#13 - Jacqui Simpson: Human-Centred Leadership, Generalist Instinct, and Backing Yourself

In this episode, Sam Bell speaks with Jacqui Simpson about backing yourself as a commercial generalist, human-centred leadership, and believing you can “work stuff out” in complex environments.Jacqui brings over thirty years of senior business, people and culture experience, and more recently as a business co-owner. Jacqui shares stories from major transformation work across Australia and internationally, and reflects on how clarity is often created through prioritisation, discernment, and staying close to the people who will live with the outcome. Together, they explore successful transformation across corporates and SMEs, technology-enabled progress, and what becomes possible when leaders combine instinct with disciplined execution.This episode explores:• Confidence from being a generalist who can “work stuff out”• Cross-cultural teams, belonging, and what great collaboration can feel like• Change anchored in human context that works• Commercial leadership grounded in lived experience• The role of intuition, discernment, and “knowing where something comes from” in leadership decisions• Staying focused on what matters when you are stretched thin• Ultra-distance paddle-boarding, dark training and steady commitment• Parenting as a mirror and learning through relationshipGuest Links:• Jacqui Simpson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacqui-g-simpson2023/Chapters:01:30 Courageous women skiers and taking on scary challenges to learn fast07:20 Stoicism, beyond a perfect facade, and achieving balance for performance10:27 Strategy, tactics, and focusing on the valuable  “big rocks”  for the business19:00 The opportunity for People and Culture people and being a straight shooter22:01 The human differentiator, AI agents and asking instinctual questions37:43 Standup paddle-boarding, competitions and sharks44:34 Being constantly courageous, constantly pushing yourself out of your comfort zone51:54 Surprising ourselves with achieving physically and setting yourself up for the day53:18 Parenting teens and the delight on the other side of itExplore further:Book a Lab: https://naturalgenius.com.auLearn more about Sam: https://samanthabell.com.auSubscribe to hear future episodes.Credits:Hosted by Samantha (Sam) Bell in Violet Town and Auckland, 4 February, 2026Produced at the Peregian Beach and Sunshine Motorway offices, 4 - 24 February, 2026Natural Genius Podcast https://naturalgenius.com.au