What would you risk to do the right thing?

In this episode of The Courageous Leaders Podcast, I sit down with Zelda Perkins, Co-Founder of Can’t Buy My Silence and the first woman to break an NDA with Harvey Weinstein.

Zelda’s story isn’t just about one man. It’s about the system that silences victims and protects abuse. She speaks openly about how she fought back, how breaking her NDA changed UK law, and what leaders and businesses must do now to stop misconduct being hidden behind confidentiality.

We Cover:

00:00 – Introduction

01:26 – Why Zelda broke her NDA after years of silence

03:37 – What really happens when you speak up against power

05:18 – The moment the system, not the perpetrator, broke her trust

09:23 – How signing an NDA changed her life overnight

12:54 – Taking her story to Parliament and pushing for legal reform

17:09 – What it really took to start Can’t Buy My Silence

24:43 – When she realised she was self-bullying

28:57 – Why speaking up must be seen as normal, not “brave”

33:11 – Creating safer, more transparent workplaces

40:57 – How the new UK legislation will protect victims and change culture

56:26 – Zelda’s advice to anyone ready to start their own fight for change

Don’t miss out on this powerful episode.

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In this episode of the Courageous Leaders Podcast, I speak with Carly Avener, CEO of Leo Burnett UK, about why vulnerability is essential to leadership and how sharing your story builds real trust.

Carly opens up about imposter syndrome, insomnia, and the pressure of returning to work as a parent. She also shares the practical steps she’s taken to reframe anxiety, create supportive environments for working parents, and build a culture of openness that allows both people and creativity to thrive.

We Cover:

00:00 – Introduction
01:26 – Becoming CEO and choosing to lead with vulnerability
03:34 – Sharing her background and story to inspire others
04:59 – The impact of opening up about imposter syndrome
08:23 – How comparison held her back in her career
10:59 – Finding support and using coaching to rebuild confidence
13:20 – Why reframing imposter syndrome can fuel growth
15:25 – The dangers of constant comparison and how to stop it
17:15 – Practical tools to help build confidence at work
19:29 – How to give feedback without damaging confidence
21:45 – Focusing on what you can control in uncertain times
26:31 – Living with anxiety and insomnia as a leader
32:35 – Building Parent Land to support working parents
38:36 – Gender equality and why it benefits everyone
39:48 – What her future self would remind her today
40:47 – Why knowing yourself is the key to leading others

👍 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:
Book a call for transformative leadership and team coaching:
Website: https://thechangecreators.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannahowes/

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What happens when you put three top creatives in Leadership Room 101?

In this special Creatives edition of The Courageous Leaders Podcast, I sat down with Dave Buonaguidi (Co-founder of St. Luke’s, 4Creative, and Karmarama), Trevor Robinson OBE (Founder and ECD of Quiet Storm), and Kevin Howes (Freelance Creative Director, Porsche, Sony, Hotels.com) for a sharp, honest, and funny deep dive into the biggest frustrations in creative leadership and what they’d like to banish forever.

From corruption to open-plan offices to phones in meetings, nothing was off the table. The conversation turned into an unfiltered look at what’s broken in modern leadership and how we can make work better.

We Cover:

00:00 – Introduction
01:28 – Dave Buonaguidi on corruption in business and creative leadership
07:28 – Trevor Robinson on sexism, bullying, and why integrity matters
14:53 – HR under fire: protecting culture or protecting bad behaviour?
20:30 – Trevor on open-plan offices and how they stifle creativity
24:30 – The tension between collaboration and individual space for ideas
29:34 – Why toxic competition still damages creative teams today
33:26 – Kevin Howes on phones in meetings and respect for attention
37:22 – How technology addiction is undermining focus and connection
41:14 – Which frustration deserves to be banished into Room 101?
46:20 – Final reflections

Don’t miss out on this powerful and entertaining episode.

👍 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.
👉 Subscribe here: https://the-change-creators.kit.com/1a5f3c9e54