Being Our Best : The Podcast

Warren James CB CBE DL on Leading within the RAFNicola welcomes Warren James, a leader whose career spans more than three decades in the Royal Air Force. Along the way, Warren rose to positions of command, took on significant responsibility in training and career development, and later transitioned into the world of education and mentoring. Today, he is a mentor and consultant who uses his rich experience of leadership to help others grow and thrive.Warren reflects on his early experiences of stepping into leadership roles as an 18-year-old, learning the realities of responsibility, and gradually understanding what truly helps people flourish.Their conversation moves beyond job titles and traditional ideas of success, exploring the realities of self-awareness, communication, learning through mistakes, and creating environments where people can do their best work. Themes of vulnerability, humility, empowerment and trust run throughout the episode, alongside honest reflections on handling pressure and being the leader people need during times of crisis.Warren also shares insight into the quieter and less visible aspects of leadership: when stepping back, listening carefully, or simply creating space for others can make the greatest difference.This episode will resonate with anyone interested in human-centred leadership, military leadership, and building strong team cultures rooted in trust and accountability.In This ConversationEarly lessons learned as a young leader in the militaryWhat it means to really listen and connect with peopleSelf-awareness, vulnerability, and the willingness to ask for helpBuilding team culture where people feel empowered to contributeHandling risk, uncertainty, and challenge with calm and perspectiveTaking responsibility, especially during moments of crisisThe power of curiosity and seeing situations through others' eyesMaking space for reflection and big-picture thinkingBalancing enthusiasm and drive with patience and moderationMoments That Stood Out“You learn as much from your mistakes as you do from your success.” 12:10“The why always matters. It’s amazing how easy it is to forget that in the heat of the moment.” 30:40“There’s a belief that people are constrained. Actually, when they’re not, they’ll do amazing things.” 19:21“You start to realise your version of truth is not the truth. It takes someone around you to hold up a mirror sometimes.” 15:10“Leadership is about being visible, setting an example, and being prepared to say when you’ve got it wrong.” 32:23Resources & MentionsJohn Adair’s leadership model: team, task and individualReflections on executive coaching, mentoring, and self-awareness in leadershipInsights on team culture and empowerment from both military and civilian settings“Never underestimate the ingenuity of an idiot” — a personal mantra on learning and challenging assumptionsReferences to NLP perspectives on human potential and possibilityConnect & ExploreNicola Ellwood: executive coaching, leadership programmes and podcast updates at www.nicolaellwood.co.ukExplore more about the PRINT® tool, a next-generation insight tool that Nicola uses with leaders and teams to support self-awareness, transformation and high performanceBrowse other podcast episodes exploring leadership, identity, communication and personal growthNicola Ellwood - Be Your Best

In this thoughtful episode, Nicola sits down with George Gilbert, a polar explorer and the  strategic lead for South Wales Fire and Rescue Services’ Leadership Academy. George brings a rare blend of lived experience, dry humour and candour, sharing a journey that spans from an early love of horses, to breaking into the fire service at a time when very few women were present, to crossing Antarctica on an unsupported expedition.At the core of this frank and open conversation is a grounded reflection on what it really means to lead through setbacks, hard choices and team dynamics startegies thatmatter but you can draw on and matter when you really need it. George talks openly about self-doubt, stubbornness, and the labels women often carry, showing how those traits can become resilience when life calls for it. The episode explores themes of communication, trust, adaptability and the kind of self-awareness that lets you support others, especially when the stakes are high and resources are thin.Nicola and George unpack the importance of kindness in leadership, the difference between self-belief and stubborn insistence, and the perspective that comes from enduring true adversity. The conversation goes beyond career highlights, offering honest insight into what holds a team together in moments of extreme difficulty, and what it means to value people for exactly who they are.This is a conversationfocussed on service leadership, expedition leadership and the mindsets and approaches within. Burt mostly about us as humans how we support ourselves and others as our bestsIn This ConversationGeorge’s early path: from hating school to finding her place in uniformed servicesNavigating personal setbacks, expectations and societal norms as a woman in male-dominated fieldsLearning financial independence and why that became a driving forceThe reality of leading an Antarctic expedition: the mental and physical toll, team dynamics and that key word - trustHow anger, self-doubt and stubbornness fuels progress when reframedThe importance of real talk, not corporate talkBuilding team culture rooted in trust, plain language and shared intentWhy kindness, flexibility and perspective matter more than any leadership modelWorking with yourself, not just on yourself, as a foundation for wider leadershipHow resilience is shaped by the stories we live, and why perspective helps us navigate tough timesMoments That Stood Out“It was an element of stubbornness for me, not letting myself down and not letting other people down and proving doubters wrong.” 11:09“You just need to be kind to your fellow human beings. That’s my bottom line.” 16:52“If you can’t work with yourself, then how can you work with other people?” 30:52“Be the person that you needed when you were growing up.” 41:44“You don’t need to be your best self every day… you trust that the people around you can hold you when you’re not.” 31:42Resources & MentionsSouth Wales Fire and Rescue ServiceITVX documentary covering George’s Antarctic expedition“Leaders Eat Last” (referenced as a cultural phrase)Wonder Woman, Linda Carter (on female role models)Margaret Thatcher (reflections on early female leaders in public life)Antarctica expeditions and the Women in the Fire Service conferenceConnect & ExploreNicola Ellwood: executive coaching, leadership programmes and podcast updates at https://www.nicolaellwood.co.ukWatch the ITVX documentary covering George’s Antarctic expedition https://www.itv.com/walesprogrammes/articles/fire-and-ice-the-antarctic-fire-angelsLearn more about South Wales Fire and Rescue Service and its leadership initiativesExplore previous podcast episodes focused on leadership, resilience, communication and team cultureNicola Ellwood - Be Your Best

Nicola Ellwood invites listeners into the heart of the Being Our Best podcast. As a coach with over two decades working alongside executive leaders, athletes and those committed to genuine personal and professional growth, she shares both her passion for this work and her perspective on what it means to be at your best.Drawing from years of experience across a range of organisations and sectors, Nicola explores how real leadership is rooted in self-awareness, thoughtful intention and human connection. Rather than offering generic advice, she focuses on authentic stories–including her own–to illustrate how growth, resilience, and positive impact take shape over time.Listeners are introduced to the ethos behind the podcast: a place for honest conversations with leaders from diverse backgrounds who reflect on their journeys, challenges, and the qualities that shape meaningful leadership and team culture. Nicola Ellwood - Be Your Best