What happens when a seven-year-old sees injustice and decides to change the world? In this powerful episode, Mark McBride-Wright speaks with Ayo Sokale — civil engineer, children's TV presenter, tech founder, and author — about what it means to live life on purpose. From witnessing flooding in Nigeria to protecting thousands of homes through engineering, Ayo shares how personal experience shaped her career and calling. She also opens up about building Get Coached, an AI-powered app making coaching accessible to everyone, not just the C-suite.

The conversation dives deep into purpose, equity, and innovation, exploring how we thrive in systems not built for us, and how storytelling and data can work together to drive real change. Whether you're in STEM, leadership, or simply searching for direction, this episode will leave you inspired to act, reflect, and redefine your impact.

In this episode of The Safe Leader Podcast, Mark McBride-Wright sits down with Benjamin Ralph, Director at Hollis and a leading voice in building safety and fire engineering. From setting fires in the fields of North Devon as a child (for science!) to influencing national building safety policy, Ben shares his deeply personal and professional journey into fire engineering.

Together, they explore how tragedy, like the Grenfell Tower fire, sparked critical changes in UK legislation, and why inclusive fire safety must become the new standard. With insights on equitable design, the future of building safety, and the next generation of engineers, this conversation challenges us to think differently about who is protected, and who is too often left behind.

In this powerful episode of The Safe Leader Podcast, Mark McBride-Wright sits down with Mark Wilson, HSE and Operations Director at Offshore Energies UK, for an honest and inspiring conversation on leadership, wellbeing, and the ripple effect of positive change. From giving up alcohol and caffeine to rising through the military ranks, from private soldier to major, Mark shares how personal choices and professional integrity shaped his journey into the energy sector.

Together, they explore what authentic leadership really looks like, why creating a culture of care matters, and how the power of positivity can transform safety and performance in high-risk environments. Whether you're a seasoned leader or just starting out, this episode offers practical wisdom and real-world insight into what it means to lead with humility, purpose, and impact.

In this episode of The SAFE Leader, Mark McBride-Wright speaks with Simon Burwood, Partner at ERM and co-founder of Engineering Safety Consultants. From taking apart his mum’s iron as a curious child to leading cutting-edge safety work across biosafety, renewables, and AI, Simon shares the pivotal moments that shaped his career. He reflects on the transition from traditional industries like oil and gas to the fast-evolving landscape of technical safety, highlighting the need for innovation, adaptability, and systems thinking in modern engineering.

The conversation dives into Simon’s unexpected path to entrepreneurship, his commitment to inclusive recruitment, and why diversity and psychological safety are essential to effective leadership. With insights on everything from job ads to artificial intelligence, Simon’s story is a powerful reminder that the future of safety lies not just in process and compliance, but in people, culture, and continuous learning.

In this episode, Mark McBride-Wright is joined by Martin Cottam, Chair of ISO Technical Committee 283, for an in-depth conversation on how international standards can drive cultural change in workplace health and safety. With a career spanning over four decades in nuclear, marine, oil and gas, and major hazard industries, Martin shares how he transitioned from a technical safety background into global leadership in standardisation. He reflects on the evolution of ISO 45001 and its related standards, including the groundbreaking 45010, which addresses menstruation, menstrual health, and menopause in the workplace, challenging long-standing taboos and advocating for inclusive design in occupational health and safety systems.

In this episode of The SAFE Leader Podcast, Mark McBride-Wright is joined by Séverine Trouillet, CEO of STEM Learning—the UK’s largest provider of STEM education and careers support. With a powerful blend of personal insight and sector expertise, Séverine shares what drives her mission to widen participation in STEM, especially for underrepresented communities.

From her reflections on having a “squiggly career” to her determination to change the narrative for girls who feel STEM isn’t for them, Séverine brings clarity, purpose, and action to the forefront. She speaks about the importance of industry collaboration, targeted outreach, and why diversity isn’t just a buzzword, it’s the backbone of future innovation.

What happens when a childhood on a dairy farm fuels a career in engineering leadership? In this episode, we dive into an inspiring journey of challenging expectations, making bold career leaps, and driving change in manufacturing. Emma Knowles shares how a background in agriculture shaped her approach to problem-solving, why she took on a £26M factory build at just 26, and how mentorship and visibility are key to bringing more women into engineering. From breaking industry norms to championing sustainability and inclusive leadership, this episode is packed with insights, real-life lessons, and game-changing advice for anyone looking to carve their own path in STEM.

Dame Dawn Childs shares her inspiring engineering journey, from joining the Royal Air Force for sponsored education to leading transformative roles at Gatwick Airport, Merlin Entertainments, and National Grid. She now heads Pure Data Centres Group, building sustainable hyperscale data centres. Dame Dawn Childs discusses the importance of inclusion and diversity in engineering, drawing on her experiences as a long-time trustee and president of the Women's Engineering Society. She emphasises the critical role of engineers in addressing global challenges and the need to showcase historical stories of pioneering women engineers to inspire the next generation.