The Empowered Podcast by Curium: Recent Episodes
MonkeyPants Productions
Welcome to The Empowered Podcast by Curium Solutions. A personal development podcast which aims to inspire people through storytelling.
We believe that through the art of storytelling and sharing a personal lived experience, this can inspire and empower those around you.
In our first ever podcast series we listen to some inspiring leadership stories, lessons and learns as we ask ‘who has Empowered them?' on their journey. The Empowered Podcast is brought to you by Curium Solutions. We are a transformation company, helping organisations of all sizes realise more of their potential by implementing interventions that change them for the better. And stick.
For more info visit www.curiumsolutions.com or drop us an email at contactus@curiumsolutions.com.
Tru Powell is a multi-award-winning creative entrepreneur, personal brand coach and publicity expert. With over 15 years in business, he is very passionate about supporting the next generation of entrepreneurs to help them build their personal brands. He hosts the Creative Entrepreneurs Podcast and has built the Creative Entrepreneurs UK Clubhouse Club which has reached 20,000 members, as well as a Facebook Group. His other business interests include Kandy Girl. This is the UK’s first children’s pamper salon offering pampering experiences for young kids aged 3-16. As you will hear, this indirectly gave him his opportunity in television. He is a big believer in community. He is the Creative & Events Director for Aston Performing Arts Academy. This a community interest organisation that exists to empower young people through performing and creative arts. Since the organisation’s inception in 2004, they have impacted the lives of over three thousand young people in the Midlands.
Tru is a Trustee for Creative Academies, a Board Member for West Midlands Regional Tourism Board, Birmingham Hippodrome and a NED for TAG Network Midlands and Creative Academies Network.
He has is a champion for social equality, justice, and freedom of speech. He believes in true representation of all communities irrespective of race, gender, religion, sexuality, age, or class.
When Tru is not working on his businesses, speaking at events, or lecturing, you can catch him on the nation’s favourite breakfast TV programme, Good Morning Britain, where he is a regular commentator on the show.
Over the years Tru has received many accolades for enterprise and his contribution to the arts. As you will hear, he speaks freely, openly, and authentically.
Resources
Tru’s website and course details: www.trupowell.com
The Creative Entrepreneur UK Clubhouse club: https://clubhousedb.com/club/12421-creative-entrepreneurs-uk.
Aston Performing Arts Academy website: https://www.astonpaa.com/.
The Creative Entrepreneurs Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/creative-entrepreneurs-podcast/id1569910186.
Kandy Girl website: https://www.kandygirl.uk/.
This week’s episode it a little bit different. Today we are talking to Andrew Barnes, an entrepreneur from New Zealand who likes to do things a bit differently. In 2018, Andrew decided to pilot a 4-day working week in his company, Perpetual Guardian, which provides estate planning services. Andrew has always been an innovator. After reading an article that suggested that the typical office worker was only productive for 2.5 to 3 hours a day, he saw an opportunity. The opportunity was to both improve productivity whilst also giving time back to his team. He wanted to offer his teams the chance to earn their full salary, in return for delivering 100% productivity, but by only working for 4 days. Once his board had got their head around the idea, they began piloting a 4-day working week for all. The pilot went well and soon became the norm for the teams.
Over time, other businesses got to hear about the success of this initiative and the 4 Day Week Global Foundation was born. Andrew has spoken all over the world about the initiative, published a white paper about the results, and in 2019 he published his book, not surprisingly called the 4-day week.
Earlier this year, a pilot programme started for companies in the UK who are interested in the 4-day week concept. As you will hear the benefits seem compelling, and during our discussion Andrew shares many insights that will certainly get you thinking. It is not what you think, so definitely worth a listen.
Resources
Andrew Barnes LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewhbarnes/
4 Day Week Global programme website: https://www.4dayweek.com/.
4 Day Week White Paper 2019: https://www.4dayweek.com/download-white-paper.
Andrew’s Book 4 Day Week: https://www.4dayweek.com/book.
Acorn’s Children’s Hospice Business Club: https://www.acorns.org.uk/acorns-business-club/.
Denise Lawrenson has spent to the majority of her career working in the rail industry. After graduating as a software engineer, she worked on major projects including extensions to the London Underground and rail projects in Hong Kong. As a woman, she is still an outlier in the Rail sector, but that only galvanises her.
In 2005 Denise joined KeTech, a private equity backed SME technology business who improve the experience of rail travellers around the world. She became CEO in 2019. Denise has worked in a variety of roles within the KeTech business and has experienced many highs and lows along the way.
In 2010, after the global financial crisis, the company had fallen on very difficult times. It became Denise’s job to travel around the world convincing her customers and suppliers to continue to support KeTech. As you will hear, there is a pivotal moment when Denise asks one of KeTech’s customers for their support. Their faith and trust in Denise meant that they placed another order.
Humble, understated and very focussed, her faith has never wavered in the potential of both the team and the KeTech business. Today, the business is thriving, applying lessons from their past to help achieve their global ambition.
Denise was a pleasure to talk to. She has a great sense of humour, and she shares many valuable learns that are meaningful to everyone.
Resources
KeTech website: https://www.ketech.com/ Denise Lawrenson – LinkedIn: Denise Lawrenson
Acorn Children’s Hospice Business club: https://www.acorns.org.uk/acorns-business-club/.
Kelly Sotherton had immense success as a heptathlete and also raced in the 4 x 400m women’s relay team. A triple Olympic medallist, as well as a Gold medallist at the 2006 Commonwealth Games, she also won further medals at the European and World games. Kelly was awarded an MBE in the 2020 New Year Honours for services to track and field athletics and the promotion of women's sport.
Once she stepped away from competing, Kelly turned to performance coaching, specialising in running, working in professional rugby for Wasps RFC and in professional cricket with Warwickshire County Cricket Club.
She has now turned her attention to the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, taking place this summer. Kelly is the Team Leader for the English Athletics team, and the preparation is well underway to give everybody the best possible chance to be successful.
Kelly’s sense of determination, coupled with the confidence that underpins every great athlete and leader, runs throughout our conversation, as does her fantastic sense of humour. Kelly is candid, with a strong and inclusive leadership style that serves her well inside and outside of athletics.
Once the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games finishes, Kelly will be looking for her next challenge, and we’re sure that she won’t be short of offers.
Resources:
Kelly Sotherton: Instagram @kellysotherton, Twitter @KellySotheron, LinkedIn Kelly Sotherton MBE
Acorn Children’s Hospice Business club: https://www.acorns.org.uk/acorns-business-club/.
Joe Foster was born into the family shoe business along with his brother Jeff. Joe's grandfather was the founder of J.W. Foster and Sons and the pioneer of the spiked running shoe, and also developed the trainer (sneaker).
Upon returning from National Service, they decided that they wanted to do something different. In 1958 they set up their own sports shoes business, which was rebranded to Reebok 18 months later.
Like many businesses in their early years, they had their fair share of twists and turns. Succeeding in America was always the dream, but it took years to crack that market. Once they did, they did it in style. Their big break came when Jane Fonda started to wear their shoes in her Aerobics classes. They refocussed their efforts on developing a female brand, and Reebok grew, very quickly.
They turned Reebok into a $ Billion business overtaking the like of Adidas and Nike along the way to become the number one sports brand in the USA.
In 2020 Joe published his autobiography, Shoemaker. As you will hear, Joe is looking forward to seeing Reebok make something of a comeback under new ownership later this year. He will be out promoting his book and supporting Reebok in America in a few months’ time.
Joe shares many insights about his journey:
- Being persistent.
- Knowing your market and customers,
- Seizing opportunity by taking action.
In today’s world of digital first, it was fascinating to hear Joe’s story in a world that was anything but digital first at the time. One relied on letters, phone calls and lots of travelling!
Resources:
Joe Foster website: https://www.reebokthefounder.com/.
Joe Foster on LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-foster-a38a4b10b/.
Joe Foster on Twitter: @Reebokfounder
Joe Foster’s Book “Shoemaker”: https://www.jwfosterheritage.com/shop-online.
Acorn Children’s Hospice Business club: https://www.acorns.org.uk/acorns-business-club/.
The Empowered Podcast is brought to you by Curium Solutions. We are a transformation company, helping organisations of all sizes realise more of their potential by implementing interventions that change them for the better. And stick. For more info visit www.curiumsolutions.com or drop us an email at contactus@curiumsolutions.com.
Alex Staniforth has achieved an awful lot in a short time. He is a record-breaking adventurer, an ultra-endurance athlete, founder a charity, an author, a motivational speaker and much more.
He has faced into and overcome adversity on many occasions. At an early age he fought struggles with epilepsy, anxiety, his stammer, and bullying. After a life changing paragliding trip whilst on holiday in Turkey, his perspective on life changed. He set his goals high, extremely high indeed by setting out to climb Everest in 2014 and then again in 2015. However, two consecutive natural disasters prevented him from reaching his goals. The second of which left him stranded on the mountain for two days.
Demonstrating immense resilience whilst tackling his own mental challenges, Alex continued his adventures closer to home. He wrote the first of his two book, Ice Fall, and then moved on to his record-breaking challenge of climbing the 100 UK county tops and won the Pride of Britain Fundraiser of the year.
Alex co-founded the charity Mind over Mountains, a mental health charity to help other people to improve their own wellbeing through outdoor experiences. As you will hear, Alex is incredibly open about his own challenges, and is a huge inspiration to people of any age and background
Resources:
Mind Over Mountains: https://mindovermountains.org.uk/.
Alex Staniforth website: https://alexstaniforth.com/.
Alex Staniforth books: https://alexstaniforth.com/books/.
Alex Staniforth on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexstaniforth/.
Acorns Children’s Hospice Business Club: https://www.acorns.org.uk/acorns-business-club/.
Listen to Andy Dawson, Co-Founder of Curium Solutions, announcing the upcoming Series 2 of The Empowered Podcast - as well as revealing the new Podcast Partner.
Toby Porter is the CEO of Acorn's Children's Hospice and you can find out more about them here:
https://www.acorns.org.uk/
The Empowered Podcast is brought to you by Curium Solutions. We are a transformation company, helping organisations of all sizes realise more of their potential by implementing interventions that change them for the better. And stick. For more info visit www.curiumsolutions.com or drop us an email at contactus@curiumsolutions.com.
It’s so great to meet other people who have the same values that we do at Curium and Jordan is definitely one of them. He has such a passion for people and this really comes through in our chat. He’s someone who clearly puts this into practice and he knew from as early as 16 years old he wanted to pursue a career that mixes people with business.
Jordan believes in failure as something positive and it’s what makes us, as he candidly puts it, ‘the value of our failure isn’t really realized, you are building success with every failure you have’.
Today, Jordan George has grown to be an award-winning talent and culture strategist, organizational transformation leader, and international speaker on a mission to connect people with purpose.
As the Head of HR & Talent Development at Addition Financial in Florida, Jordan oversees the organization’s talent strategy, internal communications, corporate events, and employee experience.
Though he wears many hats, one of his favorite roles to play is that of host for Addition Financial’s, by-employees podcast, WeConnect. Harnessing knowledge and techniques gained from his 15 years of experience as a professional improviser, speaker, trainer, and talent consultant. Jordan’s real passion is for building people and place that work better, he helps leaders and teams improve communication, amplify creativity, and cultivate positive employee experiences that empower people to do their best work.
www.askjordangeorge.com
The Empowered Podcast from Curium Solutions is hosted by Andy Dawson and produced by Monkey Pants Productions. We’d love to hear from you. To contact us, email contactus@curiumsolutions.com
As we come to the end of our first series of The Empowered Podcast, we’re so excited to have a podcast legend to help us go out with a bang.
If you’ve listened to Don’t Tell Me The Score, then you’ll know exactly who we’re talking about…Simon Mundie! He’s an individual who has interviewed some of the most incredible sports stars of our time and some of the world’s most successful people.
From studying Broadcast Journalism at Leeds University combined with his love for tennis, he started out as a roving reporter for Radio Wimbledon covering the Championships in 2007. Since then, he’s gone from strength to strength in his broadcasting and radio career. He’s been a news, sport and entertainment journalist for Absolute Radio, pitch side reporter for IMG Premier League Productions, and for the last 11 years he’s been a regular presenter and reporter for the BBC.
Not to mention, Founder and Owner of his critically acclaimed podcast ‘Don’t Tell Me The Score’, which uses sport to answer some of life’s bigger questions. His podcast draws upon the sporting elite and biggest thinkers lessons, as he believes in helping others to ‘show up’ as a champion every day. He’s had the pleasure in chatting to the likes of; Jonny Wilkinson, Joe Wickes, Dame Kelly Holmes, Sir Clive Woodward, Sir Alastair Cook and Caitlyn Jenner to name a few!
Simon talks very candidly about some of the highs and lows of his career and the importance of following your intuition, which played a very crucial role when he took the big leap in going self-employed and starting up Mundie Mundial during a pandemic, over the ‘safe option’ of leaving the BBC.
As well as broadcaster, Simon is now known as a Life Coach, motivational speaker, podcast producer and author to boot – he just finished writing his first book at the time of this podcast recording. He’s worked with some big household names like; Innocent, P&G, NHS and GQ.
Don’t Tell Me The Score Podcast: www.simonmundie.com/blog
The Empowered Podcast from Curium Solutions is hosted by Andy Dawson and produced by Monkey Pants Productions. We’d love to hear from you. To contact us, email contactus@curiumsolutions.com
Jake Wightman is a British middle-distance runner that represents team GB on the international stage. Born of two athlete parents, Jake knew from an early age that competing at a professional level was what he aspired to achieve.
Talking to elite athletes is always exciting, but what really inspired us during our conversation was Jake’s attitude towards the opportunity he has, both on and off the track.
We talk to Jake about the importance of goal setting and how, when got right, this creates positive motivation to keep progressing. Jake also has a strong philosophy around learning from mistakes to help drive future success.
We also explore the value of learning from the community around you, and to equally share your lessons, to help propel everyone forward.
Jake also finds inspiration from those less fortunate than him, he mentions David Smith, a Paralympic athlete, who’s journey we’ve linked below.
Jake’s wisdom beyond his years is an inspiration and something everyone could take from.
Good Luck in Japan Jake! We’ll be cheering you on.
Hear The Empowered Podcast Guest Ed Jackson talk to David Smith in episode 1 of ‘It’s good to walk’ https://edjackson8.com/podcast/
The Empowered Podcast from Curium Solutions is hosted by Andy Dawson and produced by Monkey Pants Productions. We’d love to hear from you. To contact us, email contactus@curiumsolutions.com
Vanessa Vallely is someone who encompasses what true Leadership looks like and is often referred to as the ‘most well networked woman in the UK’.
She grew up in a flat in Hackney with her mum, after her parents divorced while she was still a baby. Vanessa always had big dreams to work in the City from the skyline she could see from her bedroom window. From getting her first job in banking for NatWest fresh from school and being told ‘girls don’t work in banks’ and ‘you’d never get a job’, this gave her a real valuable lesson on resilience in her early career.
Vanessa believes it just takes one opportunity. When she returned from maternity leave, she saw a job opportunity for a PMO Manager, it was that one opportunity she says that led her up the corporate ladder that she’s flourished in for the last 25 years. She is an individual that believes in persistence and having a tenacity to get where you want to be as she puts it in her book, ‘Heels of Steel.’ Her next book is due to be released in 2022.
There came a point in Vanessa’s career where she started searching for her own purpose and wanted to make a real difference. Getting more women on boards, creating a voice for professional working women, having conversations about diversity within the workplace and wanting to make a difference for the younger generation. This passion and purpose led to her setting up her own networking organisation, WeAreTheCity in 2008, to help women progress in their careers. WeAreTheCity has a huge reach, with over 120,000 members!
Her commitment to championing diversity & inclusion goes further than just gender. She received an OBE for Services to Women & the Economy in 2018, along with an impressive list of 22 awards for her work in finance, gender equality, entrepreneurship and charity. Vanessa is a former member of the GDS advisory board, Tech UK's Women's Council, CR-UK Women of Influence board. She has helped to raise over £1m for various charities and is also a regular speaker in schools. An accomplished global speaker and has delivered keynotes for over 600 global organisations both physically and virtually. Vanessa has been featured in over 75 news publications and is a regular guest on radio and TV.
www.wearethecity.com
Vanessa’s book Heel’s to Steel: Surviving & Thriving in the Corporate World: Heels of Steel: Surviving & Thriving In The Corporate World: Surviving & Thriving in the Corporate World: Amazon.co.uk: Vallely, Vanessa: 9781909623118: Books
The Empowered Podcast from Curium Solutions is hosted by Andy Dawson and produced by Monkey Pants Productions. We’d love to hear from you. To contact us, email contactus@curiumsolutions.com
Kayam started his career in the Royal Air force as a medic, before moving on to specialise in languages, and working with various specialist units across a number of NATO countries.
During his 11 years of service, Kayam completed tours of Iraq and Afghanistan. As a British Muslim, Kayam experienced hostility and racism throughout his career in the military, but in the wake of 9/11 this extended to his home community too.
After being medically discharged from the military in 2010 for PTSD, Kayam struggled to adjust to civilian life, at one point selling scratch cards for £6 an hour with Camelot. But it was a challenge from a cousin, coupled with Kayam’s grit and determination, that took him into the corporate world at the likes of BT and Tesco, where he achieved much success.
Kayam then went on to launch the award-winning Job OppO and OppO foundation – a community that helps former service men and women find employment and adapt back to normal civilian life.
We talk to Kayam about the societal challenges with mental health, particularly in the military, and the importance of talking openly about how you are feeling.
We also explore how organisations can work with people with real lived experiences to help them understand about how to provide better support to their employees.
This episode showed us the power of resilience and not being afraid to get knocked down, something Kayam has taken from his experience in the military and applied to his civilian career and OppO, all with a purpose of helping others.
The Empowered Podcast from Curium Solutions is hosted by Andy Dawson and produced by Monkey Pants Productions. We’d love to hear from you. To contact us, email contactus@curiumsolutions.com
Job OppO: www.joboppo.co.uk
OppO Foundation: www.theoppofoundation.com
Samaritans: www.samaritans.org
Mind: www.mind.org.uk
Jacqueline de Rojas, is a woman who has risen to the very top of her sector. She is president of TechUK, which represents 950 companies, chair of Digital Leaders, a board member of Rightmove, Costain and AO World, and is part of the government’s Digital Economy Council.
But it’s fair to say this impressive lady has had her fair share of obstacles along the way. Growing up with challenges at home, Jacqueline threw herself into school as her escapism, eventually leading her to Germany, where she completed her degree in European Business.
After a longed-for career as a newscaster for the BBC didn’t happen, Jacqueline landed a job in tech in the 1990’s, at this time very much a male dominated world. Once told “we simply don’t put women on the leadership team”, Jacqueline went on to work in leadership roles for many blue-chip companies, before moving on to portfolio career working as a Non-Exec Director.
Passionate about diversity and inclusion in all it’s forms, Jacqueline is a campaigner for increased cultural diversity in technology, and addressing the gender pay gap via her advisory positions at @TheYouthGroupHQ, @accelerate-Her and the @girlguiding association. Numerous awards and a CBE later, Jacqueline really is a leader with a difference.
We talk to Jacqueline about leadership in the ever-advancing world of technology, and why curiosity is key. We also discuss the power of diversity and why having a diverse team leads to better business decisions.
Jacqueline’s authentic style and genuine curiosity makes for a thought-provoking conversation that will leave listeners inspired and eager for more.
The Empowered Podcast from Curium Solutions is hosted by Andy Dawson and produced by Monkey Pants Productions. We’d love to hear from you. To contact us, email contactus@curiumsolutions.com
Ed Jackson is a former professional rugby player with a career spanning 10 years for teams including Bath, London Welsh, Wasps, and the Newport Gwent Dragons.
Weeks before his debut international game for Wales, Ed suffered a life changing accident which ended his rugby career and should have left him unable to walk. Defying all odds, Ed went on to become the first quadriplegic to hike up Mount Snowdon – just 1 year after his accident.
Since then, Ed has gone on to co-found Millimetres2Mountains, a charity helping people who are facing mental health challenges as a resulting of encountering adversity in their lives, has become a broadcaster for Channel 4, as well and a speaker and mentor for spinal cord injury survivors, and has launched his own podcast, It’s Good to Walk, where Ed chats to guests about resilience and determination through difficult times. That’s not to mention the 89,056 steps he completed as a virtual ascent of Mt Everest during lockdown, raising money for Wings for Life charity and the NHS, all on his parents staircase.
We had a truly inspiring conversation about finding your WHY and understanding what gives you purpose. We discuss the impact of a negative mindset and the importance of perspective – Ed himself is proof that you can find a positive from any situation.
We also talk about why doing the things you’re passionate about will lead to great outcomes, as well as taking yourself out of your comfort zone and believing the impossible will help you look at life differently.
Ed brings humour and a light-hearted style without taking away from the seriousness of the subject. His positivity is awe inspiring and something everyone can take inspiration from.
Ed’s book, Lucky, out in August, tells his story of how he overcame adversity and coped with massive change. We cannot wait to give it a read.
Millimetres2Mountains https://www.millimetres2mountains.org/
If you would like to pre-order Lucky you can do so here: https://harpercollins.co.uk/products/lucky-ed-jackson?variant=32893302407246.
The Empowered Podcast from Curium Solutions is hosted by Andy Dawson and produced by Monkey Pants Productions. We’d love to hear from you. To contact us, email contactus@curiumsolutions.com
Welcome to The Empowered Podcast by Curium Solutions. A personal development podcast which aims to inspire people through storytelling. We believe that through the art of storytelling and sharing a personal lived experience, this can inspire and empower those around you. In our first ever podcast series we listen to some inspiring leadership stories, lessons and learns as we ask ‘who has Empowered them?' on their journey. The Empowered Podcast is brought to you by Curium Solutions. We are a transformation company, helping organisations of all sizes realise more of their potential by implementing interventions that change them for the better. And stick. For more info visit www.curiumsolutions.com or drop us an email at contactus@curiumsolutions.com.