The Courageous Leaders Podcast

How do you lead when certainty disappears?

In this episode of The Courageous Leaders Podcast, I’m joined by Anne-Laure Le Cunff, Neuroscientist and Author of Tiny Experiments.

This conversation genuinely changed how I think about leadership, productivity, burnout and decision-making.

We talk about what happens when your identity is tied to your job.
And how an experimental mindset can change your life
What procrastination is really trying to tell you.
Why goal setting is broken.

If you’re a leader who feels stuck and tired of pushing harder but not seeing better results…
Stay to the end.

Anne-Laure shares a practical way to replace the illusion of certainty with curiosity. And it’s something you can apply immediately in your workplace, your team, and your own internal world.

We cover:
00:00 – Introduction
02:00 – Leaving Google and the wake-up call that changed everything
04:00 – Identity, external validation and starting again
06:00 – Why our brains hate uncertainty
08:30 – The illusion of control and compensatory control
11:00 – Why leaders feel trapped (and how tiny experiments create agency)
14:40 – Linear goals vs experimental loops
17:00 – How to build a culture of experimentation in your team
22:00 – Procrastination is not laziness (head, heart or hand?)
30:00 – Fear, psychological safety in the workplace and uncertainty
34:30 – Time anxiety and why we make our worlds smaller as adults
38:50 – Better decision making: internal vs external signals
44:00 – Self anthropology and how to observe your burnout patterns

This episode explores:
• Tiny experiments in leadership
• How to stop procrastinating at work
• Leadership under uncertainty
• Psychological safety in the workplace
• Decision making under uncertainty
• Burnout recovery and time anxiety
• Overcoming imposter syndrome
• Curiosity in leadership
• Profound insights into personal growth and self improvement

If you’ve ever felt pressure to have all the answers as a leader, this conversation will feel like a breath of fresh air.
👍 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!
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🚀 Elevate Your Leadership:
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Struggling to break free from the UK’s “play it safe” mindset?

In this explosive episode, Josh White, founder of Cano Water, gets real about why British culture is stuck in a cycle of skepticism, lack of support, and shutting down bold ideas before they can breathe. 

He shares raw truths about growing up with ADHD, battling addiction, and constantly being underestimated.

He exposes how our resistance to backing innovators and celebrating success holds the UK back, while the US supercharges visionaries. If you know you’re meant for more, but keep hitting a wall of doubt and gatekeeping, this conversation will hopefully inspire you and give you the resilience to keep going.

We Cover:

01:08 – How growing up as the underdog shaped his drive
03:03 – The moment ADHD was diagnosed and what changed
06:18 – Understanding the link between ADHD and addiction
09:09 – How addiction masked deeper struggles (and why sobriety mattered)
12:06 – What it’s actually like to live and work with ADHD
16:00 – How to build a company without ‘fitting in’
20:18 – Creating Cano Water when nobody believed in it
25:10 – Why being different matters, and the truth about risk
28:12 – The real problem with the United Kingdom mindset and backing new ideas
33:07 – Fixed mindset vs growth mindset: what’s holding us back
37:43 – Small things any of us can do to build a more supportive culture
40:20 – Nurturing belief and creativity, why it starts young
44:13 – The courage to show up and keep leading (even when it’s hard)

Don’t miss this emotive and thought-provoking episode packed with practical ideas for ambitious leaders, creative thinkers, and anyone who’s ever felt underestimated.
👍 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/


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Why do so many successful leaders still feel stuck, disconnected, or self doubt, even when things look good on paper?

In this solo episode, I explore how senior leaders, founders, and leadership teams can build self-trust by listening to their three intelligence centres: head, heart, and gut, especially when making difficult decisions or designing a life that truly fits.

This reflection draws on my work with CEOs and leadership teams, alongside my own journey of learning to trust myself beyond logic, external validation, and “what I should do.”

This episode is an invitation to slow down, tune in, and reconnect with the internal signals that guide brave leadership, aligned decision-making, and sustainable success, so you can lead, decide, and live with more courage and clarity.

00:00 – Why so many successful leaders still feel disconnected
02:15 – Courage starts with listening, not confidence
05:10 – The three intelligence centres every leader has
08:30 – The Head: clarity, logic, and the overthinking trap
12:40 – The Heart: values, emotion, and what really matters
17:20 – The Gut: instinct, timing, and quiet courage
22:10 – What happens when one centre dominates your leadership
26:30 – Designing a life that actually feels like yours
30:40 – Simple questions to build self-trust in decisions
35:10 – A closing reflection on choosing courage differently

Reflection Questions for Leaders
• Which intelligence centre do I default to under pressure?
• What has my gut been trying to tell me that I’ve rationalised away?
• Where am I living a version of success that looks right — but feels wrong?
• What would a 10% more courageous decision look like right now?

Don’t miss out on this powerful episode which can help your leadership  and personal development. 

👍 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/


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How do you lead with conviction when everything is changing around you?

It’s the big question for every UK leader right now and exactly why I invited Simon Cook, CEO of Cannes Lions, onto the podcast.

In this episode, we get honest about what it really takes to let go of control, build true trust in your team, and stay resilient even when things don’t go as planned.

We dive into:
• When to keep going, and when to let go
• The link between conviction and coordination in leadership
• Why control feels safe – but stops growth
• Managing failure without losing momentum
• Leading through mergers and high-stakes change
• How to stay calm and mentally fit (even when your diary explodes)

It’s practical, candid, and focuses on what UK leaders need now: leading bravely, staying relevant, and keeping your energy focused.

00:00 – Introduction 
01:00 – Why leading with conviction can become a weakness 
04:21 – Building a smarter team and learning to trust
07:11 – The role of failure in leadership 
09:37 – Conviction and coordination: the keys to change 
10:33 – How Simon navigated a 500-person business through a major acquisition 
12:29 – Staying confident when you actually feel uncertain 
14:01 – The importance of staying grounded and calm for your team 
15:51 – Learning from mergers, culture shifts, and tough decisions 
17:26 – Evolving your leadership style as everything changes 
19:00 – What’s really happening in the UK marketing industry right now 
22:40 – Where UK creativity is heading next
24:06 – The advice Simon would give every agency CEO 
28:17 – Protecting your brand and your time under pressure 
33:02 – Practical ways to help leaders prioritise, focus, and say no 
35:19 – Why emotional intelligence matters more than ever 
36:22 – Leading through failure, and making learning collective 
37:23 – Being bolder, more disciplined, and mentally fit for the future

Don’t miss this down-to-earth, actionable conversation. If you’re navigating organisational change, agency mergers, or just struggling to keep your team steady, this episode gives you the kind of real, UK-focused leadership advice we all need.

In a world of constant strategic change, this conversation focuses on how to manage change effectively within your business, emphasising practical management techniques for organisational design and personal development.
👍 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/


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How do you know when it’s time to walk away - even from something you’ve built yourself?

Sedge Beswick, consultant, advisor, speaker, and founder, digs deep into what it really takes to make bold career moves, step back as a CEO, and create space for what matters most. 

If you’ve ever wondered how to balance ambition with family, deal with overwhelm, and lead with honesty, this episode is for you.

We cover: 
00:00 – Introduction 
01:28 – The courage to change 
02:51 – Breaking the “hamster wheel” cycle 
05:49 – Building success without a rulebook
 07:55 – Childhood confidence and workplace impact 
11:31 – The blunt reality of being direct at work 
13:38 – Managing people older than you 
16:32 – ASOS culture and handling growing pains 
18:00 – When opportunity changes your course 
19:35 – The power of community for business growth 
21:52 – Courage to step down as CEO 
22:27 – Mistakes made during maternity leave 
23:15 – Hard lessons from deal fatigue 
24:43 – Watching someone else lead your business 
25:57 – Selling shares and choosing a new path 
28:35 – Creating a life with more presence 
29:22 – Letting go of identity and titles 
32:38 – Pivoting your career with purpose 
36:46 – The challenge of saying no and setting boundaries 
39:45 – Building a portfolio career and helping others 
42:42 – Managing overwhelm and keeping priorities straight 
44:01 – Finding headspace as a working parent 
45:04 – Do ambition and family ever truly integrate? 
48:30 – Advice your future self would give now 
50:01 – The power of pausing before big decisions

Don’t miss out on this powerful episode on entrepreneurship, business growth, motherhood and more! 
👍 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.
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