The Wellbeing Rebellion

Hosted by Ngozi Weller & Obehi Alofoje

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128

Latest episode

Jun 2026

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About the show

Welcome to The Wellbeing Rebellion, an award-winning podcast. We’re Ngozi Weller and Obehi Alofoje, Directors at Aurora — a leadership and organisational effectiveness consultancy. This podcast explores how the way organisations are led shapes performance, trust, wellbeing and culture over time. The challenge with many approaches to wellbeing and culture is that they place responsibility on individuals to cope, rather than examining the leadership decisions, behaviours and systems that create the conditions people are working within. This is where the conversation needs to shift. On The Wellbeing Rebellion, we explore leadership behaviour, organisational systems and decision-making under pressure through honest conversations with senior leaders and advisors navigating real organisational complexity. Some episodes are just us. Others bring in leaders and experts reflecting candidly on what works, what doesn’t, and what leadership requires in practice. If you’re responsible for people, culture or organisational performance — and want to think more critically about how leadership shapes outcomes — this podcast is for you.

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60 recent

June 11, 202642 min

Beyond Good Intentions: Turning Inclusion into Organisational Practice with Joanne Vazquez-Kirby

Good intentions matter, but they don’t change much on their own.Joanne Vazquez-Kirby, a global DEI & HR Leader at Skyscanner, joins me to explore what helps organisations move from aspiration to something more tangible. We get into accountability, leadership, and the gap between saying inclusion matters and building it into how a business actually operates.There’s also a useful look at what this means in practice across global teams. From local context and data to community networks, executive sponsorship, and knowing where to start, Joanne shares what helps inclusion efforts gain traction instead of stalling out.A helpful listen for leaders trying to turn values into decisions, not just statements.Highlights:(02:14) What working across cultures teaches you about people(08:47) The difference between aspiration and embedded inclusion(11:30) How networks, sponsors, and structure help the work move(20:09) Why you can’t do everything, and where to start instead(27:30) What changes when inclusion work has to translate globally(34:30) What credible leadership looks like in a difficult climate(41:00) The one shift leaders can make tomorrowConnect with us here:Website: https://aurorawellnessgroup.co.uk/Ngozi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ngozi-weller-aurora/Obehi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/obehi-alofoje-psychologist-aurora/Aurora Company Profile 2025Book a Call here: https://aurorawellnessgroup.co.uk/#book-meeting

May 28, 20261 hr 17 min

Beyond the Spectrum: What Workplaces Still Get Wrong About Neurodiversity with Dr Chloe Farahar

Awareness of neurodiversity has grown, but understanding still has a long way to go.Too many workplaces still rely on narrow ideas of what neurodivergence is supposed to look like, who gets recognised, and who gets support. That leaves a lot of people misunderstood, missed entirely, or expected to fit a picture that was never built with them in mind.Dr Chloe Farahar brings a much more nuanced lens to this, from observer bias in diagnosis and recognition to the role of race, gender, culture, and environment in shaping who gets seen. We also explore why the traditional idea of the spectrum falls short, and what a more useful understanding could look like instead.A valuable listen for anyone who wants to move past basic awareness and think more carefully about what meaningful neuroinclusion really requires.Highlights:(01:18) Why awareness still isn’t the same as understanding(12:20) What polyennic communication can look like in practice(28:30) Why the traditional spectrum model falls short(39:30) Chloe’s three-dimensional autistic space explained(48:20) What workplaces need to do differently right now(01:05:24) Five steps towards a more neuroinclusive workplaceLinks mentioned in this episode:Aucademy: https://aucademy.co.uk/ Building your Autistic profile: https://aucademy.co.uk/building-your-autistic-profile-brief-starting-page/ NHS Inclusive Workplace Plan template: https://www.cwp.nhs.uk/application/files/8017/3348/3604/Employment_checklist_-_Nov_2024__1.pdf Enna Global - Helping forward-thinking companies attract, recruit and retain neurodivergent talent: https://enna.org/ Connect with us here:Website: https://aurorawellnessgroup.co.uk/Ngozi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ngozi-weller-aurora/Obehi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/obehi-alofoje-psychologist-aurora/Aurora Company Profile 2025Book a Call here: https://aurorawellnessgroup.co.uk/#book-meeting

April 30, 202626 min

Fixing the Leaky Pipeline: A Practical Guide for Leaders on Race Equity

A lot of organisations still explain the lack of racial diversity in leadership as a pipeline problem. It sounds neat, but it doesn’t hold up.In this episode, I unpack why progress on race equity so often stalls the further up an organisation you move, even when there’s effort, investment, and a genuine desire to improve.I look at what the data actually shows, why the pipeline story keeps sticking around, and what’s really happening to ethnically diverse talent once it enters the workplace. From affinity bias to who gets backed, seen, and described as having potential, this is about the systems that quietly shape progression.If you’re serious about moving from good intentions to real change, this will give you something much more useful than another vague conversation about representation.Highlights:(03:33) Why the “pipeline problem” story keeps coming up(10:30) What the data says about talent and leadership(15:30) How professional racism hides in plain sight(17:03) Why affinity bias keeps shaping progression(20:30) What trickle-down equity looks like in practice(23:53) The harder question leaders need to ask themselvesConnect with us here:Website: https://aurorawellnessgroup.co.uk/Ngozi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ngozi-weller-aurora/Obehi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/obehi-alofoje-psychologist-aurora/Aurora Company Profile 2025Book a Call here: https://aurorawellnessgroup.co.uk/#book-meeting

April 16, 202649 min

The Quiet Power of Learning: How Leaders Build Capability for an Uncertain Future with Kerri O’Neill

Learning can’t be treated like an extra anymore. Not when the pace of change is this high.Kerri O’Neill, Chief People Officer at Ipsos UK & Ireland, joins me this week, and we look at what it takes to build capability in an intentional and useful way, especially when strategies, markets, and tools keep shifting.We talk about why organisations need to focus less on big learning programmes and more on clear outcomes, everyday practice, and the human skills that still matter no matter how much technology changes.This episode is a useful one for leaders, HR teams, and anyone thinking seriously about how people keep learning, adapting, and making good decisions when the future feels anything but settled.Highlights:(02:28) Why capability building starts with commitment(05:28) Focusing on outcomes instead of fixed learning plans(09:48) Why learning with others matters, especially around AI(13:20) The human skills that still matter in an uncertain future(35:52) The risk of relying too heavily on AI for people decisionsConnect with us here:Website: https://aurorawellnessgroup.co.uk/Ngozi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ngozi-weller-aurora/Obehi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/obehi-alofoje-psychologist-aurora/Aurora Company Profile 2025Book a Call here: https://aurorawellnessgroup.co.uk/#book-meeting

April 2, 202642 min

Global Culture, Real Accountability: How Leaders Turn Values into Performance with Aaisha Knights-Ihediwa

Accountability sounds simple, but it gets complicated quickly in fast-paced, global organisations.In this conversation with Aaisha Knights-Ihediwa, we talk about what accountability actually looks like in practice. From hiring the right people to creating space for individuals to speak up when something isn’t working.We also explore how values hold up under pressure, and what happens when there’s a gap between what’s said and what’s lived.There’s a focus on leadership too. Managing global teams, navigating trade-offs, staying aligned when expectations are high and conditions keep shifting, and figuring out what that actually looks like in practice.Highlights:(03:20) What accountability really looks like in practice(08:30) Values in principle vs values in execution(14:40) Navigating global teams and cultural differences(20:45) Leadership pressure, budgets, and difficult trade-offs(40:20) Why leaders need to stay connected to their “why”Connect with us here:Website: https://aurorawellnessgroup.co.uk/Ngozi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ngozi-weller-aurora/Obehi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/obehi-alofoje-psychologist-aurora/Aurora Company Profile 2025Book a Call here: https://aurorawellnessgroup.co.uk/#book-meeting

March 19, 202643 min

From Intent to Access: How Leaders Turn Inclusion into Opportunity with Elham Fardad

Career progression is often presented as straightforward. Work hard, perform well, and opportunities will follow. For many professionals, especially women and migrants, the path is rarely that simple.In this conversation, I’m joined by Elham Fardad, founder of Migrant Leaders. We explore the hidden barriers that shape career mobility and why talent alone does not always translate into opportunity.Elham reflects on her journey from investment banking to building a global leadership platform supporting migrants and diverse talent. We talk about confidence, visibility, and the difference between mentorship and sponsorship.We also explore how organisations can recognise potential earlier and create cultures where people from every background can step into leadership.Highlights:(02:30) Elham’s journey from banking to founding Migrant Leaders(07:10) Why talent alone doesn’t always lead to opportunity(14:20) The difference between mentorship and sponsorship(22:15) Confidence, visibility and leadership identity(39:40) Building organisations where diverse talent thrivesConnect with Migrant Leaders: https://www.migrantleaders.org.uk/Connect with us here:Website: https://aurorawellnessgroup.co.uk/Ngozi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ngozi-weller-aurora/Obehi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/obehi-alofoje-psychologist-aurora/Aurora Company Profile 2025Book a Call here: https://aurorawellnessgroup.co.uk/#book-meeting

March 5, 202653 min

Business As a Force for Good with Anwar Ali

Can business genuinely be a force for good, and if so, what does that actually require in practice?In this conversation, I’m joined by Anwar Ali OBE, CEO and co-founder of Upturn Enterprise.We explore what sustainable impact really looks like when you’re trying to balance commercial discipline with social purpose.Anwar shares how his upbringing shaped his values, from growing up in a family of ten in a three-bedroom house to leaving a successful private sector career to build a social enterprise rooted in opportunity and dignity.We talk about why social good must stack up commercially, what’s broken in procurement systems, and why passion alone is never enough. We also reflect on leadership in a divided society, the courage it takes to speak up, and what it means to be a visible role model for the next generation.This is a conversation about responsibility, resilience, and believing that business can still be used as a tool for collective good.Highlights:(03:00) Growing up in a family of ten and the roots of purpose(06:40) Leaving a global IT career to build a social enterprise(12:30) Why social good must be commercially sustainable(23:30) Immigration, belonging, and leadership in today’s climate(44:15) Advice for purpose-driven entrepreneursConnect with Anwar:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anwar-ali-obe-6335811a/Upturn Enterprise: https://www.upturn.org.uk/en/Connect with us here:Website: https://aurorawellnessgroup.co.uk/Ngozi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ngozi-weller-aurora/Obehi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/obehi-alofoje-psychologist-aurora/Aurora Company Profile 2025Book a Call here: https://aurorawellnessgroup.co.uk/#book-meeting

February 19, 202638 min

Leadership, Culture and Responsibility in Further Education with Hayley Ross

Further education sits under constant pressure, balancing funding constraints, public scrutiny, safeguarding responsibilities, and rising learner need. This conversation explores what leadership really looks like inside that reality, not in theory, but in day-to-day decisions that shape culture.I’m joined by Hayley Ross, Head of HR and Organisational Development at Salford City College Group, to talk about the emotional load leaders carry in vocational systems, where people care deeply about outcomes and responsibility doesn’t end at the job description.Our discussion looks at culture as the result of small, consistent choices. From onboarding and workload management to accountability, values, and difficult conversations, Hayley shares how leadership teams can protect wellbeing while still delivering under sustained pressure.This episode is for anyone leading in complex systems, especially where the stakes are human and the margin for error is small.Highlights:(01:00) Why leadership decisions shape culture in further education(05:10) The emotional weight carried by leaders in mission-driven systems(09:30) How small operational choices influence wellbeing(14:00) Accountability, values, and difficult conversations(31:00) Pride, belonging, and what makes people stayConnect with us here:Website: https://aurorawellnessgroup.co.uk/Ngozi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ngozi-weller-aurora/Obehi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/obehi-alofoje-psychologist-aurora/Aurora Company Profile 2025Book a Call here: https://aurorawellnessgroup.co.uk/#book-meeting

February 5, 202652 min

Born of Two Worlds: Leadership, Identity & The Future of Neonatal Care with Dr Ngozi Edi-Osagie

This conversation felt deeply personal. Not just because Dr Ngozi Edi-Osagie and I share a name, but because her story touches on identity, leadership, resilience, and what it really means to navigate systems that were never designed with you in mind.We talk about growing up between the UK and Nigeria, the impact of family belief, and the early messages she received about what was and wasn’t possible. Dr Edi-Osagie reflects honestly on being told not to come to the UK because success would be unlikely, and the quiet determination it took to keep going anyway.The conversation moves into leadership, fairness, and the reality of working in systems like the NHS where bias is often subtle, embedded, and backed by data. We explore what good leadership looks like under pressure, why visibility matters, and how integrity, optimism, and calm can shape outcomes in the most high-stakes environments.This episode is about more than career success. It’s about belief, responsibility, and what we pass on to the next generation when we choose to keep showing up.Highlights:03:00) Identity, names, and belonging in professional spaces(10:30) Growing up between the UK and Nigeria(15:40) Being told not to come to the UK and choosing to try anyway(23:15) Bias, meritocracy, and what the data actually shows(31:00) What good leadership looks like under pressureConnect with us here:Website: https://aurorawellnessgroup.co.uk/Ngozi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ngozi-weller-aurora/Obehi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/obehi-alofoje-psychologist-aurora/Aurora Company Profile 2025Book a Call here: https://aurorawellnessgroup.co.uk/#book-meeting

December 12, 202525 min

Winding Down for Christmas Without Burning Out

As Christmas approaches, it’s easy to keep pushing even when you’re already exhausted. This episode is about slowing down when your energy is already low, not forcing yourself to power through just because it’s the end of the year.I talk about why rest doesn’t need to be earned, how boundaries can help before the break begins, and what it might actually be helpful to stop doing over the holidays.There’s also space here for neurodivergent people and parents of neurodivergent children, because this season can feel especially intense. I share ways to reduce overload, keep some structure, and be clearer about what you need from others.Leadership comes into the conversation too, particularly the signals we send about availability, rest, and burnout at this time of year. This episode is an invitation to approach Christmas with less pressure and more care for yourself.Highlights:(01:30) You don’t need to earn rest(04:30) Setting boundaries before Christmas(08:30) Reducing sensory overload and protecting routines(13:10) Managing emotional noise during the holidays(19:45) What leaders unintentionally signal about rest and burnout Connect with us here:Website: https://aurorawellnessgroup.co.uk/Ngozi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ngozi-weller-aurora/Obehi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/obehi-alofoje-psychologist-aurora/Aurora Company Profile 2025Book a Call here: https://aurorawellnessgroup.co.uk/#book-meeting