This month, leadership coach Nicky Brown puts me in the hot seat, asking me what I've learnt from my 60+ conversations with leaders around the world on the Better Under Pressure podcast, and from two decades of coaching at Coaching Impact.

This conversation gave me the time and the context to reflect on what I see and hear when I'm with leaders, and to explore how pressure shows up in our lives — the positives and the negatives, and what people do when they're deep in it.

Over 50 minutes, we got into: - Why people interpret pressure differently, and why that matters for teams - Why, for me, pressure is an action-oriented energy - The role of Spirit and Discipline in managing stress - Short-term vs. long-term pressure, and why the long-term becomes toxic without the tools to manage it - The difference between performance and a performative act - My own pressure point: a love of control. (Yes, I'm outing myself!)

Over the years, a lot of people have asked me for more of my take on it all, and Nicky gave me the chance, so thank you.

Each month, Better Under Pressure explores how leaders really experience pressure, respond to it, and lead others through it — for positive outcomes.

"I love to work at pace. I talk at pace. I am all like go, go, go," says @Caroline Frankum, the former Global CEO of Kantar's Profiles division, "but sometimes you really need to slow down to go faster – and in times of pressure, slowing down the process is really important."

"Pressure is always going to be there. It is really about how you deal with it in a structured way," she adds, "and that sometimes means pausing – which is the thing I had to learn."

Caroline's approach to pressure has been shaped by personal experience  (more on that in our conversation) and senior leadership roles at Kantar, Hall & Partners, the Mirror Group, ITV, UKTV, Disney and Sky.

"You have to find the thing that works for you to get your mind into a calmer state. Then you are in a place where you can make a confident decision. Until you get there, you will react rather than respond."

I loved talking to Caroline, she really is a powerhouse and there is a lot more to our conversation. Listen here. 

Each month the Better Under Pressure podcast explores how leaders really experience pressure, respond to it and lead others through it for positive outcomes.

Please save, share and follow me, Sara Milne Rowe, for more on leadership, performance and impact for good.

So says the extraordinary Dr Bijna Kotak Dasani MBE, investment banker, entrepreneur, investor and venture capitalist, in conversation with me on my Better Under Pressure podcast.

Bijna has appeared in many top 50 and top 100 lists, from the World's Top 100 Women Executives to Top 50 Women to Watch. In 2025, she was named Venture Capitalist of the Year in India. Yet she sees awards differently from most: "It is nice to be appreciated, but it is a bigger responsibility to honour that."

Throughout her career, Bijna has focused on her personal impact and what she can contribute to make a better world, and she does it her way: "I am very clear on who I am, what I represent, and what works for me and what doesn't."

For me, this conversation is about clarity, ownership, accountability, and how to achieve it. I hope you enjoy.

Follow Dr Bijna on:

- LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/bijna

- Insta: https://www.instagram.com/thedrbijna

- X: https://x.com/drbijna 

In this conversation, Thomas talks about his relationship with pressure: from why confidence plays such an important role, to how he distinguishes when pressure turns into  stress, and how he works with his teams to plan for high-pressure meetings. I found this such a refreshingly open conversation and hope you do too! 

This week’s Better Under Pressure conversation is with an inspirational leader who has been, at times, so immersed in her role that she felt she had merged with it. Does that sound familiar? That feeling when you become what you do… your identity slides into your role and before you know it, the boundary between you and the work has dissolved?

Clare Reddington, CEO of Watershed – the Bristol-based organisation focused on cultural cinema, talent development and creative technology – knows this feeling well.

In this episode we explore how purpose drives Clare’s leadership style and carries her through pressure, how she recognises her personal signs of overwhelm, and what she does about it (hint: nature plays a big role).

No surprise then that I loved this conversation with Dr. Ara Suppiah, Chief Medical Officer for LIV Golf (and keeping players like Dustin Johnson, Justin Rose and Anna Nordqvist on course) Known as “the elite athlete’s secret weapon”, this episode is packed with high-performance insights and tips that I hope you’ll find useful and can apply to your own life when pressure shows up!

I'm talking to Joti Balani, a remarkable leader who walked away from corporate success to build something extraordinary in the world of AI.   She has over 25 years’ experience in technology & design, leading AI and Automation projects for Fortune 500 enterprises and government agencies. But she walked away from that predictable career with prestigious titles to start again from scratch, founding and building Freshriver.ai - what she now calls an organism rather than a company – that is attracting top talent who are seeking meaningful adventure in the AI world.

Alongside this, Joti speaks at global industry, academic, and social impact events, such as CES and Fintech Connect, and is a member of the Infrastructure Masons NYC Chapter, collaborating with Data Center Industry leaders to ensure AI is sustainable and carbon-neutral as it grows exponentially.    This episode explores how she navigated the pressure of reinvention and how invisible forces can align when you truly commit to your purpose, as well as the role of what I call spirit and discipline in creating a meaningful future.   So, this episode is for you if you're wondering:   - Can I leave corporate life and create something transformative? - How can I stay grounded if I’m pioneering an unknown path? Or - What if my next chapter is about impact, not just income?

Welcome to The Better Under Pressure podcast, I’m Sara Milne Rowe and in this episode I’m talking with Alice Dyson.

A pioneering female leader in the music industry, Alice is a champion of innovation in media, storytelling, and entertainment. Previously the Director of the British Phone-agraphic Industry, she’s been involved in everything from releasing films with Helena Bonham Carter to recording the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in St Paul’s Cathedral. She is also deeply passionate about sport, health and science - all of which has led to her creating Geo-genomix—a pioneering initiative to help people achieve better health outcomes through personalised insights. Today she shares, amongst other things:

💪 How - despite a chronic autoimmune condition - she’s learnt to channel pressure into opportunity;

💪 What she means by ‘Navigating the Nos’

💪 What helps in her pursuit of making it into the England over-45 masters hockey squad.

Let’s find out how she manages her energy to be… Better Under Pressure.

What can we learn from that kind of family tie?

Richard Medcalf found himself on a relatively smooth academic path through school and university before becoming the youngest ever partner at a top strategy firm. After over a decade in an elite strategic team at tech giant Cisco, he took the strategic decision to found Xquadrant and set himself the mission of helping the world’s top CEOs and entrepreneurs become world-changing forces for good. Over 25 years of strategic knowhow have made him excellently placed to write his book, “Making TIME for Strategy” and I’m delighted that today he is Making TIME for us. 

In our conversation we discuss what his life with his sister taught him, how much he values bringing humour into business and thankfully he won’t be sharing his Freddie mercury impression!

In 2020, Rosie became the first woman in history to pass the Pre-Parachute Selection Course (P Company), qualifying to serve in the airborne forces at 16 Air Assault Brigade, where she deployed on numerous operations, including the evacuation of personnel from Kabul.

Rosie is an accomplished and competitive triathlete. After she came 15th in the London Marathon and 2nd at Ironman Copenhagen, the British Army began supporting her in training and racing as a Professional Triathlete. In September 2024, Rosie competed in the Ironman World Championships, where, out of a field of almost 1,400, she placed 30th.

In our conversation, Rosie shares:

- Why she isn’t lit up by goals - How she uses complacency - And why winning has become all about being willing to lose.

In the OR, she was able to lead her team with steady hands and a clear mind to save lives. In the dressage arena, she harnessed the pressure—and her horse, Fjurie—to achieve the highest levels in national competitions. As Mindy says, the principles of calm, control, and precision apply in both hospital and horse riding.

She now specialises in bridging the gap between industry and medicine. Her goal is to make a significant impact on global health through innovative solutions.

Whether it’s in the operating theatre, the arena, or the boardroom, Mindy believes that being "better under pressure" isn’t just a skill—it’s a way of life.

In our conversation, Mindy shares:

- When a winning strategy doesn’t work anymore

- How a data-driven scientist deals with gut instinct

- And what happened when she saw in her daughter a side of herself she didn’t like

His book, The Promises of Giants, was a New York Times and Sunday Times bestseller, in which he draws on his early life in Stockport, his rise to becoming the one of the first Britons to play professional basketball in the NBA and his career since – working with organisations to build authentic and ethical cultures.

John is Professor of Leadership at the University of Exeter Business School, a non-exec director of a FTSE 250 company, and in 2023, received the Sport Industry’s Integrity & Impact Award. Oh, and he’s also passionate about Star Wars.

He was hugely influenced by his mother, and he lives his life inspired by her words, that “the most unlikely of people, in the most improbable of circumstances, can become extraordinary.” 

In our conversation, John shares…

- What he means by sustainable high-performance…

- Why he is deliberately hard to get hold of and what, as a former elite sportsman,

- And he hates about going to the gym. 

Alina left Romania as a young adult. Soon afterwards, she went into accountancy with PwC before joining Rothschild & Co. There, she became the first woman to be promoted to Managing Director and Head of Trading—all while working four days a week.

In her book, The Audacity Spectrum, Alina combines personal experience with extensive research to share her mission. She wants to ignite audacious leadership in people through a bold mix of courage, care, and nonconformity.

In our conversation, Alina shares…

- What she learnt from being that boarding school toddler,

- Why her life changed thanks to a friend’s audacious question, and

- How she ended up completing two degrees in two countries—at the same time!

I’m very excited to be kicking it off today in the company of none other than my business partner, Simon Scott.

Formerly a Royal Marine Commando Officer and diver, who was awarded the Sword of Honour, Simon found that his time in the Marines satisfied both his desire for challenge and his fascination with explorers like Ernest Shackleton. After 11 years, he left and has since been coaching leaders in various industries, and increasingly in sport. He has supported people like Alex Danson, who captained GB Hockey to Olympic gold, worked with Dave Brailsford at INEOS Cycling, and is currently on the training ground with Steve Borthwick and his coaches at England Rugby. He is also an active trustee of the Adaptive Grand Slam charity, which trains and enables disabled adventurers in extreme expeditions.

In our conversation, Simon shares what he learned when given a can of beans without an opener, how his father, a rowing coach, helped him become a runner, and what he believes makes up an explorer’s mindset.

Hugh has also been a regular for over 25 years on BBC Radio 4, both writing and presenting their Friday night comedy THE NOW SHOW.

In our conversation, Hugh (whose real name is Pete, by the way) shares… - Why he thinks allowing a bit of self doubt is a good thing. - How his job at Unilever helped keep him grounded - And what having a bishop for a father taught him about performance.

With her sporting background - having played international Rugby for England and winning the World Cup in 1994 - it’s no surprise that Genevieve is currently Chair of the Women’s Premier 15 Ltd. At the same time, she also chairs the North Highland Initiative - a non-profit organisation established because of King Charles III's commitment to support the people and businesses of the North Highlands. 

In our conversation, Genevieve shares

- What she means by positive pressure 

- Her experience of toxic workplace bullies

- And how teamwork in the changing room trained her for the boardroom.

Having started on the rugby trail aged just 15, Calum turned professional three years later and spent fourteen years playing at the highest level He turned out for three different Premiership clubs as well as England. In that time he experienced the highs of winning 3 Premiership titles and 2 European Cups and the lows of career-threatening injuries, disciplinary setbacks, and various off-field issues. Realising there was a lack of professional support, guidance and expertise to help navigate such things, he completed the first of two Psychology MScs alongside the final years of his playing career. He then became Head of Player Development and Wellbeing at Saracens, before going on to become their Head of Psychological Performance, with a number of his clients, including Ben Earl, going on to excel at the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France.

In our conversation, Calum shares… - The importance of drilling - as an individual and as a team. - How we all need a north star… - And which pressure was worse - playing for England or finishing his Psychology thesis.

Mollie's journey from entrepreneurial beginnings to leading teams at top organizations like IMG, Octagon, HSBC, and LinkedIn before landing at Meta showcases her remarkable leadership and dedication to 'audience-first' marketing principles.

Outside of work, Mollie's passion for pushing boundaries shines through her pursuits in ultra-distance sports, where she explores the depths of human potential while raising funds for charity.

As our discussion unfolded, it was clear that there were too many valuable insights to fit into one episode, so we're back for more!

In this episode, Mollie delves into:

- The challenging decision to step back from a 24-hour endurance race and the importance of listening to one's body and mind. - Her approach to fostering a sense of belonging within teams, grounded in shared human experiences and authentic connections. - A pivotal interview experience where she embraced her unique strengths and dared to 'play her game.'

If you missed our initial conversation, be sure to catch up before diving into this one! Connect with Mollie: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mollie-pearse-09842b28/?originalSubdomain=uk

In our conversation, Tendai shares…

- Her desire to keep learning and saying ‘Yes’ to the Discomfort Zone - Finding the balance between the external and the internal - And the questions she asks her NHS team when they are all under pressure

His new book, *In The Moment*, was published by Kogan Page in June 2023. https://neilmullarkey.com/inthemomentbook Mike Myers describes it as ‘a creative masterclass for every moment.' Matt Brittin (President of Google, Europe, Middle East, Africa) says, ‘Neil’s model and how he applies it in different ways is really simple yet powerful. In a world that's more volatile and uncertain than ever, businesses need leaders who can be agile, adaptive, innovative. Neil's always promoted this brilliantly , but without the business jargon. ’

Visit http://neilmullarkey.com/ (And, yes, Mullarkey is his real name)

Of Emma’s 25 years working across entertainment, recreation and leisure, both in the public and private sectors, the last twelve have been at the Palace - helping to lift the organisation to be a recognised and respected cultural destination. Before becoming CEO, she led the growth of the trading subsidiary as Managing Director and then became Deputy CEO of the Charity, overseeing an award-winning restoration that cost £27 million. 

In our conversation, she shares - How she learned that her dyslexia was a superpower - Why the original Alexandra Palace Theatre was worth its multi-million restoration  - And the impact of seeing your purpose play out every day.

In our conversation, Edith shares... - What she discovered about her efficiency at work after she’d had children. - What doing a charity swim taught her about herself. - And how it affected her growing up as ‘an unexpected triplet’

Having previously held leadership positions at Pearson and Penguin Random House UK, Tom is experienced in leading global teams through complex change management programs and creating partnership ecosystems.

As a trustee of AQA, the UK’s leading assessment provider, and a former board member of the British Educational Suppliers Association, it’s no surprise to learn that Tom is passionate about the impact education can make for individuals and society around the world and is dedicated to using LEGO Education solutions to deliver STEAM learning to empower teachers and students.

- In our conversation, Tom shares…

- What he does in order to check out on Friday feeling calm

- What it’s like leading in a cultural melting pot

- And why you’re only as good as the system you’re operating in.

Connect with Tom👇 LinkedIn: Hall Tom Twitter: @tomjhall

Tom is in demand worldwide and works with hundreds of schools and colleges providing training and consultancy support to improve the quality of teaching.  As such, he is a regular keynote speaker at many education conferences and festivals. 

In our conversation, Tom shares:

*What the students did to him as a supply teacher

*What an exhausted colleague did when the next class was arriving

*And why - when he couldn’t see the wood for the trees - Tom went to see the trees… in the wood.

In our conversation, Lara shares...

• The power of a starting gun,
• What happened when she tried her first mountain climb up the Matterhorn
• And what she learnt about herself from witnessing her child in intensive care

She is a vocal supporter of LGBTQ+ and is on the advisory board of Hearts of Gold, a New York charity that supports homeless women and their children.

In our conversation - which is longer than normal by the way - Marcia shares: - Why her children go mad when she takes her work home - What the young Marcia would do when her father was coming home - And why, for her, the key to freedom is preparation.

Since the age of 21, he has started, bought and sold multiple businesses in training, publishing, IT services and tech. 

He’s written best-selling books like Key Person of Influence, Oversubscribed and Entrepreneur Revolution - and is known for his work on entrepreneurship and business development, offering practical advice to entrepreneurs on scaling their business, personal branding and becoming influential within their industries. 

In our conversation, Daniel discusses...

• The pressure of going through a buy-out
• What it’s like when your business goes from zero to a million in 12 months
• And why it should all be ‘fun and games’.

Charlotte’s ambition is to get more people to support their mental and physical well-being by increasing participation in sports and outdoor activities. She’s also been instrumental in the development and delivery of the Pentland Brands global diversity and inclusion strategy. 

In our conversation, Charlotte shares…

• What stopped her from picking up the telephone as a child
• How team sports show up in business
• And how she managed to reel in one of her colleagues with fishing

In our conversation, Amanda discusses…

• What she learnt from standing in the rain for half an hour
• What she can tell from looking at someone’s feet…
• And why the training for actors can be applied to all of us /everyone to perform better under pressure.

A former Commandant General Head of service, his front-line work included the Falklands War, Sierra Leone, the Kurdish humanitarian crisis in Northern Iraq, the Civil War in Angola and lastly as Commanding General of Coalition Forces handing over Basra in 2009. Between 2011 & 2013 he built the crisis-management centre for NATO and was responsible for finding forces for their global operations including Afghanistan.

Since retiring, he has founded Journey Through Conflict, a multi-media theatre company that creates performances to help alleviate suffering in people from myriad conflicts. He also takes elements of the performance into businesses to coach them in co-creating journeys to success.

In our conversation, Andy reveals: 

• Why he used to carry around a crash helmet without having a motorbike,
• Why he believes in ‘Enforced Rest’
• And what memorable tactic he used to make sure his troop was awake before a big attack.

In our conversation, Laura discusses 

- What she means by Type-2 fun,

- How you get around different personalities in a boat race,

- And what she learned from trying to ignite a Bow Drill fire.

Starting her career as a psychologist and undertaking a PhD on Pain in Sport, Tamsin was at the same time diagnosed with parosteal sarcoma in her right upper arm.  Determined not to let bone cancer hinder her passion for horse riding, Tamsin became the first person in the world to regrow an arm bone.

After working in the corporate world for 20 years,  she was tempted to ride for her country and didn’t look back. She now runs her own business rehabilitating horses after injury or surgery and combines that with competing at national and international equestrian events.

In our conversation, Tamsin reveals:

• Why she changed her phone passcode to a specific number in the future
• The mental and physical toll it took to re-grow her right arm
• And what happened when someone told her that her horse was watching Netflix

As a former campaigner and communications advisor, Adam has been at the forefront of driving sustainable practices across various industries. Now, as the co-owner of Junxion Strategy, an international consultancy firm, he is on a mission to help leaders shape the success stories of the purpose economy.

Beyond his remarkable professional accomplishments, Adam's personal life is equally fascinating. Married with two daughters, he calls north London his home, where his family roots run deep. When he's not working towards a sustainable future, Adam finds joy in indulging in delicious food, cheering on his favourite football team, and cold-water swimming adventures. 

During our conversation, Adam shares:

• What he learnt from Mr Patni while working in a vegetarian Indian restaurant. 
• The importance of striving for something magnificent that makes the world a better place. 
• What he gets from plunging into open water at three degrees above zero.

Having started competing in triathlons aged just 16, Lesley combined her competing with a degree and then a master's in Drama. Her triathlon career has not been without setbacks, having contracted Lymes disease in her 30s and, famously winning one triathlon with a shoulder she had broken just the day before. That particular experience dovetails neatly with her passion for drama and her most recent triumph as screenwriter and producer of the multi-award-winning Netflix film, All Quiet On The Western Front – made despite (or perhaps because of) countless pressures.

In our conversation, Lesley also shares… *What she learnt as a child from being the only girl playing rugby with 250 boys  *The importance of physically connecting with the land, mud and dirt.  *Why she was glad she had done her one-arm swimming training. 

In our conversation, Mandy shares… - The impact of what her father said to her when she was eight, - Who controls her first thoughts - And what it’s like to be - by her own admission - a hardaholic

During our conversation, he also shares: - What it’s like to lead a team when none of you know what you’re doing… - The importance of finding your positive sparks - And what made him get up rather than give up...

Louise is currently Group General Counsel and a leadership team member at The Blair Partnership, a leading literary and entertainment agency, representing J.K. Rowling and the management of the Wizarding World franchise. Day to day, Louise is actively involved in developing business strategy, deal-making, operations, innovation and governance across The Blair Partnership, Pottermore, and associated companies. 

Louise is also a mum of two, a keen runner, a dog lover, and a legal trustee on the Board of CLAPA (Cleft Lip and Palate Association).

During our conversation, she shares:

➡️ How her 11-year-old daughter pinpointed pressure for her.

➡️ What it’s like to be known as the Calm in the Storm,

➡️ And how being one of 11 children helps her under pressure.

His book, Sevens Heaven, recounts his incredible journey coaching the under-resourced Fiji 7s team to their first-ever Olympic Gold in 2016. This achievement led to numerous accolades, including his face being featured on Fijian banknotes and coins, as well as being named a Fijian tribal chief.

During our discussion, Ben shares valuable insights on:

• Recognising when others are feeling the pressure
• The concept of "finding the trampolines" and what it means
• How he had to make a life-changing decision in just 20 minutes

Having originally studied veterinary medicine at Cambridge, Rachel chose instead to qualify as a chartered accountant at KPMG. She now has over 30 years of financial experience with consumer-facing brands like Domino’s Pizza, Vodafone, and John Lewis. She has also previously held senior positions with Sodexo, Kingfisher and PepsiCo.

 In this conversation Rachel shares:

• What she‘s learnt from leading businesses in distress
• The advantages of a board that’s positively challenging
• And why she’s become grateful for ships in the night

As a senior HR leader, Tacita worked in-house for over two decades with many instantly recognisable brands such as Westfield, Ralph & Russo, Apple, Ministry of Sound, Freemantle and BBC Worldwide to name a few.

In our conversation Tacita shares:

1.   Why she’s happy answering emails on the beach
2.   The uncomfortable pressure of not being herself
3.   And what her son said that ignited her desire to set up her business.

David's expertise in the industry is unparalleled, having overseen the publication of countless crime and thriller novels, as well as ebooks and audiobooks. He's a visionary leader, driving innovation and growth in an ever-changing landscape. 

During our conversation, David shares: 

- How he makes work not feel like work 

- How he uses storytelling in times of pressure 

- And, what he does to pull back from strong feelings

Following that, she dedicated many years to Ascential PLC and more specifically to Cannes Lions, the organisation behind the renowned film festival, where she worked across a breadth of Executive roles leading teams through organizational transformation and change. She is currently Managing Director of the UK and EMEA for The Marketing Academy. She is a tireless champion of creativity and its ability to change people, organisations and the world.

In this conversation, she shares:

• The power of detangling emotions from facts
• Her non-negotiables when it comes to putting herself first
• And, why her body decided to take her out of the exciting promotion awaiting her in Singapore

In our conversation, Matt shares:

• The transferrable skills of sport in business,
• Why he has no time for regrets,
• And how the 14-year-old Matt dealt with adults telling him not to come home if he’d lost a match.

She spent 14 years leading digital transformation and change for American Express, working in 4 different continents. She then spent 4 years as Santander UK’s Chief Customer and Innovation Officer moving the organisation to greater customer focus and innovative delivery methods. That was followed by 3 years as Chief Customer Officer at Tesco Bank, improving the NPS significantly and driving profitable growth of the lending business. She has just joined Experian as MD of the consumer business for the UK. 

Sigga sits on the Women in Fintech Powerlist and on the board of Autotrader Group PLC and Frumtak Ventures. Known for her passion for innovative leadership and diversity and inclusion, Sigga has been named in Marketing Week’s top 50 Customer Experience professionals, recognised by Empower as a top ethnic minority advocate and acknowledged by the FT and HERoes as a champion for women in business. 

In our conversation today, Sigga shared:

• When her tendency to shield others from pressure became a problem,
• Why she chose to step away from her job for six months,
• The impact of what she wrote on a piece of paper back in her 20s.

Having studied six styles of martial arts for 25 years and competing in four of them at a national level, Sebastian is a former international professional fighter. He is also an experienced wingsuit base jumper with over 500 jumps worldwide to his name. He was part of an elite group of extreme sports athletes pushing forward human flight until July 2014, when during a wingsuit base jump in Switzerland, his parachute collapsed when he was 50 feet from the ground.

He survived the fall but not without devastating damage to his lower body, prompting surgeons to say that he would never walk again. Unsurprisingly, Sebastian defied the odds by rebuilding his body piece by piece through a gruelling rehabilitation process and made a full recovery. He is now on a mission to inspire a generation to make a global impact.

In our conversation, he discusses,

• Why he is thankful for negative thoughts,
• How he translates pressure into performance
• And, what happened when he came upon a group of gamblers in Thailand

A year later, he climbed his first mountain in the Himalayas alongside his father, also a sherpa, and got his first chance to climb Everest aged 19. In 2004, by age 20, Tendi summited Everest for the first time – an experience that secured what he calls his “dream to become a professional mountain climber and guide”.

Over the last 18 years, he has summited several mountains in the Himalayas and Mount Everest, specifically, 14 times – including doing it twice in one week! He was in the middle of an Everest expedition when the 2014 avalanche killed 16 sherpas including several of his friends and in 2015 when an earthquake halted that one.

He has now summited mountains on 5 continents and is constantly raising money through the Tendi Sherpa Foundation to bring education to the people of his village. I met him on a trek in 2018 to raise funds so they could build a village school.

In our conversation he discusses,

• How resilience was nurtured in him from the age of 5,
• Why his Buddhist education supports him on the mountain
• And why he will happily turn back and start again

Her books have sold over 5 million copies worldwide and have been translated into thirty-six languages.

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry was shortlisted for the Commonwealth Prize, longlisted for the Man Booker Prize and is now a major film - for which Rachel wrote the screenplay - starring Jim Broadbent and Penelope Wilton, due for release in April 2023,

In this conversation she shares:

• Why she found herself crying on the beach
• What helps her feel 30ft tall and 30ft wide
• And the power of an unspoken contract

Prior to that, she worked for organisations like Unilever, Pearson, Bank of New York and the South African National Treasury.

As well as a leader in the field of HR, Zani is also a speaker, coach and mentor who thrives on creating organisational transformation programmes that improve the workplace experience for all.

She has been awarded a Master of Management from The Wits Business School and recently received an Excellence Award for her contribution to the Human Resources industry.

During our conversation, Zani shares 

Why the phrase NO CHOICE became a source of power

What she means by ‘bad day behaviour’ and 

How a tea bag helped her change

Duro designed the award-winning ‘I AM CHANGE’ 10-week programme which focuses on developing young people’s self-awareness, vision, persistence, and dignity. He’s also a qualified mindset coach with a degree in Graphics and Advertising, a diploma in Documentary Filmmaking and is a fellow at the Acumen Academy.  All this after - and probably as a result of – almost a decade of criminality - between the ages of 12 and 21.  

Duro is a passionate storyteller and uses documentary film to enable marginalised youth to frame their own narrative. Since producing his first independent film in 2013, he has gone on to produce the documentary films ‘County lines: Teenage Drug Runners’ for the BBC & two seasons of ‘Gangland’ for Channel 5.   In our conversation, Duro describes

-       The exact moment when he turned his back on crime. -       Why he felt it necessary to support Manchester United -       And how he turns difficult conversations into a game

As Chief People Officer for the Pax8 EMEA region, her role is to ensure the company keeps humans at the heart of its growth. Chloe is responsible for developing the vision and strategy to maintain and scale an inclusive, high-performance culture built on servant leadership, psychological safety and genuine community.

She sees her mission as nothing short of empowering every Pax8er to engage in the best work of their lives.

In 2021 she received the CompTIA Advancing Women in Technology Leadership Award.

In our conversation, Chloe shares what she means by taking rest seriously, loudly and proudly, and what pressure looks like in moments of both scarcity and abundance and confesses she is a recovering rescuer. 

She also shares an experience of how the pressure of a single episode rang in her ears for months after!

When she’s off camera, Abi is a Leadership Performance coach drawing on her rich experience performing live under pressure to help leaders in sport and business elevate their impact and influence, particularly under the spotlight.

Whether interviewing high-profile athletes or coaching business executives, Abi manages to draw out their most compelling stories so that they and the world learn and benefit from their experiences. An athlete herself, Abi has completed 6 marathons, including the prestigious Boston marathon. 

In our conversation, Abi shares how she’s learnt to be present in pressure and to let go, when she decided to stop listening to the voice that said she needed a thicker skin, and how she found a source of professional strength through personal trauma.

Before joining Left Bank, Rob produced the multiple award-winning show, The Night Manager, for BBC/AMC. He began his career as a graduate trainee at Granada TV, where he later became a producer in the comedy department. After completing an MBA at London Business School, he went on to produce a string of prime-time dramas, including the much-loved Monarch of the Glen series for BBC, Wild at Heart, and The Suspicions of Mr Whicher for ITV.  He is the proud father of three teenagers who keep him in line. 

During our conversation, Rob shares his strategy for managing the pressure of tough conversations, the importance of connecting with positive people, what he does to protect himself from absorbing other people’s fear, and what he learned from a near-death experience.

Now, Louise leads a talented publishing team that delivers the best commercial fiction and non-fiction. Her authors include household favourites like Jamie Oliver, Nadiya Hussain, Dawn French, Jojo Moyes, and many others. She is also an External Governor at the University of the Arts in London. Last year, she was Head Judge on Channel 4’s Great Cookbook Challenge with Jamie Oliver to find and publish untapped cooking talent.

In our conversation, Louise talks about how the fear of judgment impacted her physically, the journey she is on regarding her emotions and is, in her words, “still trying to crack,” and the value of locking herself in the loo for five minutes.

Her executive roles include Global CEO of WGSN Group, the world’s leading fashion and retail trend forecasting company, as well as Immediate Media and Upper Street Events. Currently, Julie is CEO of Comparison Technologies, a private equity-backed comparison and customer acquisition platform business. Julie has built a strong reputation as a strategic and cultural transformation expert, exceeding revenue and profit targets, successfully integrating acquisitions, as well as driving significant shareholder value. She’s also been a Non-Executive Director on the board of Which? the consumer champion since 2015.

During our conversation, she shares the importance of punctuating the start and end of her week, the three questions she asks her team to stay connected during moments of pressure, and what she learned when she lost both her parents within three days of each other.

Previously Helena served as CEO at Bite, was partner at the OutCast Agency and held several in-house roles, including chief of staff at Yahoo.

In our conversation, she shares how small moments of humiliation became a source of conveying her truth, How growing up in a government-assisted social housing experiment impacts the way she leads, and what happened when her husband told her to quit.

In our conversation, we discuss how her team's helped her identify what she needs when she is feeling under pressure. As well as the significance of having a job she genuinely cares about rather than enjoys and why it's become vital to have a team that can, as she puts it, "turn on a dime."

Her businesses now partner with some of the biggest global sporting brands, including premier league football clubs and premiership rugby clubs. In addition, she is a non-executive director of several high growth businesses and is currently creating an exciting new technology platform to bring millions of people together in meaningful mentoring partnerships to improve equality.   In our conversation, she reveals how she borrows from the lesson she learnt as a semi-professional skier, the importance of surrounding yourself with people who are limitless and how the word "Yes" forced her to become comfortable with being uncomfortable.

Nilema and I first crossed paths at the Courageous Leadership event she founded to fund an education project run by the charity Plan International to continue the education of disadvantaged girls in Zimbabwe, where she was born. She is a qualified Barrister and, in 2020, was named one of the 100 Women to Watch by Cranfield University.

During our chat, she talks about navigating pressure when it feels deeply personal, the strength that she gains from connecting to family legacy and sacrifice, and how the image of a lioness got her through a moment of immense pressure.

During our time together, she shares the power of a pen and a piece of paper, what her conversations with herself look like as she heads into high challenge situations, and what it was like to be the first Head Girl in a boys' boarding school.