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Andy began his educational journey at Queen Mary’s Grammar School in Walsall. Despite not excelling academically, he managed to secure a place at Staffordshire Polytechnic (now Staffordshire University), where he studied Computer Science. His final year project, a route planner for Windows, marked the beginning of his tech career in 1992.

Andy's first job in the industry was at a small software company in Cannock, which didn't turn out as expected, leading him to pivot to building PCs. In 1994, he joined Nextbase, the company behind Autoroute. This turned out to be a pivotal move, as Nextbase was acquired by Microsoft just three months after he joined. Andy seized the opportunity and relocated to Seattle in February 1995, shortly before getting married.

At Microsoft, Andy spent eight years primarily developing in-car entertainment software, including notable projects like the Clarion Auto PC. In 2002, he left Microsoft to start his own company, Omega One, which achieved notable success with the No.1 selling mobile app for two consecutive years.

After Omega One naturally concluded in 2007, Andy returned to Microsoft, experiencing both highs and lows. In 2015, his time at Microsoft ended, and he transitioned to INRIX, where he had the best professional experience of his career over two years.

In 2017, Andy "retired" but soon felt the urge to embark on something creative. In early 2019, he launched his Big Car channel, and the journey has been incredible ever since.

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Sara Lodge is director of Beehive Coaching & Leadership Development Ltd. Apart from a couple of breaks, one working in marketing and one on the Leadership Fast Track of the West Yorkshire Police, she has been in the field of learning and development since 1985, working in places as diverse as Japan, Africa, Canada, Austria and France.

Sara is passionate about organisational learning and the importance of learning to leadership, and sees action learning, coaching and mentoring as two of the most important elements of developing both. She also sees Beehive's mission of sustainable learning as being directly applicable to the fields of Human Performance and safety culture, as it provides a model of operating experience feedback.

Ever since Mark Sykes first 'taught'​ rock climbing to beginners in the early 1980's he has believed that people hold the answers to the challenges they face within themselves. Mark could tell people where the holds were and how to pull on them, but then it felt like he had done the climbing for them.

For Mark, the key element was to ensure they were safe to 'have a go' and he was responsible for creating the safe space. That philosophy still holds true. Mark strongly believes that his clients know the answers to their work challenges and his role is still to create a safe environment for them to have a go, only this time it is a psychological and emotional safety that he creates. Together they are Beehive Coaching.

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In this episode Rhiannon shares the time when her own mental health suffered and how this changed her view of what is important in life.

As a passionate class teacher and wellbeing leader, Rhiannon works closely with staff, students and parents to support them in prioritising wellbeing and mental health. Rhiannon develops wellbeing programmes that aim to teach the entire school community about the awareness, tools and strategies we all need to look after ourselves and to look out for others.

She is keen to connect with like-minded colleagues to discuss how the wellbeing of international school students can be supported even further.

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Andy trained as a teacher in the UK and Australia, and has worked in international education for most of his career. As a teacher and school leader he specialised in curriculum design and school start-ups. He is now CEO of Consilium Education, an educational consulting company of highly experienced education professionals offering support with school start-ups, strategic planning, preparation for inspection or accreditation, feasibility/bench-marking studies and campus refurbishment. They also offer professional development programmes and careers advice for teachers who wish to work internationally. Consilium also publishes International Teacher Magazine.

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A passionate and avid cyclist, Andy Ferns is driven to help others in every way possible to repair, customize, and restore their bicycles. When not tinkering in his workshop or out riding, he splits his time between his wife Tina, their children, and serving the community as a dedicated full-time firefighter.

For as long as Andy can recall, the simple joy of riding a bike has been a constant in his life. He finds it fascinating how something so basic in engineering can deliver such excitement and freedom, propelled solely by human power. The unencumbered feeling a ride provides, the ability to explore new places unconfined, all while staying physically active - these never fail to fill him with wonder. As he matured, his skills advanced, carrying him faster and farther afield, fueling youthful fantasies of one day competing in the Tour de France.

The first bicycle Andy lovingly restored was a Raleigh Panasonic Team Corsa, his original road bike from childhood. Devastated when that cherished Raleigh was stolen in the 1980s, years later he serendipitously discovered an identical model listed for sale across the country, still in its factory-issue condition. An instinctive feeling told him he simply had to reclaim that bike. Though weathered and neglected, he instantly recognized every intimate detail, all still intact - a thrilling rediscovery of where his passion began.

From those humble beginnings sprang a lifelong dedication, with Andy painstakingly reviving hundreds of bicycles, from road racers to fixed-gears and more obscure models. That first restoration was just a few years ago, but in that span he has faced projects both pristine and decrepit, yet his enthusiasm remains bright. Experience the origin of BikeitUK by watching videos of Andy's bike renewals https://www.bikeituk.club/

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Fuelled by a vision to inspire future generations to create positive change, filmmaker Serdar Ferit and his partner, Paulina Tervo, established Lyfta in 2016. Their platform was meticulously crafted to empower educators with cutting-edge tools, enabling them to delve into intricate global themes and cultural phenomena within the classroom setting.

Today, Lyfta's innovative approach to immersive storytelling has garnered widespread adoption, finding its way into hundreds of schools across the United Kingdom and Finland. Through captivating narratives that transcend geographical boundaries, students are transported on enthralling journeys, exposing them to the rich tapestry of diverse cultures and perspectives from around the globe.

Prior to Lyfta, Serdar spent years as a film director, producer, teacher, and entrepreneur – experiences that have all contributed to his current role. He has worked in over 20 countries, directing and producing documentary, fiction, and commercial films, leading teams ranging from one to over 100 individuals. Lyfta's productions have been broadcast globally to over 100 million viewers and have garnered numerous awards.

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Jill Pay is a retired official of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. She was Serjeant at Arms in the House of Commons. Jill is the first woman to have held the position. Her appointment was unusual in that the position had hitherto normally been reserved for those with a military background. Jill's position conferred responsibility for security in the House of Commons. She retired on 31 January 2012.

Since leaving Parliament, Jill has held a number of senior roles for organisations including the children’s literacy charity Coram Beanstalk, the women’s business network Savvitas Global and the Women and Enterprise All Party Parliamentary Group chaired by Craig Tracey MP. She is a major driving force behind the acceleration and empowerment of female entrepreneurship internationally. She is also the Chairman of The Gender Index.

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In this finale episode of the first series, hosts David and Richard take a look back at the incredible guests they've had the privilege of speaking with over the past 9 episodes. From Paralympic gold medalist Marc Woods, who shared his inspiring story of overcoming adversity, to Maasai leader and conservationist James Laizer, discussing his work to preserve indigenous lands and traditions.

They reflect on the wisdom imparted by guests like coach and musician Heather Torrens on cultivating a growth mindset, and outdoor learning advocate Andy Robinson's insights on the importance of nature exposure for child development. Lessons from education leaders like Director of Learning Matthew Clark, on creating inclusive classroom environments, and teacher trainer Emma de Goederen, exploring innovative pedagogical approaches.

David and Richard also discuss the sustainable future insights from renewable energy expert Nick Escritt, and the enlightening perspective on leadership from executive coach Dr. Sam Mathis. Throughout the conversation, the hosts share how these diverse leading voices have impacted their own philosophies and worldviews.

By reflecting on the profound impacts made by their guests, David and Richard cap off an amazing first series that is sure to have inspired listeners to start leading story-filled lives of their own. Join them for this thought-provoking look back as they gear up for more leading stories to come in Series 2.

To learn more about David Porritt and Richard Human visit their LinkedIn pages.