The Culture Builders

Written and read by Chris Preston, this podcast shares a recent article from The Culture Builders that looks at one of the biggest leadership questions facing organisations today: how do we embrace AI and automation without stripping away the human connections that make culture thrive? Drawing on real examples from leadership sessions and client conversations, Chris examines the hidden cultural costs of automation, including the loss of interaction, authenticity, creativity through mistakes, and the ability to problem solve when systems become black boxes. Rather than positioning AI as a threat, the podcast argues that it is an extraordinary opportunity. AI is already transforming the speed, complexity, and quality of work, and the organisations that succeed will be the ones that redesign themselves around it intelligently. But the warning is clear: if leaders simply automate processes without intentionally rebuilding human connection, organisations risk becoming efficient but emotionally hollow places to work. At its core, this is a leadership conversation. The future will belong to organisations that use the time and space created by AI to deepen relationships, strengthen culture, and increase meaningful human interaction. Chris explores why people managers now play a critical role in protecting humanity within increasingly automated workplaces, and why the decisions leaders make today will shape whether AI accelerates culture or slowly erodes it.

What happens to our professional performance when our biology begins to shift? In this episode, Emma Boswell, Senior Consultant at The Culture Builders, sits down with Jacqui Mayes, a Nutritional Therapist with more than 15 years of experience, to unpack the often-ignored link between menopause and work. Jacqui dives deep into the physiological shifts of perimenopause, from the "brain energy" dip caused by fluctuating oestrogen to the cognitive toll of brain fog and fatigue. Building on standard medical advice, this conversation focuses on "feeding your next phase". Jacqui offers practical, accessible strategies to reclaim clarity and energy, exploring how the power of phytoestrogens, "eating the rainbow" for gut health, and managing the stress-symptom cycle can transform your wellbeing. This episode is essential listening for any leader looking to navigate hormonal changes with intention, compassion, and sustained performance.

In this episode, Emma Boswell - Senior Consultant at The Culture Builders - and Nutritionist Jacqui Mayes explore how nutrition serves as a fundamental pillar for sustaining performance as part of the "Bank of Me" concept that we use to support Performance, Growth and Wellbeing. Jacqui shares her personal journey from a high-pressure career in television production to becoming a nutritionist, illustrating how poor dietary habits and high stress can lead to physical depletion.  They discuss the "hidden costs" of common workplace habits, such as relying on caffeine and skipping meals, which can result in poor cognitive function and fatigue. The conversation also provides practical, small-scale shifts that any professional can implement to improve their physiological state.  Ultimately, the episode encourages listeners to take ownership of their energy and treat their health with the same strategic planning they apply to their professional projects.

What does it take to lose 40kg while navigating the high-pressure world of civil engineering? In this episode, Lee Piper, a senior leader at Costain, joins us to share his incredible journey from burnout to reclaiming his health. Lee candidly discusses the physical and emotional toll of site life, from the camaraderie of late-night team sessions in Cornwall to the isolation of living in away from home. As well as the specific "trigger" that led him to prioritise his well-being in the run up to retirement. This conversation is a must-listen for any leader feeling the weight of their role as they approach the later stages of a career. Lee and Chris unpack the concept of being "fit to retire," moving beyond financial planning to focus on physical and mental longevity. From hitting a 15,000-step daily goal to navigating social pressures around alcohol, Lee offers practical, lived-in advice on how to tune out the external noise and invest in your own "Bank of Me".

Join us for an insightful conversation with Abida Lalani, Strategy and Transformation Director. Having worked with Jane Sparrow for several years, the two of them sit down and discuss her wealth of experience in navigating and leading significant change. Abida brings a grounded and practical perspective to the often complex world of transformation. In this episode, Abida takes us on a journey through her career, from her early experiences in financial services during the financial crisis to her most recent and current roles driving changes. She candidly recounts her personal evolution in embracing change, moving from initial resistance to actively seeking out its challenges and rewards. Sharing key lessons learned along the way, highlighting the crucial role of communication and storytelling, and the importance of understanding the human element in successful transformations. Jane and Abida recount their experiences of guiding  people through a change, share their practical insights into coaching people as leaders and talk about just how to foster a clear vision, and adapt with agility in the face of evolving circumstances. This is a must-listen for anyone involved in leading or experiencing change, offering valuable takeaways on mindset, strategy, and the power of human connection in shaping the future.

Chris has recently been speaking to a number of experts on the subject of the 50-60 year sprint for professionals in business. Following on from his conversion with Joanna Lockwood, he has reconnected with regular TCB Podcast contributor Steve Butler - author of a number of books, the most relevant of which covers exactly this topic - The Midlife Review. They highlight the new obstacles that arise in the 50-60 phase, such as family requirements, health and one's own commitment to a career that may well have peaked.  Steve and Chris also cover how important it is to give those in this phase space to air the needs that stem from the changes - the role of the employer to step into the conversation about changing needs, and how they can best support the person. But, in counterpoint to this,  the discussion also covers the phenomenon of  “ accidental managers” within many organisations, who have not been given the tools or development to manage such a complex scenario. This an area of interest for you? If so, we highly recommend you to grab a copy of The Midlife Review, which details the conversation about what employees want out of the second half of their career, and how to help them achieve it. 

Using his own recent experience of hitting the '50s doldrums' Chris has reached out to two experts in the area of managing age diversity to seek their thoughts and advice on how organisations can properly support their senior talent as it passes through a very complex decade of life.   First up is one of Chris' LinkedIn heroes - Joanne Lockwood - a highly respected expert and thought leader on inclusion and belonging. As a transgender woman in her early 60s, Joanne embodies the essence of transformative change, bringing authenticity and lived experience to her work in diversity, equity, and inclusion.    With Chris on a quest to survive and thrive in the next phase of life, talking to Joanne is both of personal benefit to him and to anyone who is either going through the same life journey and/or is part of the support process within organisations.    Joanne is candid, funny and insightful. It's a must-listen for many of us.

Chris recently spoke at a HR Network conference in Scotland - sharing the outputs from our research around the future trends for leaders, and the impact of the unintended consequences that the many wellbeing, inclusion, care and support initiatives are having on managers and leaders. With so much now to contend with, and a rightful focus on employees living sustainable lives, we've pushed so much into the role of a people manager. Grace Orr, Director of People for CommuniCorp UK, joined Chris on the stage, to bring to life the situation, with examples, stories and actions that demonstrate how she, and her team, are meeting this new challenge. Grace literally built the culture for her organisation from scratch, and, as she says, when it comes to people: "her name is above the door." Her input underscores the key messages that Chris shared - the headlines of the content from The Culture Builders' next business book - The Guide. Due out in Summer 2025, the book brings the situation to life, and shares the five most fundamental elements that leaders can focus on to prepare themselves to manage in this new paradigm. They've teamed back up to record this podcast - capturing the essence of the keynote from the conference, and giving more people a chance to hear the content, the stories and the thinking from the upcoming book.

At the end of 2024, Jane and Chris - co-founders of The Culture Builders - took time to reflect on the seismic shift that's taken place over the last ten years. Many organisations have successfully built employee care and wellbeing programmes that encourage people to bring their whole selves to the business, and provide them with a wealth of support options to tackle issues of health, stress, inclusion and life events.   We wholly support this, and long may it continue. However, we are also seeing how these new, high levels of employee care and support are impacting those expected to enact them. Managers and leaders. They are groaning under the weight of the increased responsibilities, and many feel they simply do not have the time, knowledge or experience to cope successfully.   In this podcast, the hosts bring this topic to life, looking at the impacts, but also the solutions to ensure people can stay 'In the Black' and manage their wellbeing and work as teams to use the support on offer to create understanding and activity that supports everyone. There's no simple answer, but there are plenty of simple steps - hear more about The Bank of Me.

In this episode, Jane and Andrew talk about the impact of taking care of yourself, using your support network, and leading with trust, openness and clarity during transformation. They reflect on the lessons learnt throughout the years and discuss the importance of taking people with you on a journey of discovery and belief.  With a diverse career working with organisations such as Nike and PepsiCo before joining the BBC 11 years ago, Andrew has experienced change at many levels from restructuring, growth transitions and efficiency based changes.  He and Jane share stories and experiences from throughout their careers, discuss the journey from middle manager to CEO and the importance of nourishing yourself properly - for your health and sanity! Andrew also shares his advice to his 20 year old self, his biggest learning from his career, and the one thing he believes people should lead with.

For episode eight of our Change Maker podcast series Jane Sparrow and Steve Thorn are sharing their tips and advice for navigating and leading change.  Talking intentionality around tone, language used and managing pace - for yourself and those around you - Steve and Jane draw on their shared experiences and leave you with a whole host of tools and tips to guide you on your change journey too.  They discuss the need for a flexible mindset vs a fixed one, the importance of having a network of change agents, and the different responses people have to change and how to approach them.  Packed with advice, this is not one to be missed.

In our latest podcast episode, Jane Sparrow is in conversations with Pip Smith, Director of Strategic Change & Portfolio at @ Currys, to talk about all things change leadership. Talking lessons and moments from their combined experiences of leading change. Pip shares her top lessons from 17 years experience in transformation; the importance of linking to the vision, sharing proof points and trophy moments along the way, and understanding the differences between the people within your organisation.  Listen now to hear stories of successful change, and a time when it’s not gone so well.  Learn from Pip and Jane’’s experience, with top tips to take you through your next transformation programme.

As part of our in-depth change maker podcast series Jane Sparrow speaks to Andy McGoff, Director of Finance and Operations at Edinburgh Napier University. With a rich bank of knowledge and involvement in all levels of change from start up scale to large scale, he stresses the importance of keeping a golden thread of trust throughout, investing time in your teams and creating an environment where you can be honest with one another (even if it’s not necessarily what they want to hear!).  Andy and Jane explore lessons learnt from his diverse career and the work they’ve done together.  They discuss the importance of leading with honesty and unpack his top learning from past experiences.

In this episode, Jane Sparrow discusses all things transformation with Asha Amster. She has a rich career, working in various transformation and business roles, for a range of multinational companies, largely in TV and Entertainment. Asha talks about the importance of the sector, how many people escape through entertainment during change, and the value of joy and immersion during your down time.  Jane and Asha share insightful tips and lessons learned and reflects on the leadership qualities and skills that help Asha to lead during change. Spoiler - emotional intelligence, vulnerability and active listening are top of the list!

Sam Tewungwa, Managing Director at UKTV and President, UK Region BBC Studios, joins Jane Sparrow for the latest Change Maker podcast. Sam is currently leading the UKTV Digital transformation and has a wealth of experience leading change throughout his rich career.  In this episode, they talk about their shared passion for remembering the human side of change, the importance of looking for feedback from all across the business and ensuring alignment throughout the change process.  Listen now to hear Sams top three leadership learnings.

Jane Sparrow is joined by Charlotte Eaton, CPO & Customer Experience at OVO Energy, for the next instalment of our change maker series to reflect on her key change leadership lessons through her sparkling career. Charlotte covers the importance of investing in relationships, connection and intentionality when leading change. Find out how she got her fingers burned and listened to some tough feedback that has shaped how she understands the context of others and manages her own human Bank of Me. And, hear her killer change lesson toward the end!  We love our work with OVO and so are thrilled to share Charlotte’s insights. 

Episode two of our Change maker podcast series - Jane Sparrow is joined by Chief People Officer at at EXA Infrastructure, Carrie Cushing.  Carrie and Jane discuss the need for connecting change to your day to day life and your stakeholders. Carrie shares how she's learned the power of connecting change to each individual's context and taking the time to help people make sense of it. She's seen a better reaction that way - all lessons we advocate through our work too.   Listen now to hear more on Carrie's personal change journey and lessons from leading change throughout her career. There's some wonderful nuggets within!

Kicking off our series of Change Leadership Lessons, Jane Sparrow is joined by Phil Rumbol  Phil is a Non Exec Director and advisor who has held many Senior Marketing and Commercial roles within Cadbury, Whitbread, Bahlsen, AB InBev.  Listen now to hear some of the lessons and strategies learnt from leading change and Phils valuable advice to others who are about to embark on their own change journey. Phil talks about the need for a ‘clear narrative about what you're doing, the change you’re trying to drive and why you are doing it,’ and keeping in mind that ‘whether it’s 10 people, 100 people or 1000 people, different people need different things during change’

Over the coming weeks we will be sharing a series of podcasts from some of the most progressive leaders in the UK and wider world - people that have built successful paths through change, and possess a wealth of knowledge around the practical, personal and leadership skills needed to help people during some of the toughest moments in their career. Watch out for the first episode, landing soon, along with a rich mix of content to give you ideas and practical steer on how you can take your own team and organisation through change.

Another year tucked under our belts, and a whole heap of challenges, successes and growth. Like most people, we’ve forgotten most of it… and it took some time to recall enough to pull our last 2023 podcast together! Chris and Jane muse on the ups and downs for the company, and the big learnings that the year has produced. Late trains, difficult conversations, bees, workloads and collaboration (lack thereof) are all topics, along with a dose of personal reflection on what the year has meant. We loved doing it, we think it’s important for other to do the same, and would urge you all to find time before the year ends to remind yourselves of just how much you have done.

Jane managed to fulfil a personal objective for 2023 – just under the wire as the year ends. Ever since meeting Paula Carnell - Environmental Consultant of the Year - at a ‘honey tasting’ event, she has wanted to find an opportunity to interview her on our podcast channel. Why? Because her experiences and views on the importance of bees and honey for the health and wellbeing of humans is becoming a huge topic. At the very forefront of this is Paula. She came to beekeeping later in her life, following a period of prolonged illness. Through her own experiences she came to understand the vital role that honey plays in our healthy lives. Jane and her talk through this fascinating area, exploring the history of honey and bees, and the clear benefits that they bring to us. It directly connects to our Bank of Me concept, and the need to nurture our physiological wellbeing. More broadly, Paula talks about the analogy of the ‘health hive’ and the need to cultivate a healthy culture within the bees. There’s some lovely parallels between bee culture and our own work/life culture. The guidance and lessons in this podcast will have you dashing out for honey, giving our little furry, buzzy friends, more respect and looking at your workplace in a whole new way

A fortuitous review of Leanne Mair’s new book: Closing the Gap, led to not one, but two podcasts with the author. The book is an in-depth look at the disparity that black women face in the working world - despite being a group identified as some of the most hard-working, professional and well educated people we have the opportunity to recruit. Leanne has a wealth of experience and insight (more than a book’s worth) to share, and does it in a way that, without diminishing the issue, makes it feel like a positive and action focused content. She chatted to Chris Preston about the topic, and brought to the conversation a blend of stories, views and statements that bring the situation to life.  If you are committed to building an equitable organisation, then Leanne’s wisdom is compulsory for you. We need to hear what’s being said, and recognise that it’s not the challenge for the person, it’s the imperative of the organisation. If we are to help black women gain equity, then we need to stop making it their problem.

As part of our support for ADHD awareness month, Jane Sparrow interviewed Samantha Hiew, PhD – an acknowledged expert on the subject, and someone who has a wealth of experience and advice for people with ADHD and those working and living alongside them.   The podcast is full of practical examples of how a person with ADHD navigates the world, how they best operate and the ideal ways that leaders can engage with them and harness what is, in many ways, a super power.   Compulsive listening if you are working in a team that has a broad neuro-spread.

Regular listeners will recognise the name - John Tusa has previously appeared on our podcast, talking about his book 'On Board' - a rich insight into the Boards of many public institutions. At the time, we didn't get a chance to talk about his role in the BBC World Service.  However, a chance comment from a colleague, concerning the famous 'Tusa-grams' sent us right back to John, with a plea to talk more about his role leading the World Service, and how he curated the organisation during a time of significant change. We also got a chance to hear about his latest book - Bright Sparks, which features seven stories of innovation, bravery, tenacity and audacity. Pop on a pair of headphones and be ready to sit back and listen to John sharing some of those stories. The book is out soon. We advise you pre-order it.

When a book lands on your desk titled: "The Eagle That Drank Hummingbird Nectar" you know it's going to be something different from the norm. Aneace Haddad is a coach and advisor to a range of C-level leaders, who draws on his own journey to a senior role to help others to articulate and overcome the challenges they face 'at the top'.    Chris got a chance to interview Aneace, and had a broad-ranging, stimulating conversation about what it means to be the one that 'the buck stops at'. He talks candidly about how lonely it can be in a senior role, and the need for leaders to make people the number one priority. They also discussed the need for empowerment, and how many leaders are unaware of the 'gaps' that exist in their assumptions. Aneace has taken all of this experience and knowledge and crafted the book - its an allegorical tale that's part business book, part novel and spiced with a good dose of coaching and mentoring for those in similar roles. Listen to the podcast, read the book... take part in the nectar.

Sun, sand and strategic thinking? At the time of recording, many leaders are turning on the out-of-office note and heading for a well-earned holiday. But they are departing from professional lives that are busier, more complex and stressful than ever. With a myriad of new factors to contend with, the question ‘who would want to be a boss?’ rings truer than ever. Jane and Chris dip their toe into the waters of leadership life on this podcast – taking a short look at the three big challenges that leaders face – empowerment, strategic thinking and burn out. All three are linked, and they each bring with them a specific set of needs and mindful actions to ensure you enable, achieve or avoid each one. Plenty of practical tips, as you would expect, with some sound advice on what to do to make the space and build the trust. If you are about to turn off, tune in and get some holiday inspiration to mull over as you take your well-earned R&R.

Want to be part of a really strong, positive and supportive culture? It’s going to cost you – the price of a swim in freezing cold water… But it’s worth it, as that action buys you entry into a rapidly growing network of people, mainly women, who are part of the Bluetits Chill Swimmers club. Sounds extreme, but for the 80,000+ people in the network, it’s a way to build courage and overcome their fears & self-assumptions. Founded by Sian Richardson, the Bluetits encourages people to safely swim in open water in the UK – all year round. It’s freezing cold, it’s scary and asks people to uncover their bodies with a mix of people. But it’s also a celebratory, supportive culture within which people bring their true, vulnerable selves to the swims. The ethos, as Sian explains to Jane Sparrow, is to simply say well done to those that turn up. Even if they never get wet (remaining dry tits) they are part of the club, and valued for their contribution. It’s a powerful, shared experience – the magical moments of post-swim celebration and connection, powered by adrenalin, help to connect and fuel people’s sense of inclusion. It doesn’t take much imagination to think how the principles that Sian shares could easily be extended to a professional world.

What can beer theft (or lack of) teach us about how to bring values to life in an organisation? Or what does it mean to be Daring at 4am in the loading bay of a warehouse? Listen in as Owen and Chris talk about their experience with values and the ways in which organisations bring them to life.  You'll be asking tough questions of your own organisational values - are they static, active or progressive? Do they encourage action, or simply make people feel good?  Values live or die based on how people bring them into their day to day work. Chris and Owen talk about examples of where this happens, and the pitfalls of the opposite being the case... prison for some. If you are about to craft a new set then listen carefully, and value every word. Then, take your values for a spin   * It was Keats BTW, not Byron or Shelley

Psychological Safety is a phrase we all bandy about, and more - it's big business and a major focus for many organisations that genuinely want to ensure it exists in strength within their teams. But, as most people to define it and we stumble - it's not a simple thing to grasp (or indeed create) and many of us end up talking about trust and safety to speak up.   Which, yes, it is both. But it's also so much more. Jane took time with one of our team members - Janine Roberts - to bring the subject to life, and open up what it means, the power it brings to us all, and some simple starting points on how to ensure it's a key factor in your team. If you want to better articulate the concept, then listen no further, as the two bounce around ideas on how to do this and ways in which you can engage people in this critical topic.

This episode is a cautionary tale of linguistic privilege. What? You say. Listen on and find out, as Chris interviews Heather Hansen – a Global Communication Expert and author of the book ‘Unmuted’. She spends a great deal of her professional life helping people to feel more confident speaking in a second language (in particular, English). But, as she explains, the main root problems lie with the native speaker, not the person trying to improve. Listening to this is a cold-shower wake up for native English speakers – challenging us to rethink how we communicate with our global community, and to use language and stories that others will understand. As Heather explains, so many good conversations and sources of insight and innovation are stifled when we fail to account for the people that have had the bravery to learn our language. And, as all good teachers do, Heather’s got some great tips, advice and sources of learning to help everyone improve their global communication.

Jane is joined by our Head of Consulting - Tyson Matheson - to talk through the 'five languages of appreciation' - sharing tips, stories and ideas that can help to build a stronger culture within any organisation. Find time to listen and think about how you prefer to demonstrate it, and the reasons why you want to show appreciation (hint: It's not to receive it back). Jane and Tyson share some ideas on how to use the thinking in your daily professional life, and how to start a 'movement' in your team that sees this being a core skill for everyone.

From an audience of fruit flies, to a global one numbering in the billions, Nicki Sheard, President, Brands & Licensing for BBC Studios, has had a highly varied career that's led to her current role. She's worked in FMCG, Fashion and Gaming sectors, and has held a number of roles across the BBC group. Jane got the chance to talk to Nicki about her experiences across this diverse portfolio and share them on our latest podcast. The singles biggest differentiator in each role has, for Nicki, been the culture. She has drawn learnings from every experience, good and bad - helping her to understand the key levers to focus on and how to create a positive, effective team that enables people to challenge, learn and grow.   For Nicki, the podcast was a great exercise around reflection - helping her to work through the experiences she's had, and how it has shaped her approach to building a strong culture within her BBC team.  

It’s mere days before we hear the strains of Auld Lang Syne played across the globe, as we say goodbye to a challenging 2022, and step into an uncertain 2023. Jane and Chris’s advice is simple – have a word ready to set the tone. Over the last few years The Culture Builders’ team has made it a habit to choose a personal word each year that helps them find new and more productive ways of working and thriving. Jane and Chris share their previous words and, as an exclusive sneak-peek, share their next year’s ones now. The question is… What’s yours going to be?

Over the last two years the pressure of work has simply grown and grown – phrases such as ‘The Great Resignation,’ ‘Quiet Quitting,’ and ‘Husk Workers’ have all sprung up as we all find the professional life more challenging than ever, and leaving us to ask the tough question of ‘why’. On this podcast, Chris and Jane talk through the key factors that led them to creating the Bank of Me app – a tool aimed at helping busy professionals to stay well, focused and productive in a very tough environment. Burn-out is the word of the moment, and the impact for organisations is huge. More than ever there’s a need to provide support and advice to those struggling with the daily grind. Four years ago we launched the book on this podcast, and now it's the turn of our app!

 Jane Sparrow, speaks with designer and maker Stephen Bailey - who shares his story behind being self-employed and working alone, as well as the experience of taking part in an 'impact of work' study and how it made himself more aware of his mental wellbeing, particularly during the pandemic. Lots of ideas, tips and inspiration to help us all move forwards with our health.

Jane Sparrow speaks with Kirstin Furber, People Director at Channel 4 - who shares her advice on how to tackle Sunday night blues, as well as tips on workplace wellbeing. Her organisation has recently placed a great emphasis on making Monday the highlight of the week, rather than the lowlight. Lots of ideas, tips and inspiration to help us all move forwards with our health.

Organisations, quite rightly, are very proactive in providing mental wellbeing support to their employees. Perhaps less so with physical wellbeing… but even worse when it comes to financial wellbeing. On this note, as we enter the ‘Talk Money’ week and there’s a raised focus on this area, Jane caught up with one of the UK’s leading financial wellbeing consultants – Emma Waller – to look at how organisations can make money-sense a cultural differentiator. Emma is a Financial Wellbeing Consultant with extensive experience in developing financial content across private, public and voluntary sectors, designing and delivering financial wellbeing programmes for commercial clients and charities. Her steer for how organisations can support their people when it comes to money matters hits the perfect note – balancing the need for frugality and sensible planning, with the importance of reward and ‘spending to save’. Her view is that this needs to be an area that more organisations take an active approach to – talking to their teams about money, giving advice and making it a shared activity – something Emma makes good use of when she contributes to Tuddl.

Jane caught up with our Head of Programmes, Owen Cook, who recently delivered a taster webinar to share our latest thinking around the hugely topic of flex working. On this podcast he shares an overall structure for developing a consistent, sustainable road-map for an organisation's way forward. Plenty of practical ideas to get you thinking and open up wider conversations within your organisation to progress your own future of work planning.

“Four day working week ahead” shout all the headlines at the moment. But, as many are finding out, the reality of a truncated working pattern is far from easy. Jane got a chance to talk to David Taylor, the Group Commercial Director for Costain, who shared with her his experience of changing from a five to a four day week. The move was part of his search for a ‘quality of life upgrade’ but, when he trialled it, David found it was anything but – working a four day week just shifted the work into the weekend and pressurised the rest of the working week. It took a more fundamental change from David to get on track – using the muscle of Trust, and the skill of effective delegation to make appropriate space. On the podcast, he talks about the need to correctly message people about the intent, to manage expectations, and for the individual to deliver the proof that it can work. It’s a privilege, not a right, for David. He also shares the side benefit for others - how stepping back actually gives others a chance to step in and take more responsibility and grab learning opportunities. A great listen for anyone thinking of moving to a shorter working week.

There is, without a doubt, a huge, global desire to remove the nine to five working patterns. But, to be balanced, it’s been on the way out for a number of years… but slowly and with great effort by a few determined people. In that vein, meet Emma Cleary – Founder of Flexibility Matters, an organisation that’s been specialising in placing candidates that are looking for flexible working patterns. In Emma’s own words, it’s been a tough sell for many years. But, for her, the rollercoaster cart has reached the top of the climb, and now is hurtling along the tracks. Why? Because we’ve all proved, conclusively, that flex working… works. We got some time with Emma recently to talk more about this, and get her views on the benefits (which have always been evident to some) of employing people that don’t adhere to the traditional patterns. Also, linked to this, is the trawl for talent and the attraction factors that an organisation needs to demonstrate. In short, it’s a rich conversation between her and Chris!

During the early autumn of 2021, The Culture Builders commissioned an independent research project to look at the impact of the pandemic on organisations across the UK, and beyond. The aim was to identify the key factors that have been impacted (positively and negatively by the Lockdown and restrictions, and to chart out how this impact differs across organisations. The inevitable results demonstrated that areas such as engagement, talent development and culture have all been impacted (but more deeply than first thought). But the research told a story of two situations – smaller companies have been harder hit, but are more ready for the next phase, whereas larger organisations feel less impacted, but are still very much in the planning and exploration stage of their response. In this Burst episode, Chris Preston shares the top line summary, and his take on the findings – plus he shares the key factors that HR professionals believe will be the must-have traits for leaders taking people forward in this new post-pandemic poly-working world. You can get a copy of the White Paper here.

Since Jane and Chris developed the thinking behind the concept of Poly Working, the team has been inundated with requests for conversations, support and ideas. The notion of a multi-faceted approach to the return to work, and beyond, is a compelling call to action that challenges the overly simplistic remote working structures that some organisations are looking to implement. In this podcast, they open up the idea, and share how organisations are finding success as they find their way in the new world of work. There’s no one easy solution, and the guidance focuses more on conversations, connections and complexity. If we are to succeed in building a more balanced working life for everyone then we need to plan carefully as we release the pressure from the ‘elastic stretched taut’ that has been all our lives for the last 18 months. As ever, it’s a podcast that’s full of stories, advice and lessons learnt. You can also access the White Paper on poly-working HERE.

Selina Hales, founder of Glasgow-based Charity, Refuweegee talks to Owen Cook about managing, leading and looking after staff, volunteers, and yourself in a high-purpose environment, where people pour themselves into their work. The conversation brings lessons in working towards unachievable goals and developing a symbiotic relationship with your people in order to continue to perform under difficult circumstances. If this one doesn't give you goosebumps at some point, we don't know what will. This was recorded pre-pandemic.

In this episode, our Head of Programmes, Owen Cook, talks with Diana Jupp, the CEO at Pancreatic Cancer UK - the Charity leading on raising awareness of this type of cancer and providing support to patients and families affected by it. Diana talks about the challenges that working in a charity so closely linked to loss brings to her and the team. During the course of the conversation Diana shares her insights on maintaining culture whilst growing an organisation, the difficulty of finding the right balance between investment and delivery when you have limited resources, and what to watch out for in your people when they are driven by purpose, possibly to the point of burnout. This podcast was recorded pre the pandemic.

How do you maintain culture, connection and performance in your organisation when you add talent? In this episode, Hilary Wells - HR Director for Hawkeye - talks to Owen about managing and developing people to achieve high-performance. Hilary shares her insights on recruiting people during phases of rapid growth, in contexts ranging from family-owned, to truly global businesses and dealing with the resulting shifting dynamics.

Kellie McSorley, Founder of  SILK Search and The SET joins Jane Sparrow to discuss the current and emerging talent landscape that organisations are experiencing. Her insight is both deep and broad – bringing in a number of perspectives that point to the emerging direction that organisations will be taking as they look for the next wave of senior leaders. In a pandemic and hopefully post-pandemic world, new skills are going to be critical as companies look to on-board people who bring a strong mix of ‘soft skills’ that enable them to effectively manage a rapidly evolving workplace. Placed as she is in the thick of the search for talent, Kellie talks fluently about the immediate Executive talent needs and what is being seen on the horizon. A compelling listen.

Jane and Chris both take time on this episode to interview Peter Davies – a man whose vast experience and knowledge of the aviation industry and its unique leadership challenges needs two interviewers to do justice to! He’s a turn-around specialist who has rekindled the passion, and passenger numbers in a number of airlines and aviation-related organisations. But he’s not your average trouble-shooter. To give you an insight into this, he devotes five minutes of this podcast talking about fixing toilets. It’s not as trivial as it seems, and it’s something that typifies Peter’s style – caring about the small elements that make an organisation successful. And, critically, caring about its people. He talks about the head and the heart of organisations, and where they sit for him. You’ll be surprised and fascinated by his answers. He’s a positive challenger or, as he calls himself, ‘a fixed disruptor’. His industry insight is fascinating, and his wider leadership approach is inspirational.

Sir John Tusa’s board experience reads like a top ten list for the UK arts world. He’s been part of the governance process for organisations such as The British Museum, The English National Opera and the National Portrait Gallery. This, on top of a career that’s seen him running the BBC World Service, co-founding Newsnight and managing London’s Barbican Centre. So, when John writes a book about Boards, you know it’s going to be good. Chris recently reviewed John’s new book – On Board – and was compelled to talk to him about how an organisation’s culture is impacted by governance, and the people who are trusted with it. What he got was a podcast that is packed with stories that draw from four decades of practical experience, both as a senior leader and as a senior Board member. You’ll want your pen ready for this one – it’s littered with advice and insight that everyone will value.

Libby Townsend – Group People Director at OVO Group – joins Jane Sparrow to discuss her experiences in a range of corporates, and what she sees as the deeper factors that create a ‘magnetic culture’ for organisations – drawing in and keeping bright people as we enter the new year and a range of new challenges and possibilities She shares her journey and learning points around the creation and maintenance of strong cultures - such as her tent-in-a-field induction with Virgin Mobile and how it demonstrated the power of fun in an organisation. Libby also talks about the difficulty of ‘retro-fitting’ purpose in organisations, and the challenge of trying to motivate a ‘stale’ culture. Currently, Libby feels that the organisations weathering the current situation most successfully are those that have a clear, lived purpose, and are actively encouraging dialogue and communication that is based on it. She sees managers as the vital success factor, and believes that organisations should be placing a great deal of emphasis and support on this group – something based on her own experience of being a mentor and remaining connected to those she has supported as they have grown.

From March 2020 to today we have all been living and working on a rollercoaster – the initial stages filled us with fear and trepidation, but also with a keen sense of humour and shared laughter. Over time, fear has become resignation and humour has faded. But, with the change in seasons, steps ‘back’ around lockdown and people feeling at a low ebb, we need it more than ever. In this quick burst episode, Chris takes a dip into this surprisingly complex subject and highlights its importance (and risk) in creating a strong team culture. He also lays down the challenge of bringing it back – dialling back up the ‘funnies’ and finding ways to share humour. We all need to smile right now, and it’s not something we should leave to chance.