND THE COURAGE TO CHANGE in 2026 with Joanna Howes
How do you find the courage to change, even when it feels uncomfortable? I’m closing out the year on the Courageous Leaders Podcast with one of our most honest and practical episodes yet. Leaders everywhere are feeling the pressure to adapt quicker than ever before, and it’s easy to worry you’re not keeping up. In this episode, I share the real conversations I’ve had with guests who’ve faced huge decisions, dealt with self-doubt, and taken bold leaps without always having a perfect plan. We get into letting go of old ways of working, saying the hard things, dealing with uncertainty, and what it really takes to lead high performing teams. If you want practical advice on leading through change (and those leadership development skills that actually stick), you’re in the right place. We Cover: 00:00 – Introduction 01:12 – Why change is faster (and scarier) than ever 03:02 – Dave Buonaguidi : How to define your true purpose at work 04:35 – Lauren Spearman : Why courage comes before confidence 06:39 – Karen Martin : The untold challenges of confident leaders 07:44 – Kerry Collinge : Directness as a leadership superpower 08:28 – The risk (and reward) of no longer fitting in 09:05 – When growth feels disruptive and what to do next 10:02 – Xavier Reeves : Making bold moves when you feel safe 11:34 – Kerttu Inkeroinen : Quitting without a backup plan: is it ever right? 12:29 – Facing risks (and what you actually regret) 13:09 – Building high performance teams starts with you 14:42 – Why you need to act even if it scares you Don’t miss this honest look at what it really takes to lead yourself and others through the messiness of change. 👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ 🚀 Elevate Your Leadership: Book a call for transformative leadership and team coaching: Website: https://thechangecreators.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannahowes/ → Join our newsletter for courageous leadership insights and advice. 👉 Subscribe here: https://the-change-creators.kit.com/1a5f3c9e54
