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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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!
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The ROI of Inclusion – Why Diverse Voices Drive Better Business

In this episode of the Courageous Leaders Podcast, I speak with Ali Hanan, Founder and Executive Director of Creative Equals, an award-winning organisation helping brands like PepsiCo, Mars, and McDonald’s put inclusion at the heart of marketing.

We dig into why inclusive advertising isn’t just a social good but also one of the smartest business investments you can make. Ali shares how bias still shapes the work we see on screen, the data behind why diversity drives growth, and the small, intentional steps leaders can take every day to create lasting change.

We Cover:

00:00 – Introduction

01:30 – What it takes to start and scale a business as a creative

05:21 – Why operations are the hidden engine of growth

07:51 – Collecting data to prove the need for change

11:40 – Winning funding to launch programmes

13:57 – Supporting disabled creatives and removing barriers to entry

15:26 – Why female creative directors are still underrepresented

17:44 – Bias in redundancy processes and hybrid working

19:27 – How brands influence diversity across supply chains

20:10 – The way adverts still stereotype women and men in 2025

24:02 – Racism, homophobia, and harmful portrayals in advertising

25:37 – Why inclusive marketing outperforms AI hype

31:20 – Keeping a team motivated through tough times

32:49 – Where leaders need more courage in tackling bias

37:38 – The freedom of caring less about judgment as you get older

40:08 – How expanding your network can shift your perspective

Don’t miss out on this powerful episode.

🎧 Listen to the full podcast episode here:
https://thecourageousleaderspodcast.buzzsprout.com/

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

👍 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:
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What makes a one-to-one meeting truly powerful?

In this solo episode of the Courageous Leaders Podcast, I share how to turn 121 from dull status updates into your most strategic leadership tool.

This episode is packed with research, practical tips, and actionable questions, and will help you build trust, drive performance, and create a genuine human connection with your team.

We Cover:
00:59 – Why 121 team meetings are your most strategic leadership tool

01:45 – Three ways to instantly improve the quality of your meetings

02:19 – Why walking meetings boost openness and insight

02:44 – How often should you really be doing 121?

03:20 – Five tips to make your 121 transformative

03:49 – Creating psychological safety and why it matters

04:22 – Asking better questions that open up real conversation

04:59 – Making feedback a two-way street

05:28 – Why you shouldn’t leave the meeting with their actions

05:56 – One challenge to implement straight away

Don’t miss out on this powerful 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:
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A health expert's answer to
“I just don’t have time to exercise.”

Walk.

That’s it.

No gym.
No gear.
No excuses.

In this week’s Fast & Curious, Cameron Harris, Managing Director at Truth Fitness, keeps it simple and honest in the hot seat.

Find out:

⚡ Why ‘just breathe’ is his ultimate daily tip
⚡ Where he’d take Bob Marley (and Henry VIII!) for a workout
⚡ What he really thinks about beer and burnout
⚡ And the marriage advice that could save your weekend

It’s fast, funny, and packed with little truths you didn’t see coming.


📺 Cameron’s full Fast & Curious episode is now live on YouTube. Don’t forget to check out their full Courageous Leaders interview while you’re there.

👍 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

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In this episode of the Courageous Leaders Podcast, I speak with Cameron Harris, Managing Director of Truth Fitness, about why so many senior leaders and entrepreneurs let their health slide, and what it's costing them.

From burnout and hospital beds to redefining success beyond the boardroom, Cameron shares the powerful shift that helped him rebuild his business and his body.

This episode is a wake-up call for leaders prioritising output over their own wellbeing.

We cover:
01:00 – The tipping point: when health becomes non-negotiable

03:46 – Why flexibility matters more than motivation

04:35 – Are entrepreneurs just bad at self-care?

05:51 – The ripple effect of healthy leadership

06:33 – Why work stress is silently stealing your future

08:49 – The hidden costs of waiting too long to act

10:17 – Autopilot vs. conscious habits

12:20 – What “health and wealth” really means

19:32 – Small daily shifts that change everything

22:27 – Morning routines that reset your energy

23:31 – Your habits affect more than just you

24:24 – The motivation no parent wants to hear

26:50 – Why death has been a driver for Cameron

28:20 – “Don’t wait for the punch in the face”

29:51 – What we lose when fitness becomes about aesthetics

32:23 – The real meaning of performance

34:14 – Headbutting the horizon: the patience problem

35:51 – The pressure of artificial life timelines

37:39 – What you can change tomorrow morning

38:55 – Where to find Cameron and Truth Fitness

👍 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:
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Ever made a risky decision at work…

that ended in record-breaking results?

Pete Markey did..

And it set the tone for Boots’ campaigns for the next four years.
In this week’s Fast & Curious, the Boots’ Former CMO shares quick-fire insights, 80s nostalgia, and a surprising talent for product jingles.

Find out:
⚡ What he loves (and hates) about marketing
⚡ The celeb life he wants
⚡ The risky ad move that paid off big
⚡ His wild 80s music party trick

It’s fast, fun, and full of unexpected gems from one of the UK’s most respected marketing leaders.

📺 Pete’s full Fast & Curious episode is now live on YouTube. Don’t forget to check out his full Courageous Leaders interview while you’re there.

→ Join our newsletter for leadership insights: https://the-change-creators.kit.com/1a5f3c9e54

👍 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:
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