S3 EP5- From Lumberjack to Conductor: Paul Whitby's Leadership Story.

S3 EP5- From Lumberjack to Conductor: Paul Whitby's Leadership Story.

Host: Julie Williams MSc – Executive Coach & Founder of Lighting Fires Guest: Paul Whitby – Founder and Managing Directory of The Ecology Co-op In this episode of The Lighting Fires Podcast, [https://www.lightingfires.co.uk/podcast/] supported by Henley Business School [https://www.henley.ac.uk/corporate-development/coaching], Julie is joined by ecologist, entrepreneur and nature enthusiast Paul Whitby for a fascinating conversation about leadership, business growth, coaching and finding a more sustainable way to work. Paul shares how a childhood fascination with wildlife led him to build The Ecology Co-op, growing it from a one-person consultancy into a thriving business employing a team of specialist ecologists. He reflects on the challenges of leading a rapidly growing company through the pandemic, working unsustainable hours, and learning to step back from the day-to-day in order to think more strategically. Together, Julie and Paul explore how coaching helped Paul develop a different approach to leadership, improve delegation, create stronger systems and processes, and ultimately navigate the successful sale of his business into the European environmental consultancy group, Myllium. Julie and Paul discuss: · Building and scaling a business while staying true to your values · The challenges of leadership during periods of rapid growth · Why coaching can feel like "business therapy" · Learning to step back and think strategically · Delegation, leadership styles and letting go of control · Using metaphors and visual reminders to create lasting change · Creating systems and processes that support sustainable growth · Selling a business and finding the right cultural fit · Purpose-driven leadership and protecting the natural environment · The benefits and challenges of implementing a four-day working week This episode is an inspiring conversation about leadership, purpose and creating a business that works not only for your clients and team, but for yourself as well. Resources Mentioned · Essentialism by Greg McKeown [https://gregmckeown.com/books/essentialism/] · Theodore Roosevelt's The Man in the Arena speech · David Attenborough's Life on Earth If you're interested in working with Julie please contact her at julie@lightingfires.co.uk [julie@lightingfires.co.uk], or Julie Williams MSc. (nee Walls) | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliewilliamsexeccoach/] or through her website here [https://lightingfires.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=8e9ba77d2a464f8bf600ad26f&id=1fe26f5cdf&e=c454142247]. And if you're interested in developing your coaching skills, Julie highly recommends the Professional Certificate in Executive Coaching at Henley Business School [https://www.henley.ac.uk/study/corporate-development/professional-certificate-in-executive-coaching], a programme grounded in research, with a strong focus on practical application and real-world impact. To find out more, visit Henley Business School [https://www.henley.ac.uk/study/corporate-development/professional-certificate-in-executive-coaching]. To find out more about the Insights Discovery psychometric tool, visit Insights Discovery [https://www.insights.com/]. Connect with Julie Website: lightingfires.co.uk [http://lightingfires.co.uk/] Email: julie@lightingfires.co.uk [julie@lightingfires.co.uk] LinkedIn: Julie Williams MSc [about:blank] If you found this episode helpful, please leave a five-star rating and review, it helps more listeners discover these real-world leadership stories and coaching insights. Artwork by Ian Guppy | Music by Penguin Music via Pixabay | Produced by Perri Hurley

S3 EP4: The Power of Not Taking It Personally, with Amanda Lennon

Host: Julie Williams MSc - Executive Coach & Founder of Lighting Fires Guest: Amanda Lennon - HR Consultant, Employment Lawyer and Founder of Astralis HR In this episode of The Lighting Fires Podcast, [https://www.lightingfires.co.uk/podcast/] supported by Henley Business School [https://www.henley.ac.uk/corporate-development/coaching], Julie is joined by Amanda Lennon for an honest conversation about courage, resilience, confidence and navigating a successful career on your own terms. Amanda shares her journey from employment law into senior HR leadership, becoming the only woman on a board at just 29 years old. After a successful corporate career, she went on to launch her own consultancy business, Astralis HR. Along the way, she has navigated challenges around confidence, rejection, identity and balancing an ambitious career with family life. Together, Julie and Amanda reflect on the coaching journey that helped Amanda build resilience, manage difficult situations more effectively and develop the confidence to bring more of her authentic self into the workplace. Julie and Amanda discuss: * Building confidence and personal impact in leadership roles * Being a young female leader in a male-dominated environment * Managing difficult conversations and workplace conflict * Resilience, redundancy and bouncing back from setbacks * Why business decisions are rarely personal * The role of values in career decisions and workplace culture * Imposter syndrome and learning to trust your own abilities * Taking calculated risks and having the courage to try new things * Moving from corporate leadership into self-employment and consulting * The importance of lifelong learning and staying open to new perspectives Amanda also shares some of the practical techniques that helped her step back from emotionally charged situations, gain perspective and approach challenging conversations with greater calm and confidence. This episode is a thoughtful and encouraging conversation for anyone facing a career crossroads, building confidence in leadership, or wondering how to navigate challenges without losing sight of who they are. If you're interested in working with Julie please contact her at julie@lightingfires.co.uk [julie@lightingfires.co.uk], or Julie Williams MSc. (nee Walls) | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliewilliamsexeccoach/] or through her website here [https://lightingfires.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=8e9ba77d2a464f8bf600ad26f&id=1fe26f5cdf&e=c454142247]. And if you're interested in developing your coaching skills, Julie highly recommends the Professional Certificate in Executive Coaching at Henley Business School [https://www.henley.ac.uk/study/corporate-development/professional-certificate-in-executive-coaching], a programme grounded in research, with a strong focus on practical application and real-world impact. To find out more, visit Henley Business School [https://www.henley.ac.uk/study/corporate-development/professional-certificate-in-executive-coaching]. To find out more about the Insights Discovery psychometric tool, visit Insights Discovery [https://www.insights.com/]. Connect with Julie Website: lightingfires.co.uk [http://lightingfires.co.uk/] Email: julie@lightingfires.co.uk [julie@lightingfires.co.uk]LinkedIn: Julie Williams MSc [about:blank] If you found this episode helpful, please leave a five-star rating and review, it helps more listeners discover these real-world leadership stories and coaching insights. Artwork by Ian Guppy | Music by Penguin Music via Pixabay | Produced by Perri Hurley

S3 EP3: Han Solo or Princess Leia- Leadership, AI and Adaptability with Rory McLaren.

Host: Julie Williams MSc - Executive Coach & Founder of Lighting Fires Guest: Rory McLaren - Technology and Product Leader In this episode of The Lighting Fires Podcast, [https://www.lightingfires.co.uk/podcast/] supported by Henley Business School [https://www.henley.ac.uk/corporate-development/coaching], Julie is joined by Rory McLaren for a thoughtful and wide-ranging conversation about leadership, adaptability, confidence and learning how to navigate change. Rory shares his journey from growing up in a remote ex-mining village in Scotland to becoming a Chief Technology Officer and co-founder of a successful startup, before transitioning into leadership within a much larger global corporate environment following an acquisition. Together, Julie and Rory explore the culture shock of moving from a fast-paced startup into a complex international organisation, and how coaching helped Rory develop the tools, confidence and self-awareness to lead more effectively. Julie and Rory discuss: * Moving from technical expert to strategic leader * Learning to influence without authority * Imposter syndrome and feeling out of place in corporate environments * The value of adaptability in leadership * Why asking "stupid questions" can drive innovation and psychological safety * Understanding personality differences through Myers-Briggs * Reactive versus proactive leadership styles * Building confidence through coaching and role play * The importance of curiosity, learning and sharing knowledge * AI, coaching and why human relationships still matter Rory also reflects on his shift from "Han Solo" leadership, reactive and firefighting, to a calmer, more intentional and strategic "Princess Leia" approach. This episode is a fascinating conversation about leadership in modern organisations, the power of curiosity, and why human connection and adaptability will remain essential in a rapidly changing world. If you're interested in working with Julie please contact her at julie@lightingfires.co.uk [julie@lightingfires.co.uk], or Julie Williams MSc. (nee Walls) | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliewilliamsexeccoach/] or through her website here [https://lightingfires.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=8e9ba77d2a464f8bf600ad26f&id=1fe26f5cdf&e=c454142247]. And if you're interested in developing your coaching skills, Julie highly recommends the Professional Certificate in Executive Coaching at Henley Business School [https://www.henley.ac.uk/study/corporate-development/professional-certificate-in-executive-coaching], a programme grounded in research, with a strong focus on practical application and real-world impact. To find out more, visit Henley Business School [https://www.henley.ac.uk/study/corporate-development/professional-certificate-in-executive-coaching]. To find out more about the Insights Discovery psychometric tool, visit Insights Discovery [https://www.insights.com/]. Resources Mentioned · Myers-Briggs [https://www.myersbriggs.org/] personality frameworks · Insights Discovery [http://www.insights.com] personality frameworks Connect with Julie Website: lightingfires.co.uk [http://lightingfires.co.uk/] Email: julie@lightingfires.co.uk [julie@lightingfires.co.uk] LinkedIn: Julie Williams MSc [about:blank] If you found this episode helpful, please leave a five-star rating and review, it helps more listeners discover these real-world leadership stories and coaching insights. Artwork by Ian Guppy | Music by Penguin Music via Pixabay | Produced by Perri Hurley

S3 EP2: Career change, confidence and knowing when It's time to leave - with Kate Gräfe

Host: Julie Williams MSc - Executive Coach & Founder of Lighting Fires Guest: Kate Gräfe - Social Value Director and former procurement and supply chain leader In this episode of The Lighting Fires Podcast, [https://www.lightingfires.co.uk/podcast/] supported by Henley Business School [https://www.henley.ac.uk/corporate-development/coaching], Julie is joined by Kate Gräfe for an honest and reflective conversation about career change, confidence, self-awareness and creating a working life that genuinely fits. After nearly two decades working in procurement and supply chain leadership within local government, Kate reached a crossroads. Following the pandemic, she began questioning whether the career path she had followed for years still aligned with who she was and how she wanted to live and work. Together, Julie and Kate explore the coaching journey that helped Kate redefine success on her own terms, challenge self-limiting beliefs, and transition into a role focused on sustainability and social value. Julie and Kate discuss: * Knowing when it's time to leave a role or career path * Career crossroads and creating a clearer vision for the future * Balancing ambition, family life and wellbeing * Discovering your "hidden superpower" through greater self-awareness * The realities of self-employment and finding the right working environment * Imposter syndrome, confidence and learning not to undervalue yourself * How coaching creates clarity, structure and momentum during times of change * Redundancy, resilience and staying open to unexpected opportunities * Understanding interpersonal differences through personality profiles Kate also reflects on the surprising realisation that came through personality profiling work during coaching, and how understanding where she gets her energy from helped shape the next stage of her career and life. This episode is a thoughtful and relatable conversation for anyone questioning their next step, navigating a career transition, or wondering whether there might be another way forward. If you're interested in working with Julie please contact her at julie@lightingfires.co.uk [julie@lightingfires.co.uk], or Julie Williams MSc. (nee Walls) | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliewilliamsexeccoach/] or through her website here [https://lightingfires.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=8e9ba77d2a464f8bf600ad26f&id=1fe26f5cdf&e=c454142247]. And if you're interested in developing your coaching skills, Julie highly recommends the Professional Certificate in Executive Coaching at Henley Business School [https://www.henley.ac.uk/study/corporate-development/professional-certificate-in-executive-coaching], a programme grounded in research, with a strong focus on practical application and real-world impact. To find out more, visit Henley Business School [https://www.henley.ac.uk/study/corporate-development/professional-certificate-in-executive-coaching]. To find out more about the Insights Discovery psychometric tool, visit Insights Discovery [https://www.insights.com/]. Resources Mentioned * Myers-Briggs [https://www.myersbriggs.org/] * Insights Discovery [http://www.insights.com] personality frameworks Connect with Julie Website: lightingfires.co.uk [http://lightingfires.co.uk/] Email: julie@lightingfires.co.uk [julie@lightingfires.co.uk] LinkedIn: Julie Williams MSc [about:blank] If you found this episode helpful, please leave a five-star rating and review, it helps more listeners discover these real-world leadership stories and coaching insights. Artwork by Ian Guppy | Music by Penguin Music via Pixabay | Produced by Perri Hurley

S3 EP1: Accidental Manager to Confident Leader with Steve Jones

Host: Julie Williams MSc – Executive Coach & Founder of Lighting Fires Guest: Steve Jones –Head of Education & Application Support (EMEA) at d&b audiotechnik In the opening episode of Series 3 of The Lighting Fires Podcast, [https://www.lightingfires.co.uk/podcast/] supported by Henley Business School [https://www.henley.ac.uk/corporate-development/coaching], Julie is joined by Steve Jones for an honest and insightful conversation about leadership, confidence, self-awareness and the power of coaching. Steve shares the experiences that shaped his resilient outlook on life, from a challenging childhood to building a successful international career in the fast-paced live events industry. He reflects on stepping into leadership without a traditional management pathway, navigating team conflict during the pandemic, and the self-doubt that can come with increased responsibility. Together, Julie and Steve explore how coaching helped Steve better understand himself, recognise his strengths, and grow into a more confident and authentic leader. Julie and Steve discuss: * How difficult life experiences can shape resilience and mindset * Moving from technical expert to people leader * Why many managers feel unprepared for leadership roles * Understanding interpersonal differences through personality profiles * Overcoming imposter syndrome and building executive presence * The value of self-awareness in leadership * Why coaching creates the time and space to think clearly * Leading teams with greater honesty, confidence and trust This episode is a powerful reminder that leadership doesn't require perfection or having all the answers. Often, it begins with understanding yourself. If you're interested in developing your coaching skills, Julie highly recommends the Professional Certificate in Executive Coaching at Henley Business School [https://www.henley.ac.uk/study/corporate-development/professional-certificate-in-executive-coaching], a programme grounded in research, with a strong focus on practical application and real-world impact. To find out more, visit Henley Business School [https://www.henley.ac.uk/study/corporate-development/professional-certificate-in-executive-coaching]. To find out more about the Insights Discovery psychometric tool, visit Insights Discovery [https://www.insights.com/]. Resources Mentioned * Myers-Briggs [https://www.myersbriggs.org/] and Insights Discovery personality frameworks [http://www.insights.com] * Surrounded by Idiots [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Surrounded-Idiots-Behaviour-Effectively-Communicate/dp/1785046209/ref=asc_df_1785046209?mcid=d52d2bf039c93aeeaaf8136a9a01a93b&th=1&psc=1&tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=747759376464&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=15577099125037021818&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1006719&hvtargid=pla-2422685048304&psc=1&hvocijid=15577099125037021818-1785046209-&hvexpln=0&gad_source=1] by Thomas Erikson * Purposive Drift by Richard Oliver (career and leadership development concept) Connect with Julie Website: lightingfires.co.uk [http://lightingfires.co.uk/]Email: julie@lightingfires.co.uk [julie@lightingfires.co.uk]LinkedIn: Julie Williams MSc [about:blank] If you found this episode helpful, please leave a five-star rating and review, it helps more listeners discover these real-world leadership stories and coaching insights. Artwork by Ian Guppy | Music by Penguin Music via Pixabay | Produced by Perri Hurley