ExExecs Podcast

On 28 January 2011, Hania was COO of HSBC Egypt. She woke up to find her country had no internet and no mobile phones. Every number on her crisis-team list was unreachable. So she picked up an old phone book.For Episode 5, John, Tarek and Robin are joined by Hania for the inside story of running a bank through the Arab Spring and what came after. Robin knew the story from the regional COO seat in Dubai. This conversation has been twenty years in the making.What you'll hear:The morning of 28 January 2011 - and the paper phonebook that saved the response"Emotional stability" - what one senior member of staff said that changed how Hania ledWhy the right person in a crisis is rarely the most senior person in the roomHow to keep the CEO and the regulator informed without crushing the team doing the workThe queue outside head office that became the proudest moment of her careerThe CEO who came back from abroad and didn't believe his team had handled it"Don't waste a good crisis" - the post-event discipline that compounds across a careerChapters:00:00 Welcome and the three-host introduction 01:11 Robin introduces Hania 01:34 Hania on ten years as COO of HSBC Egypt 02:25 Tarek's first question 03:08 28 January 2011: no internet, no mobiles 04:40 Stay calm. Systems fail. 05:58 How do you stay calm when you're panicking? 06:55 "Emotional stability" 07:37 Choosing who is in the room 08:00 Why Hania went to the number two 09:33 The IT outage tension 11:05 Visibility and being seen 13:08 Priority communications 13:50 Cash, queues, and the ATM withdrawal limit 14:27 The queue she looked at with real pride 14:59 The HSBC brand 16:04 Call trees and earthquake-readiness 17:24 Did creativity play a part? 18:37 What you can prepare for 20:44 Drills are too easy 21:43 The Christmas Eve thought experiment 23:34 Bromley + Croydon: the Bank of America story 25:30 Working with the regulator 27:28 Managing up: the CEO came back suspicious 29:53 Seeing seismic risk early 30:43 The cost of having no one in-region 31:47 Recognising vs dispelling a crisis 33:30 Don't waste a good crisis 34:34 Crises that prolong, and team fatigue 34:55 John's recapIf you lead anything that has to keep running when the lights go out, this is the one.Get in touch: [email protected]

Most leaders say they delegate. Most leaders are lying to themselves.Three ex-executives - John, Tarek, and Robin - break down why delegation fails, what trust actually looks like in practice, and why the best leaders employ people brighter than themselves.Tarek shares the moment he told his chief of staff "No, send it" and watched her confidence transform. John confesses to the mistake every new leader makes: still doing your old job. Robin challenges whether delegation is something you are born with or something you learn.Timestamps0:00 - Introduction and meet the ExExecs3:00 - The Art of Delegation4:00 - No, send it. I have got your back6:30 - Why you must delegate8:00 - The neuroscience of trust: 50% higher productivity10:30 - Cautionary tale: still doing your old job13:30 - Team ownership over food15:45 - Delegating outside the comfort zone19:30 - Is delegation natural or learned?23:00 - When your boss will not delegate28:30 - The repeat-back technique35:00 - The buddy system38:30 - Next: Crisis Management with Haniya SadiqNext Episode: Crisis Management with Haniya Sadiq - former COO of HSBC Egypt, Forbes 100 Most Influential Muslim Women.Contact: [email protected]

Having Difficult Conversations (with Empathy, Courage, and Preparation)Three former executives, Robin, Tarek, and John share lessons from decades in complex corporate environments, introducing difficult conversations. They discuss being both the instigator and recipient, with examples including an unexpected mediocre appraisal, redundancy conversations shaped by HR scripts, and a father-son moment about asking permission before giving feedback. Key ideas include using empathy and humanity, choosing timing and context carefully, getting to the point, preparing with evidence and examples, avoiding procrastination by committing to a meeting time, and recognizing that difficult conversations often benefit the recipient. They also cover giving feedback upward to a boss, handling forced decisions like redundancies and calibration, and John shares formative feedback from his father about finding “fire in the belly.”00:00 Meet the Hosts01:19 Who This Podcast Serves02:23 Today’s Topic Difficult Talks02:48 Robin’s Toughest Moments04:36 Tarek’s Permission Lesson07:26 Timing Empathy and Context10:16 When HR Makes It Cold13:14 John’s Crisis Communications16:57 Don’t Delay the Hard Talk17:24 Crossing the Evidence Line19:33 Gather Evidence Without Bias20:08 Commit to the Conversation21:07 Reframe Difficulty as Feedback21:57 Know Your Why as Leader23:09 Giving Feedback to Your Boss25:24 When You Lack Conviction28:58 Redundancy and Forced Ranking30:58 Personal Story on Passion32:14 Key Takeaways and Next Topics

Mastering Presentation and Storytelling: Insights from Ex-ExecutivesJoin three ex-executive officers, John, Tarek, and Robin, as they delve into the essential skills of presentations and storytelling in leadership. This episode covers practical tips for improving public speaking, from handling pre-presentation nerves and mastering the elevator pitch to the power of pauses and engaging your audience. They share personal anecdotes, such as John's impactful assembly speeches and Tarek's creative analogies, exploring the importance of authenticity, rehearsal, and emotional intelligence. Ideal for anyone climbing the career ladder or looking to enhance their professional presence. Tune in for valuable advice on making unforgettable presentations and effective storytelling.00:00 Introduction and Hosts' Backgrounds00:38 The Importance of Presentation Skills03:06 Storytelling in Presentations07:04 Practical Tips for Effective Presentations08:32 Overcoming Nervousness and Engaging the Audience14:46 The Power of Authenticity and Pauses20:17 Diversity and Anecdotal Openers20:54 Relating to Previous Speakers21:36 Engaging Openers: The Rat Story26:05 Creating a Safe Space for Practice32:07 The Power of Q&A35:28 Handling the Press36:17 Conclusion and Sign OffIf you would like to connect with Tarek, Robin or John please email [email protected]

Lessons in Leadership: Insights from Three Former ExecutivesJoin three former executive officers, Tarek, Robin, and John, as they share their professional journeys, leadership lessons, and personal experiences in this insightful podcast episode. From navigating cultural differences in international banking to the importance of continuous learning and self-management, the trio provides valuable advice for aspiring leaders. They discuss critical topics such as the importance of storytelling in presentations, overcoming career challenges, and the benefits of coaching. Whether you're climbing the corporate ladder or just starting your career, this conversation will offer practical wisdom to help you succeed.00:00 Introduction and Purpose01:02 Meet Tarek: Banking and Beyond02:46 Meet Robin: Global Banking Experience04:35 Meet John: Educational Leadership06:47 Key Career Turning Points09:15 Embracing Discomfort and Learning15:52 Lessons from Sports and Leadership18:04 Handling Tough Questions in Presentations18:47 The Power of Storytelling in Leadership19:22 Games and Techniques for Effective Presentations20:59 Learning from Mistakes: Personal Reflections21:40 The Importance of Self-Promotion23:45 Cultural Differences in Corporate Environments24:48 Rewiring the Brain for Better Leadership28:03 The Role of Coaches and Mentors28:33 Dealing with Crisis and Grief in Leadership30:44 The Loneliness of Leadership33:01 Conclusion and Future TopicsIf you want to contact John, Robin and Tarek please email them at [email protected]