What does it take to achieve the extraordinary?

World-renowned Psychologist, Bestselling Author, and Founder of APS Intelligence, Professor John Amaechi OBE, joins gunnercooke founder Darryl Cooke in this truly moving episode of The Inspiring Leadership Podcast. Recorded live at Saïd Business School, University of Oxford.

In The NeverEnding Story, an overlooked child discovers he is the protagonist, and the only one who can save a fantastical world. For John Amaechi, that story became a powerful metaphor: “The most unlikely of people in the most improbable of circumstances can become extraordinary, if you are willing to plan and work at it.”

From NBA, to OBE, to PHD, John’s story is one of impossible and improbable goals achieved through relentless persistence, and a refusal to be defined by bias. Darryl and John consider the true privilege of leadership, the impact we have on our colleagues’ mental health, and why the best leaders are those who accept they are never a finished product.

In this unmissable episode, John shares lessons on leadership with humour and honesty that will stay with you long after listening.

🔶 Follow John Amaechi:

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What happens when addiction hides in plain sight?

In this moving episode, Darryl Cooke is joined by author Sophie Calon and Dr Piers Henriques from Nacoa, the National Association for Children of Alcoholics, in a conversation chaired by Dr Zoe Lambert.

In this discussion, Sophie reads from her moving debut memoir Long Going, which reflects on the complex experience of being the child of an alcoholic, and what happens when leadership, success, and addiction collide. Dr Henriques, provides vital insight into the lifelong effects of alcoholism on families and why speaking openly about these experiences can be transformative.

This episode was recorded live at House of Books & Friends in Manchester.

🔶 Follow Sophie Calon

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🔶 Follow Dr Piers Henriques and Nacoa

https://uk.linkedin.com/in/piers-henriques-bb816882

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https://nacoa.org.uk/

🔶 Follow Dr Zoe Lambert

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What does it really mean to lead a “deeply responsible” business?

In this eye-opening episode, Darryl Cooke speaks with Professor Geoffrey Jones of Harvard Business School, a global authority on business history and values-driven leadership.

Geoffrey’s book Deeply Responsible Business explores the rare but remarkable leaders who built profitable companies without compromising their values.

In this conversation, he reveals why most corporate social responsibility is little more than performance, how brands like The Body Shop rose and fell, why some values-led businesses thrive while the system destroys others, and what leaders can do today to resist the relentless tide of short-termism.

Follow Geoffrey Jones:

https://geoffreyjones.us/

https://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Pages/profile.aspx?facId=24276

https://www.linkedin.com/in/geoffrey-jones/

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https://gunnercooke.com/people/darryl-cooke/

What if the key to changing a young person’s life is giving your time and not your money? Susannah Hardyman MBE reveals how a simple volunteering idea transformed futures for more than 6000 children.

Susannah is CEO of Impetus, a leading impact funder that supports young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to get the education, qualifications, and opportunities they need for a fulfilling life. As a young graduate she began by matching volunteer tutors with pupils who couldn’t afford extra help, her idea for Action Tutoring scaled into a nationwide movement. Now in her new role as CEO of funding and advocacy organisation, Impetus, she plans to help even more young people succeed.

In this conversation, Susannah and Darryl discuss leading without a plan, the joy of working with young people, and how business leaders can make a real difference to young lives and their teams.

Follow Susannah and Impetus:

https://www.impetus.org.uk/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/impetus-the-private-equity-foundation/

https://vimeo.com/impetuspef

https://www.linkedin.com/in/susannah-hardyman-mbe-06780942/

https://www.impetus.org.uk/susannah-hardyman-mbe

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https://gunnercooke.com/people/darryl-cooke/

The Inspiring Leadership Podcast returns for 2025. Host Darryl Cooke, founder of gunnercooke, sets the tone for a year of bold thinking and unique insights into leadership. As the world continues to shift, Darryl asks the necessary questions:

• Does inspiring leadership still matter?
• What does it mean to lead purposefully in a time of constant change?
• Can today’s leaders shape a lasting legacy?

Reflecting on the evolution of the podcast and his leadership journey, Darryl explores the urgent need for values-driven leadership, driving change, and the ever-important, inspiring mission of leaving the world in a better place.

"I’ve spent the last 20 or 25 years seeing resilient people outperform talented people by a rate of 100 to 1… Just because something is hard for you, doesn’t necessarily mean it’s bad for you.” — Jake Humphrey.

What is optimum performance? How do winners get to the top and stay there? Is vulnerability an asset? And can you be happy in the process—really?

Award-winning broadcaster, entrepreneur and media owner Jake Humphrey joins gunnercooke CEO Darryl Cooke in this lively, funny, and candid discussion recorded before a live audience at Saïd Business School, Oxford University. Co-host of the High Performance Podcast with Professor Damien Hughes (250+ million listens and counting), Jake’s interviews get under the bonnet of the mental and physical agility required by world-class talent. This time, Darryl has Jake in the hotseat. With humour and searing honesty, Jake speaks to Darryl and the audience about his own struggle to excel as a child, why grief as a teenager derailed him, and how seizing opportunities accelerated his career.

Sacked for being a poor communicator in his first job, Jake made his mark in children’s television, rapidly rising to iconic sports presenter for the BBC, Channel 4, ITV, and BT Sport. He is famed for his coverage of the Champions League and F1 Grand Prix, where he witnessed first-hand the secret to excellence, resilience, and success.

Yet, at the very moment Jake peaked as a sports presenter, he courageously shifted gear, rocketed out of his comfort zone, embraced risk, and co-founded Whisper; a media company with a £100 million turnover, employing 300 staff. As an influential entrepreneur, Jake is using his visibility for good and making a positive social impact through the High Performance Foundation.

In this episode, Darryl and Jake take a deep dive into the delicate balance between external achievements and self-worth, considering the big wins against the context of contentment in everyday life. Just how do winners perform consistently? What has ‘taking pride in doing the dishes’ got to do with anything? Where do compassion and empathy fit in?

Darryl and Jake’s optimistic perspective on leadership, success, and the power of vulnerability in business will inspire your day.

The Inspiring Leadership Podcast delves into the minds of inspiring business leaders, uncovering the principles and practices that drive success. This episode is hosted by Darryl Cooke, CEO and founder of award-winning international law and professional services firm gunnercooke.

In this episode, Darryl is joined by James Timpson, CEO of Timpson Group, since 2002 and the fifth generation of his family to hold the role. James is passionate about advocating for the employment of ex-offenders and is the Chair of the Prison Reform Trust. He is also a former Trustee for the Tate and is Chancellor of Keele University. James has recently launched his book, ‘The Happy Index: Lessons in Upside-Down Management’, which helps leaders re-evaluate how they manage their business.

James discusses what the Happy Index is and what success means to him. He shares what he believes makes a good leader and how your employees should be central to your leadership style. He goes on to talk through the culture at Timpson and how that has been cultivated, as well as his extensive work on prison reform. He talks through hiring ex-offenders and how they seamlessly fit into the company.

The Inspiring Leadership Podcast delves into the minds of inspiring business leaders, to understand what makes a great leader and reflect on the issues and causes that are important to them. The series is hosted by Darryl Cooke, co-founder of gunnercooke, a professional services firm with a purpose to deliver a positive impact for clients, a better life for its people, and leave a better world than it found.

In this episode, Darryl Cooke and Sir Peter Fahy are joined by Joanna Swash, a Welsh businesswoman, keynote speaker, and business mentor. She is the group-CEO of Wrexham-based Moneypenny, a company she joined as the first salesperson in 2005. Moneypenny is a leading provider of outsourced customer service functions for companies. In 2021 she was appointed to the Prime Minister's Business Council, where she advises the government on building skills resilience for the benefit of both education and business.

Joanna shares her career journey, from starting work at the local chip shop to becoming group-CEO of Moneypenny. She discusses the importance of making mistakes when scaling a corporation, how to sustain your company culture while growing overseas and influencing positive change as a business leader.

The Inspiring Leadership Podcast delves into the minds of inspiring business leaders, to understand what makes a great leader and reflect on the issues and causes that are important to them. The series is hosted by Darryl Cooke, Founder of gunnercooke, a professional services firm with a purpose to deliver a positive impact for clients, a better life for its people, and leave a better world than it found, and Sir Peter Fahy, former Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police.