TLDR: Leadership, resilience, and letting go of control—lessons from the middle of the Atlantic. In this powerful episode of Sparks by Ignium, Phil Rose is joined by professional adventurer-turned-executive coach Sally Kettle, the first woman to row the Atlantic Ocean twice from East to West—once with her mum! From navigating literal 20-foot waves to navigating team dynamics in the high-pressure environment of an ocean rowing boat, Sally shares raw, practical leadership wisdom forged under the most extreme conditions. Her stories are captivating, often hilarious, and deeply human. You'll explore:🚣♀️ Why purpose and meaning aren’t always what we think they are🌊 What to do when the waves (literal or metaphorical) hit—two simple, powerful pieces of advice💬 How leadership thrives not on perfection, but on presence, perspective, and patience🧭 Why letting go of control is often the key to clarity and forward movement💡 The importance of self-actuated change, not waiting for external rescue “Find meaning in experiences that are not leading to your purpose.” Whether you're scaling a business, managing a team, or facing your own personal ‘storm’, Sally’s reflections offer reassurance, courage, and a refreshing reminder that growth lies just beyond the edge of our comfort zone. Summary: ‘If the ocean is a metaphor, it’s that it will never be always flat and calm. And do we want it to be?’ In this episode of Sparks, Phil Rose sits down with former professional adventurer, executive coach and speaker Sally Kettle. Having traversed the Atlantic in a rowboat not once but twice, these days she’s also founder and CEO of the Active Pregnancy Foundation and Deputy Chief Guide in the UK. What do you do when 20ft waves tower over your tiny boat (both metaphorically and literally)? The intrepid challenge-taker gives two pieces of advice – listen in to find out what they are. You’ll also discover: When terms like purpose, meaning and inspiring can be restrictive – and when they can be expansive.The false assumptions that can be in place when we put a team together, the conversations that are missing, and the dire consequences when a squall suddenly hits.How the quarter-life challenge can be the best thing for some young people in discovering the path they were meant to take.The importance of charting your own route and the value of being blown off course.Why positive and easy experiences aren’t the same thing.What training as a coach taught Sally, and what we can all learn from this about listening, stress management and alignment.When hope doesn’t help – and what works better instead.Why you cannot dictate the impact you’ll have on other people: they’ll take away what they need from the interaction, and sometimes it’ll surprise you.How perspective, context and patience can give us the space we need to heal relationships and take skills on board.The clarity that comes when we release what we’re trying to control, even if it felt like liberation at the time. Scaling a business can feel like navigating a boat in choppy waters, so Sally’s nautical wisdom is reassuring and confidence-building. It’s an important conversation we need to have: how will we discover what’s beyond the horizon if we never put out into open water? We love her fearless energy and we hope you will too. These are a few of our favourite quotes: · ‘I’m at my best when things are at their worst’. · ‘Find meaning in experiences that are not leading to your purpose.’ · ‘A singular change in mindset doesn’t always change a person’s behaviour… it’s not a singular moment, it’s many.’ · In leadership, ‘If the overall experience is positive, we’ve done a good job’. · ‘If you want to change how you are, how you feel, it has to be self-actuated.’ It’s a warm and lively conversation with encouraging takeaways for any business owner, particularly those ambitious but struggling in difficult times. 👉 Key questions to ask yourself. Before you even listen to the episode, here are 3 questions based on the conversation that I think you might like: When was the last time you did something that genuinely scared you, but did it anyway?· Sally’s journey as an ocean rower began not with expertise, but with courage and commitment. What challenge are you putting off because you don’t feel ‘ready’? 2. How would your life change if you stopped trying to control the outcome and started embracing the journey?· Sally speaks about relinquishing control and letting go of perfection, trusting the process instead. How often does fear of failure keep you from taking the first step? 3. Who do you become when you say ‘yes’ to something that feels impossible?· From stormy seas to shifting team dynamics, Sally’s leadership was forged under pressure....
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1 h et 3 min
40 min