In this episode of The SAFE Leader Podcast, Mark McBride-Wright sits down with leadership coach and business owner Andy Neillie for a conversation about what truly defines great leadership. Drawing on decades of experience leading teams, running businesses, and coaching executives, Andy shares why leadership is less about status or authority and more about character, humility, and the willingness to serve others. From lessons learned through bad bosses to the importance of maturity and self-awareness, the discussion explores why leadership remains a lifelong journey rather than a destination.

The conversation also dives into the realities leaders face every day, balancing results with people, navigating difficult conversations, and learning to lead yourself before trying to lead others. Together, Mark and Andy challenge ego-driven leadership and unpack why the best leaders often do their most important work behind the scenes. Honest, reflective, and practical, this episode offers powerful insights for anyone wanting to become the kind of leader people genuinely want to follow.

In this episode, Mark sits down with Lance Cayko for a wide-ranging conversation about what drives ambitious people to keep building, experimenting, and pushing forward. Lance shares his “Renaissance” approach to life and work, blending old and new ideas while staying addicted to the process of creating, even when things don’t go to plan. Together, they explore how curiosity, resilience, and momentum shape careers, businesses, and personal growth over time.

They also dig into the mindset shifts that help people navigate challenge with confidence, including Lance’s belief in polarity, how positive and negative forces can exist side by side and fuel progress. The conversation touches on what it means to lead in a way that people trust, how to create environments where others feel safe to speak up, and why the best leaders aren’t the most intimidating, but the most approachable.

In this episode, Mark McBride-Wright sits down with Greg Turner-Smart, a mechanical engineer turned inclusion and culture leader, to explore how authenticity can transform not only personal confidence, but professional success. Greg shares what it was like growing up in Ashington, a former mining town in Northumberland, where community, hardship, and identity shaped the values he still carries today. From navigating a tough environment as a young gay man to finding his place in engineering, Greg reflects on the experiences that built his resilience and ultimately influenced the direction of his career. He speaks about the fear that can come with hiding who you are, and the moment he realised that being himself was not a risk, but a turning point.

Greg also unpacks what changed when he came out at work, describing how his career started to take off and why his performance genuinely improved once he was able to show up as his authentic self. Together, Mark and Greg discuss the realities of workplace culture, the power of allyship, and why small moments of support can have a lasting impact on someone’s life.