Reflections on the Top - Tony Douglas
Chris revisits the key points made by Tony Douglas, adds his own insights and gives listeners some suggestions for practical actions they can take immediately to help them get where they want to go.
Leadership Lessons from a Global Journey (ft. Spriha Srivastava)
enAugust 22, 2022
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Summarise the key points discussed in the episode?
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About this Episode
Leadership Lessons from a Global Journey (ft. Spriha Srivastava)
Spriha Srivastava on journalism, justice, and kindness
OPENING QUOTE:
“At the end of the day, we are all humans, we all have our personal lives and we bring along those personal lives to work every day. So, for me, it's very important to be respectful and kind towards each other.”
- Spriha Srivastava
GUEST BIO:
Spriha Srivastava is the London bureau chief and the international executive editor for Insider, overseeing 100 journalists across the UK and Singapore in the pursuit of delivering a leading news service covering business, politics, and lifestyle. Prior to joining Insider, Spriha was the deputy digital news editor for CNBC International in London. She’s won a number of awards for her work, including the Iconic Women Creating a Better Tomorrow award from the Women Economic Forum and runner-up for Newcomer of the Year in the Santander Media Awards.
CORE TOPICS + DETAILS:
[7:50] - Melding Cultural Backgrounds
What Spriha’s Indian upbringing has taught her
In India, there are 28 states and over 100 spoken languages as well as practitioners of every major faith. There, diversity and inclusion aren’t just ideals to strive toward— they’re realities of everyday existence. Spriha brought that close connection to diversity with her to the UK, and it has helped inform her entire career. In that respect, she was ahead of the curve in terms of making those principles central to how companies hire, engage with employees, and more.
[14:34] - Employers and Personal Financial Health
A vital role to play
In her interactions with the Financial Times magazine Money Management, Spriha saw firsthand how little many people understand about personal finance. Today, she feels that employers should take a more active interest in the financial wellbeing of their people. After all, people who are financially secure are better equipped to manage their careers, and have more mental space to think creatively about solutions to business problems. It’s a win-win for employers and employees alike.
[20:07] - Lightning-Fast Leadership
Leading in the rapid paced world of journalism
In her first few journalism leadership roles, Spriha learned that you have to encourage your team members to step up and inspire confidence. Advocate for your team and lean into the best of them to help them step up to the next level. You also must advocate for yourself. In fast-paced fields like the world of news and journalism, there’s no time for imposter syndrome. You have to step up and lead.
[29:10] - Coach the Person, Not the Problem
Leading humans with no human interaction
When the pandemic hit, Spriha was reminded of the essential nature of listening to human beings and their needs— not just seeing them as business resources to be applied to problems. She became acutely aware of issues like no childcare, mental health struggles, and isolation. She learned that people can’t be their best when they are in an environment that doesn’t acknowledge and support their unique needs.
[37:07] - Out for a Swim
An important lesson on leading by example
A recent CEO interview revealed a powerful insight to Spriha. A CEO concerned with burnout and long hours from his employee led him to look in the mirror, where he discovered he was setting the tone for long days with his actions— even if he wasn’t encouraging it with his words. He decided to be an example by attending fewer meetings in person and publicly stating when he was out of the office for personal reasons. His example had a powerful positive impact on his people.
[56:05] - Empathy: The Underrated Core of Leadership
On bringing our full selves to work each day
Even if it doesn’t feel directly relevant to our work, we all bring our personalities, the things we love, the things we hate, our fears, our aspirations, and our habits into the office (or Zoom call) every day. On days when those things can feel like a heavy burden, the value of having empathetic people around you at work— both in supervisors and peers— is incalculable. We should all strive to find those people, and be that person for those around us.
RESOURCES:
- [8:45] About the Global Markets Forum
- [35:34] About the World Economic Forum
- [48:11] Competition for talent after the Great Resignation
Follow Spriha Srivastava:
Follow Chris Roebuck:
ABOUT PERSPECTIVES FROM THE TOP:
Discover the secrets of success for you and your organization shared by the world’s leading thinkers, doers, and trailblazers. Join Chris Roebuck, Honorary Visiting Professor of transformational leadership, leader in military, business, and government, inspiring global keynote speaker, one of HR’s Most Influential Thinkers, bestselling author, and your host of Perspectives from the Top. The show reveals a treasure trove of insights from mega trends to practical strategies and actions to take your career up a gear. From government world shapers and business mold breakers to evidence driven academics and enthusiastic entrepreneurs, each episode shows you how you can immediately use these new ideas and actions to drive your success.
Learn more at: PerspectivesFromTheTop.com
ABOUT DETROIT PODCAST STUDIOS:
In Detroit, history was made when Barry Gordy opened Motown Records back in 1960. More than just discovering great talent, Gordy built a systematic approach to launching superstars. His rigorous processes, technology, and development methods were the secret sauce behind legendary acts such as The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross and Michael Jackson.
As a nod to the past, Detroit Podcast Studios leverages modern versions of Motown’s processes to launch today’s most compelling podcasts. What Motown was to musical artists, Detroit Podcast Studios is to podcast artists today. With over 75 combined years of experience in content development, audio production, music scoring, storytelling, and digital marketing, Detroit Podcast Studios provides full-service development, training, and production capabilities to take podcasts from messy ideas to finely tuned hits.
Here’s to making (podcast) history together.
Learn more at: DetroitPodcastStudios.com
ABOUT THE HOST:
Chris has shown over 21,000 leaders in over 1500 organizations globally how they can discover their secrets of success in a way that meets and beats their organizations specific challenges.
Chris has done this across sector, culture and geography - UBS, HSBC, KPMG & London Underground, legal firms to construction, tech and IT, to retail, facilities to scientific research, police to not for profit, pharmaceutical to SMEs. From the UK National Health Service of 1.4m staff and UK Government to the Red Cross in Myanmar, from Investment banks in London to Middle East Telecoms, from the Chinese Space Program leaders to HR Directors in India and global retail CEOs in Rome.
When he was the Global Head of Leadership at UBS, overseeing a staff of 70,000 across 100 countries, his team helped the bank transform organizational performance to increase profitability by 235%, market capitalization by 50% and win numerous awards. This is now a Harvard Case Study.
Chris has been quoted as a business leadership expert globally in the Harvard Business Review China, FT, Wall Street Journal, Le Monde, New York Times, Business Week, Time Magazine, Washington Post, Times of India, Straits & Gulf Times and many others. He judges business awards and has done over 350 TV interviews on leadership and business on BBC, Sky, Bloomberg, Al Jazeera, CNBC & CNN. He’s also skied at 60mph by accident.
Learn more about Chris at: ChrisRoebuck.Live
CREDITS:
- Chris Roebuck: Host | chris@chrisroebuck.net
- Connor Trombley: Executive Producer | connor@detroitpodcaststudios.com
Recent Episodes from Perspectives from the Top
Leading Through Complexity, Creating a Community (ft. Tony Douglas)
Leading Through Complexity, Creating a Community (ft. Tony Douglas)
Tony Douglas on managing complexity in high-stakes environments
OPENING QUOTE:
“It's about people. There are no organizations without people. Simple as that.”
-Tony Douglas
GUEST BIO:
Tony Douglas is CEO of Etihad Aviation Group with over 30 years of international leadership experience in aerospace, transportation, infrastructure, and government sectors. He joined Etihad in 2018, after being the CEO of the UK's Ministry of Defense Procurement Arm, supplying all the services and equipment for the British Armed Forces valued at over $20 billion pounds a year. Tony has previously held senior leadership positions in the UAE, such as CEO of Abu Dhabi Ports, and in UK, his roles included the Managing Director of the Heathrow Terminal Five Construction Project, CEO of Heathrow Airport, and COO and Group Chief Executive Designate of Laing O'Rourke, a massive global construction company.
CORE TOPICS + DETAILS:
[10:53] - We All Have a Part to Play
Junior, senior, everybody in-between
While managing production lines of 4,000 or more people, all heavily unionized, Tony quickly learned that engaging with their community would send productivity through the roof— and failing to engage would be catastrophic. “We’ve all got a part to play,” he says. “Some parts are bigger than others, but unless they all play together, you’ll never get the potential that is clearly there.”
[26:06] - Embracing Diversity from the Ground Up
The difference between success and failure
In his role at Etihad, Tony works with people of 112 different nationalities and an average age of just over 30. He’s learned that diversity must become something that you embrace without a second thought, or you and your teams will fail. Tony even speaks to finding joy in the complexity of navigating diversity, knowing that it ultimately leads to more diverse perspectives and greater success.
[37:47] - Clarity of Purpose in an Organization
Translate what’s required and deliver it
Tony speaks to the importance of clarity and purpose at an organization from the top down. When that clarity is present, everyone within the organization can interpret it and deliver results built around an organization's purpose.
[48:36] - The Power of Ramesh
Being brand ambassadors— and recognizing great ambassadors for your brand
Tony shares a story of an Australian family who stops at the same hotel in Abu Dhabi every time they have a stopover there en route to the UK. Why? Their children have connected so much with an excellent hotel employee named Mr. Ramesh. But the hotel managers not only had no idea what an impact Mr. Ramesh has had for their brand, but didn’t even know who he was.
Imagine if management had realized the power that Ramesh was having for their brand and capitalized on it, instead of being unaware of his impact?
RESOURCES:
- [0:47] About Etihad Aviation Group
- [28:14] About Jack Jarvis
Follow Tony Douglas
Follow Chris Roebuck:
ABOUT PERSPECTIVES FROM THE TOP:
Discover the secrets of success for you and your organization shared by the world’s leading thinkers, doers, and trailblazers. Join Chris Roebuck, Honorary Visiting Professor of transformational leadership, leader in military, business, and government, inspiring global keynote speaker, one of HR’s Most Influential Thinkers, bestselling author, and your host of Perspectives from the Top. The show reveals a treasure trove of insights from mega trends to practical strategies and actions to take your career up a gear. From government world shapers and business mold breakers to evidence driven academics and enthusiastic entrepreneurs, each episode shows you how you can immediately use these new ideas and actions to drive your success.
Learn more at: PerspectivesFromTheTop.com
ABOUT DETROIT PODCAST STUDIOS:
In Detroit, history was made when Barry Gordy opened Motown Records back in 1960. More than just discovering great talent, Gordy built a systematic approach to launching superstars. His rigorous processes, technology, and development methods were the secret sauce behind legendary acts such as The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross and Michael Jackson.
As a nod to the past, Detroit Podcast Studios leverages modern versions of Motown’s processes to launch today’s most compelling podcasts. What Motown was to musical artists, Detroit Podcast Studios is to podcast artists today. With over 75 combined years of experience in content development, audio production, music scoring, storytelling, and digital marketing, Detroit Podcast Studios provides full-service development, training, and production capabilities to take podcasts from messy ideas to finely tuned hits.
Here’s to making (podcast) history together.
Learn more at: DetroitPodcastStudios.com
ABOUT THE HOST:
Chris has shown over 21,000 leaders in over 1500 organizations globally how they can discover their secrets of success in a way that meets and beats their organizations specific challenges.
Chris has done this across sector, culture and geography - UBS, HSBC, KPMG & London Underground, legal firms to construction, tech and IT, to retail, facilities to scientific research, police to not for profit, pharmaceutical to SMEs. From the UK National Health Service of 1.4m staff and UK Government to the Red Cross in Myanmar, from Investment banks in London to Middle East Telecoms, from the Chinese Space Program leaders to HR Directors in India and global retail CEOs in Rome.
When he was the Global Head of Leadership at UBS, overseeing a staff of 70,000 across 100 countries, his team helped the bank transform organizational performance to increase profitability by 235%, market capitalization by 50% and win numerous awards. This is now a Harvard Case Study.
Chris has been quoted as a business leadership expert globally in the Harvard Business Review China, FT, Wall Street Journal, Le Monde, New York Times, Business Week, Time Magazine, Washington Post, Times of India, Straits & Gulf Times and many others. He judges business awards and has done over 350 TV interviews on leadership and business on BBC, Sky, Bloomberg, Al Jazeera, CNBC & CNN. He’s also skied at 60mph by accident.
Learn more about Chris at: ChrisRoebuck.Live
CREDITS:
- Chris Roebuck: Host | chris@chrisroebuck.net
- Connor Trombley: Executive Producer | connor@detroitpodcaststudios.com
Reflections on the Top - Robert Lefkowitz
Chris revisits the key points made by Robert Lefkowitz, adds his own insights and gives listeners some suggestions for practical actions they can take immediately to help them get where they want to go.
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Stockholm (ft. Bob Lefkowitz)
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Stockholm (ft. Bob Lefkowitz)
Nobel Prize-winner Bob Lefkowitz on the power of failing
OPENING QUOTE:
“It was through serendipity and really almost accidental circumstances that I became a scientist.”
—Bob Lefkowitz
GUEST BIO:
Bob Lefkowitz is best known for his groundbreaking discoveries that reveal the inner workings of an important family of cell receptors inside our bodies which essentially makes 30% to 50% of prescription drugs work, for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize for chemistry. He's currently James B. Duke Professor of Medicine and Professor of Biochemistry and Chemistry at Duke University, and an investigator with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.
CORE TOPICS + DETAILS:
[15:09] - Embracing Failure on the Path to Success
Nobody fails like a scientist
What do all the great scientists have in common? They all have failed badly at times early in their careers. Failure after failure after failure, and then success. It’s simply part of the experience— and not just in the world of science. We would all do well to embrace the role of failure in a successful life.
[25:50] - The Power of Humor
It’s about more than just levity
Why does Bob include humor in everything he does? It helps encourage a spirit of creativity. Humor is about seeing relationships between things you might not ordinarily put together. That’s also a large part of what science is all about.
[31:24] - The Importance of Authenticity
Why Robert holds authenticity in such high esteem
There’s no right way to be a scientist, a mentor, or a person— except the way that’s most true to who you are. Authenticity is often in short supply, but Robert says that when we embrace our authentic selves, it empowers us to achieve far more than we ever thought possible.
[46:35] - Robert on Mentoring
Principles anyone can put to use
The key to mentoring is individualization. What that means is understanding that mentoring isn’t about molding little versions of yourself— it’s about helping people become the best versions of who they are. Mentoring too often becomes an exercise in ego, but it should be an exercise in empathy.
RESOURCES:
- [2:04] A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Stockholm, by Robert Lefkowitz
- [8:14] A Serendipitous Scientist, Essay
- [15:09] On Overcoming Failure
Follow Robert Lefkowitz:
Follow Chris Roebuck:
ABOUT PERSPECTIVES FROM THE TOP:
Discover the secrets of success for you and your organization shared by the world’s leading thinkers, doers, and trailblazers. Join Chris Roebuck, Honorary Visiting Professor of transformational leadership, leader in military, business, and government, inspiring global keynote speaker, one of HR’s Most Influential Thinkers, bestselling author, and your host of Perspectives from the Top. The show reveals a treasure trove of insights from mega trends to practical strategies and actions to take your career up a gear. From government world shapers and business mold breakers to evidence driven academics and enthusiastic entrepreneurs, each episode shows you how you can immediately use these new ideas and actions to drive your success.
Learn more at: PerspectivesFromTheTop.com
ABOUT DETROIT PODCAST STUDIOS:
In Detroit, history was made when Barry Gordy opened Motown Records back in 1960. More than just discovering great talent, Gordy built a systematic approach to launching superstars. His rigorous processes, technology, and development methods were the secret sauce behind legendary acts such as The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross and Michael Jackson.
As a nod to the past, Detroit Podcast Studios leverages modern versions of Motown’s processes to launch today’s most compelling podcasts. What Motown was to musical artists, Detroit Podcast Studios is to podcast artists today. With over 75 combined years of experience in content development, audio production, music scoring, storytelling, and digital marketing, Detroit Podcast Studios provides full-service development, training, and production capabilities to take podcasts from messy ideas to finely tuned hits.
Here’s to making (podcast) history together.
Learn more at: DetroitPodcastStudios.com
ABOUT THE HOST:
Chris has shown over 21,000 leaders in over 1500 organizations globally how they can discover their secrets of success in a way that meets and beats their organizations specific challenges.
Chris has done this across sector, culture and geography - UBS, HSBC, KPMG & London Underground, legal firms to construction, tech and IT, to retail, facilities to scientific research, police to not for profit, pharmaceutical to SMEs. From the UK National Health Service of 1.4m staff and UK Government to the Red Cross in Myanmar, from Investment banks in London to Middle East Telecoms, from the Chinese Space Program leaders to HR Directors in India and global retail CEOs in Rome.
When he was the Global Head of Leadership at UBS, overseeing a staff of 70,000 across 100 countries, his team helped the bank transform organizational performance to increase profitability by 235%, market capitalization by 50% and win numerous awards. This is now a Harvard Case Study.
Chris has been quoted as a business leadership expert globally in the Harvard Business Review China, FT, Wall Street Journal, Le Monde, New York Times, Business Week, Time Magazine, Washington Post, Times of India, Straits & Gulf Times and many others. He judges business awards and has done over 350 TV interviews on leadership and business on BBC, Sky, Bloomberg, Al Jazeera, CNBC & CNN. He’s also skied at 60mph by accident.
Learn more about Chris at: ChrisRoebuck.Live
CREDITS:
- Chris Roebuck: Host | chris@chrisroebuck.net
- Connor Trombley: Executive Producer | connor@detroitpodcaststudios.com
Reflections on the Top - Jack Jarvis
Chris revisits the key points made by Jack Jarvis, adds his own insights and gives listeners some suggestions for practical actions they can take immediately to help them get where they want to go.
Winners Never Quit (ft. Jack Jarvis)
Winners Never Quit (ft. Jack Jarvis)
Jack Jarvis on how challenges become opportunities
OPENING QUOTE:
“If I hadn’t been unsuccessful on UKSF selection, I never would've been here, wouldn't have done what I did when I rode across the Atlantic, raised £70,000 for charity. So everything happens for a reason.”
—Jack Jarvis
GUEST BIO:
Jack Jarvis left school at just 16 to join the army as a soldier in the Royal Engineers, the military engineering part of the British Army, which enables mobility of action and denies the same to the enemy. Jack's determination and his belief in giving 100% by the age of 20 saw him successfully passing the extremely tough British military commando course and leading seven other soldiers in dynamic high risk environments. He then went on to become the first person to row solo across the Atlantic from mainland Europe to the mainland United States.
CORE TOPICS + DETAILS:
[16:08] - Competence and Leadership
Two traits for essential leaders
Jack reflects on how all the great leaders he’s respected over the years have done two things. They’ve committed themselves to being leaders by example, never asking someone to do something they wouldn’t do themselves. And they also are committed to growing their competency. If they don’t have an answer, they’ll go and get it. We should all strive to be this kind of dependable leader.
[21:26] - The Bulletproof Mindset
Failure isn’t something to be ashamed of
Jack recounts his greatest life failure, and how it became the impetus for his greatest success. It made him realize that he had what he calls a “bulletproof mindset,” the ability to simply never quit and never be ashamed of failing. He’s since channeled that mindset into everything he does today.
[29:31] - Work Your Way Up to Incredible
A journey of smaller challenges
Did Jack immediately wake up and decide to row for 111 days across a dangerous ocean? No. In Chris’ words, “You can't just go straight to the biggest challenge of your life, because what happens is you need to go on a journey of smaller challenges that build you up and build you up and build you up. You have to go through the failures, which then become your learning points.”
[32:51] - Showing Initiative with Your Ideas
Jack’s advice for attracting investors and supporters
Jack didn’t have a concrete product or a guaranteed investment return. What he had was ideas, and he accepted his need to be tenacious with those ideas and never stop going hard at every opportunity he could find. That’s how he got the support he needed from some of the world’s most influential organizations.
RESOURCES:
Follow Jack Jarvis:
Follow Chris Roebuck:
ABOUT PERSPECTIVES FROM THE TOP:
Discover the secrets of success for you and your organization shared by the world’s leading thinkers, doers, and trailblazers. Join Chris Roebuck, Honorary Visiting Professor of transformational leadership, leader in military, business, and government, inspiring global keynote speaker, one of HR’s Most Influential Thinkers, bestselling author, and your host of Perspectives from the Top. The show reveals a treasure trove of insights from mega trends to practical strategies and actions to take your career up a gear. From government world shapers and business mold breakers to evidence driven academics and enthusiastic entrepreneurs, each episode shows you how you can immediately use these new ideas and actions to drive your success.
Learn more at: PerspectivesFromTheTop.com
ABOUT DETROIT PODCAST STUDIOS:
In Detroit, history was made when Barry Gordy opened Motown Records back in 1960. More than just discovering great talent, Gordy built a systematic approach to launching superstars. His rigorous processes, technology, and development methods were the secret sauce behind legendary acts such as The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross and Michael Jackson.
As a nod to the past, Detroit Podcast Studios leverages modern versions of Motown’s processes to launch today’s most compelling podcasts. What Motown was to musical artists, Detroit Podcast Studios is to podcast artists today. With over 75 combined years of experience in content development, audio production, music scoring, storytelling, and digital marketing, Detroit Podcast Studios provides full-service development, training, and production capabilities to take podcasts from messy ideas to finely tuned hits.
Here’s to making (podcast) history together.
Learn more at: DetroitPodcastStudios.com
ABOUT THE HOST:
Chris has shown over 21,000 leaders in over 1500 organizations globally how they can discover their secrets of success in a way that meets and beats their organizations specific challenges.
Chris has done this across sector, culture and geography - UBS, HSBC, KPMG & London Underground, legal firms to construction, tech and IT, to retail, facilities to scientific research, police to not for profit, pharmaceutical to SMEs. From the UK National Health Service of 1.4m staff and UK Government to the Red Cross in Myanmar, from Investment banks in London to Middle East Telecoms, from the Chinese Space Program leaders to HR Directors in India and global retail CEOs in Rome.
When he was the Global Head of Leadership at UBS, overseeing a staff of 70,000 across 100 countries, his team helped the bank transform organizational performance to increase profitability by 235%, market capitalization by 50% and win numerous awards. This is now a Harvard Case Study.
Chris has been quoted as a business leadership expert globally in the Harvard Business Review China, FT, Wall Street Journal, Le Monde, New York Times, Business Week, Time Magazine, Washington Post, Times of India, Straits & Gulf Times and many others. He judges business awards and has done over 350 TV interviews on leadership and business on BBC, Sky, Bloomberg, Al Jazeera, CNBC & CNN. He’s also skied at 60mph by accident.
Learn more about Chris at: ChrisRoebuck.Live
CREDITS:
- Chris Roebuck: Host | chris@chrisroebuck.net
- Connor Trombley: Executive Producer | connor@detroitpodcaststudios.com
Reflections on the Top - Ciaran Martin
Chris revisits the key points made by Ciaran Martin, adds his own insights and gives listeners some suggestions for practical actions they can take immediately to help them get where they want to go.
From Civil Service to Cyber Security (ft. Ciaran Martin)
From Civil Service to Cyber Security (ft. Ciaran Martin)
Ciaran Martin on tech’s role in business and leadership
OPENING QUOTE:
It wouldn't be any good if they didn't have the really, really good technological and operational underpinnings of the wider organization. So why aren't you asking to speak to them? Do you have those people? If you don't, it's not your fault, but don't think you can do this without that.
—Ciaran Martin
GUEST BIO:
Ciaran Martin founded the UK's world leading National Cyber Security Centre for the UK government, and headed it for the first four years of its existence. Ciaran has served in government for 23 years, working directly with five prime ministers, having held senior positions in the treasury, the UK prime minister's office, as well as government communications HQ, the UK's secret signals intelligence and security center.
In 2020, Ciaran was honored for his work by the Queen, and has received a range of other awards internationally and in UK, in recognition of his work in cyber security. He's now professor of practice in the management of public organizations at Oxford University's Blavatnik School of Government, advises several public sector organizations on cyber security strategies, and is one of the leading global authorities in the field of cyber security.
CORE TOPICS + DETAILS:
[23:11] - Judgment Over Competency
A hidden marker of success
When Ciaran worked in the Treasury and Cabinet Office, he found that the greatest marker of success wasn’t competency frameworks, but judgment, leadership, and analytic abilities. Politics is complicated, and outcomes may take years while trying to balance public satisfaction. These difficult-to-measure factors require judgment to properly manage, and Ciaran learned that judgment is often a prized commodity to have in your possession in both the private and public sectors.
[27:34] - From Civil Servants to Technical Wizards
A ‘life-changing’ transition
After a career as a traditional civil servant, Ciaran moved into his role as Head of Cyber Security at GCHQ and ultimately an instrumental part of the creation of the National Cyber Security Centre. He described this shift as ‘life-changing,’ detailing his struggles to adapt and then the overall wonderful experience it became— and the change he was able to enact.
[39:32] - Technology as a Foundation, Not an Afterthought
Establishing the underpinnings of a successful organization
From being a traditional civil servant to working in cyber security, Ciaran has seen how too many organizations in the private and public sector push technology to the periphery. He’s found that you must have solid technological and operational foundations of a wide organization, and the right people to put them in place and keep them strong.
[43:49] - How Leaders Get the Best
Lessons on everyday leadership
When asked about what leaders do on a day to day basis to get the best from their people, Ciaran hones in on the importance of focus. “You can choose things that are interesting to do, you can choose things that your partners like you to do, but actually we did try and ask the question— Is this good for UK cyber security?— before we did something.” Developing that focus on the greater good, and instilling it in your people, is central to the role of a great leader.
RESOURCES:
- [1:17] The National Cyber Security Centre
- [7:31] About the Troubles
Follow Ciaran Martin:
Follow Chris Roebuck:
ABOUT PERSPECTIVES FROM THE TOP:
Discover the secrets of success for you and your organization shared by the world’s leading thinkers, doers, and trailblazers. Join Chris Roebuck, Honorary Visiting Professor of transformational leadership, leader in military, business, and government, inspiring global keynote speaker, one of HR’s Most Influential Thinkers, bestselling author, and your host of Perspectives from the Top. The show reveals a treasure trove of insights from mega trends to practical strategies and actions to take your career up a gear. From government world shapers and business mold breakers to evidence driven academics and enthusiastic entrepreneurs, each episode shows you how you can immediately use these new ideas and actions to drive your success.
Learn more at: PerspectivesFromTheTop.com
ABOUT DETROIT PODCAST STUDIOS:
In Detroit, history was made when Barry Gordy opened Motown Records back in 1960. More than just discovering great talent, Gordy built a systematic approach to launching superstars. His rigorous processes, technology, and development methods were the secret sauce behind legendary acts such as The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross and Michael Jackson.
As a nod to the past, Detroit Podcast Studios leverages modern versions of Motown’s processes to launch today’s most compelling podcasts. What Motown was to musical artists, Detroit Podcast Studios is to podcast artists today. With over 75 combined years of experience in content development, audio production, music scoring, storytelling, and digital marketing, Detroit Podcast Studios provides full-service development, training, and production capabilities to take podcasts from messy ideas to finely tuned hits.
Here’s to making (podcast) history together.
Learn more at: DetroitPodcastStudios.com
ABOUT THE HOST:
Chris has shown over 21,000 leaders in over 1500 organizations globally how they can discover their secrets of success in a way that meets and beats their organizations specific challenges.
Chris has done this across sector, culture and geography - UBS, HSBC, KPMG & London Underground, legal firms to construction, tech and IT, to retail, facilities to scientific research, police to not for profit, pharmaceutical to SMEs. From the UK National Health Service of 1.4m staff and UK Government to the Red Cross in Myanmar, from Investment banks in London to Middle East Telecoms, from the Chinese Space Program leaders to HR Directors in India and global retail CEOs in Rome.
When he was the Global Head of Leadership at UBS, overseeing a staff of 70,000 across 100 countries, his team helped the bank transform organizational performance to increase profitability by 235%, market capitalization by 50% and win numerous awards. This is now a Harvard Case Study.
Chris has been quoted as a business leadership expert globally in the Harvard Business Review China, FT, Wall Street Journal, Le Monde, New York Times, Business Week, Time Magazine, Washington Post, Times of India, Straits & Gulf Times and many others. He judges business awards and has done over 350 TV interviews on leadership and business on BBC, Sky, Bloomberg, Al Jazeera, CNBC & CNN. He’s also skied at 60mph by accident.
Learn more about Chris at: ChrisRoebuck.Live
CREDITS:
- Chris Roebuck: Host | chris@chrisroebuck.net
- Connor Trombley: Executive Producer | connor@detroitpodcaststudios.com
Reflections on the Top - Asesh Sarkar
Chris revisits the key points made by Asesh Sarkar, adds his own insights and gives listeners some suggestions for practical actions they can take immediately to help them get where they want to go.
Defeating the Personal Debt Trap (ft. Asesh Sarkar)
Defeating the Personal Debt Trap (ft. Asesh Sarkar)
Asesh Sarkar is changing the way employers and employees handle salary
OPENING QUOTE:
Just like when I joined the workforce as a grad and I had a great experience, making sure that people who join us have a great experience, as well. So yeah, it's quite the journey, and then one we're very much still on and learning every day.
—Asesh Sarkar
GUEST BIO:
Asesh Sarkar is the Global CEO and Co-founder of Salary Finance. Salary Finance is a fast-growing FinTech company which enables employees to receive wage advances to help them pay off their debts faster and save towards their financial goals, operating in both the UK and US. It's been featured twice by Forbes as one of the leading socially responsible startups and as one of the five fast-growing businesses to watch. It's also already become a Harvard case study. Across the UK and US, Salary Finance is used by 500 top employers and available to around 4 million people.
CORE TOPICS + DETAILS:
[4:38] -Four Things Great Leaders & Bosses Do
Lessons from Asesh’s first great mentor
Asesh recounts the boss who played the role of a coach in his early career, providing him with four key gifts— autonomy, a listening ear, the feeling of being valued, and flexibility. With these four tools, a coach gives a person much more than any domineering, hard-charging boss could ever provide.
[17:42] - The Model of Reciprocation
You don’t have to be an extrovert to thrive
If you genuinely go out and show other people that you are interested in helping them, you don't have to be an extrovert to thrive in business. If somebody reaches out to help you, and you are happy to help them, it’s often as simple as that. Build authentic trust-based relationships where people know that you are not just in it for a transactional benefit, and your reputation will reflect that. Meanwhile, people that have a history of transactional-based interactions get a reputation for having transactional-based interactions. The number of people who genuinely want to work with them declines over time.
[28:31] - Combining Social Intent with Business Acumen
Asesh’s formula for impact
Asesh shares his vision for an organization with the greatest positive role in the world: the best talent working on problems which can make a real impact in society, combined with a commercial model which means it is commercially scalable and can raise capital to do it at a big, big scale. This idea of business with social purpose is what inspired him to go all-in on Salary Finance.
[50:12] - Asesh’s Message to Leaders
Learning to cut the line
There’s always more work than there is time in the day. It’s rarely a bad decision to cut the line and stop work time a bit further, then use that extra time to spend with colleagues and form human relationships. It makes you better, it makes them better, and everyone performs better as a result. Focus on relationships and watch performance soar.
RESOURCES:
- [0:53] About Salary Finance
- [26:21] “Serve to Lead”
- [37:37] About inclusive capitalism
- [48:00] About MyBnk
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ABOUT PERSPECTIVES FROM THE TOP:
Discover the secrets of success for you and your organization shared by the world’s leading thinkers, doers, and trailblazers. Join Chris Roebuck, Honorary Visiting Professor of transformational leadership, leader in military, business, and government, inspiring global keynote speaker, one of HR’s Most Influential Thinkers, bestselling author, and your host of Perspectives from the Top. The show reveals a treasure trove of insights from mega trends to practical strategies and actions to take your career up a gear. From government world shapers and business mold breakers to evidence driven academics and enthusiastic entrepreneurs, each episode shows you how you can immediately use these new ideas and actions to drive your success.
Learn more at: PerspectivesFromTheTop.com
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In Detroit, history was made when Barry Gordy opened Motown Records back in 1960. More than just discovering great talent, Gordy built a systematic approach to launching superstars. His rigorous processes, technology, and development methods were the secret sauce behind legendary acts such as The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross and Michael Jackson.
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Here’s to making (podcast) history together.
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ABOUT THE HOST:
Chris has shown over 21,000 leaders in over 1500 organizations globally how they can discover their secrets of success in a way that meets and beats their organizations specific challenges.
Chris has done this across sector, culture and geography - UBS, HSBC, KPMG & London Underground, legal firms to construction, tech and IT, to retail, facilities to scientific research, police to not for profit, pharmaceutical to SMEs. From the UK National Health Service of 1.4m staff and UK Government to the Red Cross in Myanmar, from Investment banks in London to Middle East Telecoms, from the Chinese Space Program leaders to HR Directors in India and global retail CEOs in Rome.
When he was the Global Head of Leadership at UBS, overseeing a staff of 70,000 across 100 countries, his team helped the bank transform organizational performance to increase profitability by 235%, market capitalization by 50% and win numerous awards. This is now a Harvard Case Study.
Chris has been quoted as a business leadership expert globally in the Harvard Business Review China, FT, Wall Street Journal, Le Monde, New York Times, Business Week, Time Magazine, Washington Post, Times of India, Straits & Gulf Times and many others. He judges business awards and has done over 350 TV interviews on leadership and business on BBC, Sky, Bloomberg, Al Jazeera, CNBC & CNN. He’s also skied at 60mph by accident.
Learn more about Chris at: ChrisRoebuck.Live
CREDITS:
- Chris Roebuck: Host | chris@chrisroebuck.net
- Connor Trombley: Executive Producer | connor@detroitpodcaststudios.com