The Brave Next Step

Legacy, Impact and the Leaders Who Change Everything

In this episode, I’m joined by Leah Boxell, CEO and founder of Enable Lists, for a conversation about legacy, impact and the people who shape us often without realising just how much they have done. Leah begins with a powerful letter to her first boss, David, the person who saw something in her at 16 and gave her something that changed everything: hope. Leah shares part of her personal story, from a difficult and traumatic childhood to building a successful career and founding her own business. We talk about leadership, kindness, change, the impact our words can have, and why she is now paying that hope forward through Move Different, a charity created to help young people feel heard, supported and less likely to fall through the cracks. Highlights: (01:14) - Leah reads a letter to the boss who changed her life (02:39) - How Leah’s childhood shaped her drive and resilience (06:46) - Why David gave her hope, not just a job (09:17) - What leaders need to understand about people going through change (18:29) - The moment that led Leah to share her story publicly (22:17) - Why Move Different is focused on systemic change for young people Leah’s links: Move Different - https://www.move-different.org/ [https://www.move-different.org/] Enablists - https://enablists.co.uk/meet-enablists/ [https://enablists.co.uk/meet-enablists/] Connect with Emma: LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmaMVL] Website [https://www.mindvaluesleadership.co.uk] This Podcast is proudly produced by Wavemakers Audio [https://www.wavemakersaudio.com/book-a-call]

Failure, Mistakes and Unintended Outcomes

In this reflective episode, I’m talking about failure, or more specifically, whether we are sometimes too quick to call something a failure before we have actually understood what it came to teach us. After a recent experience where the outcome was not what I had hoped for, I found myself thinking deeply about labels, judgement, shame and the way we respond when things feel messy. I explore the difference between failure, error, mistake and unintended outcome, and how each word changes the way we think, feel and act. For leaders, this matters. The language we use can either shut learning down or open up curiosity, reflection and better decision making. Sometimes the uncomfortable bit is exactly where the most useful insight is hiding. Highlights: (01:10) - Why a recent unintended outcome sparked this reflection (02:18) - How pressure can distort our thinking patterns (03:43) - Why the word failure can feel so heavy and final (06:05) - How “unintended outcome” creates space for learning (08:06) - The difference between shame and curiosity (11:14) - Why messy moments can lead to better decisions Connect with Emma: LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmaMVL] Website [https://www.mindvaluesleadership.co.uk] This Podcast is proudly produced by Wavemakers Audio [https://www.wavemakersaudio.com/book-a-call]

Gratitude as a Leadership Habit

In this episode, I’m taking a slightly lighter route, inspired by a book that made me laugh, made me feel a little bit seen, and reminded me how easy it is to question what success is supposed to look like. It also got me thinking about gratitude, and why we have not really talked about it here before. I’m sharing why noticing the positives matters, especially when life and leadership feel busy, messy or heavy. From a clearer-than-expected commute to a kind voice note from a colleague, the small things can genuinely shift your energy. And as leaders, how we recognise and share those moments can make a real difference to the people around us too. Highlights: (01:50) - The book that sparked a bigger thought about success (03:27) - Why we often dismiss what is going well (04:22) - How tiny moments of gratitude can change the tone of your day (05:42) - Three simple things worth being grateful for (06:57) - Making gratitude part of your average week (07:37) - How leaders can spread positivity through team wins Connect with Emma: LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmaMVL] Website [https://www.mindvaluesleadership.co.uk] This Podcast is proudly produced by Wavemakers Audio [https://www.wavemakersaudio.com/book-a-call]

Change Is Easier When You Stop Doing It Alone

In this episode, I’m talking about change, and why it can feel so much harder than we expect, even when we genuinely want it. Whether you’re trying to shift something in yourself, your team, or a whole organisation, there’s usually an existing system quietly trying to pull everything back to how it was. I revisit Kurt Lewin’s three-step change model, unfreeze, change, refreeze, but focus on the part that often gets overlooked: community. Because change is rarely just about process. It’s about people, support, shared experience, and not feeling like you’re dragging the whole thing uphill on your own. Highlights: (01:36) - Why organisations naturally resist change, even with the best intentions (02:31) - Revisiting Kurt Lewin’s three-step model with fresh eyes (04:02) - The community piece that often gets missed in change theory (05:24) - How a coaching cohort helped me become a new version of myself (06:43) - Why workplace change feels easier when you know who you can lean on (08:07) - Simple ways to build community around change, formally and informally Connect with Emma: LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmaMVL] Website [https://www.mindvaluesleadership.co.uk] This Podcast is proudly produced by Wavemakers Audio [https://www.wavemakersaudio.com/book-a-call]

The Energy Emotion Matrix for Leaders

In this episode, I’m exploring a simple but powerful tool that can help us understand how we’re really doing as leaders. I’m talking about the energy emotion matrix, how our energy and emotions work together, and what they reveal about whether we’re performing, renewing, surviving or heading towards burnout. This is a practical conversation, but it’s also a deeply human one. If you’ve been feeling stretched, flat or just slightly off, this framework can help you make sense of it and decide what you need next, with more honesty, self-awareness and care. Highlights: (05:36) - The zone where high energy and positive emotion help us do our best work (06:18) - Why renewal matters just as much as performance (08:17) - The signs you may be operating in survival mode (09:33) - How low energy and negative emotion can lead to burnout (11:25) - Why this matters so much for leaders and their teams (12:08) - The question to ask yourself if you want to shift your zone Connect with Emma: LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmaMVL] Website [https://www.mindvaluesleadership.co.uk] This Podcast is proudly produced by Wavemakers Audio [https://www.wavemakersaudio.com/book-a-call]