Leaders Unlocked

This week on Leaders Unlocked, Lewis interviews Teddy Lee, Founder & CEO of Maki & Ramen.From washing dishes at 13 to building a fast-scaling global restaurant group, Teddy’s journey is built on resilience, relentless work ethic and an obsession with getting better.In this episode,  Lewis & Teddy explore:🔵 Moving to Scotland with nothing lined up and starting from scratch🔵 Teaching himself how to make ramen on YouTube and travelling to Japan to master the craft🔵 The mindset behind continuous improvement (Kaizen) and the power of small, consistent gains🔵 The reality of scaling and why growth often exposes more problems than it solves🔵 Why letting go as a founder is one of the hardest but most important steps in scaling🔵 The vision for Maki & Ramen and why Teddy believes there is no limit to what it can becomeTell us your opinion!Leaders Unlocked PodcastWeekly interviews where Lewis Ledingham unlocks insights from Leaders & Top Performers from Business, Sport and beyond 💡🎙️

CEO, presenter and podcast host for a conversation on building a career across sport, media and business. From living his dream in sports media to founding and scaling his tech business The Influence Room, launching Blackeye Gin, and building one of the leading podcasts in sport with The Good, The Bad & The Rugby, Alex’s journey is anything but linear.In this episode, Lewis and Alex explore: 🔵 The reality of scaling a tech business - the setbacks, pivots and lessons along the way🔵 The moment Alex realised he was living his dream in sports media🔵 Performing under pressure and learning to stay calm when the stakes are high🔵 Why authenticity is the most powerful currency in marketing and the insight that led to founding The Influence Room🔵 Building and scaling one of the leading podcasts in sport🔵 The importance of perspective and why caring less can sometimes lead to better performance📖 Alex’s book recommendation: Who Moved My Cheese by Dr. Spencer Johnson.Tell us your opinion!Leaders Unlocked PodcastWeekly interviews where Lewis Ledingham unlocks insights from Leaders & Top Performers from Business, Sport and beyond 💡🎙️

An insightful and thought-provoking conversation with Brigadier Gill Wilkinson, a senior leader in the British Army with nearly three decades of experience.From growing up during the Troubles in Northern Ireland to becoming a trailblazer for women in the Army, Gill’s journey is one of leadership, resilience and service. In their conversation, Lewis & Gill explore:🔵 What leadership really looks like when the stakes are high🔵 How to make decisions under pressure with incomplete information🔵 The concept of “disciplined initiative” and empowering decision-making at every level🔵 What people get wrong about leadership, hierarchy and command🔵 The realities of leadership in the Army versus common perceptions🔵 How early experiences during the Troubles shaped her perspective on life, leadership and responsibility📖 Gill’s book recommendation: Gravitas by Carolyn GoyderTell us your opinion!Leaders Unlocked PodcastWeekly interviews where Lewis Ledingham unlocks insights from Leaders & Top Performers from Business, Sport and beyond 💡🎙️

A raw, honest and powerful conversation with Jack Scott- One of the World’s best ultra-endurance athletes.From rock bottom with a gambling addiction to the top of the running world- Jack’s story is inspirational. In their conversation, Lewis & Jack explore:🔵 Gambling addiction to elite ultra-runner — and the reality behind that shift🔵 The epiphany on a run that changed the direction of his life forever🔵 How running became the outlet that rebuilt his identity🔵 The decisive moment during the 2024 Spine Race that led to a record-breaking run🔵 How addiction doesn’t disappear… it often just changes form🔵 The risks of becoming too tied to one identity or outcome📖 Jack's book recommendation: From One Extreme to the Other by Mike Hartley.Tell us your opinion!Leaders Unlocked PodcastWeekly interviews where Lewis Ledingham unlocks insights from Leaders & Top Performers from Business, Sport and beyond 💡🎙️

Fergus Crawley, founder of OMNIA Performance, Endurance Athlete, YouTube Entrepreneur and Mental Health Campaigner.In this episode, Lewis & Fergus explore:Why great leadership starts with embodying the missionProject Tenacity, Fergus’ challenge to complete 10 Ironman distance triathlons in 10 days to mark 10 years since his suicide attempt.The reality of building and leading a business while training 30+ hours per week.Why the fitness industry has lost its way, and why the basics still win.Why chasing views and vanity metrics is the fastest way to lose the game.The mindset required to keep going when self-doubt, pressure and uncertainty show up.Donate here: https://givestar.io/gs/project-tenacityFergus' book recommendation: Buy Back Your Time by Dan Martell.Tell us your opinion!Leaders Unlocked PodcastWeekly interviews where Lewis Ledingham unlocks insights from Leaders & Top Performers from Business, Sport and beyond 💡🎙️

This week’s guest is Malcolm Robertson, Founder & CEO of Charlotte Street Partners, and former Director of Communications at BAA.Malcolm has spent decades operating at the intersection of leadership, reputation, and high-stakes decision making. Leading Charlotte Street Partners, he now advises organisations and leaders through moments where scrutiny is intense, and the stakes are incredibly high.In this conversation we explore:Growing up- what life was like as the son of Lord Robertson, and how an opportunity in the Scouts became a life-changing milestoneLeading and shaping culture under intense public scrutinyManaging the response to the Glasgow Airport terrorist attackCrisis communication when everything is on the line- how leaders stay composed, make clear decisions, and protect trustTaking the leap from senior corporate leadership to founding Charlotte Street PartnersRemembering the Dunblane tragedy 30 years on, and how it changed Britain forever.Malcolm's book recommendation: Leading: Learning from Life and My Years at Manchester United (2015), Sir Alex Ferguson co-authored with Sir Michael MoritzTell us your opinion!Leaders Unlocked PodcastWeekly interviews where Lewis Ledingham unlocks insights from Leaders & Top Performers from Business, Sport and beyond 💡🎙️

On this week’s episode of Leaders Unlocked, Lewis is joined by Stuart McInally- former Scotland Rugby Captain and soon-to-be commercial airline pilot.From schoolboy rugby to leading his country on the international stage, Stuart’s journey is one of progression, pressure, and precision.In this conversation, we explore:🔵 The path from school rugby to the very top of the game🔵 The moment he became Scotland captain- and the realities of leading your country🔵 A Calcutta Cup dream realised🔵 Why great leadership means taking people with you and delegating effectively🔵 Transitioning from elite sport into his dream career in the cockpitStuart's book recommendation: Start With Why, Simon SinekTell us your opinion!Leaders Unlocked PodcastWeekly interviews where Lewis Ledingham unlocks insights from Leaders & Top Performers from Business, Sport and beyond 💡🎙️

In the very first episode of Leaders Unlocked, we’re joined by Mark Beaumont, world-record breaking endurance cyclist, adventurer, and high-performance leader. Mark is known for pushing the limits of human performance, most famously cycling around the world in just 78 days.In this conversation, Mark shares the mindset, discipline, and support systems required to achieve world-class performance and sustain excellence under extreme pressure.We explore:The journey to becoming an outlier and record breakerThe mindset behind resilience and sustained high performanceAthletes transitioning from sport into the business worldBuilding the systems and high-performance teams behind extraordinary achievementsThe importance of strong support networks and purposeThis episode is a powerful conversation on leadership, performance, and what it truly takes to push beyond perceived limits.Mark’s book recommendation: Moral Courage by Rushworth M KidderTell us your opinion!Leaders Unlocked PodcastWeekly interviews where Lewis Ledingham unlocks insights from Leaders & Top Performers from Business, Sport and beyond 💡🎙️