MDA Insights

Hosted by MDA Training

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Latest episode

Jun 2025

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EN-US

About the show

Join us bi-monthly on MDA Insights, where we dive into the world of training and development and bring you the latest insights, expert advice, and thought-provoking discussions. Hosted by the talented team at MDA Training, this podcast is dedicated to helping professionals enhance their skills and reach their full potential. From early career trends to game-based learning and everything in between, MDA Insights has got you covered. Tune in now and start your journey to professional growth and success!

Listen to episodes

28 recent

June 23, 2025Episode 738 min

Can you really tell If leaders are changing? Why the future of leadership development depends on measuring behaviour, not just attendance

In this episode of MDA Insights, we’re joined by Andrew Larkin, leadership development expert at CIPD, whose career spans coaching, facilitation, and consultancy across change, resilience, and people management.With Andrew, we tackle a vital question for L&D and HR professionals:Can you really tell if leaders are changing—or are we just ticking boxes?Here’s what we dive into:Is leadership truly evolving, or is it the environment around it that’s shifting?How today’s leaders must respond to more connected, less compliant teams.The one skill every leader must develop—and how to know if they really have.Why traditional metrics like attendance and surveys just don’t cut it anymore.Can we rely on 360s and self-assessments—or are they just feel-good snapshots?Measuring the gap between learning about leadership and becoming a leader.Can behaviour really change? And how can L&D measure that change over time?The science (and art) of measuring soft skills like empathy and adaptability.This episode is a must-listen for anyone serious about building future-fit leadership—grounded in evidence, not assumptions.Join your hosts Paul Hewett and Oz Hussein for another thought-provoking conversation filled with practical insights, sharp perspectives, and a touch of wit.🎧 Listen now—because leadership development that can’t be measured, can’t be trusted.Hosted by the team at MDA Training, MDA Insights is your go-to podcast for cutting-edge conversations on leadership, learning, and the future of work. Hit play now.Hosted by the talented team at MDA Training, this podcast is dedicated to helping professionals enhance their skills and reach their full potential. From early career trends to game-based learning and everything in between, MDA Insights has got you covered. – hit play now!

May 19, 2025Episode 637 min

Clarity is the New Currency: How Top Executives Accelerate Success Through Alignment & Momentum

In this episode of MDA Insights, we’re joined by Simon McGoran, CEO of C-Level Impact, a seasoned expert in leadership and organisational development with over 20 years of global experience.With Simon, we dive deep into a critical question for modern leaders: Is clarity in leadership just a buzzword, or is it the true currency of success?Here’s what we explore:The true meaning of clarity in leadership—beyond the clichés.Executive agility: Why clarity + velocity is the winning formula.How leaders can balance clarity with flexibility, avoiding the trap of over-prescription.Strategic and cultural clarity—how to embed it in your organisation.Practical steps to ensure clear, transparent communication from the top down.This episode is packed with insights, real-world examples, and actionable advice for L&D and HR professionals looking to shape future-ready leadership programmes.Join your hosts Paul Hewett and Oz Hussein, who bring their signature blend of insight, warmth, and wit to another eye-opening conversation.🎧 Listen now—because in a world of constant change, clarity isn’t just a luxury—it’s a necessity.Hosted by the talented team at MDA Training, this podcast is dedicated to helping professionals enhance their skills and reach their full potential. From early career trends to game-based learning and everything in between, MDA Insights has got you covered. – hit play now!

April 24, 2025Episode 538 min

What does it take to truly lead a transformation? The Mindsets and Moves of Game-Changing Leaders

This time, we’re joined by Burak Koyuncu, Head of Leadership Development at LHH, and a globally recognised thought leader whose work has featured in Harvard Business Review, MIT Sloan Management Review, Business Week, Financial Times, The Economist, and The Wall Street Journal.🎙️ The Mindsets and Moves of Game-Changing LeadersIn this episode, Burak dives deep into what separates the average from the exceptional in today’s leadership landscape. With a blend of academic rigour and real-world insight, he helps us explore what it truly takes to lead with impact in a world defined by constant change.We explore:Transactional vs transformational leadership—what’s the difference, and which matters most today?The DNA of a transformational leader—can anyone develop it, and how?Must-have mindsets and skillsets for leaders who want to shape the futureBehaviour change in leadership development—how do we move from learning to lasting impact?The link between team development and transformational leadershipThree practical tips for L&D and HR teams building tomorrow’s leadership programmesThis one’s packed with insight, challenge, and inspiration for anyone serious about building leadership that lasts.And as always, your hosts Paul Hewett and Oz Hussein bring their signature blend of insight, warmth, and wit to every moment.🎧 Listen now—because the leaders we need tomorrow are shaped by the questions we ask today.Hosted by the expert team at MDA Training, MDA Insights is your go-to podcast for powerful conversations on leadership, learning, and career development.Hosted by the talented team at MDA Training, this podcast is dedicated to helping professionals enhance their skills and reach their full potential. From early career trends to game-based learning and everything in between, MDA Insights has got you covered. – hit play now!

April 9, 2025Episode 440 min

Compassionate Leadership – Beyond the Tick Box

This time, we’re joined by Paul Potts, a leadership and wellbeing specialist with a wealth of experience—formerly Head of Leadership at Maria Mallaband Care Group, and now Founder of Chevin Creative Learning.🎙️ Compassionate Leadership – Beyond the Tick BoxPaul’s spent years developing leaders in care, where empathy isn’t just encouraged—it’s essential. In this episode, he helps us unpack what compassionate leadership really means when things get tough.We dive into:Going beyond the buzzword—what compassion looks like in practiceWhether any leader can learn to lead with heartHow compassion fits when tough decisions need to be madeGen Z and their expectations of leadershipThe role of experiential learning in developing real compassionThis one’s honest, eye-opening, and refreshingly real.And of course, your hosts Paul Hewett and Oz Hussein bring the warmth, wit, and curveballs as always.🎧 Tune in now—because leadership isn’t a title, it’s a way of being.Hosted by the talented team at MDA Training, this podcast is dedicated to helping professionals enhance their skills and reach their full potential. From early career trends to game-based learning and everything in between, MDA Insights has got you covered. – hit play now!

March 31, 2025Episode 340 min

Leaders vs Managers

This one’s a real eye-opener. We sat down with Carl Akintola-Davies, Head of Leadership Development at Phoenix Group, to talk about something that gets thrown around a lot... but rarely unpacked properly:What’s the actual difference between a leader and a manager?Here’s a line from Carl that really stopped us in our tracks:“Managers are appointed by those above them. Leaders are chosen by those around them.”Let that sink in.In this episode, we’re getting honest about:Why we tend to romanticise leaders and demonise managersThe real science behind what makes someone worth followingHow leadership isn’t about being ‘the chosen one’—it’s about belonging, trust, and identityCarl shares a refreshingly grounded (and research-backed!) view on how leadership actually works—and why developing good leaders has less to do with job titles and more to do with how people feel around you.Whether you’re new to leading a team, supporting managers through L&D, or just curious about how influence really works in a modern workplace—this one’s full of gold.And as always, your hosts Paul Hewett and Oz Hussein bring the warmth, the wit, and the occasional curveball question.🎧 Give it a listen—it’s one of those episodes that sticks with you.MDA Insights—powered by the team at MDA Training, helping people grow through real-world learning.Hosted by the talented team at MDA Training, this podcast is dedicated to helping professionals enhance their skills and reach their full potential. From early career trends to game-based learning and everything in between, MDA Insights has got you covered. – hit play now!

March 24, 2025Episode 233 min

Mastering difficult conversations - The leadership advantage

Join us for a powerful conversation with Delme Thompson, Head of Global Events & Audience Development at CFA, as we unpack one of the toughest—and most transformative—skills in leadership: mastering difficult conversations.Let’s face it: every leader will face moments where they need to have the hard talk. But what separates good leaders from great ones is how they approach those moments. How do you stand firm with integrity while staying open, human, and constructive? Delme shares how resilience, emotional maturity, and psychological safety go hand-in-hand when navigating conflict—and why embracing discomfort is actually a superpower.In this episode, we dig into the art of turning tension into trust, awkwardness into alignment, and conflict into clarity. Whether you're initiating a tough conversation or receiving unexpected feedback, Delme offers practical strategies you can use right now—from fostering open dialogue to reframing challenges as catalysts for growth.And for the L&D and HR professionals out there? You’ll walk away with 3 actionable tips to help your people build confidence, compassion, and clarity when the stakes are high.So—why do we avoid difficult conversations? What’s really going on beneath the surface? And how can we train our teams to move through conflict rather than around it?This episode is raw, real, and full of insights.Join hosts Paul Hewett and Oz Hussein as they explore what it really means to lead when it’s hardest—and how those moments can define your impact.Brought to you by MDA Training, this is MDA Insights—your go-to podcast for game-changing learning, early career trends, and leadership development that actually works.Hosted by the talented team at MDA Training, this podcast is dedicated to helping professionals enhance their skills and reach their full potential. From early career trends to game-based learning and everything in between, MDA Insights has got you covered. – hit play now!

March 12, 2025Episode 128 min

Soft Skills, Big Impact - The Real Power of Leadership Today

Season 2, Episode 1 is HERE! Join us for an exciting conversation with Samantha De Alba, Talent Acquisition expert at Schroders, as we dive into the real challenges of building great teams and developing strong leaders. The old days of just picking the smartest people and hoping it works are over—so why doesn’t that strategy cut it anymore? Did it ever?We’re also tackling the changing workplace: How do we adapt to a world where emotional intelligence, adaptability, and communication are crucial? Samantha shares her insights on why soft skills are now the secret to high-performing teams. Can improving interpersonal skills really change behavior? Absolutely—and we’ll show you how!Samantha shares 3 transformative tips for L&D teams to help develop the emotional intelligence, resilience, and EQ necessary to prepare today’s talent for the workplace of tomorrow.Don’t miss this inspiring conversation with hosts Paul Hewett and Oz Hussein. It’s time to rethink how we build teams and lead in a world that’s constantly changing!Hosted by the talented team at MDA Training, this podcast is dedicated to helping professionals enhance their skills and reach their full potential. From early career trends to game-based learning and everything in between, MDA Insights has got you covered. – hit play now!

February 23, 2024Episode 2127 min

Let’s Talk Bite Size Learning (For Your Team!)

Episode 21 welcomes Ilya Shvetsov, Chief Human Resources Officer of Neon Labs - pioneering parallelised EVM, to explore the groundbreaking concept of bite-size learning. Discover how this innovative approach is reshaping professional development and making learning more accessible and effective than ever, the key benefits of micro-learning for employees, hear success stories straight from the forefront of innovation, and learn how to integrate bite-size learning with other developmental initiatives for maximum impact.Join hosts Paul Hewett and Oz Hussein for a captivating discussion on the transformative power of micro-learning in today's dynamic workplace.Hosted by the talented team at MDA Training, this podcast is dedicated to helping professionals enhance their skills and reach their full potential. From early career trends to game-based learning and everything in between, MDA Insights has got you covered. – hit play now!

October 6, 2023Episode 2019 min

Leadership skill: How to build trust and influence others? (Part 2)

Episode 20 of MDA Insight Podcast is here to take you on a transformative journey! 🌟 Join the charismatic hosts, Oz Hussein and Paul Hewett from MDA Training, as they continue their riveting conversation with Bhavna Dalal - a best-selling author, coach, and TEDx sensation boasting an impressive 25+ years of expertise.In this segment labeled "Leadership skill: How to build trust and influence others? (Part 2)" Bhavna Dalal shares profound insights, effective strategies, and real-life narratives to enrich your ability to influence and lead. 🚀 Absorb the wisdom needed to master the subtle art of influencing others and amplifying your leadership skills. This episode promises an illuminating masterclass in leadership, elevating your understanding of influence to subtle yet impactful heightsHosted by the talented team at MDA Training, this podcast is dedicated to helping professionals enhance their skills and reach their full potential. From early career trends to game-based learning and everything in between, MDA Insights has got you covered. – hit play now!

September 7, 2023Episode 1919 min

Leadership skill of influencing others - Part 1

🎙️ Episode 19 is a game-changer! We've got the incredible Bhavna Dalal on board - bestselling author, coach, and TEDx sensation with a whopping 25+ years of expertise under her belt. Today, we're unravelling the magic of leadership in "Part 1: Mastering the Art of Influencing Others."Hosted by the dynamic duo, Oz and Paul from MDA Training, this episode promises a masterclass in leadership like never before. Stay tuned and get ready to supercharge your influence skills! 🚀🗣️Hosted by the talented team at MDA Training, this podcast is dedicated to helping professionals enhance their skills and reach their full potential. From early career trends to game-based learning and everything in between, MDA Insights has got you covered. – hit play now!