The Courageous Leaders Podcast

Hosted by Joanna Howes

Business Management

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Episodes

233

Latest episode

Oct 2026

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EN-GB

About the show

The Courageous Leaders Podcast aims to inspire leaders to step into their courageous zone, be the leader they know they can be and discover the mindset skills and behaviours to take their leadership to the next level. So listen in, get inspired on how you can grow your leadership impact. Leave a legacy you can be proud of, and build an environment for future leaders to thrive. Who is Joanna Howes? Joanna Howes is an award-winning international coach, behavioural expert, specialising in leadership and performance coaching and No 1 best selling international co-author. Her focus is to help individuals and teams activate their full potential, so they can step into their courageous zone to maximise their influence, build their resilience and take the action needed to become high performers and future-ready leaders. Joanna is a unique phenomenon within her industry, with over 20 years’ experience working internationally with some of the world's most awarded advertising agencies and leading them to operational and leadership success. Her blend of both innovative operational and transformative change solutions empowers organisations to create environments that are supportive and fearless for their employees. Website: https://thechangecreators.com/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannahowes/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@courageousleaderspodcast IG: https://www.instagram.com/the.changecreators/ Podcast IG: https://www.instagram.com/courageous_leaders/ Newsletter: https://the-change-creators.kit.com/1a5f3c9e54

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October 15, 2026Episode 20746 min

Marketing Expert: 4 Leadership Skills AI Can't Replace | Katie Jackson, Channel 4

How do you lead with instinct in a world obsessed with data? Katie Jackson, Chief Audience & Marketing Officer at Channel 4, joins me on The Courageous Leaders Podcast to make the case for gut, presence, and energy as leadership superpowers - the things no dashboard can measure. Katie stepped into her CMO role in a non-traditional way, and she's led with instinct ever since. We talk about why gut instinct beats an over-reliance on data, why being "change ready" matters more than fearing change, how a leader's presence and energy shape whether a team thrives, and why choosing not to be grumpy is a genuine act of leadership. Honest, warm, and full of practical wisdom for anyone who leads people. What We Cover: 00:00 Where Katie has needed courage as a leader 02:40 Why courage and vulnerability go hand in hand 03:04 Why gut instinct matters more in a data-obsessed world 04:34 The instinct-led career moves that looked "strange" on paper 05:40 When instinct becomes a dangerous certainty 07:36 Reacting in the moment vs planning for the future 10:16 Why "change readiness" beats change fatiguev 11:25 The "what if" experiment: signing off an idea in 24 hours 14:10 Why presence is a leader's most underrated skill 16:06 How your energy shapes the whole team 20:29 "Give control and you attract leaders": rethinking control 23:55 Why "silly little rules" can be healthy rules 26:13 Self-armour, perception, and setting clear boundaries 29:42 Why one person's energy can shift an entire room 32:15 "I definitely wake up as a grump": choosing your energy daily 34:59 How critical thinking sharpens leadership 35:55 The PowerPoint problem: effort vs real value 44:00 Where Katie wants to be more courageous next Key Leadership Insights: - Why gut instinct is a strength, until it hardens into certainty - Why "change readiness" is now a core leadership skill - Why not everything needs to be planned before it goes into the world - Why presence, being seen and available, is central to leadership - Why a leader's energy can make a whole team feel great or awful - Why giving away control attracts leaders, while taking control only attracts followers - Why simple isn't the same as wrong 🎧 Listen to the full episode for the best practical leadership coaching: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1B0U13S37tjpy9ZYZJcZb4 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-courageous-leaders-podcast/id1594924295 All episodes: https://thecourageousleaderspodcast.buzzsprout.com/ Connect with Katie: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiejackson2/ Instagram: @k_jackson_01 🚀 Ready to elevate your team and leadership? Book time for transformative coaching and training: Website: https://www.thechangecreators.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannahowes/ 👍 Stay inspired – subscribe, leave a comment, and help us build a community of courageous leaders. → Want honest leadership insights in your inbox? 👉 Sign up to the newsletter: https://the-change-creators.kit.com/1a5f3c9e54 #Leadership #Instinct #Channel4 #CreativeLeadership #CourageousLeaders 👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ 🚀 Elevate Your Leadership: Book a call for transformative leadership and team coaching: Website: https://thechangecreators.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannahowes/ → Join our newsletter for courageous leadership insights and advice. 👉 Subscribe here: https://the-change-creators.kit.com/1a5f3c9e54

October 1, 2026Episode 20551 min

Career Advice For People Who Feel Lost | Career Panel Discussion

Do you feel lost in your career? Been made redundant, or thinking about changing jobs or starting something new? In this special panel episode of The Courageous Leaders Podcast, I sit down with three experts to challenge the biggest myths about work and share how to build a career that actually fits your life. I'm joined by Andrew Bloch, founder of Andrew Bloch & Associates, long-term publicist to Lord Alan Sugar of The Apprentice, and one of the world's most influential PR entrepreneurs; Lydia Amoah FRSA, CEO of Backlight, author of the Black Pound Report, and Entrepreneur of the Year 2026; and Lauren Spearman, Careers Creator and social media consultant known for championing salary transparency and better hiring. Together, we get honest about ambition, success, redundancy, and reinvention. If you've ever felt stuck, behind, or unsure what "success" even means anymore, this conversation is for you. What We Cover: 00:00 Trailer 01:02 The biggest lie we’ve been told about careers 01:29 Can ambition be a trap? 05:36 Redefining success: money, time, and independence 08:15 How small attempts build real confidence 11:55 Why “is this fun?” is a serious career question 13:33 Advice if you feel lost but still want to be employed 19:56 “Choicefulness”: why you’re less trapped than you think 27:21 Why your network matters more than you realise 34:10 What “careering” really means, and building a personal brand 36:15 Facing the fear of redundancy 38:28 How to reinvent yourself or change direction 42:08 Andrew’s wake-up call 46:40 What to do first if you’ve just been made redundant 49:09 How will you know you “careered” well? Key Career Insights: • Why the biggest lie is that everyone else has it figured out • Why a sideways or backward move can be the best career decision you make • How to redefine success around time, values, and independence, not just title and salary • Why confidence is built through small attempts, not waiting to feel ready • Why your network, not just your CV, opens the next door • What to actually do in the first days after redundancy • Why courage, not confidence, is what careers really require 👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ 🚀 Elevate Your Leadership: Book a call for transformative leadership and team coaching: Website: https://thechangecreators.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannahowes/ → Join our newsletter for courageous leadership insights and advice. 👉 Subscribe here: https://the-change-creators.kit.com/1a5f3c9e54

September 17, 2026Episode 20647 min

Formula E CMO: How Do You Drive Change Without Causing Chaos?

Can you challenge everything without breaking it? Ellie Norman, Chief Marketing Officer of Formula E, calls herself a “safe rebel,” and in this episode of The Courageous Leaders Podcast she explains what that really means for anyone trying to drive change without blowing things up. With over 25 years shaping some of the world’s biggest brands, including Formula 1 under Liberty Media and Manchester United, Ellie shares how to challenge assumptions while protecting what works, why she measures her worth by curiosity rather than titles, and how she quietened the “what will people think?” voice when she left F1 for Formula E.If you lead through change, wrestle with feeling “good enough,” or want to modernise something built on legacy, this conversation is full of practical wisdom. What We Cover: 00:00 Trailer 01:04 What Ellie means by being a “safe rebel” 03:45 Why you can be safe and a rebel at the same time 04:12 The childhood that made her curious and fearless 06:39 How to lead people who are too afraid to try 07:57 The 70/20/10 framework for safe experimentation 11:24 The “good girl” people-pleaser, and its hidden cost 15:05 The difference between being liked and being respected 17:31 Where her “not feeling good enough” comes from 18:37 Proving yourself vs knowing you’re already enough 21:13 Why we shouldn’t need to “stack evidence” to feel enough 23:21 Why confidence is a journey, not a fixed state 27:04 Her process for reframing when thoughts spiral 28:30 Protecting time and space to think clearly 30:46 The underlying courage beneath the self-doubt 33:00 Leaving Formula 1 for Formula E: “What will people think?” 34:31 The two traits leaders ignore: discipline and self-accountability 40:42 How her team keeps up with her pace 43:46 Why constraints drive innovation for a challenger brand 45:08 How she sets clear expectations about the way she works Key Leadership Insights: • How to challenge assumptions without knocking the whole house down • Why a leader’s job isn’t to have the answers, but to create the environment for better ones • The 70/20/10 rule: protect what works, optimise the next slice, experiment with the rest • Why being kind means being clear, even in hard conversations • How to reframe “proving yourself” into “what can I learn here?” • Why courage plus discipline, not confidence, is what carries big career leaps • Why the moment you feel comfortable is the most dangerous place to be 👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ 🚀 Elevate Your Leadership: Book a call for transformative leadership and team coaching: Website: https://thechangecreators.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannahowes/ → Join our newsletter for courageous leadership insights and advice. 👉 Subscribe here: https://the-change-creators.kit.com/1a5f3c9e54

September 3, 2026Episode 20449 min

How To Be Successful At Work & Be A Great Dad

Can fathers build a successful career and be fully present at home? In this episode of The Courageous Leaders Podcast, I’m joined by Dr Anna Machin, a world-renowned evolutionary anthropologist and fatherhood researcher, and Steve Cardwell, founder of Deliberate Dad and coach to ambitious fathers, to explore one of the biggest challenges men never talk about: how becoming a father changes you, and what workplaces get wrong about it. We get into the “supercharged dad brain” and the real hormonal and psychological changes new fathers go through, why the first three months back at work are a make-or-break retention risk, why paternity support has to be built specifically for men, and the practical steps both leaders and dads can take. If you lead a team, manage new fathers, or are becoming one yourself, this conversation will change how you see the role. What We Cover: 00:00 Trailer 01:13 The biggest problem facing fathers at work today 03:13 Why the first three months back at work are so critical 04:18 What’s changed: dual-income homes, and dads stepping up 06:56 Why Steve left a seven-figure business to become “Deliberate Dad” 08:23 What being a “deliberate” dad actually means 10:18 The “supercharged dad brain”: how fatherhood boosts performance 13:09 Three things a CEO should do when a new dad returns 15:01 The fears that stop dads from speaking up at work 19:11 Dads’ guilt, and the hidden risk of paternal depression 21:14 Why supporting fathers has to start at the top 24:43 How real change happens: dads speaking up, not just policy 26:08 The conference moment that bonded a room full of fathers 29:12 Three tips for dads to succeed at work and at home 31:05 Managing expectations and the “parenting confidence gap” 36:31 Advice for mums: how to support a new dad 40:12 Busting the myth that dads “come back to work for a break” 43:26 The questions to ask a new dad who might be struggling 46:51 What courageous leadership means for fathers at work Key Leadership Insights: • Why new fathers return to work as more focused, decisive, and empathetic leaders • Why the first three months back are a make-or-break retention window • Why paternity support must be designed for men, not repurposed from maternity programmes • Why cultural change starts with senior leaders taking their full paternity leave • How one honest question (“how are you really doing?”) can change everything • Why fathers are essential from day one, not just once the baby is older 🎧 Listen to the full episode for the best practical leadership coaching: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1B0U13S37tjpy9ZYZJcZb4 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-courageous-leaders-podcast/id1594924295 All episodes: https://thecourageousleaderspodcast.buzzsprout.com/ Connect with our guests: Dr Anna Machin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-machin-552751123/ | https://annamachin.com Steve Cardwell: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevedeliberatedad/ | https://deliberate.dad/ 🚀 Ready to elevate your team and leadership? Book time for transformative coaching and training: Website: https://www.thechangecreators.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannahowes/ 👍 Stay inspired – subscribe, leave a comment, and help us build a community of courageous leaders. → Want honest leadership insights in your inbox? 👉 Sign up to the newsletter: https://the-change-creators.kit.com/1a5f3c9e54 👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ 🚀 Elevate Your Leadership: Book a call for transformative leadership and team coaching: Website: https://thechangecreators.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannahowes/ → Join our newsletter for courageous leadership insights and advice. 👉 Subscribe here: https://the-change-creators.kit.com/1a5f3c9e54

August 20, 2026Episode 2031 hr 5 min

Ogilvy CEO: Why Creative Leaders Need A Culture Of Disrespect | James Murphy

James Murphy , CEO of Ogilvy Group UK and co-founder of New Commercial Arts , joins me on The Courageous Leaders Podcast for an honest conversation about building creative cultures that don’t rely on hierarchy. James co-founded adam&eve, which became one of the most awarded agencies in history, and he has spent decades proving that great leadership starts with bold ideas and the right environment to grow them. We talk about why he encourages a “culture of disrespect” where the best idea wins no matter who it comes from, why hierarchy and process quietly kill creative energy, why leaders aren’t there just to make people happy, and why momentum beats the paralysis of perfection. If you want to build a culture where great work actually happens, this conversation is full of hard-won lessons. What We Cover: 00:00 Trailer 00:57 What courageous leadership means to James 04:26 His relationship with fear and decision-making 05:47 Why a strong culture needs both trust and high standards 06:37 Why hierarchy and process kill creativity 09:57 The “culture of disrespect”: letting the best idea win, whoever it comes from 16:53 How to change a hierarchical agency, starting with your next brief 24:29 The pressure clients are under, and why problems are inevitable 25:54 Why problems should be surfaced, not hidden 27:17 What an F1 team taught him about blame and accountability 30:30 Why the best creatives don’t always make the best leaders 37:50 Is the advertising industry ageist? James’s honest answer 40:50 Why fewer people want to be leaders now 46:06 The job rejection that told him he “wasn’t ruthless enough” 49:50 What a leader needs before they can be courageous 53:17 Why stepping back from work felt dangerous to him 57:07 James’s three pieces of advice for leaders 1:00:21 From wine-delivery van driver to a job at Ogilvy Key Leadership Insights: • Why momentum and course-correction beat waiting for the perfect answer • Why a strong culture needs both openness and clear standards • How a “culture of disrespect” frees the best ideas from hierarchy • Why surfacing problems openly is a strength, not a weakness • Why you should measure and reward the team, not the individual • The difference between a brilliant practitioner and a brilliant leader • Why perseverance, not ruthlessness, is what success actually requires 👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ 🚀 Elevate Your Leadership: Book a call for transformative leadership and team coaching: Website: https://thechangecreators.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannahowes/ → Join our newsletter for courageous leadership insights and advice. 👉 Subscribe here: https://the-change-creators.kit.com/1a5f3c9e54

August 6, 2026Episode 2021 hr 0 min

How to build one culture across 100 companies and 40 countries

Sergio Lopez Ferrero, Global CEO of Omnicom Production, joins me on The Courageous Leaders Podcast for an honest conversation about leading global transformation and what it really costs the person at the top. Sergio leads the global production portfolio for Omnicom Group, with over 20 years in the industry and more than 400 awards to his name, including 73 Cannes Lions. We talk about what it takes to transform businesses spanning 100 companies and 40 countries, why leaders are humans, not superheroes, the moment he realised he'd stopped doing the work he loved, and how he separates smart failure from negligence. If you lead through change, pressure, or uncertainty, this conversation is full of hard-won lessons from someone doing it at a global scale. What We Cover: 00:00 Trailer 00:54 Leading global transformation in a changing industry 03:19 The pressure of being a CEO: leaders are human, not superheroes 05:54 The leadership skills Sergio had to learn the hard way 08:15 Why every leader must understand the financials first 11:29 How to build one culture across 100 companies and 40 countries 13:03 Making tough decisions when people resist change 16:07 Separating who you are from the role you have to play 21:40 Moving from hands-on creative work to leading the businesS 29:14 Smart failure vs negligence: when it’s okay to fail 32:30 How to navigate uncertainty as a leader 35:13 Systems thinking and giving teams freedom within a framework 45:16 Where courage has carried Sergio through his career 48:05 Sergio’s three pieces of advice for future leaders 50:22 The eight things every CEO must be willing to do 52:03 Why you never fully switch off at the top 53:43 Ego, money, and the career trap nobody talks about 55:44 Building the team that covers your weaknesses 58:02 The real rewards of being a CEO Key Leadership Insights: • Why transformation today means rebuilding the plane while flying i • Why understanding the money is the first job of any leader • How to set a vision simple enough to align 40 countries • Why separating smart failure from negligence changes how teams take risks • How “freedom within the framework” keeps creative people creative • Why the leader’s mood sets the temperature for the whole company • Why knowing yourself matters more than knowing the playbook 🎧 Listen to the full episode for the best practical leadership coaching: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1B0U13S37tjpy9ZYZJcZb4 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-courageous-leaders-podcast/id1594924295 All episodes: https://thecourageousleaderspodcast.buzzsprout.com/ Connect with Sergio: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sergiolopezferrero/ 🚀 Ready to elevate your team and leadership? Book time for transformative coaching and training: Website: https://www.thechangecreators.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannahowes/ 👍 Stay inspired – subscribe, leave a comment, and help us build a community of courageous leaders. → Want honest leadership insights in your inbox? 👉 Sign up to the newsletter: https://the-change-creators.kit.com/1a5f3c9e54 #Leadership #BusinessTransformation #CEO #CreativeIndustry #CourageousLeaders 👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ 🚀 Elevate Your Leadership: Book a call for transformative leadership and team coaching: Website: https://thechangecreators.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannahowes/ → Join our newsletter for courageous leadership insights and advice. 👉 Subscribe here: https://the-change-creators.kit.com/1a5f3c9e54

July 23, 2026Episode 2015 min

5 Bad Leadership Behaviours Every Leader Should Avoid

What are the bad leadership habits that quietly hold a team back? In this solo episode of The Courageous Leaders Podcast, I share the five leadership behaviours driving me crazy right now, and what to do instead if you want to lead well over the next few years. Consider it a rant with a purpose. From leaders who struggle to manage stress to the ones avoiding hard conversations, burning out and calling it “high performance,” or making everything about themselves, I break down why each habit damages a team and the honest shift each one needs. If you lead people, this is a wake-up call worth five minutes. What We Cover: 00:00 The five leadership behaviours driving me crazy 00:06 No self-management: reacting and offloading stress onto your team 01:01 Avoiding difficult conversations (and the time it wastes) 01:33 Not looking after yourself, and what “high performance” really means 02:42 Getting a coach but doing none of the work 03:32 Being too self-focused, and why that isn’t leadership 04:08 Why leadership needs empathy and compassion 04:20 Leadership takes daily effort, not just a title 👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ 🚀 Elevate Your Leadership: Book a call for transformative leadership and team coaching: Website: https://thechangecreators.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannahowes/ → Join our newsletter for courageous leadership insights and advice. 👉 Subscribe here: https://the-change-creators.kit.com/1a5f3c9e54

July 9, 2026Episode 20051 min

Is Ruthlessness the Price of Reaching the Top? | A Leaders' Panel Discussion

What’s the one toxic leadership behaviour you’d banish forever? In this special Leadership Room 101 episode of The Courageous Leaders Podcast, three industry leaders each argue to banish one leadership behaviour for good: busyness, fear-based leadership, or pay-to-play culture. I’m joined by Katy Wright (Chief Client & Business Officer, AMV BBDO), Sergio Lopez Ferrero (Global CEO, Omnicom Production), and Sachini Imbuldeniya (Co-Founder & CEO, House of Oddities). Each leader gets around ten minutes to make their case, and at the end I pick just one to send into Room 101. The debate is honest, funny, and at times a little controversial, and each argument says something real about how leadership and the creative industry work today. What We Cover: 00:00 Trailer 00:50 The Leadership Room 101 concept, and meet the three leaders 01:50 Katy's nomination: Busyness as a badge of honour 06:20 Is being "busy" really pride, or is it fear? 10:20 The fear of not looking busy enough 12:50 The link between rest, sleep, and real creativity 19:50 Sergio's nomination: Fear-based leadership 21:50 Why blaming an unnamed "head office" erodes trust 24:50 Can a little fear actually be healthy in leadership? 27:20 Why "alpha" leadership is over, and vulnerability is rising 27:50 The uncomfortable debate: do CEOs have psychopathic tendencies? 40:50 Sachini's nomination: Why pay-to-play is rigging the industry 45:50 Awards and access: is success bought or earned? 47:50 How pay-to-play shuts out great creative work 48:50 My verdict: which behaviour goes into Leadership Room 101 Key Leadership Insights: Why “busy” has become a status symbol, and what it often hides How to hear what your team are really telling you when they say they’re busy Why a small amount of healthy fear can sharpen accountability Why vulnerability now makes leaders more followable, not less How pay-to-play systems in awards and pitching hold the industry back Why fixing fairness at the top can change a whole company culture Part debate, part masterclass, and a lot of fun. By the end you’ll be deciding which leadership behaviour you’d banish too. 👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ 🚀 Elevate Your Leadership: Book a call for transformative leadership and team coaching: Website: https://thechangecreators.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannahowes/ → Join our newsletter for courageous leadership insights and advice. 👉 Subscribe here: https://the-change-creators.kit.com/1a5f3c9e54

June 25, 2026Episode 1995 min

Why It's Okay to Upset People When You Lead | Joanna Howes

Why is avoidance the biggest killer of performance in teams? In this solo episode of The Courageous Leaders Podcast, I explain why it’s okay to upset people, and why giving honest feedback without fear is a skill every leader needs. Most leaders tiptoe around their teams, scared of upsetting someone. But avoiding hard conversations doesn’t protect people, it holds them back. I share why we waste so much energy “mind reading” how others will react, how that robs them of the chance to grow, and how to deliver tough feedback while staying calm, present, and human, even when someone gets upset. What We Cover: 00:00 Why it's okay to upset people 00:40 You can't control how someone reacts (the "mind reading" trap) 01:30 Why avoiding it is really about protecting yourself 02:00 My personal story: the feedback that changed everything 02:55 How to give feedback without it feeling like an attack 03:25 How to stay present when someone cries or gets angry 04:19 Why backtracking is the worst thing you can do 04:38 Show up for them, even when it's uncomfortable 👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ 🚀 Elevate Your Leadership: Book a call for transformative leadership and team coaching: Website: https://thechangecreators.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannahowes/ → Join our newsletter for courageous leadership insights and advice. 👉 Subscribe here: https://the-change-creators.kit.com/1a5f3c9e54

June 11, 2026Episode 19857 min

Esther Marshall on Grief, High Achievement, Emotional Resilience & Holding It All Together

Some people don’t just achieve, they achieve as though their life depends on it. In this deeply honest episode of The Courageous Leaders Podcast, I sit down with Esther Marshall, former global gender diversity leader at Unilever and founder of Sophie Says, to ask a question so many of us avoid: who are you when achievement isn’t enough? This is a conversation about grief, high achievement, emotional resilience, and the pressure of holding everything together when life refuses to cooperate. Esther shares her story with extraordinary openness: losing her sister Rebecca to suicide, caring for grandparents through Alzheimer’s, a miscarriage during IVF, and losing her mother to pancreatic cancer, all while building a business and refusing to stop proving herself. It is also the story of the breakthrough that finally let her stop failing quietly and start succeeding loudly. If you have ever tied your worth to what you achieve, this one will stay with you. If you or someone you know is affected by anything discussed in this episode, you can contact Samaritans free, 24/7, on 116 123 or at samaritans.org. What We Cover: 00:00 Intro 01:30 Why "High Achiever" Can Tip Into "Never Enough" 04:41 Climbing the Ladder at Unilever, and Being "Hard to Manage" 10:14 Leading a Team When Your Standards Are Sky High 11:37 The Maternity Leave Project That Became Sophie Says 14:29 Losing Rebecca to Suicide 16:34 The Book Written the Night She Passed Away 20:21 The Rainbow, and Learning to Let People In 21:29 Carrying a Legacy, and the Weight That Comes With It 23:08 Alzheimer's, and Grief That Wouldn't Stop 24:18 IVF, Miscarriage, and Learning to Keep Going 25:48 The "Miracle" Baby, and a Mother's Pancreatic Cancer Diagnosis 30:13 Why She Chose to Run a Marathon the Day Her Mum Died 34:52 The Therapy Breakthrough That Changed Everything 38:46 "I'm Failing Quietly, but I Want to Succeed Loudly" 41:00 Building Sophie Says Into a Movement for Generational Change 48:53 Learning to Walk Before Running Again 50:13 A Message for Anyone Sitting in Fear, Ready to Begin 51:40 What Courage Really Means to Esther Key Reflections: • Why high achievement can quietly become a form of self-harm • Why grief isn't something you "get over," and why returning to normal too quickly often makes healing harder • How to separate your self-worth from your achievements and results • Why asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness • How changing the way you frame a failure can completely reshape your life • Why children need emotionally safe parents, not perfect ones Esther’s honesty is a reminder that courage isn’t the absence of pain, it’s getting up and showing up through it. If this episode moves you, I’d love to hear your biggest takeaway in the comments. Find out more about Sophie Says: https://www.sophiesaysofficial.com/ Follow Esther Masrshall: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sophiesaysofficial/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thegrievingfounder 👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ 🚀 Elevate Your Leadership: Book a call for transformative leadership and team coaching: Website: https://thechangecreators.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannahowes/ → Join our newsletter for courageous leadership insights and advice. 👉 Subscribe here: https://the-change-creators.kit.com/1a5f3c9e54