Transformational Thinking For Health Leaders - from Fiona Day Consulting

22 - Alwyn Abraham

Today, I’m joined by Mr Alwyn Abraham, Consultant Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgeon at University Hospitals of Leicester, medical educationalist, healthcare leader, and Chair-Elect of World Orthopaedic Concern. Alwyn reflects on nearly four decades in medicine, from his early training at Edinburgh Medical School to leading large multidisciplinary teams under extreme pressure. He shares candid insights into what he wishes he had learned earlier about managing himself, relationships, and the human side of leadership. Our conversation explores what it truly means to lead under sustained stress, including Alwyn’s experience of leading over 90 clinicians through the COVID-19 pandemic. He speaks powerfully about leading by example, moral courage, availability, and why you cannot force people to change — but you can influence how they think. We also discuss collaborative working across disciplines, the importance of psychological safety and feedback in training environments, and how Alwyn’s global health work in Ethiopia reshaped his perspective on leadership, service, and values-based practice. Finally, Alwyn reflects on adult development, self-authorship, and the shift from external validation to internal conviction - moving from being a “spark” to becoming a “flame” in one’s professional life. This is a rich and reflective conversation about compassionate leadership, humility, and sustaining purpose in complex healthcare systems. 🎧 Listen if you’re interested in: • Leading teams under pressure • Clinical leadership beyond technical expertise • Psychological safety and feedback cultures • Global health perspectives on leadership • Developing conviction and values as a senior clinician Reflective Practice Questions * How do you currently lead when your team is under sustained pressure? * Where might increased self-awareness strengthen your leadership relationships? * How do you use your position or authority to empower others? * What values guide your decisions when resources are limited? * What would “leading from conviction” look like in your next career chapter? If you’re interested in exploring coaching or learning more about leadership in healthcare, visit my website [https://fionadayconsulting.co.uk/], where you’ll find a wealth of resources tailored to medical and public health professionals. Sign up for my newsletter [https://fionadayconsulting.co.uk/health-career-success-programme/] to access a range of articles, tools, and guides to support your career journey. Dr Fiona Day is able to help you thrive like no one else. She is the only Coaching Psychologist in the world with a background in medicine and public health. Her coaching practice is grounded in evidence. Over ten systematic reviews demonstrate the benefits of workplace coaching. Coaching psychology, the science of potential, performance, and wellbeing, has an even greater impact. Book a confidential Consultation with Fiona here [https://fionadayconsulting.as.me/schedule/a5765e2f/appointment/32659277/calendar/1853621?appointmentTypeIds[]=32659277].

21 - Dr. Ahsana Nazish

In this episode, I speak with Dr Ahsana Nazish, a public health leader whose work bridges hospital management, health systems, and policy. She leads a network of primary care filter clinics across Punjab, delivering screening and treatment for liver and kidney diseases while pursuing her Doctorate in Public Health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Ahsana shares her remarkable journey from being the first woman in her family to study medicine to leading large-scale healthcare programmes in Pakistan. She reflects on the challenges of digital transformation in rural healthcare, building trust through partnerships, and navigating leadership as a woman in complex cultural and professional settings. We explore how vision, resilience, and mentorship can transform systems and how data, innovation, and collaboration can strengthen global health for the future. If you are a health leader passionate about equity, impact, and system change, this episode will leave you inspired by what is possible when courage meets compassion. Contact Ahsana ahsananazish80@gmail.com  Reflective Practice Questions 1. How does your personal leadership journey influence the systems you choose to change? 2. What barriers — cultural, organisational, or internal — have shaped your leadership, and how have you navigated them? 3. Where could deeper partnership working strengthen the impact of your current projects? 4. How might evidence and data support your next leadership decision? 5. What does courage look like in your context at this moment in your career? If you’re interested in exploring coaching or learning more about leadership in healthcare, visit my website [https://fionadayconsulting.co.uk/], where you’ll find a wealth of resources tailored to medical and public health professionals. Sign up for my newsletter [https://fionadayconsulting.co.uk/health-career-success-programme/] to access a range of articles, tools, and guides to support your career journey. Dr Fiona Day is able to help you thrive like no one else. She is the only Coaching Psychologist in the world with a background in medicine and public health. Her coaching practice is grounded in evidence. Over ten systematic reviews demonstrate the benefits of workplace coaching. Coaching psychology, the science of potential, performance, and wellbeing, has an even greater impact. Book a confidential Consultation with Fiona here [https://fionadayconsulting.as.me/schedule/a5765e2f/appointment/32659277/calendar/1853621?appointmentTypeIds[]=32659277].

20 - Dr Imran Ahmad

Today, I’m joined by Dr Imran Ahmad, a GP board partner for a large primary care organisation in London, GP training programme director, and clinical lead in transformation projects. We talk about his journey from traditional general practice into strategic and system-level leadership, and how he has learned to balance clinical care with board responsibilities, mentoring, and integrated care work. Imran shares powerful reflections on leadership growth, from letting go of comfort zones and developing emotional intelligence, to fostering psychologically safe teams and cultivating future leaders. Together, we explore how values, reflection, and self-awareness shape authentic leadership in complex healthcare systems, and why it is never too late to reinvent your career with purpose and curiosity. If you are a health leader navigating change, this conversation offers grounded wisdom, humanity, and inspiration for your own leadership journey. Reflective Practice Questions 1.        When was the last time you paused to re-evaluate your professional direction, and what insights emerged? 2.        How comfortable are you with delegating responsibility — and what beliefs might make it challenging to let go? 3.        What does adaptive leadership mean to you in your current context? 4.        How do you model emotional intelligence and psychological safety within your teams? 5.        Which of your personal values guide you most strongly in times of uncertainty or change? Contact details i.ahmad@doctors.org.uk If you’re interested in exploring coaching or learning more about leadership in healthcare, visit my website [https://fionadayconsulting.co.uk/], where you’ll find a wealth of resources tailored to medical and public health professionals. Sign up for my newsletter [https://fionadayconsulting.co.uk/health-career-success-programme/] to access a range of articles, tools, and guides to support your career journey. Dr Fiona Day is able to help you thrive like no one else. She is the only Coaching Psychologist in the world with a background in medicine and public health. Her coaching practice is grounded in evidence. Over ten systematic reviews demonstrate the benefits of workplace coaching. Coaching psychology, the science of potential, performance, and wellbeing, has an even greater impact. Book a confidential Consultation with Fiona here [https://fionadayconsulting.as.me/schedule/a5765e2f/appointment/32659277/calendar/1853621?appointmentTypeIds[]=32659277].

19 - Prof Eva-Maria Graf

Today, I talk with Associate Professor Eva-Maria Graf, a leading expert in coaching linguistics and founder of the international QUESCO research project on questioning practices in coaching. We explore what really happens in coaching conversations, how questions shape insight and change, and what makes coaching distinct from therapy or friendly support. Eva shares the story behind QUESCO, a three-country research project that revealed how 83% of a coaching conversation is made up of questioning sequences, and we discuss what this means for coaches, supervisors, and educators. We also talk about the new 5P Model, which helps practitioners understand and refine the micro-skills behind powerful coaching dialogue. Eva reflects on the challenges and rewards of leading a large interdisciplinary project and what she has learned about herself as a leader along the way. This is a fascinating and practical conversation for anyone interested in how language, coaching, and evidence come together to support transformational change. Reflective Practice Questions 1.        How consciously do you use questioning techniques in your coaching or leadership conversations? 2.        What patterns do you notice in how you respond after someone answers your question — do you probe, affirm, or move on too quickly? 3.        In what ways could greater linguistic awareness improve the quality of dialogue in your team or organisation? 4.        How might you use evidence-based research, like the QUESCO findings, to strengthen your own coaching or leadership practice? 5.        When you reflect on a recent conversation that felt transformative, what was it about the sequence of questions that made the difference? More information/ contact  Assoc. Prof. Dr. Eva-Maria Graf  eva-maria.graf@aau.at https://questions-in-coaching.aau.at/en/ https://fionadayconsulting.co.uk/quesco-project/  If you’re interested in exploring coaching or learning more about leadership in healthcare, visit my website [https://fionadayconsulting.co.uk/], where you’ll find a wealth of resources tailored to medical and public health professionals. Sign up for my newsletter [https://fionadayconsulting.co.uk/health-career-success-programme/] to access a range of articles, tools, and guides to support your career journey. Dr Fiona Day is able to help you thrive like no one else. She is the only Coaching Psychologist in the world with a background in medicine and public health. Her coaching practice is grounded in evidence. Over ten systematic reviews demonstrate the benefits of workplace coaching. Coaching psychology, the science of potential, performance, and wellbeing, has an even greater impact. Book a confidential Consultation with Fiona here [https://fionadayconsulting.as.me/schedule/a5765e2f/appointment/32659277/calendar/1853621?appointmentTypeIds[]=32659277].

18 - Dr Phil Sherrard

Today, I'm joined by Dr Phil Sherrard, consultant anaesthetist, educator, digital instructional designer, and actor. Phil shares his unique career journey - from becoming one of the UK’s youngest consultant anaesthetists to building a portfolio career that blends medicine, teaching, creativity, and performance. He opens up about overcoming anxiety, rediscovering his love of acting and music, and how creativity has fuelled his resilience and problem-solving as a clinician. Phil also reflects on negotiating a flexible career that honours both his professional expertise and his artistic passions, offering valuable insights for health leaders seeking balance, fulfilment, and sustainable ways of working. Together, we explore the intersections between medicine and the arts, digital innovation in medical education, and the power of values-based leadership. This is a conversation for anyone navigating career complexity, looking to bring more of their whole self into their work, and daring to design a life that feels both meaningful and joyful. Connect with Phil on Instagram @philsherrard3, and on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/philip-sherrard/]. His MOOC course is here: https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/perioperative-medicine [https://www.linkedin.com/safety/go?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.futurelearn.com%2Fcourses%2Fperioperative-medicine&trk=flagship-messaging-web&messageThreadUrn=urn%3Ali%3AmessagingThread%3A2-NjE1NzdlZTAtMzRjNS00ZWM4LWFlZTktZGZiYTAyZjhhYmMzXzEwMA%3D%3D&lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_messaging_conversation_detail%3BnJuqpfqMSWCnDqngQjj8bw%3D%3D] HealthProMatch: https://healthpromatch.com/ [https://healthpromatch.com/] Reflective Questions for Health Leaders 1. What creative outlets help you maintain balance and perspective in your work? 2. Which parts of yourself have you put aside for your career — and what would it take to reclaim them? 3. How might you use your values to guide decisions and conversations about your next career step? 4. In what ways can creativity and compassion improve your team’s approach to complex problems? 5. What’s one small “next right step” you can take towards a more fulfilling, authentic professional life? If you’re interested in exploring coaching or learning more about leadership in healthcare, visit my website [https://fionadayconsulting.co.uk/], where you’ll find a wealth of resources tailored to medical and public health professionals. Sign up for my newsletter [https://fionadayconsulting.co.uk/health-career-success-programme/] to access a range of articles, tools, and guides to support your career journey. Dr Fiona Day is able to help you thrive like no one else. She is the only Coaching Psychologist in the world with a background in medicine and public health. Her coaching practice is grounded in evidence. Over ten systematic reviews demonstrate the benefits of workplace coaching. Coaching psychology, the science of potential, performance, and wellbeing, has an even greater impact. Book a confidential Consultation with Fiona here [https://fionadayconsulting.as.me/schedule/a5765e2f/appointment/32659277/calendar/1853621?appointmentTypeIds[]=32659277].