Can You Be Kind and High-Performing as a Leader? episode artwork

EPISODE · Sep 25, 2025 · 51 MIN

Can You Be Kind and High-Performing as a Leader?

from The Courageous Leaders Podcast · host Joanna Howes

How do you lead with kindness – and still drive high performance?In this episode of The Courageous Leaders Podcast, I’m joined by Pete Markey, Former Chief Marketing Officer at Boots UK, and one of the most respected marketing leaders in the country.Pete shares his story, from early knockbacks to board-level leadership, and explains why kindness, vulnerability, and clarity have become his most powerful leadership tools.We Cover: 01:18 – Starting out in finance and how it shaped his leadership04:15 – Making the leap into marketing07:40 – Rejection, resilience and bouncing back11:29 – His first big step into leadership14:32 – Why “clarity” became his North Star17:46 – Bringing kindness and vulnerability into the boardroom22:05 – The toughest feedback he’s ever received25:59 – Why storytelling is a superpower for marketers31:02 – The Boots campaign that proved creativity still works34:48 – Keeping your values strong under pressure39:30 – Pete’s advice to the next generation of marketing leadersDon’t miss this generous and eye-opening conversation.👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you!https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ🚀 Elevate Your Leadership:Book a call for transformative leadership and team coaching:Website: https://thechangecreators.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannahowes/ → Join our newsletter for courageous leadership insights and advice. 👉 Subscribe here: https://the-change-creators.kit.com/1a5f3c9e54

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Can You Be Kind and High-Performing as a Leader?

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How do you lead with kindness – and still drive high performance?In this episode of The Courageous Leaders Podcast, I’m joined by Pete Markey, Former Chief Marketing Officer at Boots UK, and one of the most respected marketing leaders in the...

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