Episode 11 - From crossroads to CEO

Episode 11 - From crossroads to CEO

* What does it take to act courageously  and make successful high  risks decisions? * In this 1AM Talks episode, we speak with Gerald Vanderpuye and Rachael Palmer from Impact Brixton about leadership at a crossroads, and the role coaching played in helping a CEO at a high risk moment.  * Gerald reflects on the period before taking on a co-working space, when his future work felt unclear. * The episode also explores what makes Impact Brixton distinctive now: a workplace shaped by connection, collaboration, minimal hierarchy and a powerful  sense of belonging.  * Rachael brings the perspective of leading and managing  day to day,  in a trust-based, community-first environment. 💡Leadership, culture, risk and decisions at Impact Brixton 🎙 For HR, OD and L&D practitioners, this episode shows: * how coaching can support CEOs and other leaders  when they are at a crossroads -   with high-risk evidence-based decisions * how trust-based leadership culture grows in low-hierarchy workplaces * how community and belonging shape organisational culture * how coaching can strengthen aligned decision making, confidence and self-accountability in staff * how leadership development  support both emerging leaders  and a  wider workplace culture in SME’s  ➡️ In the next episode, we hear more from Rachael Palmer about her own leadership  journey and the impact  just one coaching session had on her work and leadership. Find out more To find out more about Andry McFarlane and 1AM Talks: https://linktr.ee/andryam [https://linktr.ee/andryam] Learning and development work in the UK: https://thelearningmoment.org [https://thelearningmoment.org/] For global work connect with Andry McFarlane on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrymcfarlane [https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrymcfarlane]   ⏱ Moments to look out for in the Full Episode 00:00 — Andry introduces 1AM Talks and sets the scene at Impact Brixton, Brixton, London 01:37 — Gerald reflects on why he first sought coaching — and the make-or-break moment that changed everything for his business 02:47 — “Filter the signal, not the noise” — Gerald on how coaching sharpened his decision-making as a leader 09:17 — Andry shares how Impact Brixton inspired her to offer a voluntary coaching programme to the staff team — and what made it unique 12:23 — Gerald on building a non-hierarchical culture and why coaching filled the accountability gap his team needed 17:30 — Rachael and Gerald on why Impact Brixton is more than a workspace — and what it means when members bring their families to show it off   💭 Reflective Questions — For HR & L&D Managers 1.When your organisation invests in coaching, how do you assess whether the coach is the right fit — not just on paper, but in terms of trust and culture alignment? 2.Gerald describes coaching as helping leaders “filter signal from noise” in high-pressure moments. How are you currently supporting your managers to make quality decisions when the stakes are high? 3.The coaching offered to the Impact Brixton team was a single 90-minute session with no follow-up or evaluation. What does this challenge you to think about in terms of how your organisation measures the value of coaching interventions? Guest details Gerald Vanderpuye— Guest Bio Gerald Vanderpuye is CEO of Impact Brixton. He also  advises and implements AI systems for tech start-ups, incubators. He tells  Brixton’s story through Brixton Culture Capital + Make Rum for fun @Brixton Alchemist. Rachael Palmer — Guest Bio Rachael Palmer is General Manager at Impact Brixton. She brings insight into day-to-day leadership in a community-first workplace where people are trusted to grow into responsibility. Impact Brixton: https://www.impactbrixton.com [https://www.impactbrixton.com/]   Podcast recording and production team: https://www.artifactfilms.co.uk/ #LeadershipAtCrossroads #LeadershipCulture #CoachingAtWork #OrganisationalDevelopment #LearningAndDevelopment #CommunityFirst #TrustBasedLeadership #ImpactBrixton #CoworkingCulture #1AMTalks #SME’s We’d appreciate your ideas: What kind of culture helps people step into leadership? How does your organisation build trust without relying on heavy hierarchy?

Trailer 11 - From crossroads to CEO

💡What does it take to go with  courage and make  values based decisions when the risks are high? * In this trailer, we give you a hint of what’s coming in our full episode, as host Andry McFarlane sits down with Gerald Vanderpuye, CEO of Impact Brixton — a vibrant coworking space in South London — and General Manager Rachael  Palmer, to explore the real impact of coaching at a crucial moment of his life. * We get a glimpse of Gerald  at a crossroads where he was choosing whether to become a CEO -entrepreneur leading a co-working space or or an employee.  * He gives us a taste of how coaching helped him filter ‘clarity from noise’ — and why he now turns to it every time the pressure rises.   * We also get a preview of how Gerald brought that experience full circle, commissioning a coaching programme for his own team at Impact Brixton, and what it unlocked in terms of confidence, leadership awareness and accountability.   * Plus — a sneak peek at what makes Impact Brixton so hard to  describe in words -  but impossible to resist , as Gerald and Rachael try to put into words the community magic of a place where members bring their parents, and Rachael’s kids think they can ‘just drop by’. 💡In the Full Episode You’ll Hear: * Why successful  leaders lean into support rather than away from it * How coaching improves successful  high stakes  CEO decision-making * The secret behind building an empowered team culture with a flat team structure  * The  coaching programme that supported  the Impact Brixton team leaders,managers and staff   🎙 Thanks for Listening Thank you for tuning into this trailer for 1AM Talks. If this has sparked your curiosity, the full episode is available now. Share it with a colleague, leave us a review, or continue the conversation on socials. Every episode is a real learning journey  and we’re glad you’re part of it.   Recorded live at Impact Brixton by the production team at Artifact Films:: https://www.artifactfilms.co.uk/ [https://www.artifactfilms.co.uk/]

Episode 10 - Quality & Student Inclusion

💡How is the quality of  student services impacted by coaching?  💡In this episode of 1AM Talks, Kieren Macintosh (Vice Principal, Lewisham College) and Rebecca Henry Litteck (Head of Learning & OD, City St George’s) share their powerful stories of how coaching and mentoring break down silos, build trust, and drive inclusion—ultimately enhancing quality and student experiences. And we discuss the end of the ‘superhero’ leader.  🎧 You’ll hear: ✔️ Kieren’s transformation: From feeling "stuck" in his role to using coaching to prioritise impact, build a track record of success, and elevate his team’s performance—directly benefiting student support and outcomes. ✔️ Rebecca’s vision: How peer mentoring and coaching are replacing the "hero leader" model with collaborative, inclusive leadership—creating cultures where every voice is heard and valued. ✔️Coaching communities of practice in action—not the formal groups, but the informal spaces where managers and teams use coaching skills to drive change. ✔️ Real impact on students: How coaching skills spill into classrooms and student services, fostering engagement, confidence, and belonging—critical for quality education and retention. ✔️ Inclusion in action: Practical ways to weave EDI (Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) into coaching and mentoring, ensuring all staff and students thrive. ✔️ Budget-friendly strategies: How to design impactful programmes—even with limited resources—using cross-organisational partnerships, action learning sets, and team coaching. 💡 Key takeaways for L&D, OD, and education leaders: 🔹 Coaching is a tool to changer conversations, empower all staff and improve student experiences.  🔹 How coaching  supported one manager’s journey to enhance students experiences , including enhancing safeguarding services. 🔹 Inclusion starts with conversation—use coaching to build more equitable cultures. 🔹 Collaboration > silos—how peer coaching and cross-institutional partnerships strengthen the entire education sector. 🔗 Listen now to explore how coaching can transform leadership, enhance quality, and create inclusive environments where staff and students alike can thrive. #CoachingInEducation #FurtherEducation #HigherEducation #StudentSuccess #InclusiveLeadership #QualityInEducation #PeerMentoring #L&D #OD #1AMTalks ➡️ In the next episode, we continue the conversation with more practical reflections on coaching, leadership and learning cultures. Find out more To find out more about your hosts, Andry and Rachael: Our learning and development work in the UK https://thelearningmoment.org [https://thelearningmoment.org/]   About us and global work too: https://linktr.ee/andryam [https://linktr.ee/andryam] Connect with Andry Anastasis McFarlane and global work  on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/andry-anastasis-mcfarlane-00617313 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/andry-anastasis-mcfarlane-00617313] Follow the podcast on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/pod1amtalks [https://www.instagram.com/pod1amtalks]   🎧Only 20 mins to listen? 💫  Follow , share and listen to 1AM talks episodes for free on Spotify [https://spotify.link/x29xJ8DNDXb]   Podbean [https://pod1amtalks.podbean.com/]   and  Apple podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/1am-talks/id1846348556]   Guest details Rebecca Henry Litteck — Guest Bio * Rebecca Henry Litteck was previously Head of Learning and Organisational Development at St George’s, University of London, with over 14 years’ experience leading learning, leadership and organisational development initiatives across Further Education, Higher Education and the public sector. Following the 2024 merger with City, University of London, she is now Head of Learning and OD for SHMS within the expanded City St George’s OD team, supporting the organisation through a significant period of change and integration. * As an OD practitioner, she specialises in leadership and team development, organisational change, employee engagement, and the development of coaching and mentoring programmes. She is also a qualified coach, an EQ-i 2.0 practitioner, and a strong advocate for coaching and mentoring as powerful approaches to personal, professional and organisational growth. Kieren McIntosh — Guest Bio * Kieren McIntosh is Vice Principal for Curriculum and Quality at Lewisham College, part of NCG. He has worked in the Further Education sector for 18 years, with experience spanning curriculum leadership, quality improvement, and supporting teams to deliver consistent and effective practice. * At Lewisham College, Kieren leads on Curriculum and Quality, overseeing curriculum strategy, quality assurance and performance improvement across programme areas. His work focuses on supporting strong teaching, learning and assessment, helping teams work consistently, and improving learner experience and outcomes. * Before joining NCG, Kieren was Group Curriculum Director for Supported Learning at New City College, where he oversaw provision for around 900 High Needs students across multiple campuses. He also led Hospitality and Catering, including training restaurants, and contributed to the wider leadership journey towards Ofsted Outstanding. #Quality #ManagerAsCoach #PeerCoaching #ActionLearning #TeamCoaching #GroupSupervision #LeadershipDevelopment  #FurtherEducation #HigherEducation #studentinclusion #inclusion #Student services #OFSTED #LeadershipDevelopment #CoachingAndMentoring #PeerCoaching #ActionLearning #TeamCoaching #GroupSupervision #LearningAndDevelopment #OrganisationalDevelopment #FurtherEducation #HigherEducation #EDIB #1AMtalks We’d appreciate your ideas: How is your organisation widening its use of coaching, peer learning or action learning to support staff and students? What shifts are you seeing in leadership and development across FE or HE?

Trailer 10 - Quality & Student Inclusion

💡How does coaching impact on the quality of student services? Can L&D truly change the experience  for leaders, teams, and students in Further and Higher Education?  💡What is the End of the ‘hero leader’?  How are FE and HE beginning to shift, in small but important ways, towards peer mentoring, peer coaching and action learning and could they move from ‘superhero leaders’ to more co-owned leadership?  🎉 New Episode coming this week 🎙️In the full episode you’ll hear: ✔️ Kieren’s transformation: From feeling "stuck" in his role to using coaching to prioritise impact, build a track record of success, and elevate his team’s performance—directly benefiting student support and outcomes. ✔️ Rebecca’s vision: How peer mentoring and coaching are replacing the "hero leader" model with collaborative, inclusive leadership—creating cultures where every voice is heard and valued. ✔️Coaching communities of practice in action—not the formal groups, but the informal  everyday spaces where managers and teams use coaching skills to drive change. ✔️ Real impact on students: How coaching skills spill into classrooms and student services, fostering engagement, confidence, and belonging—critical for quality education and retention. ✔️ Inclusion in action: Practical ways to weave EDI (Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) into coaching and mentoring, ensuring all staff and students thrive. ✔️ Budget-friendly strategies: How to design impactful programmes—even with limited resources—using cross-organisational partnerships, action learning sets, and team coaching. 💡 Key takeaways for L&D, OD, and education leaders: 🔹 Coaching isn’t just for leaders—it’s a tool to empower staff and improve student experiences.  🔹 How coaching supported one manager’s journey to enhance students experiences , including enhancing safeguarding services. 🔹 Inclusion starts with conversation—use coaching to build more equitable cultures. 🔹 Collaboration > silos—how peer coaching and cross-institutional partnerships strengthen the entire education sector. * levant now in education sectors  Guests Kieren McIntosh — Vice Principal for Curriculum and Quality, Lewisham College Kieren begins his reflection on his nine-month Managers as Coach journey and what it meant for his leadership and practice. Rebecca Henry Litteck — Head of Learning and OD for SHMS, City St George’s Rebecca shares her perspective on the growing role of peer mentoring, peer coaching and action learning in organisational development. Hosts To find out more about your hosts, Andry and Rachael: https://linktr.ee/andryam [https://linktr.ee/andryam] To find out more about the team’s workshops, coaching, and consultancy work with UK organisations for your staff: https://thelearningmoment.org [https://thelearningmoment.org/] Connect with Andry Anastasis McFarlane and global work  on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/andry-anastasis-mcfarlane-00617313 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/andry-anastasis-mcfarlane-00617313] 🎧Only 2 mins  to listen? 💫  Follow , share and listen to 1AM to other 1AM talks trailers for free on Spotify [https://spotify.link/x29xJ8DNDXb]   Podbean [https://pod1amtalks.podbean.com/]   and  Apple podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/1am-talks/id1846348556]   #Quality  #qualityeducation #HigherEducation #studentinclusion #inclusion #FurtherEducation   #Student services #OFSTED PeerMentoring #PeerCoaching #ActionLearning #TeamCoaching #GroupSupervision #LeadershipDevelopment #LearningAndDevelopment #FurtherEducation #HigherEducation #EDIB #1AMtalks

Episode 9 - Coaching Communities

Educational Coaching How does  Manager as Coach L&D  and support staff leading Student Services? And how do you go from MAC to a community of coaches?  🎉New Episode  * In this episode of 1AM Talks, Andry McFarlane is joined by Rebecca Henry-Litteck and Kieren McIntosh for a conversation about how Managers as Coach, peer coaching, and coaching communities of practice help managers in Higher Education and Further Education support staff, reduce silos and support managers who work in student services too.  * Together they explore how these practise based coaching  approaches can be embedded into day-to-day management practice, enhancing quality, strengthening relationships, building  trust, confidence and support across organisations. * Rebecca reflects on how MAC  programmes embedded practise, gave experiences of  being coached, being observed coaching all impacted positively and were meaningful for staff.   * We explore how the  MAC programmes alongside consultation created ongoing coaching peer support, stronger internal networks and a growing coaching culture in FE and HE.  * Kieren  briefly shares the participant perspective, including the value of peer coaching and learning alongside colleagues on a journey to support students in FE.  * Across the episode, the discussion points to the wider ripple effect of Managers as Coach,  the growth of  peer coaching and coaching communities. It highlights how helping managers,  strengthens  organisations, and ultimately benefits  students through better leadership.   For HR, OD and L&D practitioners, this 20 minute episode shows: * how Manager as Coach can help managers and leaders more effectively in day-to-day roles  * how peer coaching can build trust, confidence and stronger working relationships across teams * how coaching communities of practice can strengthen organisational cultures and internal networks * how these coaching learning  approaches can support managers in Higher Education and Further Education * how leadership development can create ripple effects that reach staff, organisations and student services * We begin to look at one manager’s learning journey with coaching and their peers - more in Episode 10!  ➡️ In the next episode, we continue exploring the impact and practical insights from  the  MAC learning and development programme with Kieren and Rebecca. Only 20 mins to listen? 💫  Follow , share and listen to 1AM talks episodes for free on Spotify [https://spotify.link/x29xJ8DNDXb]   Podbean [https://pod1amtalks.podbean.com/]   and  Apple podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/1am-talks/id1846348556] Find out more To find out more about your hosts, Andry, Miranda, and Rachael: https://linktr.ee/andryam [https://linktr.ee/andryam] Learning and development work in the UK https://thelearningmoment.org [https://thelearningmoment.org/] Connect with Andry Anastasis McFarlane on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/andry-anastasis-mcfarlane-00617313 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/andry-anastasis-mcfarlane-00617313] Follow the podcast on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/pod1amtalks [https://www.instagram.com/pod1amtalks] ⭐ If you found this episode useful, consider sharing it with colleagues, rating the podcast and subscribing to help others discover these conversations on learning, leadership and organisational development. Guest details Rebecca Henry-Litteck and Kieren McIntosh Rebecca Henry-Litteck — Guest Bio Rebecca Henry-Litteck has nearly  15 years’ experience leading learning, leadership and organisational development initiatives across Higher Education and Further Education. Previously Head of Learning and Organisational Development at St George’s, University of London, she is now Head of Learning and ODI for the School of Health and Medical Sciences at City St George’s. Kieren McIntosh — Guest Bio Kieren McIntosh is Vice Principal at Lewisham College, part of NCG.  Kieren McIntosh is Vice Principal at Lewisham College, part of NCG. He has worked in the Further Education sector for 18 years also previously at New City College before returning to Lewisham College. His role focuses on ensuring that teaching, learning, and assessment are well supported, that teams have the clarity and tools needed to deliver consistently, and that learners experience a well‑structured and supportive environment.   We’d appreciate your ideas: How is your organisation using Managers as Coach, peer coaching or coaching communities to support leaders, staff and students? #qualityeducation #HigherEducation #studentinclusion #inclusion #FurtherEducation #LeadershipDevelopment #ManagersAsCoach #PeerCoaching #CoachingCommunities #CommunitiesOfPractice #LearningAndDevelopment #OrganisationalDevelopment #HigherEducation #FurtherEducation #1AMTalks