Battling with Business

Episode 148 - Iterate or Lose : Innovation Lessons from NATO’s Front Line

This episode  of Battling with Business dives deep into modern leadership and management through the lens of defence innovation. Gareth Tennant and Chris Kitchener are joined by John Ridge, Chief Adoption Officer at the NATO Innovation Fund, to explore how technology, agility and organisational culture shape today’s capabilities. Leaders often talk about innovation, speed and agility, but how do those ideas work when the stakes are measured in national security rather than quarterly targets? This episode reveals what real innovation looks like when it must be fast, iterative and mission‑critical. You'll hear how and why NATO created a multinational deep‑tech venture fund and how modern defence challenges mirror classic product management problems. You'll learn why iteration, modularity and open architectures matter more than ever and how leaders can create cultures that embrace experimentation while managing risk. We also talk about the critical role of passion, mission alignment and end‑user closeness. Listen to hear a powerful conversation that blends defence, technology and leadership lessons relevant for every leader, in or out of uniform.

Episode 147 - Inside The War Game : Red Teaming A Crisis

In this episode Battling with Business explores leadership and decision making under pressure through a deep dive into “The War Game,” a five‑part immersive geopolitical simulation from Sky. https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-wargame/id1547225334 Gareth and Chris unpack how realistic war gaming exposes blind spots, stress‑tests assumptions, and reveals how people truly behave when everything happens at once. Leadership is easy when nothing is at stake. The real test is how you think, act, and adapt when the world tilts under your feet. We hear why immersive simulations reveal more than theoretical discussions, how pressure changes decisions that seem obvious in hindsight, what war gaming teaches us about communication, clarity, roles, and information flow, how leaders can use structured stress‑testing in business just as effectively as governments use it in crisis planning and why confronting unlikely but high‑impact risks is essential for modern leaders. Listen to hear how a fictional crisis uncovers real lessons for leaders in any environment.

Episode 146 - Influencer #26 - The Nelson Touch : Leadership, Myth, and Mastery

"Thank God I have done my duty." This episode explores leadership through the life and legacy of Admiral Horatio Nelson. Gareth and Chris unpack the myth, the reality, and the enduring lessons behind one of Britain’s most iconic naval commanders. What makes someone a great leader when history elevates them to near‑mythical status? And what happens when we discover the real person beneath the legend? Nelson’s success came from clear communication, trust, preparation, and personal courage. His “Nelson touch” showed how leaders build unity and belief through simple, human behaviours. While mythmaking distorts history, core leadership principles endure across eras and great leadership is not about perfection but about consistent, purposeful action. This episode encourages listeners to reflect on what truly builds trust and followership, and why understanding leaders of the past helps us lead better today.

Episode 145 - Re-Release of Episode 126, Leading with Pride – LGBT+ Inclusion in the Armed Forces with Commander Roly Woods RN

In this the week of remembrance in the UK, we commemorate those who have served and died in conflicts. In a worthy re-release of a previous episode we sat down with Commander Roly Woods, a retired Royal Navy officer with over 46 years of service, to explore the personal and institutional journey of LGBTQ+ inclusion in the British Armed Forces. This week's re-release is particularly relevant as only this week at the National Memorial Arboretum the Fighting with Pride team were invited to attend the Armistice Day service, in the presence of HRH The Princess of Wales, at which the Bishop of Lichfield talked of HM The King’s Dedication of the LGBT Armed Forces Community Memorial. Roly Woods, laid a wreath at the LGBT Armed Forces Community Memorial. The wreath was affixed with a card which read: “For those members of the LGBT community we have lost, many of whose names we will never know. Lest We Forget.” As the LGBT Armed Forces Community Memorial Officer for the charity Fighting with Pride, Roly reflected on his early motivations to join the Navy, leadership experiences, and the dramatic transformation of military culture since the lifting of the ban on LGBT personnel in 2000. Together, we delved into the challenges LGBTQ+ service members faced under institutional discrimination, from living in secrecy, to emotional isolation, to dishonourable discharges and loss of medals. Roly shared deeply moving personal stories and historic insights into how courageous individuals and strong leadership drove systemic change across the Royal Navy, leading to today’s more inclusive and emotionally intelligent environment. We also discussed the ongoing efforts of Fighting with Pride, including: * Raising awareness of the Veterans’ Financial Recognition Scheme * Supporting LGBTQ+ veterans in restoring medals and service records * Building community through initiatives like the Snowdonia retreat * Leading the creation of the LGBT Armed Forces Memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum Whether you’re interested in military leadership, organizational change, or the evolving rights of LGBTQ+ veterans, this episode provides an essential perspective on how empathy, courage, and advocacy can reshape even the most traditional institutions. Listen now to hear about the untold stories behind the UK military’s transformation, and how leaders like Commander Woods continue to inspire change today.

Episode 144 - The Leader’s Equation : Data vs Intuition

Leadership is not just about having data. It’s about knowing when the data matters, and how to apply your experience. In a world obsessed with dashboards and algorithms, are you still cultivating your leader’s instinct? In this episode of Battling with Business, Gareth and Chris  dive into one of the most pressing questions for modern leaders: how do you balance data with intuition? From battlefield intelligence to product strategy, they explore when leaders should trust the numbers and when human judgment, instinct, and experience must take the lead. Data is powerful, but insufficient without human interpretation and strategic context. Intuition is informed by experience, not guesswork. The best leaders fuse insight from multiple data sources rather than rely on one. AI amplifies decision‑making but doesn't replace judgment, creativity, or innovation. Knowing what question to ask is often more important than knowing the answer.