Leading 4 Life "Stories"

As artificial intelligence becomes more capable, which human qualities will become even more valuable? My guest in this episode is Al Vetch, Managing Partner at Gartner. Al began his career as a British Army officer, serving operationally in Northern Ireland and Bosnia, before moving into management consultancy and building a successful career advising organisations through complex transformation. We explore what Al learned about leadership at Sandhurst and during his Army career, how those lessons transferred into business, and why human skills such as empathy, communication, creativity and judgement will remain essential in an increasingly technology-driven world. IN THIS EPISODE Al’s journey from Sandhurst and operational Army service to Gartner The difference between leadership and management Confidence without arrogance and the importance of professional competence Why leadership is learned through experience, responsibility and reflection How AI could transform jobs, organisations and the development of future leaders The danger of removing junior roles that provide essential experience Creating environments in which people can take risks and learn from mistakes The value of honest debriefing, feedback, mentoring and continuous development Resilience, failure and Al’s unsuccessful attempts at Special Forces selection Wellbeing, family, travel, science fiction and blues music Behind the conversation lies an important message. Technology may change what people do, but leadership remains fundamentally human. Organisations will still need people who can exercise judgement, build trust, inspire teams, communicate clearly and take responsibility when the answer is uncertain. Which human leadership quality do you believe will become most important as AI develops? Please share your thoughts and let me know what stood out for you. FIND OUT MORE Connect with Al Vetch on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alastair-vetch-ba6a043/ Find out more about Gartner: https://www.gartner.com/ Find out more about my keynote speaking, leadership workshops and executive coaching: https://leading4life.co.uk/ WATCH THE VIDEO This episode is also available as a full video podcast on YouTube: https://youtu.be/SlhEsOxL0-8 Send me a Text Message Support the show JOIN THE CONVERSATION What stood out for you in this episode? I would genuinely welcome your thoughts, experiences and suggestions for future programmes. Use the “Send me a Text Message” link above or leave a comment on YouTube. If you enjoyed the episode, please follow Leading 4 Life “Stories” on your podcast platform so that you receive future episodes automatically. Sharing it with someone who might find it valuable is also one of the best ways to support the show. SUPPORT LEADING 4 LIFE “STORIES” If you value the content and would like to help me continue producing the podcast, you can become a Supporter, Champion or Patron by clicking the "Support the show" link above or by going to: https://www.patreon.com/leading4life/ Any contribution is greatly appreciated, but listening, following, sharing and providing feedback are equally valuable. CONNECT WITH BOB JUDSON LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/judsonbob/ Website: https://leading4life.co.uk/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Leading4Life X: https://x.com/JudsonBob

What does it take to refuel a fast jet in flight—when the manoeuvre begins by deliberately flying towards another aircraft? In this personal episode of Leading 4 Life “Stories”, I explain why air-to-air refuelling is such an important force multiplier, extending the range and endurance of combat aircraft and providing operational flexibility that would otherwise be impossible. I take you inside probe-and-drogue refuelling: how the pilot approaches the basket, establishes contact and keeps the aircraft stable while fuel is transferred. I explain why chasing the basket can create dangerous oscillations and why smoothness, anticipation and disciplined control inputs matter so much. I recall learning the skill in the Jaguar after joining 54 (Fighter) Squadron as an experienced flight commander, as well as refuelling operationally in turbulence over the mountains of southern Turkey and northern Iraq. I also explore the challenges of long tanker trails across the Atlantic and North America—including remaining connected for up to 25 minutes in a Jaguar without an autopilot—and contrast the probe-and-drogue method with the American boom-refuelling system I experienced in the Phantom. There's also a little bit of imposter syndrome in there! When I arrived on 54 Squadron, I had zero experience of a basic skill that all the junior pilots were already past masters at - that definitely gave me pause for thought until I mastered it myself! Behind the aviation lies a wider lesson: when the margins are small, forcing a correction can amplify the problem. Calmness, preparation and small, deliberate actions are often what restore stability. Have you experienced air-to-air refuelling as a pilot, tanker crewmember or passenger—or is there another aspect of military aviation you would like me to cover? Please share your experience or let me know what stood out for you. Find out more about my keynote speaking, leadership workshops and executive coaching: https://leading4life.co.uk/ WATCH THE VIDEO This episode is also available as a full video podcast on YouTube: https://youtu.be/XwVKex5ogTU Send me a Text Message Support the show JOIN THE CONVERSATION What stood out for you in this episode? I would genuinely welcome your thoughts, experiences and suggestions for future programmes. Use the “Send me a Text Message” link above or leave a comment on YouTube. If you enjoyed the episode, please follow Leading 4 Life “Stories” on your podcast platform so that you receive future episodes automatically. Sharing it with someone who might find it valuable is also one of the best ways to support the show. SUPPORT LEADING 4 LIFE “STORIES” If you value the content and would like to help me continue producing the podcast, you can become a Supporter, Champion or Patron by clicking the "Support the show" link above or by going to: https://www.patreon.com/leading4life/ Any contribution is greatly appreciated, but listening, following, sharing and providing feedback are equally valuable. CONNECT WITH BOB JUDSON LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/judsonbob/ Website: https://leading4life.co.uk/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Leading4Life X: https://x.com/JudsonBob

What does it take to fly a fast jet just six feet from another aircraft—and why would you need to? In this personal episode of Leading 4 Life “Stories”, I take you inside the demanding world of formation flying. I explain how pilots learn to operate safely at extremely close quarters, the different purposes served by close and tactical formations, and why smoothness, predictability and disciplined communication matter so much. I explore flying through cloud, night formation, tactical mutual support, battle turns and the progression from simply flying an aircraft to operating it as part of an effective fighting formation. I also recall some memorable experiences from my RAF career, including leading the 49-aircraft flypast for Queen Elizabeth II’s 80th birthday, leading the first nine-aircraft Typhoon formation flown by any of the four Eurofighter nations, and flying surrounded by 15 other Jaguars in a Diamond 16. Behind the aviation lies a wider lesson: high-performing teams depend on trust, preparation, clearly understood roles and people doing the right thing at precisely the right moment. Have you ever flown in formation—or seen a formation display that has stayed with you? Please share your experience or let me know what you found most interesting. Your feedback helps me shape future personal-story episodes. Find out more about my keynote speaking, leadership workshops and executive coaching: https://leading4life.co.uk/ A small change from this episode: titles will now place the subject of each programme first, making the content easier to identify and discover. The episode numbering and Leading 4 Life “Stories” series remain unchanged. WATCH THE VIDEO This episode is also available as a full video podcast on YouTube: https://youtu.be/HDB_jKFD-5I Send me a Text Message Support the show JOIN THE CONVERSATION What stood out for you in this episode? I would genuinely welcome your thoughts, experiences and suggestions for future programmes. Use the “Send me a Text Message” link above or leave a comment on YouTube. If you enjoyed the episode, please follow Leading 4 Life “Stories” on your podcast platform so that you receive future episodes automatically. Sharing it with someone who might find it valuable is also one of the best ways to support the show. SUPPORT LEADING 4 LIFE “STORIES” If you value the content and would like to help me continue producing the podcast, you can become a Supporter, Champion or Patron by clicking the "Support the show" link above or by going to: https://www.patreon.com/leading4life/ Any contribution is greatly appreciated, but listening, following, sharing and providing feedback are equally valuable. CONNECT WITH BOB JUDSON LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/judsonbob/ Website: https://leading4life.co.uk/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Leading4Life X: https://x.com/JudsonBob

Before you do anything else, please hit the subscribe / follow button in your podcast platform to ensure you get immediate notification of future episodes, and to help boost this show within the algorithms. This episode is also available as a video podcast on my YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/gofJ-LfvFeQ Laura McCracken has had the most amazing career, and so it is no surprise whatsoever that she is now the highly successful founder of Blackheath Advisors & The Board Alchemist, and spends her time advising top level leaders from across the array of business sectors. This was a great conversation, not least because Laura and I are operating in similar spaces with similar objectives, albeit having had very different career journeys on the way through. We discuss a wide range of topics, with a strong focus on leadership development and I hope that you will find the episode both interesting and useful, regardless of your own current role. As ever, I would love your feedback so please do let me know what you think of the episode once you have had a listen, and if you enjoy it, please spread the word so that others get the benefit of Laura's excellent words of advice. You can find Laura here: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauramccracken/ Website: https://www.blackheathadvisors.com/ Substack: https://substack.com/@lauramccracken2 Send me a Text Message Support the show JOIN THE CONVERSATION What stood out for you in this episode? I would genuinely welcome your thoughts, experiences and suggestions for future programmes. Use the “Send me a Text Message” link above or leave a comment on YouTube. If you enjoyed the episode, please follow Leading 4 Life “Stories” on your podcast platform so that you receive future episodes automatically. Sharing it with someone who might find it valuable is also one of the best ways to support the show. SUPPORT LEADING 4 LIFE “STORIES” If you value the content and would like to help me continue producing the podcast, you can become a Supporter, Champion or Patron by clicking the "Support the show" link above or by going to: https://www.patreon.com/leading4life/ Any contribution is greatly appreciated, but listening, following, sharing and providing feedback are equally valuable. CONNECT WITH BOB JUDSON LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/judsonbob/ Website: https://leading4life.co.uk/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Leading4Life X: https://x.com/JudsonBob

Before you do anything else, please hit the subscribe / follow button in your podcast platform to ensure you get immediate notification of future episodes, and to help boost this show within the algorithms. This episode is also available as a video podcast on my YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/_3FRwvhoYRc This is a great conversation and there are 2 big reasons that you really should listen to it! Firstly, if you are even remotely interested in AI, you will learn a lot from this discussion AND secondly, if you know or work with anyone who is neurodivergent, or indeed you are neurodiverse yourself, I think you will learn much from what Ross has to say. Ross Barnes is a technologist who is steeped in AI and, having previously held senior corporate roles, he now spends much of his time working with senior leaders to upskill them and their teams, and help them to make the best of this incredibly fast moving technology. We talk in depth about this vitally important topic and, as with every AI expert I speak to, I always learn a great deal from the discussion, and not all of it is comfortable to listen to! Ross is also neurodivergent, having been given a late diagnosis of ADHD and autism, and he talks very openly about the impact this has had on his life and how he handles it day to day. As a guide for leaders who work with neurodivergent team members, much of what Ross has to say is really important, and I urge you to pay close attention as he offers a lot of fantastic advice. I found this to be a really interesting discussion, and amongst a plethora of fabulous guests, Ross is right up there with the best of them. I am confident you will learn a lot from what he has to say, and I really hope you enjoy the conversation as much as we did. As always, please let me know what you think as I really value your feedback. You can find Ross here: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rossbarnes/ Website: https://galahadgroup.co.uk/ Send me a Text Message Support the show JOIN THE CONVERSATION What stood out for you in this episode? I would genuinely welcome your thoughts, experiences and suggestions for future programmes. Use the “Send me a Text Message” link above or leave a comment on YouTube. If you enjoyed the episode, please follow Leading 4 Life “Stories” on your podcast platform so that you receive future episodes automatically. Sharing it with someone who might find it valuable is also one of the best ways to support the show. SUPPORT LEADING 4 LIFE “STORIES” If you value the content and would like to help me continue producing the podcast, you can become a Supporter, Champion or Patron by clicking the "Support the show" link above or by going to: https://www.patreon.com/leading4life/ Any contribution is greatly appreciated, but listening, following, sharing and providing feedback are equally valuable. CONNECT WITH BOB JUDSON LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/judsonbob/ Website: https://leading4life.co.uk/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Leading4Life X: https://x.com/JudsonBob

Before you do anything else, please hit the subscribe / follow button in your podcast platform to ensure you get immediate notification of future episodes, and to help boost this show within the algorithms. This episode is also available as a video podcast on my YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/LfZdYX9ymbQ Ian Whittaker is a two time winner of the City AM Analyst of the Year award and has a built a career around equity and media analysis. Consequently, this was a fascinating discussion with lots of great tips and advice from a man who clearly knows his stuff! Ian shares a lot about his own experiences, good and bad, and I hope you will find this a really interesting interview. Not many of my previous guests have drawn on Carl Von Clausewitz in their remarks (military viewers and listeners will get the reference here!), and it just served to highlight the breadth and depth of Ian's knowledge. Having had a variety of City focused roles, Ian set up Liberty Sky Advisors in 2020 and immediately faced the challenges that the Covid-19 pandemic presented to all businesses. He talks about the resilience needed to come through that time, and also about the kind of work that he does today, providing insight and analysis to a wide range of companies as they navigate today's complex world. I really hope you enjoy the episode and, as ever, please let me know what you think if you have a chance. You can find more about Ian here: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ianwhittakermedia/ Send me a Text Message Support the show JOIN THE CONVERSATION What stood out for you in this episode? I would genuinely welcome your thoughts, experiences and suggestions for future programmes. Use the “Send me a Text Message” link above or leave a comment on YouTube. If you enjoyed the episode, please follow Leading 4 Life “Stories” on your podcast platform so that you receive future episodes automatically. Sharing it with someone who might find it valuable is also one of the best ways to support the show. SUPPORT LEADING 4 LIFE “STORIES” If you value the content and would like to help me continue producing the podcast, you can become a Supporter, Champion or Patron by clicking the "Support the show" link above or by going to: https://www.patreon.com/leading4life/ Any contribution is greatly appreciated, but listening, following, sharing and providing feedback are equally valuable. CONNECT WITH BOB JUDSON LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/judsonbob/ Website: https://leading4life.co.uk/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Leading4Life X: https://x.com/JudsonBob

Before you do anything else, please hit the subscribe / follow button in your podcast platform to ensure you get immediate notification of future episodes, and to help boost this show within the algorithms. This episode is also available as a video podcast on my YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/ESnlh9nrZNc Much to my amazement, it's now been 3 years since I started Leading 4 Life "Stories" and I've loved to see the progression of the show over that time. In this short episode, I reflect on the journey so far and look a little bit into the future. I don't shy away from the challenges and I seek to enlist your help to ensure the future of the podcast is as good as it can be. This is the shortest episode I've ever done but, at the same time, it's also one of the most important. I need your help to ensure the long term viability of the show and that means either financial support through Patreon (see the support the show link below), if you have the means to help, or non-financial support through social media comments and wider publicity of the episodes as they come out. If you are able to help in either of those ways, I would be enormously grateful to you. Regardless of everything else, I just want to thank you for watching or listening to the show over the past 3 years - self-evidently, there wouldn't be a show without you and I am extremely grateful! Send me a Text Message Support the show JOIN THE CONVERSATION What stood out for you in this episode? I would genuinely welcome your thoughts, experiences and suggestions for future programmes. Use the “Send me a Text Message” link above or leave a comment on YouTube. If you enjoyed the episode, please follow Leading 4 Life “Stories” on your podcast platform so that you receive future episodes automatically. Sharing it with someone who might find it valuable is also one of the best ways to support the show. SUPPORT LEADING 4 LIFE “STORIES” If you value the content and would like to help me continue producing the podcast, you can become a Supporter, Champion or Patron by clicking the "Support the show" link above or by going to: https://www.patreon.com/leading4life/ Any contribution is greatly appreciated, but listening, following, sharing and providing feedback are equally valuable. CONNECT WITH BOB JUDSON LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/judsonbob/ Website: https://leading4life.co.uk/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Leading4Life X: https://x.com/JudsonBob

Before you do anything else, please hit the subscribe / follow button in your podcast platform to ensure you get immediate notification of future episodes, and to help boost this show within the algorithms. This episode is also available as a video podcast on my YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/P2Vv6UhQLNk If you want to unlock some of the mysteries of blockchain, learn more about AI and get a great perspective from a serious expert in financial services, then this episode is one for you! Katharine Wooller has worked in financial services for more than 25 years and has an absolute wealth of experience. Currently the Chief Strategist for Banking and Financial Services at Softcat, she speaks regularly on the media and in other fora, including on the TedX stage. Her main area of expertise is AI, blockchain and cyber, and it really shows during our conversation. Katharine has the gift of being able to explain complex concepts in a simple way and that made this a hugely helpful discussion, not least from the point of view of educating me!! Amongst her roles, Katharine is the Chair of the Association for AI in Financial Services and Banking and, given her presentational and speaking skills, it is really easy to see how this would be a role in which she would excel. I thought this was a fascinating conversation and I really hope you enjoy it as well. As ever, please do let me have your feedback when you have a moment. You can find Katherine on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katharinewooller/ Send me a Text Message Support the show JOIN THE CONVERSATION What stood out for you in this episode? I would genuinely welcome your thoughts, experiences and suggestions for future programmes. Use the “Send me a Text Message” link above or leave a comment on YouTube. If you enjoyed the episode, please follow Leading 4 Life “Stories” on your podcast platform so that you receive future episodes automatically. Sharing it with someone who might find it valuable is also one of the best ways to support the show. SUPPORT LEADING 4 LIFE “STORIES” If you value the content and would like to help me continue producing the podcast, you can become a Supporter, Champion or Patron by clicking the "Support the show" link above or by going to: https://www.patreon.com/leading4life/ Any contribution is greatly appreciated, but listening, following, sharing and providing feedback are equally valuable. CONNECT WITH BOB JUDSON LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/judsonbob/ Website: https://leading4life.co.uk/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Leading4Life X: https://x.com/JudsonBob

Before you do anything else, please hit the subscribe / follow button in your podcast platform to ensure you get immediate notification of future episodes, and to help boost this show within the algorithms. This episode is also available as a video podcast on my YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/7wNwHWPjZws Born in Hungary, Andrea Reger now lives in Ireland with her family and her life story is absolutely fascinating. From working as cabin crew with Ryan Air, despite a fear of flying and claustrophobia (!!), she moved up through a series of increasingly senior corporate recruitment roles before suffering from severe burn out as a result of a combination of personal and professional events. Andrea literally then reinvented herself to find her way out, and invested heavily in terms of time and money to retrain in the delivery a range of homeopathic treatments, which she now uses to help others to overcome similar challenges in their lives. It is a fascinating story of resilience and drive in the face of what must of seemed overwhelming odds at times, and I have enormous respect for everything that Andrea has done and is continuing to do with her life. It's a great episode and I really hope you enjoy it; please let me know what you think, and if you want to contact Andrea directly, all her details are below: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/regerand/ Website: https://www.andreareger.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/archcacao/ Send me a Text Message Support the show JOIN THE CONVERSATION What stood out for you in this episode? I would genuinely welcome your thoughts, experiences and suggestions for future programmes. Use the “Send me a Text Message” link above or leave a comment on YouTube. If you enjoyed the episode, please follow Leading 4 Life “Stories” on your podcast platform so that you receive future episodes automatically. Sharing it with someone who might find it valuable is also one of the best ways to support the show. SUPPORT LEADING 4 LIFE “STORIES” If you value the content and would like to help me continue producing the podcast, you can become a Supporter, Champion or Patron by clicking the "Support the show" link above or by going to: https://www.patreon.com/leading4life/ Any contribution is greatly appreciated, but listening, following, sharing and providing feedback are equally valuable. CONNECT WITH BOB JUDSON LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/judsonbob/ Website: https://leading4life.co.uk/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Leading4Life X: https://x.com/JudsonBob

Before you do anything else, please hit the subscribe / follow button in your podcast platform to ensure you get immediate notification of future episodes, and to help boost this show within the algorithms. This episode is also available as a video podcast on my YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/yUdBYnYPPQs Jon Parker has had an incredible career, progressing through military flying, then airline flying, to now being the founder and CEO of his own company, Flyby Technology. Massively experienced in the aviation world, Jon has a wealth of fascinating stories. He served on the Royal Air Force front line, flying both the Buccaneer and the Tornado, prior to moving over to the instructional world on the Hawk. From there he made the jump to single seat and completed two tours of embarked aircraft carrier operations flying the Royal Navy's Sea Harrier. Electing to leave the RAF when his children were born, Jon then went into civil aviation, rising to be a senior training captain with Tui Airlines, but suffering a very signficant medical issue during that journey that definitely threatened the end of his flying career. Recognising that he needed to have an alternative income stream, Jon then founded Flyby Technology, with an initial focus on drone pilot training. He has subsequently diversified that business into drone production and the company is now at the cutting edge of future warfare with the work they are doing on highly capable large, armed drones, of the type that are certainly going to form part of future military capability for the UK's Armed Forces. We cover all these areas of Jon's career in some depth and this was a really interesting and fun conversation. I hope you enjoy it as well - please do let me know what you think. You can find Jon here: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-parker-fraes-241384103/ Websites: https://www.flybytechnology.com/ https://www.flybydronetraining.co.uk/ The video highlighted in the YouTube version of the podcast can be seen here: https://vimeo.com/833271662 An overview video of Flyby Technology can be seen here: https://vimeo.com/1057183715 Send me a Text Message Support the show JOIN THE CONVERSATION What stood out for you in this episode? I would genuinely welcome your thoughts, experiences and suggestions for future programmes. Use the “Send me a Text Message” link above or leave a comment on YouTube. If you enjoyed the episode, please follow Leading 4 Life “Stories” on your podcast platform so that you receive future episodes automatically. Sharing it with someone who might find it valuable is also one of the best ways to support the show. SUPPORT LEADING 4 LIFE “STORIES” If you value the content and would like to help me continue producing the podcast, you can become a Supporter, Champion or Patron by clicking the "Support the show" link above or by going to: https://www.patreon.com/leading4life/ Any contribution is greatly appreciated, but listening, following, sharing and providing feedback are equally valuable. CONNECT WITH BOB JUDSON LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/judsonbob/ Website: https://leading4life.co.uk/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Leading4Life X: https://x.com/JudsonBob

Before you do anything else, please hit the subscribe / follow button in your podcast platform to ensure you get immediate notification of future episodes, and to help boost this show within the algorithms. This episode is also available as a video podcast on my YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/mx8hH6OwSkg Marianne Withers has had an extremely varied career and her story is a fascinating one. She has made a great success of turning contract consulting roles into full time positions and, subsequently, she has also been extremely successful at starting and running several businesses. Her support and work for Atombit and subsequent transition away from the company provides some good food for thought for leaders, as do many of the other interesting facets of her career story, including Marianne's unusual role as the "Entrepreneur in Residence" at Portsmouth University. I really hope you enjoy the episode; please let me have your feedback as ever - I always read it and, where I can, I act on your suggestions too! Send me a Text Message Support the show JOIN THE CONVERSATION What stood out for you in this episode? I would genuinely welcome your thoughts, experiences and suggestions for future programmes. Use the “Send me a Text Message” link above or leave a comment on YouTube. If you enjoyed the episode, please follow Leading 4 Life “Stories” on your podcast platform so that you receive future episodes automatically. Sharing it with someone who might find it valuable is also one of the best ways to support the show. SUPPORT LEADING 4 LIFE “STORIES” If you value the content and would like to help me continue producing the podcast, you can become a Supporter, Champion or Patron by clicking the "Support the show" link above or by going to: https://www.patreon.com/leading4life/ Any contribution is greatly appreciated, but listening, following, sharing and providing feedback are equally valuable. CONNECT WITH BOB JUDSON LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/judsonbob/ Website: https://leading4life.co.uk/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Leading4Life X: https://x.com/JudsonBob

Before you do anything else, please hit the subscribe / follow button in your podcast platform to ensure you get immediate notification of future episodes, and to help boost this show within the algorithms. This episode is also available as a video podcast on my YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/b_8j15FoFpY I have always enjoyed the big rides at amusement parks and so it was no real surprise that I loved aerobatics from the moment I was introduced to them whilst flying in a Chipmunk on an air experience flight as an air cadet at school. Aerobatics, in the military world also have a real purpose. They are designed to help you learn the aircraft's handling limits and so help develop your overall confidence and skill as a pilot. It is a natural extension of that which sees them feature a lot at airshows and in competitive flying, and the airshow environment is where most members of the public are likely to have seen them, both in solo displays and with formation teams such as the Royal Air Force's Red Arrows. In this episode I talk through my own experience of aerobatics and also attempt to explain a bit more about the manoeuvres themselves as well as the work that goes in to creating a really great sequence, the like of which you will often see at public displays. I really hope you enjoy this slightly reflective look into my past flying experience and that you find it at least interesting. Please do let me have some feedback as I would love to know if you would like more (or less) of this type of content. Send me a Text Message Support the show JOIN THE CONVERSATION What stood out for you in this episode? I would genuinely welcome your thoughts, experiences and suggestions for future programmes. Use the “Send me a Text Message” link above or leave a comment on YouTube. If you enjoyed the episode, please follow Leading 4 Life “Stories” on your podcast platform so that you receive future episodes automatically. Sharing it with someone who might find it valuable is also one of the best ways to support the show. SUPPORT LEADING 4 LIFE “STORIES” If you value the content and would like to help me continue producing the podcast, you can become a Supporter, Champion or Patron by clicking the "Support the show" link above or by going to: https://www.patreon.com/leading4life/ Any contribution is greatly appreciated, but listening, following, sharing and providing feedback are equally valuable. CONNECT WITH BOB JUDSON LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/judsonbob/ Website: https://leading4life.co.uk/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Leading4Life X: https://x.com/JudsonBob

Before you do anything else, please hit the subscribe / follow button in your podcast platform to ensure you get immediate notification of future episodes, and to help boost this show within the algorithms. This episode is also available as a video podcast on my YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/jT26QzqZAS0 While I was delivering some training this past week, one of my participants asked me for my thoughts and advice about "regulating emotions", and it prompted me to think that the subject would make for a useful thematic episode on the podcast so here we go! Emotional regulation is an important part of emotional intelligence and, consequently, it is important in all walks of life, not just the work environment. Understanding yourself, being aware of your own emotional state and, most importantly, being able to manage those emotions is a key aspect of being a good leader. It is equally important to be able to "read the room" and gain a good understanding of the emotions of those around you, so that you can use that knowledge to enhance the way you regulate your own emotional responses, and thereby better support your team on an individual and collective basis. It does not matter whether we are talking about happiness, sadness, frustration, anger or something else, emotions have a profound impact on the way we work and the way we lead. I hope that in this short episode, I can at least prompt you to think broadly about the topic. I certainly do not profess to have all the answers but, as ever with my leadership work, I am to leave you with some tools, tips, techniques and ideas to help shape your own leadership thinking and style. I would love your thoughts so please do let me have some feedback and let me know whether you agree with me, whether you think I have missed anything, or whether you have a different view on any of the topics I discuss. Feedback helps us all improve and so please do get in touch with your comments. Send me a Text Message Support the show JOIN THE CONVERSATION What stood out for you in this episode? I would genuinely welcome your thoughts, experiences and suggestions for future programmes. Use the “Send me a Text Message” link above or leave a comment on YouTube. If you enjoyed the episode, please follow Leading 4 Life “Stories” on your podcast platform so that you receive future episodes automatically. Sharing it with someone who might find it valuable is also one of the best ways to support the show. SUPPORT LEADING 4 LIFE “STORIES” If you value the content and would like to help me continue producing the podcast, you can become a Supporter, Champion or Patron by clicking the "Support the show" link above or by going to: https://www.patreon.com/leading4life/ Any contribution is greatly appreciated, but listening, following, sharing and providing feedback are equally valuable. CONNECT WITH BOB JUDSON LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/judsonbob/ Website: https://leading4life.co.uk/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Leading4Life X: https://x.com/JudsonBob

Before you do anything else, please hit the subscribe / follow button in your podcast platform to ensure you get immediate notification of future episodes, and to help boost this show within the algorithms. This episode is also available as a video podcast on my YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/zEgQnbq6nmk Jo Living is an incredibly gregarious, enthusiastic and charismatic lady who I am sure you will find as fascinating as I did when I recorded this interview. She's very entrepreneurial and already has a diverse and very successful career behind her, but Jo's current venture "Aces High" is simply fascinating. An avid card playing enthusiast since she was very young, Jo is taking a non gambling form of poker into the corporate world as a leadership development tool and her concept is brilliant. We talk in depth about all aspects of Aces High and, to be honest, I could have talked to Jo for a lot longer as I find all that she is doing incredibly interesting and her vibrant personality just shines through. As time goes by, I think we will all be hearing a lot more about Jo and Aces High, because I am sure she is really onto a winning concept with what she is doing and I think it will be very successful. It's pretty rare to come across something so novel in the leadership development world (which of course is also the space I am occupying) so that helped to make this a really great discussion. Have a watch or a listen; I'm anticipating that you will be every bit as impressed as I was - please let me know what you think! Send me a Text Message Support the show JOIN THE CONVERSATION What stood out for you in this episode? I would genuinely welcome your thoughts, experiences and suggestions for future programmes. Use the “Send me a Text Message” link above or leave a comment on YouTube. If you enjoyed the episode, please follow Leading 4 Life “Stories” on your podcast platform so that you receive future episodes automatically. Sharing it with someone who might find it valuable is also one of the best ways to support the show. SUPPORT LEADING 4 LIFE “STORIES” If you value the content and would like to help me continue producing the podcast, you can become a Supporter, Champion or Patron by clicking the "Support the show" link above or by going to: https://www.patreon.com/leading4life/ Any contribution is greatly appreciated, but listening, following, sharing and providing feedback are equally valuable. CONNECT WITH BOB JUDSON LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/judsonbob/ Website: https://leading4life.co.uk/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Leading4Life X: https://x.com/JudsonBob

Before you do anything else, please hit the subscribe / follow button in your podcast platform to ensure you get immediate notification of future episodes, and to help boost this show within the algorithms. This episode is also available as a video podcast on my YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/rPZwRS_Kd2c With geopolitics and national security so much in the headlines these days, my special guest for this 150th episode could not be more appropriate. Marshal of the Royal Air Force, the Right Honourable, the Lord Jock Stirrup KG GCB AFC FRAeS FCMI is a former UK Chief of the Defence Staff and a very active cross-bench member of the House of Lords. I have known Jock almost all of my working life. He was my flight commander way back when I was on the Jaguar Conversion Unit in 1983 and subsequently my squadron commander when we were both on II(AC) Squadron in Royal Air Force Germany during the Cold War. His whole career story is an amazing one and I have huge respect for all that he has achieved whilst in uniform and beyond. From starting out as a first tour flying instructor, Jock rapidly found himself on active operations as a loan service officer in what was then the Sultan of Oman's Air Force during the Dhofar War. He subsequently became a leading figure in the Jaguar Force before continuing up the career ladder to ultimately become the UK Chief of Defence Staff from 2006 to 2010. In this episode, we discuss his career journey and also his thoughts on the political and security challenges facing not only the UK but also the wider world today. Jock is also the first Knight of the Garter who has been on the show and so we discuss that in some detail. For those not familiar, the Garter is the highest order of chivalry in the UK and, can have a maximum of only 24 companion knights at any one time so it is a very exclusive club indeed. It was a real privilege to get Jock on the show and, as anticipated, it was a fascinating discussion. I very much hope you enjoy it and, as ever, please let me know what you think. Send me a Text Message Support the show JOIN THE CONVERSATION What stood out for you in this episode? I would genuinely welcome your thoughts, experiences and suggestions for future programmes. Use the “Send me a Text Message” link above or leave a comment on YouTube. If you enjoyed the episode, please follow Leading 4 Life “Stories” on your podcast platform so that you receive future episodes automatically. Sharing it with someone who might find it valuable is also one of the best ways to support the show. SUPPORT LEADING 4 LIFE “STORIES” If you value the content and would like to help me continue producing the podcast, you can become a Supporter, Champion or Patron by clicking the "Support the show" link above or by going to: https://www.patreon.com/leading4life/ Any contribution is greatly appreciated, but listening, following, sharing and providing feedback are equally valuable. CONNECT WITH BOB JUDSON LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/judsonbob/ Website: https://leading4life.co.uk/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Leading4Life X: https://x.com/JudsonBob

Before you do anything else, please hit the subscribe / follow button in your podcast platform to ensure you get immediate notification of future episodes, and to help boost this show within the algorithms. This episode is also available as a video podcast on my YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/Iuo5x542X6Y These days it's impossible to have a leadership discussion without "working with Gen Z" coming up pretty quickly, and that is what makes the guest on this episode particularly special. Emily Stone is a Deloitte "Brightstart" apprentice who in her own words is doing an "earn while you learn" degree programme alongside her day job as a consultant in Deloitte's UK business. She joined Deloitte straight from school (that's the basic premise of the Brightstart programme) and, as you will hear on the episode, she is an incredibly charismatic, gregarious individual who without doubt has a very bright future ahead of her. If you are interested in the Gen Z perspective on the world of work, this episode is definitely one for you, and I think it's fair to say you might be surprised by what Emily has to say. She breaks down a number of the stereotypical assumptions that people often make about the younger generation, and brings out a range of great leadership observations. It is a fascinating conversation that I really hope you enjoy, and I very much look forward to your feedback once you have had a listen. You can find Emily on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-stone-382200263/ It was a privilege to conduct this interview as part of a routine event for The Leaders' Club so, although it won't be apparent to you when you listen, we also had a live audience and the chance for some follow on Q&A (which is not included with this episode). If you are interested in what The Leaders' Club has to offer and want to join a really interesting group for fascinating weekly Chatham House Rules presentations, just head to https://www.theleadersclub.org/ where you will find everything you need to know, including how to become a member. On a final note, this episode was recorded away from my normal location so I do apologise for the background noise that you can sometimes hear whilst I am speaking - it was regrettably unavoidable on this occasion. Send me a Text Message Support the show JOIN THE CONVERSATION What stood out for you in this episode? I would genuinely welcome your thoughts, experiences and suggestions for future programmes. Use the “Send me a Text Message” link above or leave a comment on YouTube. If you enjoyed the episode, please follow Leading 4 Life “Stories” on your podcast platform so that you receive future episodes automatically. Sharing it with someone who might find it valuable is also one of the best ways to support the show. SUPPORT LEADING 4 LIFE “STORIES” If you value the content and would like to help me continue producing the podcast, you can become a Supporter, Champion or Patron by clicking the "Support the show" link above or by going to: https://www.patreon.com/leading4life/ Any contribution is greatly appreciated, but listening, following, sharing and providing feedback are equally valuable. CONNECT WITH BOB JUDSON LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/judsonbob/ Website: https://leading4life.co.uk/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Leading4Life X: https://x.com/JudsonBob

Before you do anything else, please hit the subscribe / follow button in your podcast platform to ensure you get immediate notification of future episodes, and to help boost this show within the algorithms. This episode is also available as a video podcast on my YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/kAXVVXmvEkA As I conclude the personal stories chronology of my career to date, I thought it would be appropriate to provide a bit more detail on what I am actually doing now with Leading 4 Life under the umbrella of Bob Judson Consulting Ltd. The content may feel a bit like an advert and, although that was certainly not the intent, I would of course be delighted to hear from anyone that is interested in what I offer within my current portfolio. I will continue personal stories in future episodes as I take a deeper dive into some of the most interesting periods in my career throughout the years. As someone who is passionate about leadership development, I haven chosen to develop my offer around three focused areas: professional keynote speaking, workshops and training; and executive coaching. Each of these areas has real value for anyone that is looking to develop personally or to improve the skills of their teams and, as I highlighted in my double page spread in the Spring 2026 edition of Your Business with James Caan, I strongly believe that starting with keynote speaking is a really time and cost efficient way to help a good number of people in short space of time. Workshops and coaching are also immensely valuable for anyone looking to go deeper and I am always available to discuss any or all of these options if it would be of interest to you. I really hope that you find the episode interesting and enjoyable, even if you aren’t specifically looking for leadership development at this time. As ever, if you like it, please share it widely, comment, repost and subscribe for future episodes. Thanks again for watching / listening - I really do appreciate it. Send me a Text Message Support the show JOIN THE CONVERSATION What stood out for you in this episode? I would genuinely welcome your thoughts, experiences and suggestions for future programmes. Use the “Send me a Text Message” link above or leave a comment on YouTube. If you enjoyed the episode, please follow Leading 4 Life “Stories” on your podcast platform so that you receive future episodes automatically. Sharing it with someone who might find it valuable is also one of the best ways to support the show. SUPPORT LEADING 4 LIFE “STORIES” If you value the content and would like to help me continue producing the podcast, you can become a Supporter, Champion or Patron by clicking the "Support the show" link above or by going to: https://www.patreon.com/leading4life/ Any contribution is greatly appreciated, but listening, following, sharing and providing feedback are equally valuable. CONNECT WITH BOB JUDSON LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/judsonbob/ Website: https://leading4life.co.uk/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Leading4Life X: https://x.com/JudsonBob

Before you do anything else, please hit the subscribe / follow button in your podcast platform to ensure you get immediate notification of future episodes, and to help boost this show within the algorithms. This episode is also available as a video podcast on my YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/XfYdr2UuzOA Pressure! Everyone feels it; however, it's how you respond to it that really matters. Do you fold underneath the pressure or do you use it as a superpower to enhance your capability? In this episode, I talk about some of my own experiences with pressure. There are many many more I could have mentioned and I've saved some for further personal story episodes, but my intention this time was to discuss the issue on a thematic basis and, as ever, I hope that what I have to say is useful and informative. Please do let me have some feedback once you've watched the episode - I would be fascinated to know if your experiences are similar to mine and also to hear how you handle pressure in your own life. I really hope you enjoy the show. Send me a Text Message Support the show JOIN THE CONVERSATION What stood out for you in this episode? I would genuinely welcome your thoughts, experiences and suggestions for future programmes. Use the “Send me a Text Message” link above or leave a comment on YouTube. If you enjoyed the episode, please follow Leading 4 Life “Stories” on your podcast platform so that you receive future episodes automatically. Sharing it with someone who might find it valuable is also one of the best ways to support the show. SUPPORT LEADING 4 LIFE “STORIES” If you value the content and would like to help me continue producing the podcast, you can become a Supporter, Champion or Patron by clicking the "Support the show" link above or by going to: https://www.patreon.com/leading4life/ Any contribution is greatly appreciated, but listening, following, sharing and providing feedback are equally valuable. CONNECT WITH BOB JUDSON LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/judsonbob/ Website: https://leading4life.co.uk/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Leading4Life X: https://x.com/JudsonBob

Before you do anything else, please hit the subscribe / follow button in your podcast platform to ensure you get immediate notification of future episodes, and to help boost this show within the algorithms. This episode is also available as a video podcast on my YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/GaAeea-feFM Since departing Deloitte to go it alone and run my own company, there are a myriad of things that I have to focus on to build the business. These are certainly not unique to my company and, consequently, I hope that many of the things I say in this episode will be useful tips for anyone else stepping out from a private or public sector company and starting to build their own business. It has certainly not all been easy or straightforward but I love the freedom that being my own boss gives me and I certainly wouldn't want to change it now. That said, I don't shy away from the challenges, and my intention with this episode is to share some of those as I have done all along with the personal stories I have shared on the show. I really hope you enjoy the episode. This is one where I would definitely be interested in your own thoughts and experiences, especially if you have any alternative thoughts to my own. Send me a Text Message Support the show JOIN THE CONVERSATION What stood out for you in this episode? I would genuinely welcome your thoughts, experiences and suggestions for future programmes. Use the “Send me a Text Message” link above or leave a comment on YouTube. If you enjoyed the episode, please follow Leading 4 Life “Stories” on your podcast platform so that you receive future episodes automatically. Sharing it with someone who might find it valuable is also one of the best ways to support the show. SUPPORT LEADING 4 LIFE “STORIES” If you value the content and would like to help me continue producing the podcast, you can become a Supporter, Champion or Patron by clicking the "Support the show" link above or by going to: https://www.patreon.com/leading4life/ Any contribution is greatly appreciated, but listening, following, sharing and providing feedback are equally valuable. CONNECT WITH BOB JUDSON LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/judsonbob/ Website: https://leading4life.co.uk/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Leading4Life X: https://x.com/JudsonBob

Before you do anything else, please hit the subscribe / follow button in your podcast platform to ensure you get immediate notification of future episodes, and to help boost this show within the algorithms. This episode is also available as a video podcast on my YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/5tWESWMJkRc It was a real delight to interview Maria Franzoni for the show. Charismatic and lively, Maria is full of great ideas and thoughts that made this a really interesting episode. She has been in the speaking industry for much of her working life but she has prior experience as well and she draws on that extensively during our discussion. Within the speaking world, Maria has worked with many household names, initially as a booking agent / agency owner, and now as a mentor and coach, helping speakers to improve their businesses. She has written an outstanding book, "The Bookability Formula" that is a must read for anyone who is interested in professional speaking in any capacity. Maria certainly doesn't hold back in this episode; she is very open about a wide range of issues, including some deeply personal ones and I found it a fascinating conversation. I hope you enjoy it too - please do let me know once you have had a watch! Footnote: During the recording, Maria mentions Ravi Rajani but not by his full name so we wanted to credit him here for completeness. You can find Maria here: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariafranzoni/ Website: https://www.mariafranzoni.me/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheMariaFranzoni or https://www.facebook.com/groups/SpeakingBusiness Send me a Text Message Support the show JOIN THE CONVERSATION What stood out for you in this episode? I would genuinely welcome your thoughts, experiences and suggestions for future programmes. Use the “Send me a Text Message” link above or leave a comment on YouTube. If you enjoyed the episode, please follow Leading 4 Life “Stories” on your podcast platform so that you receive future episodes automatically. Sharing it with someone who might find it valuable is also one of the best ways to support the show. SUPPORT LEADING 4 LIFE “STORIES” If you value the content and would like to help me continue producing the podcast, you can become a Supporter, Champion or Patron by clicking the "Support the show" link above or by going to: https://www.patreon.com/leading4life/ Any contribution is greatly appreciated, but listening, following, sharing and providing feedback are equally valuable. CONNECT WITH BOB JUDSON LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/judsonbob/ Website: https://leading4life.co.uk/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Leading4Life X: https://x.com/JudsonBob