The Inspiring Leaders Podcast

Criticaleye's Inspiring Leaders Podcast

In this episode, our first for 2025, we kick off the year by speaking to Criticaleye CEO Matthew Blagg about the trends, challenges, opportunities and risks for leaders over the next 12 months. He talks to Jordan Christofis, Senior Marketing Executive & Digital Lead at Criticaleye about the landscape for this year.

Discussion points include: 

• What factors will influence performance and decision making this year?
• Why 2025 will be a growth environment with opportunities and capital available to well-run and productive organisations.
• Increased pressure on Boards  and why the gap between Boards and operational team may widen this year.
• The leadership traits needed to be successful in 2025.
• What support leaders will need - the importance to find ways of benchmarking and testing ideas in a challenging environment.

Criticaleye's Inspiring Leaders Podcast

Adam Warby, Chair of Ocado Group plc and Andrea Gisle Joosen, Chair of Bilprovningen & Criticaleye Board Mentor examines how Chairs can play a pivotal role in ensuring their Boards are equipped with the right skills and capabilities to navigate the challenges of today.

Hosted by Marc Barber, Director of Content at Criticaleye, we highlight the importance of strategic succession planning, exploring how Chairs can build teams that are aligned with the organisation’s long-term vision and capable of driving sustained success.

Discussion points include: 

• The evolving role of the Chair and why succession planning is critical
• How can Chairs ensure a plan is in place to map out future leadership needs beyond CEO succession?
• Succession planning that aligns with the organisation’s strategic priorities and long-term goals
• Gaps and opportunities on the executive team
• The role of NomCo in identifying strength and depth on the Board

Criticaleye's Inspiring Leaders Podcast

Francesca Ecsery, Non-Executive Director at Air France, and Heather Hayes, Global HRD at Lightsource BP, explore how Chief People Officers (CPOs) can cultivate a high-performing senior leadership team by developing the critical skills and capabilities necessary for success.

Hosted by Alexander Hanna, Account Manager & CPO Lead, we focus on how leaders can prepare their teams to navigate challenges, seize opportunities and drive long-term organisational success, highlighting the skills required for 2025 and the importance of aligning with the Board’s vision and overarching strategic goals.

Discussion points:

• What the key skills and capabilities CPOs need in 2025?
• What strategies can CPOs use to identify and address skill gaps within their leadership teams?
• How can CPOs shape the culture and dynamics of the senior leadership team to ensure effective collaboration and communication?
• The skills and capabilities that align with the Board’s strategic priorities
• Advice for aspiring executives looking to make a meaningful impact in their organisations
• The impact external reference points have on leadership capability and performance

Criticaleye's Inspiring Leaders Podcast

In this episode, we sat down with Serena Lang, Chair of Trifast, Independent Non-Executive at Henry Boot, and a Criticaleye Board Mentor, plus Sebastian Munden, Chair of WRAP. Together, they covered on how Chairs and Non-executives can collaborate effectively with CEOs and CFOs to embed sustainability into the core of their business strategy. We explore the balance of driving long-term sustainability goals while remaining agile in the face of short-term challenges and pressures.

Key discussion points include: 

• The economic landscape and the priorities for Boards at present
• How the CEO should handle stakeholder complexities
• Which strategic goals are coming to the forefront and how boards are navigating competing demands in a challenging environment.
• Driving sustainability efforts amid volatile environment and regulatory limits. 
• Chair and NED skill capabilities and working with the Board

Criticaleye's Inspiring Leaders Podcast

In this episode, Neya Patel, Account Manager & CFO Lead, speaks with Criticaleye Board Mentor Keith Cochrane, Chair of Qlar Group, about the unique challenges Group CFOs face when stepping into the Group CEO role.

Group CFOs are increasingly finding themselves at the helm, stepping into the Group CEO role. But what does it take to make this transition successfully? How does a Group CFO leverage their financial expertise to lead at the strategic level, and what new skills do they need to develop along the way?

Discussion points include: 

• Key drivers behind transitioning from Group CFO to Group CEO
• Shifts in responsibilities and challenges faced as a Group CEO
• Balancing strategic focus and avoiding financial detail as a Group CEO
• Engaging with the Board and internal stakeholders in a Group CEO role
• The unique value CFOs bring when stepping into the Group CEO position
• Mentorship and support for Group CFOs transitioning to Group CEO

Criticaleye's Inspiring Leaders Podcast

In this episode, we sit down with Carol Borg, NED, Ricardo plc and Alan Bannatyne, Chair, XPS Group and Criticaleye Board Mentor to cover how the skills in finance are changing, as well as the ways in which the function itself needs to adapt to deliver the strategic insight and analysis that organisations need if they’re to retain their competitive edge.

Discussion points include: 

• What does a high-performing finance function look like today? 
• What skills that may not have been top of mind a few years ago are crucial today? 
• Are there gaps between the Group CFO and finance team due to increased complexity? 
• How is the finance function evolving? 
• Advice for first-time CFOs

Episode 11 of Criticaleye's Inspiring Leaders Podcast

In our latest episode of the Inspiring Leaders Podcast, we break down some of the findings from Criticaleye’s 2024 CEO Research. Hosted by Criticaleye Senior Editor Jacob Ambrose Willson, this episode features Karen Fawcett, Non-executive Director, Aegon, LGT and Temus, and Criticaleye Board Mentor, and Criticaleye CEO, Matthew Blagg.

Karen and Matthew discuss the shifting priorities of CEOs in the last 12 months, agility versus strategy, the influence of major geopolitical swings, executive burnout, stakeholder management and the ongoing importance of personal development.

Discussion points include: 

• Focus on improved business performance
• Sustainability slipping down the agenda
• Balancing agility with strategy
• Macroeconomics and the impact of geopolitics
• The rise in executive burnout
• Managing internal and external stakeholders
• External reference points for leaders 

Episode 13: Criticaleye Asia Podcast - Stepping Up as a CEO

In this episode, our guest speaker shares invaluable insights into his journey as a CEO, Board member, and leader navigating the complexities of modern business. ​Featuring Criticaleye's Managing Director Charlie Wagstaff, plus our guest Board Mentor at Criticaleye and Independent Non-Executive Director at Tencent - Ian Stone.

Discussion points include: 

• Real-life experiences and insights as a CEO.
• How can the approach to M&A be optimised to prioritise partnering over-controlling?
• How crucial is it to collaborate with existing key personnel and founders in this process?
• Identifying emerging issues for CEOs that need greater attention from Boards.
• The significance of committees at the senior level and what distinguishes effective committees from ineffective ones.
• Navigating the balance between operational involvement and strategic oversight for CEOs and Boards.

Episode 14: Criticaleye Asia Podcast - Navigating the Path to Success as a CEO

In this episode, hosted by Criticaleye's Managing Director Charlie Wagstaff, our esteemed guest speaker, William Lo, shares invaluable insights from his extensive career as a seasoned executive based in Asia. With over three decades of experience in senior management and serving on the Boards of numerous publicly listed companies, William's portfolio spans a variety of industries, including telecommunications, internet, banking, fashion and retail. He delves into the challenges of leadership, organisational resilience, and the ever-changing landscape of technology.

Discussion points include: 

• The key challenges faced by CEOs today, and how can they navigate them effectively?
• What strategies can organisations employ to build resilience in the face of uncertainty and change?
• How is the ever-changing landscape of technology impacting businesses?
• What opportunities does it present for growth and innovation?
• Role of the Board in shaping culture

Episode 10 of our Inspiring Leaders Podcast

In this episode, we speak to Tanuj Kapilashrami, Chief Strategy & Talent Officer at Standard Chartered. 

Hosted by Bridgette Hall, Senior Editor at Criticaleye, we ask Tanuj about the evolving role of HR, managing cross-cultural dynamics, and major trends to watch in 2024. 

Discussion points include: 

• Data driven HR 
• The future of the workforce
• Advice for first-time HR leaders
• Evolving HR practices
• Where can Boards support the HR function?