Designed to Lead

Hosted by The Centre For Army Leadership

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Aug 2026

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About the show

The Centre for Army Leadership’s “on the road” podcast series “Designed to Lead” seeks to showcase how the British Army deliberately develops leaders at key stages of a Soldier’s and Officer’s careers. Each episode will focus on a different part of their leadership journey, bringing in practitioners responsible for designing, delivering, and shaping leadership development through both formal training and education. If you’re early in your career, thinking about what comes next, or just want to understand how you’re being (or will be) deliberately developed as a leader, this series is for you!

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48 recent

August 14, 2026Episode 4938 min

Laying Foundations - Developing Soldier Leadership

How does the Army develop foundational leadership skills in their soldiers?⁠ ⁠ In the third episode of Designed to Lead, Dan Russell returns to Army Training Centre Pirbright to uncover how soldiers are taught the foundational skills that underpin successful leadership.⁠ ⁠ Joined by Instructor LSgt Billy Chipchase and Recruit Ffion Amberry, this episode explores how recruits’ confidence, communication, interpersonal skills, and values are taught and developed to create a solid foundation of soldiering that leadership can be built on.⁠ Whether you’re considering a career as a Soldier or simply interested in how leadership potential is developed early, this episode provides practical insights, honest reflections, and key tips to help you prepare.

July 20, 2026Episode 4841 min

Exploring AOSB - Selecting Future Leaders

What does the Army look for in it’s future officers? In the second episode of Designed to Lead, Dan Russell heads to the Army Officer Selection Board in Westbury to uncover how future officer potential is identified before day one. Joined by assessor Capt Jack Hooper and candidate OCdt Thomas Boyd, this episode reveals the selection process from the point of view of both the assessor and assessed. Together they break down what the assessments cover and the foundational aspects of leadership the army is looking for. Whether you’re considering a career as an officer or simply interested in how leadership potential is recognised early, this episode provides practical insights, honest reflections, and key tips to help you prepare.

May 22, 2026Episode 4734 min

Inside Pirbright Selection – Selecting Future Soldiers

What does the Army look for on day one? In the first episode of Designed to Lead, Dan Russell heads to Army Training Centre Pirbright to uncover how future soldier potential is identified from the outset. Joined by experienced assessor Sgt “Smudge” Smith and candidate Recruit Tobi Allen, this episode offers an authentic, behind‑the‑scenes view of the selection process through both an expert and first‑hand lens. Together, they break down what the environment tests, from teamwork and resilience to values and decision‑making under pressure. More than just passing selection, this is about demonstrating the foundations of leadership. Whether you’re considering a career in the Army or simply interested in how leadership potential is recognised early, this episode provides practical insights, honest reflections, and key tips to help you prepare. Pirbright isn’t just a gateway—it’s the starting point of a leadership journey.

May 10, 2026Episode 4632 min

Centre for Army Leadership Roundtable 6

This episode is the sixth of several discussion episodes in which we look back on all the episodes of the Human Advantage to provide clear examples of Army leaders putting the competencies and sub-skills of the Leader Competency Framework (LCF) into practice. We play back clips from previous episodes, talk about what they demonstrate from the LCF, and discuss how you can apply those lessons immediately to your own leadership. In this episode, Capt Ash Bhardwaj sits down with Maj Tom Bucknall (RMP) and Cpl Ben Hicks (R ANGLIAN), to discuss clips from Ep 23 (Sgt Ash Siddall, RAMS), Ep 24 (Col Jax Powell, RLC), Ep 26 (Maj Robin White, RIFLES), and Ep 27 (WO2 Johnson Beharry VC, PWRR). Through their examples, we demonstrate how the LCF can be used as a tool for leadership development, self-reflection, and assessment. And how it can be used as a guide for every interaction with your seniors and subordinates.

April 9, 2026Episode 4530 min

Centre for Army Leadership Roundtable 5

This episode is the fifth of several discussion episodes, in which we look back on all the episodes of the Human Advantage, to provide clear examples of Army leaders putting the competencies and sub-skills of the Leader Competency Framework (LCF) into practice. We play back clips from previous episodes, talk about what they demonstrate from the LCF, and then discuss how you can apply those lessons immediately to your own leadership. In this episode, Captain Ash Bhardwaj sits down with Major Tom Bucknall (RMP) and Cpl Ben Hicks (R ANGLIAN), to discuss clips from Ep 15 (Major Chris Duncalfe), Ep 17 (Lt Col Liz Kagoda), Ep 18 (Lt Tess Morris-Paterson), Ep 20 (Lt Col Simon Farebrother MC), Ep 21 (Lt Col Ed Fraser), and Ep 22 (Major David Love MBE). Through their examples, we demonstrate how the LCF can be used as a tool for leadership development, self-reflection, and assessment, as well as how it can be used as a guide for every interaction with your seniors and subordinates.

February 26, 2026Episode 4430 min

Centre for Army Leadership Roundtable 4

This episode is the fourth discussion episode in which we look back on all the episodes of the Human Advantage, to provide clear examples of Army leaders putting the competencies and sub-skills of the Leader Competency Framework (LCF) into practice. We play back clips from previous episodes, talk about what they demonstrate from the LCF, and then discuss how you can apply those lessons immediately to your own leadership. In this episode, Captain Ash Bhardwaj sits down with Corporal Florence Robinson-Plain and WO1 Paul Kennedy, to discuss clips from Ep 29 (Col Adam), Ep 33 (Capt Zoe Spicer), Ep 36 (Maj Gethin Davies), Ep 37 (Lt Col Rob Swan) and Ep 39 (Maj Kate Page). Through their examples, we demonstrate how the LCF can be used as a tool for leadership development, self-reflection, and assessment. And how it can be used as a guide for every interaction with your seniors and subordinates.

January 29, 2026Episode 4334 min

Centre for Army Leadership Roundtable 3

This episode is the third of several discussion episodes, in which we look back on all the episodes of the Human Advantage, to provide clear examples of Army leaders putting the competencies and sub-skills of the Leader Competency Framework (LCF) into practice. We play back clips from previous episodes, talk about what they demonstrate from the LCF, and then discuss how you can apply those lessons immediately to your own leadership. In this episode, Captain Ash Bhardwaj sits down with Corporal Florence Robinson-Plain and WO1 Paul Kennedy, to discuss clips from Ep 34 (CSgt Anwar Pittersl). Ep 31 (Op INTERFLEX), Ep 28 (WO1 Aiden O’Brien). Through their examples, we demonstrate how the LCF can be used as a tool for leadership development, self-reflection, and assessment. And how it can be used as a guide for every interaction with your seniors and subordinates.

December 12, 2025Episode 4240 min

Centre for Army Leadership Roundtable 2

This episode is the second of several discussion episodes in which we look back on all the episodes of the Human Advantage, in order to provide clear examples of Army leaders putting the competencies and sub-skills of the Leader Competency Framework (LCF) into practice. We play back clips from previous episodes, talk about what they demonstrate from the LCF, and then discuss how you can apply those lessons immediately to your own leadership. In this episode Captain Ash Bhardwaj sits down with Lieutenant Colonel Tom Bucknall and WO1 Paul Kennedy of the Center for Army Leadership to discuss clips from Ep 7 (WO1 Jon O’Neill), Ep 8 (Lt Col Dean Canham OBE), Ep 9 (Major Charlie Lee), Ep 11 (WO1 Dave Hird), and Ep 12 (Capt John Werrett). Through their examples, we demonstrate how the LCF can be used as a tool for leadership development, self-reflection, and assessment. And how it can be used as a guide for every interaction with your seniors and subordinates.

November 20, 2025Episode 4133 min

Centre for Army Leadership Roundtable

This episode is the first of several discussion episodes in which we look back on all the episodes of the Human Advantage in order to provide clear examples of Army leaders putting the competencies and sub-skills of the Leader Competency Framework (LCF) into practice. We play back clips from previous episodes, talk about what they demonstrate from the LCF, and discuss how you can apply those lessons immediately to your own leadership. In this episode Captain Ash Bhardwaj sits down with Lieutenant Colonel Tom Bucknall* and WO1 Paul Kennedy of the Center for Army Leadership to discuss clips from Episode 3 (Major Luke Turrell), Episode 4 (Col Hannah Stoy), Episode 5 (Major Jim Beckett), and Episode 6 (WO1 Paul Carney). Through their examples we demonstrate how the LCF can be used as a tool for leadership development, self-reflection, assessment, and how it can be used as a guide for every interaction with your seniors and subordinates. *Major Tom Bucknall was awarded acting rank at the time while covering for SO1 Leadership.

October 30, 2025Episode 4046 min

Episode 40 - Pace Setting, Character, and Leading Subject Matter Experts with Lt Col Matt Johns MBE

In this episode we're joined by Lt Col Matt Johns MBE, Commanding Officer of a reserve signals regiment. After commissioning in 2006 he has completed postings in Germany, Kenya and the UK as well as 3 tours or Afghanistan, during one of which he helped set up the Afghan Army National Officer Academy and coach/mentor the first Afghan Directing Staff team. He also spent time as a platoon commander at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, training the next generation of officers. In the civilian world he has co-founded Fieri Leadership, harnessing the leadership skills and experiences he learned throughout his career. He shares the importance of getting pace setting right, how leaders should enable the team in order to build their own bonds, experiences of leading experts who are more technically skilled than you, cynicism within the army and civilian worlds, and the importance of character and shared purpose within a team.