In this conversation with award-winning entrepreneur and founder Vanessa Sanyauke, we explore the highs and lows of building a career and movement that changes lives.

You’ll hear:

• How an 8-year-old Vanessa found inspiration in Oprah.
• The story of how a recruiter told her she wasn’t good enough yet she landed her dream role at Standard Chartered through vision boarding and persistence.
• The emotional toll of building Girls Talk London and why success often hides unseen struggles.
• Why virality doesn’t equal value, and what really builds long-term influence.
• How Vanessa shifted from perfectionism to consistency to relaunch her podcast and brand.
• Her honest reflections on burnout, rest, and redefining what leadership means.

About Vanessa Sanyauke
Vanessa is the founder and CEO of Girls Talk London, operating across 37 countries and connecting over 60,000 women to global industries. She has been recognised as one of the most inspiring women in the UK, featured in The Guardian, Financial Times, and as a visiting lecturer at the London School of Economics.

Connect with Vanessa:

• LinkedIn
• Girls Talk London
• The Hill App

Connect with Sope

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We’re always keen to get feedback so if you have any thoughts, send us an email at hello@mindsetshift.co.uk

In this episode of Everyday Leadership, I sit down with Chris Clark, Founder & Managing Director of InHarmony Consulting Group. From being called a “young preacher” as a child, to leading culture at global giants like Google, ESPN, and Soho House, Chris’s story is a masterclass in communication, resilience, and intentional leadership.

We talk about:

• Growing up between church sermons and basketball courts.
• Why structure transforms ERGs from event planners into culture shapers.
• The weight of leading through COVID at Soho House.
• Taking the leap from corporate into entrepreneurship.
• Redefining success as harmony, not balance.

This conversation is for leaders, entrepreneurs, and change-makers who want practical insights on culture, resilience, and authentic leadership.

Chris shows that leadership isn’t about titles or control — it’s about helping others achieve their own definition of success, and using communication as the bridge.

Connect with Chris:
LinkedIn
Website
Instagram
Email: chris@inharmonyconsulting.com

Connect with Sope

Website | Youtube | Instagram | LinkedIn

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We’re always keen to get feedback so if you have any thoughts, send us an email at hello@mindsetshift.co.uk

We have been taught that the key to success is more. More meetings. More goals. More hustle. But neuroscience, psychology, and lived leadership experience all say the opposite: less is more.

In this episode, I break down:

• The 5 biggest lies leaders believe about “more”
• 10 powerful reasons why doing less leads to greater clarity, creativity, and influence
• Real-world lessons from Warren Buffett, Serena Williams, Indra Nooyi, Steve Jobs, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, and African proverbs
• How scripture reminds us of the power of stillness, focus, and legacy

If you are a busy executive, founder, or a leader navigating complexity, this conversation will challenge the way you think about productivity and impact.

Because leadership is not about doing everything.
It is about doing the right things, deeply, consistently, and with conviction.

Connect with Sope

Website | Youtube | Instagram | LinkedIn

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We’re always keen to get feedback so if you have any thoughts, send us an email at hello@mindsetshift.co.uk

You’ve been taught to outwork it.
To push through.
To earn rest.

But what if rest isn’t the reward — what if it’s the strategy?

In this solo episode, I share a deeply personal story of almost burning. I also discuss how I ignored the warning signs, pursued clarity through effort, and what ultimately led me to stop.

We dive into:

• The hidden cost of overperformance
• Why your best thinking happens when you're doing nothing
• The neuroscience of rest and the default mode network
• How leaders like Bill Gates and Tricia Hersey reframe rest as power
• What happened when a founder I coached took her first weekend off in over a year

This episode is a call to pause.
Not because you're weak.
But because you're wise enough to lead differently.

Plus, I share why I’m taking a short break from the podcast — and why maybe, you should too.

Connect with Sope

Website | Youtube | Instagram | LinkedIn

Did you find this helpful? If you like this episode, please leave a review or share it with someone who could benefit from listening.

We’re always keen to get feedback so if you have any thoughts, send us an email at hello@mindsetshift.co.uk

In this powerful conversation, Robin Daniels, former CMO and current Chief Business & Product Officer at Zensai, shares his journey from a challenging childhood in Denmark to leading at some of the world’s most iconic tech companies.

We dive deep into:

• How childhood adversity shaped his grit and optimism
• The power of storytelling and energy in leadership
• Why clarity, not certainty, is a leader’s best tool
• Learning to lean into discomfort and do "epic things"
• The myth of work-life balance and what truly matters
• How to stay grounded while scaling companies and teams globally
• The mindset shift from chasing titles to chasing impact
• Lessons in authenticity, impostor syndrome, and redefining success

Robin opens up about his personal evolution, his intentional approach to life and leadership, and the hard truths leaders need to hear, especially in today’s AI-fuelled, high-pressure world.

Whether you're a founder, executive, or emerging leader, this episode will challenge and inspire you to lead with courage, clarity, and conviction.

Connect with Sope

Website | Youtube | Instagram | LinkedIn

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We’re always keen to get feedback so if you have any thoughts, send us an email at hello@mindsetshift.co.uk

his week on Everyday Leadership, Sope Agbelusi challenges the belief that failure is our biggest barrier. Instead, he explores the more uncomfortable truth: fear of success. Whether it's fear of being seen, fear of criticism, or fear of outgrowing the people around you, many high-performers are quietly self-sabotaging their next level.

Sope shares how redefining success shaped his own path, the mindset shift that helped him stop performing for validation, and the practical steps you can take to build a personal brand rooted in truth, not pressure.

This episode is a must-listen if you’ve ever felt stuck, overwhelmed, or like you’re shrinking to stay safe.

What you'll learn:

• How to spot the fear of success in your life or leadership
• Why traditional definitions of success often lead to burnout
• The difference between alignment and performance
• What it means to lead from the inside out
• Why Black professionals, especially those raised in the West, face an added layer of fear when stepping into visibility
• How to rewire your thinking so success feels safe, not scary

🎧 Listen now and share this episode with someone who’s capable of more but stuck playing small.

Connect with Sope

Website | Youtube | Instagram | LinkedIn

Did you find this helpful? If you like this episode, please leave a review or share it with someone who could benefit from listening.

We’re always keen to get feedback so if you have any thoughts, send us an email at hello@mindsetshift.co.uk

This isn't just for entrepreneurs or influencers. It’s for every founder, every corporate leader, every individual who wants to lead with impact and clarity.

Sope unpacks the difference between reputation and personal brand, the hidden cost of being passive, and why doing great work is no longer enough. He shares a pivotal story about how a quiet, intentional moment in corporate years ago opened the door to leading a major turnaround project, a reminder that your brand is working in rooms you haven’t entered yet.

You’ll also learn practical steps to start shaping a brand that reflects your value, attracts the right opportunities, and keeps you in rooms long after you’ve left them.

• Why your personal brand already exists
• The crucial difference between reputation and brand
• How Sope’s quiet leadership got him a role he never applied for
• Why people buy into you before they buy into your ideas
• Four simple, powerful steps to build an authentic personal brand
• How your brand becomes your leadership tool, not just a marketing tactic

“You can be a world-class singer, but if no one hears your voice, you're just performing in an empty arena.”

Connect with Sope

Website | Youtube | Instagram | LinkedIn

Did you find this helpful? If you like this episode, please leave a review or share it with someone who could benefit from listening.

We’re always keen to get feedback so if you have any thoughts, send us an email at hello@mindsetshift.co.uk

In this episode of Everyday Leadership I have the pleasure of chatting with Tope Chiedozie a creative curator, trainer and the voice behind The Sit Down UK. Together we trace his path from drawing in his bedroom and surviving a strict Nigerian upbringing to co-founding gospel-grime outfit Commission, touring the UK youth-event circuit and finally parking the music to create a live platform where artists swap highlight reels for raw honesty.

Tope shares:

• How church mentors drilled purpose into him and why he now perfumes venues, checks the chairs and insists every guest can inspire his audience.
• The unseen side of success—from sickle-cell battles to label headaches and why “breaking the illusion” matters more than clicks.
• Practical rituals for balancing confidence and humility, including his 30-minute pre-show walk and digital “praise folder”.
• Parenthood, imposter syndrome and the simple rule he now follows: let his daughter become who she already is.

If you’re searching for a fresh way to lead, tell stories or keep your ego in check, this conversation will give you plenty to chew on.

Listen in and learn how grounded purpose can power bold creativity and why the best leaders stay students of their own journey.

Instagram: https://instagram.com/topechiedozie
The Sit Down UK: https://instagram.com/thesitdownuk

Connect with Sope

Website | Youtube | Instagram | LinkedIn

Did you find this helpful? If you like this episode, please leave a review or share it with someone who could benefit from listening.

We’re always keen to get feedback so if you have any thoughts, send us an email at hello@mindsetshift.co.uk