How do you know when it’s time to walk away - even from something you’ve built yourself?

Sedge Beswick, consultant, advisor, speaker, and founder, digs deep into what it really takes to make bold career moves, step back as a CEO, and create space for what matters most.

If you’ve ever wondered how to balance ambition with family, deal with overwhelm, and lead with honesty, this episode is for you.

We cover:
00:00 – Introduction
01:28 – The courage to change
02:51 – Breaking the “hamster wheel” cycle
05:49 – Building success without a rulebook
07:55 – Childhood confidence and workplace impact
11:31 – The blunt reality of being direct at work
13:38 – Managing people older than you
16:32 – ASOS culture and handling growing pains
18:00 – When opportunity changes your course
19:35 – The power of community for business growth
21:52 – Courage to step down as CEO
22:27 – Mistakes made during maternity leave
23:15 – Hard lessons from deal fatigue
24:43 – Watching someone else lead your business
25:57 – Selling shares and choosing a new path
28:35 – Creating a life with more presence
29:22 – Letting go of identity and titles
32:38 – Pivoting your career with purpose
36:46 – The challenge of saying no and setting boundaries
39:45 – Building a portfolio career and helping others
42:42 – Managing overwhelm and keeping priorities straight
44:01 – Finding headspace as a working parent
45:04 – Do ambition and family ever truly integrate?
48:30 – Advice your future self would give now
50:01 – The power of pausing before big decisions

Don’t miss out on this powerful episode on entrepreneurship, business growth, motherhood and more!

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How do you find the courage to change, even when it feels uncomfortable?

I’m closing out the year on the Courageous Leaders Podcast with one of our most honest and practical episodes yet. Leaders everywhere are feeling the pressure to adapt quicker than ever before, and it’s easy to worry you’re not keeping up.

In this episode, I share the real conversations I’ve had with guests who’ve faced huge decisions, dealt with self-doubt, and taken bold leaps without always having a perfect plan. We get into letting go of old ways of working, saying the hard things, dealing with uncertainty, and what it really takes to lead high performing teams.

If you want practical advice on leading through change (and those leadership development skills that actually stick), you’re in the right place.

We Cover:

00:00 – Introduction

01:12 – Why change is faster (and scarier) than ever

03:02 – Dave Buonaguidi: How to define your true purpose at work

04:35 – Lauren Spearman: Why courage comes before confidence

06:39 – Karen Martin: The untold challenges of confident leaders

07:44 – Kerry Collinge: Directness as a leadership superpower

08:28 – The risk (and reward) of no longer fitting in

09:05 – When growth feels disruptive and what to do next

10:02 – Xavier Reeves: Making bold moves when you feel safe

11:34 – Kerttu Inkeroinen: Quitting without a backup plan: is it ever right?

12:29 – Facing risks (and what you actually regret)

13:09 – Building high performance teams starts with you

14:42 – Why you need to act even if it scares you

Don’t miss this honest look at what it really takes to lead yourself and others through the messiness of change.

👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you!
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ

🚀 Elevate Your Leadership:
Book a call for transformative leadership and team coaching:
Website: https://thechangecreators.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannahowes/

→ Join our newsletter for courageous leadership insights and advice.
👉 Subscribe here: https://the-change-creators.kit.com/1a5f3c9e54

How do you build real allyship and create cultural change that actually sticks?

This episode is one every leader should spend time with. Not because it’s “nice to know,” but because the future of your culture depends on it.

Lee Chambers, Founder & CEO of Male Allies UK, brings the kind of clarity and challenge most workplaces avoid. We talk about what it really takes to:

• Redefine outdated masculine stereotypes
• Build workplaces where everyone feels seen, valued, and able to thrive
• Lead in a way that strengthens culture rather than protects ego
  
  

It’s a conversation that will stretch your thinking, spark uncomfortable-but-important questions, and give you practical ways to lead with more intention and courage.

We also dig into Lee’s research on young people, AI companionship, and how boys today are making sense of identity, relationships, and society. Some of it is hopeful. Some of it is confronting. All of it matters, especially if you’re a parent or you lead the next generation.

We cover:

00:00 – Introduction

01:02 - What courage looks like for leaders today

02:31 – Why quiet courage matters as much as big gestures

03:49 – The tough decision to break with convention

06:06 – How stepping into new spaces changes your perspective

08:08 – The power of career “squiggles” and non-conformity

10:05 – Shedding old identities and building new ones as a leader

12:14 – What do boys really think about society? Surprising research findings

16:07 – Why boys care deeply but struggle to know how to help

20:08 – The decline of physical spaces for social connection

21:24 – Boys, girls and the challenges of communicating across gender

23:33 – Judgment vs. curiosity - what’s holding us back?

27:20 – Navigating polarisation and building empathy at work

34:08 – Can younger and older generations find common ground?

43:50 – The rise of AI companions and what it means for young people

52:23 – Everyday bravery and the value of small changes over time

54:43 – How to focus on influence and control in uncertain times

Don’t miss this thoughtful and practical conversation for anyone working in leadership or looking to create real change at work.

👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you!
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ

🚀 Elevate Your Leadership:
Book a call for transformative leadership and team coaching:
Website: https://thechangecreators.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannahowes/

→ Join our newsletter for courageous leadership insights and advice.
👉 Subscribe here: https://the-change-creators.kit.com/1a5f3c9e54