Broadcaster and journalist Sian Lloyd joins Sarah for a thoughtful conversation about storytelling, resilience and the realities of performing under pressure.

Known to audiences through her work on programmes such as BBC Breakfast, Crimewatch Roadshow and Panorama, Sian has spent decades reporting on major stories and presenting live broadcasts where composure, clarity and adaptability are essential.

In this engaging episode, Sian reflects on her unconventional path into journalism. After qualifying as a solicitor, she made the bold decision to step away from law and pursue a career in media, beginning with work experience at a local radio station and gradually building the skills that would take her to national television.

Together, Sarah and Sian explore what leaders can learn from journalism and broadcasting, including:

• Why storytelling is at the heart of powerful communication

• How preparation and curiosity help you stay calm in high pressure situations

• What really happens behind the scenes when live broadcasts go wrong

• How to manage nerves and present with confidence in front of any audience

• Why resilience is built through experience, mistakes and the courage to seize opportunities

Sian also shares insights from her work today helping organisations and leaders develop stronger communication and public speaking skills, explaining how the ability to tell a clear story can transform the way people connect with their teams, their audiences and the wider world.

At its heart, this conversation is about helping others find their voice. Whether through journalism, leadership or public speaking, Sian believes the role of the communicator is to help people tell their stories in a way that informs, inspires and creates change.

Want to elevate your leadership beyond the boardroom?

Join the conversation. Connect with me for coaching, peer support, or leadership insights that drive real impact.

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Dina Denham Smith, executive coach, organisational psychologist and author of Emotionally Charged: How to Lead in the New World of Work, joins Sarah to unpack the emotional reality of modern leadership.

Drawing on 25 years of executive experience and behavioural science, Dina explores how the leadership role has fundamentally shifted. Virtual teams, AI integration, rising expectations around mental health and an increasingly complex workforce have all intensified the emotional demands placed on leaders. Yet most leaders have never been taught how to manage those demands effectively.

In this deeply practical and honest conversation, Dina shares:

* Why emotions are not weaknesses but valuable data

* How to move from reactivity to intentional leadership using her BRAVE framework

* The difference between emotional intelligence and emotional skills

* The hidden drivers of burnout and how to intervene before you hit empty

* What ethical fatigue looks like inside high-pressure organisations

* How to rebuild trust by breaking it down into competence, consistency and character

Dina also reflects on a pivotal moment in her own life. Stepping away from a high-powered career following her son’s premature birth reshaped her understanding of identity, ambition and what sustainable success really looks like.

This episode is grounded in science and deeply human. It challenges outdated ideas of tough leadership and replaces them with something more sustainable, strategic and effective.

If you are leading in complexity, feeling the emotional weight of your role, or questioning how to stay effective without burning out, this conversation will leave you better equipped and far less alone.

Dina's Website: https://www.dinadsmith.com/

Dina's LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dina-denham-smith/

Book: Emotionally Charged: How to Lead in the New World of Work (Oxford Press, 2025)

Want to elevate your leadership beyond the boardroom?

Join the conversation. Connect with me for coaching, peer support, or leadership insights that drive real impact.

📩 Let's talk: https://www.coleforums.com/

🔗 Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-cole4/

☕Buy me a coffee: buymeacoffee.com/sarah.cole

Martin Wallace, International Marketing Director, joins Sarah to explore leadership in fast-moving, uncertain environments - and why empathy, clarity and boundaries matter more than ever.

In this thoughtful and wide-ranging conversation, Martin reflects on a career built at the intersection of creativity, data and human behaviour. From scaling marketing functions in high-growth tech businesses to navigating uncertainty in ad tech, he shares what it really takes to lead teams, build trust and communicate clearly when everything is changing.

They discuss the balance between creativity and analytics, why marketing must be seen as a strategic function rather than a tactical one, and how leaders can tell their story in a way that actually resonates. Martin unpacks the importance of understanding who you are speaking to, the risks of chasing shiny new ideas without a stable core, and why trust takes years to build but seconds to lose.

The conversation also goes deeper into the human side of leadership - setting boundaries in hybrid working, protecting personal identity outside work, and why empathy is the single most important tool in any leadership toolkit. Martin shares hard-won lessons from running large-scale events with limited resources, collaborating across silos, and leading without certainty or excess budget.

This episode is practical, reflective and deeply relevant - essential listening for leaders navigating complexity, rapid change and the responsibility of bringing people with them.

Want to elevate your leadership beyond the boardroom?

Join the conversation. Connect with me for coaching, peer support, or leadership insights that drive real impact.

📩 Let's talk: https://www.coleforums.com/

🔗 Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-cole4/

☕Buy me a coffee: buymeacoffee.com/sarah.cole