The Real Cost of Cultural Conditioning And How Sathpal Singh Chose His Own Path | Episode 40

Sathpal Singh didn’t follow a straight path, he built a career by embracing the twists, the turns, and the lessons that shaped him. From starting out as a hands-on software developer to becoming a respected leader in product, agile delivery, community building, and tech leadership, Sathpal’s story is all about curiosity, reflection, and the courage to understand yourself before trying to lead anyone else. In this episode of Success or Excuses, James Fleming sits down with Sathpal to dig into the real journey behind his career, the mindset shifts, the cultural conditioning he had to unlearn, the pressure of being the first in his community to go to university, and how he went from code to coaching leaders inside some of the biggest organisations in the UK. From growing up as the eldest in a large Sikh family, to battling limiting beliefs, to learning the power of reflection, networking, and asking better questions, this conversation goes deep into self-awareness, grit, and the lifelong work of mastering yourself. Sathpal doesn’t just talk about curiosity, confidence, or leadership, he lives it. Whether he’s helping senior teams align on complex problems, mentoring ambitious tech professionals, breaking down cultural barriers, building global agile communities, or challenging outdated thinking, every part of his story comes straight from lived experience. This episode is full of honesty, perspective, and the kind of practical insight that every leader, especially those navigating tech, change, and uncertainty, needs to hear. If you’re a leader, a manager, or someone trying to build a career on your own terms, this one will hit home. Key moments include: ✔️ James welcomes Sathpal ✔️ Sathpal introduces himself, from software developer to tech leader ✔️ How he shifted from “shiny tech” to solving real business problems ✔️ Why psychology, people, and motivation became central to his career ✔️ The journey from developer to leader, coach, and community builder ✔️ Cultural conditioning, childhood experiences, and being the first in his Sikh community to go to university ✔️ James and Sathpal discuss mindset, limiting beliefs, and self-discovery ✔️ Peaks and troughs: the pressure, the expectations, and learning to join the dots ✔️ Agile thinking, asking better questions, and why leaders must stop pretending to have all the answers ✔️ Bias, identity, accent, and the reality of being a minority in professional settings ✔️ Why good habits, discipline, curiosity, and optimism matter ✔️ Sathpal’s top pieces of life advice: authenticity, embracing uncertainty, and building strong habits Subscribe to Success or Excuses for more real, reflective conversations with people who challenge old conditioning, ask better questions, and build their lives with curiosity instead of fear. Follow James Fleming: LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesflemingtpwtd/ Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/successorexcusespodcast YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@SuccessorExcusesPodcast Website → https://thepowerwithintraining.com/ Follow Sathpal Singh: LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/m/in/sathpal/ Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/visualsath Timestamps: [00:00] James opens the episode and welcomes Sathpal [00:45] Sathpal on introducing himself and his early tech background [01:35] Moving from hands-on developer to leadership and strategy [02:26] Product, agile, community building — where he works today [03:35] Why he loves people, psychology, and motivation [05:12] James asks about mindset and whether it came naturally [05:47] Determination, grit, and learning more about himself [08:04] Growing up as the first in his Sikh community to go to university [09:13] Peaks, troughs, limiting beliefs, and connecting the dots later in life [10:20] Mentoring, motivational maps, and helping others unlock potential [11:12] What success means and why expectations matter [12:26] Cultural conditioning and how childhood shapes us [14:09] Optimism, risk, family expectations, and unlearning [17:55] James on mindset, adversity, and reframing disadvantage [19:41] Early conditioning, pressure, comparison, and personal growth [23:21] How their first meeting left both of them energised [25:09] Asking better questions and why conversations matter [27:21] “I don’t know” — why leaders must stop pretending to have all the answers [30:11] Building alignment, solving the right problem, and facilitation [33:35] Leadership behaviours, body language, and trust [36:19] Having people who tell you what you need to hear [38:03] The challenge of saying no and valuing your time [39:16] Knowing when to walk away [40:04] Scarcity vs abundance and helping others succeed [42:18] Cultural insight: Sikh community, identity, and values [46:55] Bias, assumptions, accent, and global experiences [53:17] Slipping into old patterns and mastering yourself [57:02] Sathpal’s ...