Lead with Curiosity

Stepping into leadership rarely feels like a clean promotion. It can feel uncertain, uncomfortable, and at times, undeserved.In this episode of Lead with Curiosity, I sat down with Louise Wane, Managing Director of Rainbow Dust, to explore the real journey behind moving from doing the work to leading others. From early careers in sales and marketing to stepping into the role of Managing Director, this conversation brings an honest look at imposter syndrome, shifting identity, and the moments that quietly shape leadership.We move beyond theory and into lived experience. What changes when you are no longer responsible for results alone, but for people, culture, and direction? What behaviours actually build trust in a team, especially during periods of growth and uncertainty, such as acquisitions?You will hear practical reflections on building culture, leading creative and commercially driven teams, and developing the habits that help new managers grow into confident leaders.This is not about having all the answers. It is about learning to ask better questions, noticing what matters, and leading with intention when it matters most.If you would like to learn more about Rainbow Dust, you can visit their website https://www.rainbowdust.co.uk/To find out more about Donovan Training Associates, please visit https://www.donovantrainingassociates.co.uk/We'd love to know what you think of the episode and if you have any questions for Louise and I, please get in touch in the comments section.Thank you for listening and enjoy the episode.

In this episode, I sat down with Colin Butcher, Creative Partnerships Director at n-fuze. We explored the transition from being a creative expert to becoming a confident leader through the lived experience of someone who has grown within one Organisation. It is a conversation about identity as much as it is about skill, about what changes when success is no longer defined by what you produce, but by what others achieve around you.You will hear honest reflections on the challenge of letting go of the work you love, the discomfort of stepping into conversations that feel outside your expertise, and the subtle shift from focusing on output to building trust, relationships, and influence. For new and experienced managers alike, this episode offers practical habits, grounded insights, and a reminder that the hardest promotion is not technical, it is personal, the move from doing the work to enabling others to do it well. If you would like to learn more about n-fuze, you can visit their website https://n-fuze.com/ To find out more about Donovan Training Associates, please visit https://www.donovantrainingassociates.co.uk/We'd love to know what you think of the episode and if you have any questions for Colin and I, please get in touch in the comments section.Thank you for listening and enjoy the episode.

Most businesses do not struggle with debt because they lack systems, they struggle because they avoid conversations.In this episode, we explore the human side of getting paid, the decisions, habits, and moments that quietly shape whether work turns into cash or into stress. Through a practical and honest conversation with Zakia Khalid, a specialist in debt recovery, you will hear what really sits behind late payments, why so many businesses hesitate to act, and how that hesitation compounds over time.You will learn how to spot early warning signs before a client becomes a problem, how to set expectations that protect both the relationship and the outcome, and how to approach payment conversations with clarity rather than discomfort. The episode also unpacks the most common mistakes businesses make when managing debt internally, offering simple, practical shifts that can be applied immediately.

Thank you for joining us today.My name is Anthony, founder of Donovan Training Associates. I help individual contributors transition into people leadership roles, and I support business owners to start and build their businesses.In this episode I had the pleasure of sitting down with Matt Brown, Founder and CEO of n-fuze.Based in Kent, UK, Matt started n-fuze from his parent's kitchen and has built the business into a highly successful agency that thinks big and creates bigger. They have just celebrated their twentieth birthday and have exciting plans for the future.Matt candidly talks us through his leadership journey, the challenge of letting go and trusting in others. He also shares a fascinating insight into how he has incorporated AI in the most human of ways. If you would like to learn more about n-fuze, you can visit their website https://n-fuze.com/ where we highly recommend the virtual tour of the Oasts. If you haven't heard what an Oast house is, it's another reason to listen and find out more.To find out more about Donovan Training Associates, please visit https://www.donovantrainingassociates.co.uk/We'd love to know what you think of the episode and if you have any questions for Matt or I, please leave them in the comments section.Thank you for listening and enjoy the episode.