The Inspiring Leaders Podcast

Criticaleye's Inspiring Leaders Podcast

Robert Chong, Senior Advisor for Sembcorp Industries and a Criticaleye Board Mentor speaks to Criticaleye Senior Editor Bridgette Hall about the evolving role of the CHRO in Asia and if HR leaders are adapting and equipping themselves for the challenges of a fast-paced and AI-driven business environment.

Drawing on Robert's extensive experience and C-suite roles at Shangri-La Group, Keppel Corporation, Temasek Holdings, Shell and PepsiCo, he outlines the key differences between HR leaders who are 'outside the room' compared to those who are actively involved in strategic decisions at the top of the organisation.

Discussion points include:

• Robert's career across different regions and the value of adaptability as a leadership skill
• Why CPOs and CHROs need to be at the table and driving conversations around AI, particularly as it relates to the workforce and how workflows are changing
• What makes a great CEO-CPO relationship - Robert describes where it works well and where it can go wrong
• The value of mentoring in a senior leadership role, particularly from external mentors
• The role of the CPO and CHRO on the Board - working with Independent Directors when it comes to people and culture

A must-listen for CPOs, CHROs and senior leaders looking to strengthen their effectiveness, improve decision-making and navigate the complexities of leadership in today’s rapidly changing environment.

Criticaleye's Inspiring Leaders Podcast

Giles Thorley, CEO of Development Bank of Wales, and Maria Kyriacou, Chair of ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE, join Marc Barber, Director of Content at Criticaleye, to explore how CEOs and Boards can work together to navigate risk and make better decisions in an increasingly complex business environment.

Drawing on their extensive leadership experience across media, finance and private equity, Giles and Maria share insights on how Boards can support executives, challenge thinking and improve decision-making in times of uncertainty.

Discussion points include:

• The role of the Board in supporting executive teams and managing risk
• How Boards can challenge thinking and provide valuable perspective
• Balancing risk and opportunity when making strategic decisions
• Staying focused amid increasing volatility and uncertainty
• The importance of strong CEO and Chair relationships

A must-listen for CEOs, Chairs and senior leaders looking to strengthen Board effectiveness, improve decision-making and navigate the complexities of leadership in today’s rapidly changing environment.

Criticaleye's Inspiring Leaders Podcast

Richard Williams, Board Mentor at Criticaleye and former Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) at Western Union joins Bridgette Hall, Senior Editor at Criticaleye to explore what it takes to lead HR in a global organisation.

Drawing on his experience leading people strategy across multiple markets and complex regulatory environments, Richard shares insights on how the role of HR has evolved from a support function to a core driver of business performance and Board-level influence.

From building effective global people strategies to developing leadership pipelines across borders, discussion points include:

• The capabilities HR leaders need today to operate effectively in multi-market organisations
• Designing people strategies that work across both highly regulated environments and fast-growth emerging markets
• Managing talent mobility and building leadership pipelines across international teams
• How HR can establish itself as a true value creator and strategic partner to the business
• Building credibility and influence at Board level as both a CPO and Board leader
• Leading and making decisions with confidence in ambiguity and at pace
• The role of mentoring in developing high-performance leaders and Boards

A must-listen for HR and business leaders looking to better understand the evolving role of HR in global organisations and the leadership behaviours required to succeed at scale.

Criticaleye's Inspiring Leaders Podcast

Jon Rigby CBE, Senior Cyber Advisor and former Chief Cyber Officer at Liberty Specialty Markets, joins Jacob Ambrose Willson, Senior Editor at Criticaleye, to explore what it truly takes for organisations to build cyber resilience in an increasingly complex and unpredictable threat landscape.

With over 40 years experience across the Royal Air Force, intelligence, cyber operations and commercial advisory roles, Jon offers a unique perspective on how cyber risk is evolving and why many organisations still underestimate its scale.

He explores common misconceptions about cyber attackers, the realities of attribution and state involvement and why cyber must be treated as a strategic business risk rather than a technical issue.

The discussion also looks at how Boards can move beyond a tick box approach and where organisations most often fall short in understanding and managing cyber risk.

Discussion points include:

• Who is behind today’s cyber attacks and how targeting models differ
• The reality of state sponsored cyber activity and the challenge of attribution
• Why Boards often fall into a box ticking approach to cyber risk
• How organisations can better quantify and understand cyber impact
• The importance of independent challenge and realistic testing
• Why cyber resilience depends on preparation, rehearsal and culture
• Common blind spots that lead to failure during live incidents
• The role of third parties in expanding organisational risk exposure

A must listen for senior leaders seeking to strengthen cyber resilience, elevate Board level understanding and lead with confidence in managing evolving cyber risk.

Criticaleye's Inspiring Leaders Podcast

Nick Burns, CEO of Reward Gateway | Edenred, joins Criticaleye’s Senior Editor Bridgette Hall to share his perspective on what it takes to deliver successful international expansion in today’s complex business environment.

Reflecting on the growth story of Reward Gateway and its £1 billion merger with Edenred, the podcast explores how leadership teams can scale across multiple geographies while navigating strategic, operational and cultural challenges. Nick also shares insights on the role of M&A, investor influence and how executives can align stakeholders around ambitious global growth plans.

Discussion points include:

• The evolution of Reward Gateway and the key milestones in its growth journey
• Lessons from leading a major cross-border merger and integrating businesses at scale
• Why organisations expand beyond domestic markets and the strategic rationale behind international growth
• How leadership teams determine which geographies to enter and when
• The role of M&A versus organic growth in international expansion strategies
• How to assess and manage cultural and operational integration risks
• The role of private equity investors in shaping and accelerating expansion plans
• How leadership teams align around high-stakes decisions and differing risk perspectives
• Balancing the demands of leading a business while driving international growth
• The importance of external advisors and support networks during complex expansion programmes
• Key advice for leadership teams embarking on their first major international expansion

Episode 31: Criticaleye Asia Podcast – Chairing for Impact: Leadership Lessons from Ray Ferguson, Global Board Chair

In this episode, Yu-Wen Hsiao, Marketing and Communications Manager, APAC at Criticaleye, speaks with Ray Ferguson, Global Board Chair and seasoned international banker, shares his perspective on how CEOs and Boards are navigating resilience, growth and change in an increasingly complex global environment.

Drawing on more than 35 years of international leadership experience across Asia, the Middle East, Europe and the Americas, Ray reflects on the evolving role of the Chair, the importance of strong CEO–Board alignment and how leaders can stay focused on long-term value while responding to short-term pressures. He also discusses how Boards can simplify decision-making, maintain clarity of purpose and support organisations through periods of uncertainty and transformation.

Discussion points include:

• How can CEOs and Boards stay aligned in periods of uncertainty and change?
• What makes an effective Chair in today’s environment?
• How can Boards balance governance, risk oversight and execution during transformation?
• What common pitfalls emerge during major organisational change, and how can they be avoided?
• How should Chairs work with executive teams to build capability and resilience?
• What lessons from a global leadership journey are most valuable at Board level today?

Criticaleye's Inspiring Leaders Podcast

Jacky Simmonds, Chief People Officer at Experian, joins Bridgette Hall, Senior Editor at Criticaleye, to explore how CPOs can lead digital and AI-enabled transformation and unlock value through people.

As digital and AI transformation becomes a constant rather than a one-off initiative, the role of the CPO has never been more critical. In this episode, Jacky shares her perspective on how people leaders can shape enterprise-wide strategy, build future-ready skills and cultures, and act as true architects of transformation at Board level.

Drawing on her experience at a global, data-led organisation, Jacky explores how CPOs can drive change at pace while sustaining trust, engagement and resilience across the workforce.

Discussion points include:

• The key digital and AI trends CPOs should be watching as they enter 2026
• How the CPO role is evolving as transformation becomes continuous
• What it takes for CPOs to be seen as strategic partners at Board level
• The role of culture in making digital transformation stick — and what leaders often underestimate
• Practical approaches to closing skills gaps during fast-moving AI change
• How to measure and communicate the impact of digital transformation at an enterprise level
• Three essential pieces of advice for CPOs navigating complex digital and tech transformations

A must-listen for senior people leaders looking to unlock value, sustain momentum and lead transformation with confidence.

Criticaleye's Inspiring Leaders Podcast

Dave Wilson, Chair of LBG Media (LADbible) and Knights plc, joins Criticaleye’s Senior Editor Jacob Ambrose Willson to explore how Boards and executive teams can successfully navigate today’s capital markets while staying focused on long-term value creation.

In a landscape of tightening liquidity, shifting investor expectations and ongoing macro uncertainty, leaders of publicly listed businesses face growing pressure to balance short-term market demands with long-term growth. Drawing on his extensive executive and non-executive experience, Dave shares insights from supporting high-growth companies, preparing for IPO and guiding teams through public-market volatility.

Discussion points include:

• How leaders can balance immediate market pressures with long-term value creation
• Lessons from preparing for IPO and operating successfully on the public markets
• The impact of reduced liquidity on decision-making and Board-level conversations
• Key challenges facing plc leadership teams and how a Chair can best support them
• The evolving relationship between Chairs, CEOs and CFOs amid market and macro pressures
• Avoiding short-termism through effective communication with investors and analysts
• Approaches to assessing growth, profitability and M&A in a complex capital environment
• Why peer networks are increasingly important for resilience and perspective
• Practical advice for plc leaders aiming to deliver sustainable growth in a difficult market

Criticaleye's Inspiring Leaders Podcast

Bérangère Michel, Former CFO of the John Lewis Partnership and Ben Freeman, Country CFO RWE Renewables UK / Global Director Accounting RWE Offshore, join Criticaleye’s Senior Editor Bridgette Hall to explore what it takes to lead effectively through transformation and continuous change.

In an era defined by volatility, shifting stakeholder expectations and the accelerating pace of organisational evolution, leaders are under unprecedented pressure to balance business priorities with empathy, purpose and resilience. Bérangère and Ben share their experiences of guiding teams through uncertainty, driving cultural alignment and sustaining performance during times of transformation.

Discussion points include:

• The most common challenges leaders face when navigating change and how to overcome them
• What effective leadership looks like during periods of disruption and evolution
• How to engage and motivate people when organisations are undergoing transformation
• Building trust, alignment and resilience across teams
• The critical role of culture in enabling and sustaining change
• Balancing strategic business priorities with the human side of transformation
• Practical behaviours and approaches that help people embrace change
• How leadership itself is evolving in response to increasing complexity
• Why maintaining strong external networks and reference points is essential for decision making and perspective
• Lessons learned from leading people through uncertainty and transformation

Criticaleye's Inspiring Leaders Podcast

Christopher Boerger, CFO of E.ON UK, joins Criticaleye’s Director of Content Marc Barber to discuss the evolving role of the CFO as a driver of innovation and growth. From balancing risk and return to embracing new technologies and leading through volatility, Christopher reflects on how finance leaders can unlock creativity and long-term value in large organisations.

Discussion points include:

• What innovation means for a business like E.ON UK and how new ideas are brought to market
• The CFO’s role in supporting experimentation, investment and the freedom to fail
• Approaches to risk appetite and measuring ROI on new projects
• The reality of AI-driven change and what’s hype versus substance
• Why both large and small companies face challenges with innovation
• Balancing short- vs long-term thinking in today’s volatile environment
• Lessons learned from over two years as Country CFO lead at E.ON UK