Episodes

  • 221: Tariffs, wars, inflation & money | Tom Stevenson

    221: Tariffs, wars, inflation & money | Tom Stevenson
    May 18 2025
    In this episode, I am joined by Tom Stevenson – Investment Director at Fidelity, respected columnist, and broadcaster – for a wide-ranging and brutally honest look at the global economic storm we’re all trying to navigate. From tariffs and Trump to inflation, war, and AI-driven disruption, Tom unpacks why we’re entering a new era of unpredictability – one where the calm of the past few decades has well and truly ended. For leaders and organisations, the message is clear: adapt fast or risk irrelevance. Tom shares three critical strategies every leader should focus on: 1. Plan for every scenario – hope is not a strategy. 2. Diversify everything – from supply chains to markets. 3. Maintain financial flexibility – cash is still king. We also explore: • The true cost of tariffs (spoiler: growth and inflation take a hit). • The dual nature of AI – a once-in-a-generation opportunity and a massive systemic risk. • Why ESG, infrastructure, and tangible assets like gold and land are gaining renewed attention. • What a second Trump term might really mean for global trade and China. • The growing concern over digital currencies in a fragile, outage-prone world. Above all, Tom reminds us that in a world out of our control, humility, emotional intelligence, and long-term thinking are more valuable than ever. "Where The Evidence Takes Us" is available from Amazon Connect with Kevin O'Leary (Red Leadership) https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevoleary/ https://www.redleadership.co.uk/
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    46 mins
  • 220: Why I bought a football club | Spencer Gore

    220: Why I bought a football club | Spencer Gore
    May 4 2025
    In this powerful episode, I welcome Spencer Gore, the dynamic CEO of Gorely Group and owner of Chelmsford City FC. A serial entrepreneur with seven ventures under his belt, Spencer shares the raw truths of leadership, innovation, and purpose-led business. 💡 Key takeaways for leaders and entrepreneurs: Turn Neurodiversity into a Superpower: Spencer opens up about discovering his dyslexia later in life—and how it’s become his secret weapon in spotting opportunities and hiring diverse thinkers. Leading Through Vulnerability: Why saying “I don’t know” can be a leader’s most powerful phrase—and how Spencer leans into strengths while hiring for his weaknesses. Build Culture Around Values, Not CVs: Discover the bold and refreshingly honest values that define the Gorely Group—E-M-G—(Entire Buy In - Make Sure You Look After Your Own Shit - Go The Extra Mile) and how they act as both the glue and the freedom for his teams. From Boardroom to Football Pitch: Spencer’s journey from dreaming of owning a football club to rebuilding Chelmsford City FC is a masterclass in vision, grit, and aligning business with passion. Lift Others to Win Gold: Spencer’s mission? Create an environment where everyone can be their best—whether in healthcare, startups, or football. Expect insight, inspiration, and a few surprises from a leader who's not afraid to admit what he doesn’t know—and who’s built a career on passion, people, and purpose. Connect with Spencer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencergore/ Connect with me: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adampacifico/ "Where The Evidence Takes Us" is available from Amazon Connect with Kevin O'Leary (Red Leadership) https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevoleary/ https://www.redleadership.co.uk/
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    43 mins
  • 219: The Accidental CEO | Josh White

    219: The Accidental CEO | Josh White
    Apr 20 2025
    In this raw and powerful episode, Adam sits down with Josh White, the accidental CEO and co-founder of Cano Water – the eco-conscious drinks brand shaking up the industry. Josh opens up about his journey from addiction, ADHD, and mental health struggles to building a brand that’s now selling 15+ million cans a year and backed by global icons. From school dropout to DJ, from rock bottom to rehab, Josh's story is one of pain, purpose, and planet-positive disruption. 🌊 Hear how a trash-filled island holiday sparked a sustainability movement. 🥫 Learn why putting water in a can wasn’t crazy – just ahead of its time. 🔥 Be inspired by a young entrepreneur who turned adversity into impact. 🥫 How David Attenborough and Blue Planet unwittingly saved their business. This is a must-listen for anyone who’s ever felt like they didn’t fit in — and dared to create something that did. 🔗 Check out Cano Water: https://canowater.com #LeadershipEnigma #JoshWhite #CanoWater #MentalHealthMatters #Sustainability #YoungCEO #Entrepreneurship #Neurodiversity #Disruptor #Inspiration
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    1 hr and 4 mins
  • 218: The Dean of Dumbassery - Garry Ridge

    218: The Dean of Dumbassery - Garry Ridge
    Apr 6 2025
    The Dean of Dumbassery Returns to The Leadership Enigma In this energising episode, Garry Ridge, former Chairman & CEO of WD-40 (yep, that iconic blue and yellow can with a red top), returns to the Leadership Enigma – flying in from the West Coast to London just for this chat! 🔥 Garry shares powerful lessons from his new book “Any Dumb Ass Can Do It”, drawn from 25 years of scar tissue, leadership insights, and culture-first wisdom. As he says, “We sell memories, not just oil in a can.” 🧠 Key Takeaways: 💥 "Your product is not your purpose.” Garry unpacks how purpose, people and culture drive long-term success. 📈 “Will of the people x strategy = output.” It’s not just about what you do, but who’s behind it that matters most. 🎓 From VIP to PIP (previously important person): Garry’s new mission is to pay it forward as the self-proclaimed Dean of Dumbassery – teaching, sharing, and helping leaders step up. ❤️ “Happy people make happy families, happy communities, and a happy world.” Garry reminds us that leadership is personal. It’s about creating meaningful impact. 🧠 “If you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room.” At WD-40, leaders became coaches, not managers – and everyone was trusted to grow. 🪶 “Life is a gift, don’t send it back unwrapped.” A rallying cry for leaders to embrace learning, take risks, and disrupt themselves. 🛠 Culture = (Values + Behaviour) x Consistency WD-40’s secret? A strong values hierarchy – guiding decision-making, reducing churn, and building trust. 🚫 Bye-bye finger-pointing: Enter the Maniac Pledge – an accountability manifesto that fuels empowerment across teams. 🤖 Beware of “Alec – the Soul Sucking CEO” Garry’s pocket puppet helps expose the fear-based leadership we all need to leave behind. 📊 70% of employees feel disengaged. Garry says it’s time to flip the script – because leaders are responsible for creating cultures where people belong, matter, and have autonomy. 🧠 Learning moments are the game changers. Remember, WD-40 got its name after failing 39 times. 🌀 “Don’t make finite decisions in uncertain times – fly loose.” Post-pandemic leadership needs agility, empathy, and clarity of purpose. 💬 Garry’s challenge to all leaders: “My people are so excited to go to ______ today because we are going to ______ today.” Fill in the blanks. What kind of workplace are you creating? 📚 Any Dumb Ass Can Do It is more than a title – it’s a call for humility, courage, and curiosity in leadership. Garry’s wisdom hits deep, and this episode is packed with practical, heartfelt, and hilarious truths for any leader looking to level up. 👉 Hit play. Get inspired. And remember: Profit is simply the applause for delighting your customers. Get the book from Amazon www.thelearningmoment.net/ The Dumb Ass Quiz: www.thelearningmoment.net/quiz/
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    1 hr and 9 mins
  • 217: Reflections of a CEO: Tiger Tyagarajan

    217: Reflections of a CEO: Tiger Tyagarajan
    Mar 24 2025
    In this captivating episode, we dive deep into the remarkable leadership journey of Tiger Tyagarajan, former CEO of Genpact, who led the company from a humble team of 20 to a global powerhouse of 130,000 employees with over $5 billion in revenue. Tiger's story is one of curiosity, humility, adaptability, and relentless growth. 🚀 Key Leadership Insights: 1. Curiosity as a Superpower:Tiger emphasizes the importance of maintaining a child-like curiosity, even as a leader. For him, "Exhibiting ignorance is at the heart of a leader's curiosity." Leaders should not shy away from admitting what they don’t know but instead use it as fuel to learn and grow. 2. Learning from the Young and the Wise:Early in his career, Tiger learned the power of listening and learning from those with more experience. Yet, as CEO, he also valued the perspectives of younger generations, believing their fresh views are crucial for staying relevant and innovative. 3. Creating a Learning Culture:To attract and retain top talent, Tiger built a culture where continuous learning and growth were embedded into the business model. Creating environments where people feel psychologically safe to share ideas and make mistakes is key to long-term success. 4. Adaptation Through Ecosystem Thinking:Having been part of GE, Tiger understood that learning from diverse ecosystems was essential. As CEO, he spent 50% of his time looking outward, translating noise into actionable insights, and embracing feedback from all sources. 5. Admitting Mistakes and Course-Correcting:Tiger’s humility allowed him to acknowledge when he was wrong and quickly pivot. Leaders must accept the need to course-correct in a constantly evolving environment. 6. Psychological Safety and Commitment:Encouraging dissenting voices is crucial, but once a decision is made, unity and support are expected from everyone. Leaders must walk the talk and demonstrate the behaviors they want to see. 7. Customer-Centric Digital Transformation:Before jumping into digital transformation, Tiger asks, “What does this mean to the customer?” Efficient listening systems are essential to evolve and adapt effectively. 8. The Role of AI and Technology:Tiger remains optimistic about AI’s potential for good, especially in health and education. Leaders must stay curious, experiment, and understand how technology can enhance the customer experience. 9. The CEO as a Conscience Keeper:A CEO’s true role is to be the conscience keeper of the organization’s culture—always asking, “Why?” to ensure alignment with the company’s purpose and values. 📣 Final Thoughts:Tiger Tyagarajan’s journey highlights the transformative power of curiosity, humility, and adaptability. His approach to leadership reminds us all to be learners first, to value dissenting voices, and to always be ready to pivot when necessary. #LeadershipEnigma #TigerTyagarajan #Genpact #LeadershipLessons #DigitalTransformation #CuriosityDrivenLeadership
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    55 mins
  • 216: Branding the Iconic - Charl Bassil

    216: Branding the Iconic - Charl Bassil
    Mar 9 2025
    Charl Bassil is the BBC’s first-ever Chief Brand Officer, tasked with developing a unified brand strategy to engage global audiences, strengthen loyalty, and drive digital growth. With a background in marketing and leadership, Charl, originally from South Africa, brings a fresh, external perspective to one of the world’s most iconic institutions. The BBC, founded in 1922, has been at the heart of historic moments—from the first high-definition broadcast in 1936 to the moon landing in 1969. It has shaped global culture with programming like Match of the Day, Peaky Blinders, and MasterChef. However, the organisation faces constant scrutiny—license fee debates, leadership controversies, and the challenge of maintaining trust in an era of misinformation. Charl acknowledges the weight of his role and the need for continuous innovation. He discusses how the BBC’s leadership is focused on transformation, ensuring the organisation remains relevant, resilient, and committed to its public service values. Balancing objectivity with the demand for instant news is a critical challenge, but Charl emphasises that the BBC prioritises accuracy and integrity over speed. During the interview, Charl reflects on his personal purpose aligning with the BBC’s mission. Asked if he wanted to join to help protect democracy and free speech, he found the challenge irresistible. His goal is to empower the team, simplify complexity, and sustain the BBC’s brand in a fragmented media landscape. With technology and audience engagement at the forefront, his vision is clear—build for the future while staying true to the BBC’s legacy.
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    52 mins
  • 215: To Infinity & Beyond | Kelly Latimer

    215: To Infinity & Beyond | Kelly Latimer
    Feb 23 2025
    Kelly Latimer is no ordinary pilot. A former NASA, Virgin Galactic, and Boeing test pilot—and a combat veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan—Kelly has spent her career navigating high-stakes environments, from military command to the outer edges of space. As Virgin Galactic’s first female test pilot, she stepped into the role after the tragic VSS Enterprise crash in 2014, helping push the boundaries of space travel and human potential. In this episode, Kelly takes us inside the world of test piloting—where every flight is an experiment, every decision carries immense weight, and leadership is as much about precision as it is about people. From flying massive military jets to hand-flying a spaceplane at 55 miles above Earth, Kelly shares what it takes to lead under extreme pressure. Key Leadership Lessons: 🚀 Leading vs. Being in Charge – A powerful lesson from candid feedback mid-mission reshaped Kelly’s approach to leadership. 💡 Human-Centered Leadership – How she balanced authority with empathy, leading a 700+ person squadron with a focus on deep understanding and communication. 🔥 Navigating High-Stakes Performance – In a world where failure is not an option, Kelly learned that addressing poor performance isn’t just about accountability—it’s about protecting the team. 🌍 Being a Role Model – As a trailblazing female pilot in a male-dominated field, Kelly embraced the responsibility of inspiring the next generation—while staying true to herself. Kelly’s story is one of courage, adaptability, and relentless pursuit of excellence. In her final reflections, she reveals the one leadership principle that shaped her extraordinary career: the power of care. This is leadership—tested at Mach speeds. Don’t miss it.
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    48 mins
  • 214: Ai -vs- Humanity | Greg Orme

    214: Ai -vs- Humanity | Greg Orme
    Feb 9 2025
    Greg Orme is a global educator and author of Business Book of the Year, "The Human Edge." 'The Human Edge' focused on the fearful narrative that was and is growing around the use and development of AI. If we challenge AI on it's own ground we will certainly lose, Greg explains. Greg's book researched how leaders can differentiate themselves in this world of AI and digitisation. He constructed the 4C's Consciousness - which is finding meaning and vision and a sense of purpose in your work Curiosity - to ask better questions and change faster than the world is changing around you Creativity - the process of having good ideas that work in the world and Collaboration - how can you form collaborations with fellow human beings and AI too, to get your ideas into the world. The rate of change and development in this arena continues to increase. We only experienced the release of Chat GPT just over 800 days ago and now we have the announcement of 'Stargate' and the release of 'Deepseek'. Do leaders still think that AI is a fad and will dwindle over time? The strange answer is yes. The reality is very different and leaders have to grasp the importance of human centred leadership as a superpower. Greg explains we are at the bottom of the 'S' curve in the development of AI and what got us here is becoming exponential in growth especially with the introduction of quantum computing. Ai used properly can increase productivity by 40% giving us all more time. The question is what do we focus on in that time? This is where the human centric leadership skills play their part. Think of AI not as your auto-pilot but as your co-pilot. We must thrive in the knowledge that we can't stop AI. It will be more intelligent than humans possibly by 2027 and we will make mistakes along the way. No one can forecast where the destination is. Is super intelligence capable of consciousness? Will humans become the weakest link? Will AI consider the eradication of humans as the simplest answer to stop war, violence, global warming, exploitation and other human based issues? Connect on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregorme/ Greg’s website: https://gregorme.org/ To buy The Human Edge: https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/Greg-Orme/author/B00JH11WQ4?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true To read Greg’s latest thinking on Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/sites/gregorme/
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    48 mins
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