The Inspiring Leaders Podcast

Episode 6 of our Inspiring Leaders Podcast

Focused on the HR Director role within the current landscape, future of the workforce, and how HR is evolving. Hosted by Bridgette Hall, Senior Editor at Criticaleye, we were pleased to invite special guests Claire Costello, Chief People and Inclusion Officer, Co-operative Group, and Nick Ulycz, Chief People Officer, Aldermore Group.  

Discussion points include: 

• The business landscape and how that’s impacting HR leadership
• The HRD’s role in supporting the senior leadership team and the Board, plus where they can make the most difference?  
• What makes a high-performing HR leader?  
• Advice for a first-time Group HRDs
• The impact AI is having on the workforce 
• How our speakers’ leadership styles have changed and adapted over time 

Episode 5 of our Inspiring Leaders Podcast

Exploring the unique role of the Senior Independent Director (SID), this episode is part of Criticaleye's Inspiring Leaders Podcast. Featuring host and Senior Editor Emily Jones, and special guests Maria Darby-Walker, Senior Independent Director, Redwood Bank, Non-executive Director, Personal Group plc, and Natalie Ceeney CBE, Chair, Cash Access UK, SID, LV=, REM Chair, Anglian Water, Non-executive Director, OpenReach, and Criticaleye Board Mentor.

Discussion points include: 

• The main responsibilities and duties of the SID
• What should the relationship between the SID and Chair be like? 
• The role of the SID in times of crisis 
• Where can Board dynamics go wrong? 
• Should the SID be the successor to the Chair? 
• Advice for NEDs stepping into the SID role

Episode 11: Criticaleye Asia Podcast - Mentorship - Navigating the Journey to Leadership Success

Exploring the significance of mentoring in career development, particularly in transitioning from management to leadership roles.​ Featuring Criticaleye's Managing Director Charlie Wagstaff, plus our guest Board Mentor Bala Swaminathan.

Discussion points include: 

• What is the role of a mentor?  
• Is mentoring the bridge between management and leadership?​  
• Challenges when transitioning from an operational to the leadership role.
• Real-life experiences and insights mentors share to guide mentees through leadership challenges. 
• How mentors can empower their mentees.​
• Ways that mentees can effectively prepare for mentoring sessions to maximise their impact and benefit. 

Episode 4 of our Inspiring Leaders Podcast

Exploring how to be agile as a leader in 2024, this episode is part of Criticaleye's Inspiring Leaders Podcast. Featuring Host and Director of Content, Marc Barber, and special guests Sally Bridgeland, Chair, Impax Asset Management, Non-executive Director, RSA, Royal London, and David Guise, Senior Advisor, Newton Europe. Both are Criticaleye Board Mentors. 

Discussion points include: 

• The perspectives in Boardrooms over the next twelve months. 
• Geopolitical trends and how might these impact businesses? 
• The value of having access to external reference points in uncertain times. 
• The CEO and Chair partnership and should the Chair be a mentor for the CEO?
• How can executives become more agile and does the role of the Chair/Non-executive Director need to change? 

Episode 3 of our Inspiring Leaders Podcast Series

Exploring the landscape for businesses in 2024, this episode is part of Criticaleye's Inspiring Leaders Podcast. Featuring Criticaleye Host and Director of Content, Marc Barber, and special guest Matthew Blagg, CEO, Criticaleye. 

Discussion points include:

• The uncertain geopolitical landscape and how businesses are tackling a high interest rate and inflation environment.
• How can Boards keep up with the current economic trends.
• The latest tech trends and is there a knowledge gap within Boards?
• What should leaders prioritise in 2024, and what’s on the people agenda?
• What next year will bring for private equity backed companies.
• What areas can Boards be optimistic within the next twelve months?

Episode 2 of our Inspiring Leaders Podcast Series

Exploring what it means to be a high performing executive in today's challenging environment, this episode is part of Criticaleye's Inspiring Leaders Podcast. Featuring Criticaleye Host and Director of Content Marc Barber and special guests Priya Chowdhary, Former CFO Europe, Encyclis and Ed Jones, Non-executive Director, NOW: Pensions.

Discussion points include: 

• Outtakes from Criticaleye's CFO Retreat, where this episode took place. Interest rates are high and that creates unpredictability for CFOs.
• CFO's and the finance function needs to be agile in today’s current environment.
• Sustainability comes with a cost, and leadership teams need to recognise risk and make it a frequent discussion point in the boardroom. 
• Businesses can proactively implement sustainability in their business model if it is baked into the strategy.
• How can CFOs help mitigate risk? What role should they play in the Boardroom when navigating the risks an organisation is facing?
• Guidance for newly appointed CFO, and that all-important relationship with the CEO.

Episode 10: Criticaleye Asia Podcast - Managing Cross-Regional and Cultural Differences as a Leader

Featuring Criticaleye's Managing Director Charlie Wagstaff, plus guests Hai Meng Tan, President, Animal Nutrition & Health, APAC, Kemin Industries and Sian Abel, Global Head, HR Business Partnering, Kyowa Kirin. Talking points include:

• The skill set needed to be a successful and effective regional leader
• Adapting to leadership in a region and culture which is different that your own - how to flex to various cultural and operating environments
• Building resilience as a leader in APAC - and developing a growth mindset
• The importance of communication and understanding how this helps win over hearts and minds
• The challenges of getting staff back into offices and what trends executives are seeing in Asia
• Using data as a leader to understand the challenges and nuances of regional leadership

Episode 1 of our Inspiring Leaders Podcast Series

Exploring what it means to be a high performing executive in today's challenging environment, this episode is part of Criticaleye's Inspiring Leaders Podcast. Featuring Criticaleye Host and Director of Content Marc Barber and special guests Francesca Ecsery, Non-executive Director, Air France and Mark Spelman, Non-executive Director, Buro Happold. Both are Criticaleye Board Mentors.

Discussion points include:

• Reflections on our CEO Sustainability Retreat, where this episode was recorded. There are reasons to be optimistic with record investment in ESG in 2023 so far, and reporting metrics which are "keeping executives and Boards feet to the fire."
• Sustainability is also on the global agenda as we approach Cop28 at the end of November. Companies need to understand the macro signals. 
• If 80% of emissions are in Scope 3, how are business leaders addressing this within their own strategy? 
• The pace of technology is set to 'go through the roof'. Leaders need to be on top of this and understand how AI will influence decision making.
• Boards and NEDs will need to keep up with trends. You will become irrelevant in just a few years without investment your own education on sustainability issues.
• Companies need to have the data and the processes lined up, as well as incentivising internally to drive results.

Episode 9: Criticaleye Asia Podcast - Stepping Up as a Non-Executive

Featuring Criticaleye's General Manager, APAC, Michael Crompton, plus guests Louise Chaplin, Partner & Head of Board Practice, Eton Bridge Partners and Yen Yen Tan, Independent Director, OCBC Bank (plus a Criticaleye Board Mentor). Talking points include:

• What Boards and investors are looking for from new non-executives
• Being a future-proof NED - the core competencies needed to be successful in a Board role
• Putting together a winning NED CV - plus key things to think about before interviewing
• What new NEDs get right and what approach they should be taking for the first six months of their first role
• Taking on NED roles during your executive career, including how it can benefit your current organisation 

Episode 8: Criticaleye Asia Podcast - Leading High Impact Transformation

Featuring Criticaleye's Senior Associate, APAC, Hannah Daniels, plus guest Neha Pareek, HRD Global Supply Chain Operations, Dyson Operations Pte. Ltd. Talking points include:

• The driving forces behind business transformations - and what impact changing customer behaviours are having
• Using data and analytics in the right way - data as the new oil
• How the HR function has changed as business models have transformed and evolved
• The relationship between the HRD and CEO - what support should the CEO be offering HRDs during transformation
• The complex dynamic between global, regional and local priorities and how to manage this as an HRD or Chief People Officer