Leadership Unplugged: Breaking Barriers for Future Leaders

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Joe Seddon, the visionary founder of Zero Gravity, a groundbreaking platform transforming the landscape of social mobility. In this episode, Joe shares his journey from coding in his childhood bedroom in Yorkshire to creating a tech-driven enterprise that empowers thousands of students from low-opportunity backgrounds to access top universities and careers. We talk to Joe about the driving forces behind his entrepreneurial spirit, reflections on the challenges and triumphs of being a founder, and his unyielding belief in utilising technology for social good. Joe candidly discusses the realities of startup life, the importance of building a culture that mirrors personal values, and the role of intellectual curiosity in shaping his path.

This week's episode features Azeem Akhtar, Field CTO for BT's International Business From how religion has informed his views on leadership to childhood anecdotes and lessons for the next generation of leaders, listen in for an all encompassing conversation from a leader who has experienced it all. Key takeaways from this episode:

This week's episode features Sonikka, a journalist with experience working at CNN's Washington bureau, Indian newspaper The Hindu and incoming producer at Bloomberg. From what it's like reporting on politics from Washington during a Trump presidency to covering judicial reform in India and producing data-driven journalism, listen in for a deep dive into the highs and lows of a career in multimedia journalism. Some of the topics we touch on:

An International Women's Day special with Bano Sheikh, Parter at KPMG. From Lahore to London, Bano's journey has been defined by agility, grit and unshakable faith. A trailblazer in many ways, Bano was the first woman to qualify with the ACCA in Pakistan, and is among the first few female Muslim partner in the Big 4. Listen in for an inspiring and motivational tale of courage, values and business success! You can follow Bano on LinkedIn here Learn more about Leadership Unplugged here

Kevin Ellis CBE is Chairman and Senior partner of PwC's UK and Middle East alliance.  As the Big 4 firm celebrates its 175th anniversary, we explore what it takes to lead a business which delivers for its clients, people and society. We delve into Kevin's personal story, his career journey and the sorts of problems which occupy a chairman's time and attention. From championing diversity and inclusion to what really happens at Davos, listen in for a unique insight into a remarkable business, and the people and culture which make it what it is.

Abbas is a Senior Marketing Director at Coca Cola, one of the world's most powerful brands. We delve into creative thinking, marketing strategy and creating successful brands. Listen in on his remarkable journey from Lahore to the Middle East and the USA.

This week's guest is Liz Sweigart, ex PwC partner turned entrepreneur and social activist. Liz talks to us about growing up in NYC, life in the Big 4 and the mental health challenges faced during her journey. She also dives into why most organisational leadership is flawed and provides tips on how to cultivate strong leaders for the future. In this episode we talk to Liz about her own Mental Health journey which may be difficult for some listeners. You can find details of charities you can contact or support here: Mind (UK) - https://www.mind.org.uk/ National Alliance on Mental Illness (US) - https://www.nami.org/Home Liz Houston Marathon for Mental Health America (International) - https://fundraisers.hakuapp.com/Liz If you need to speak to someone immediately then please do contact Samaritans on 116 123 who are available 24/7. There is a lot to take away from this episode and we hope you enjoy our conversation with Liz. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Edward Keelan, Partner at Octopus Ventures, shares his experiences growing up with dyslexia, pursuing his passion for entrepreneurship and his career in Venture Capital. With over 13 years of investing experience, Edward talks us through growing up in an entrepreneurial family, the lessons this taught him from a young age and his commitment to mentoring young people who wouldn't typically have access to such careers. Here are 3 key takeaways from Episode 6: 1) To be the best, you have to outwork those around you. Talent will only get you so far. If you can outwork those around you, the sky is the limit. 2) Learn to become comfortable with failure. It's the only way to develop as a person but can also be the hardest skill to harness. 3) Being in a position of privilege is only powerful when you are able to serve the communities who nurtured you. Volunteer to help your community and open doors for people.

Hasan speaks to Anishka Prasad, Head of Strategy & Operations at Future VC. Anishka talks about growing up in Fiji, moving multiple times to both New Zealand and the UK, life as a lawyer and working in the VC world. Anishka describes some of the hurdles she has faced as a woman of colour in a predominantly male industry, and the mindset she has adopted to overcome these challenges. She also draws parallels between her childhood and the personal attributes which have contributed to her professional success. Our three main takeaways from this episode: If opportunities don't exist, it doesn't mean you should sit still. Go out there and create your own opportunities. There is always someone who is working harder than you to achieve the same thing. Use that as motivation to be better. Be open to experiences and opportunities - you can learn something from everyone.  Whether you give them five minutes of your time or five hours, there's something to be learned.

This week's guest is Ibrahim Khan, co-founder of IFG and Cur8 Capital. After studying PPE at Oxford, Ibrahim pursued a lucrative career in law at Ashurst, but always knew his true calling was entrepreneurship. We delve into this journey, starting with an educational blog and transforming into what is now IFG and Cur8 capital. Here are our key takeaways: Figure out what you're good at, passionate about, and can get paid for You owe it to yourself to consistently invest in your vision, no matter how small you start Business and contributing to society are fundamentally about finding human solutions to human problems

Our latest episode features Michael Gibson, founder of the 1517 fund, co-founder of the Thiel fellowship and self-proclaimed “failed” academic. Michael talks us through the identity crises of his early life, his poetic and philosophical ambitions at Oxford and his mentorship from one of the greatest VC investors of all time, Peter Thiel. Here are some of our key takeaways: Pattern recognition: experience is akin to building a large data set, and decision making is intrinsically linked to pattern recognition based on accumulated experience. Pursuing varied interests: let yourself be pulled in different intellectual directions and avoid getting dogged down by echo chambers and narrowly defined visions. It's important to switch between micro and macro perspectives, and to understand how these interact. Problem identifying: It's not just about being able to connect the dots, it's about being able to see the dots. Having a broad perspective and challenging perceptions is essential to success. You can follow Michael here. You can purchase Michael's latest book, Paper Belt on Fire here. Part memoir, part guide for the next generation of innovators who seek an alternative to the traditional path in higher education, this book is poetic with a hint of punk rock

This week's episode is with Dia Tuncer from BGO, a global real estate investment manager. We speak about growing up in an immigrant household, navigating careers and Dia's current role as treasurer of IKWRO, a woman's rights organisation based out of London Our three key takeaways from this episode were: Develop a foundational skillset which you can leverage throughout your career. Don't see mentorship as a relationship ‘cloaked in secrecy'. Instead, just reach out to people. The worst they can do is politely decline. When moving roles, visualise how your relationships will look like with your future team. Dont just focus on the pay rise. You can follow Dia on LinkedIn here If you would like to donate to IKWRO then you can do so by following this link Our podcast aims to equip you with new teachings and lessons developed by the very best in their field. We hope you learnt something from this episode and would welcome any feedback which can be provided here: https://forms.gle/Y1AeMyq7JKhGJ2Pu9 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our first epsiode is with Craig Fenton, Managing Director for Strategy & Operations at Google. Craig walks us through his childhood growing up in rural New Zealand and his fascination with technology at the dawn of the internet in the late 90s. Leaving home to pursue an MBA at London Business School, Craig opens up about the challenges faced by young people figuring out their start in life. From how to perceive failure to the importance of creating a professional portfolio, this conversation is packed with valuable lessons and insights. Our three main takeaways from this episode were: Your career will change many times, and is one component of your wider portfolio. So make sure your learning journey doesn't stop once you leave the classroom. The horizon never gets closer unless you take steps forward. Avoid planning paralysis and take the first step. Differentiate yourself from the competition. Don't necessarily focus on what everyone else is doing. Figure out a way of doing it differently. You can follow Craig on LinkedIn here Subscribe to Craigs youtube channel Coffee, Eggs and Inspiration here Our podcast aims to draw out lessons, insights and inspiration from a broad variety of leaders. We hope you learnt something from this episode and would love to hear your feedback, which can be submitted here : https://forms.gle/XAejQp8svz94DWNK7 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to Leadership Unplugged. Join us to uncover the lived experiences of a dynamic mix of leaders, from c-suite executives and entrepreneurs, to journalists and educators. Understand what makes them tick, and how to navigate your own leadership journey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.