Intuitive Insights

In this episode of Intuitive Insights, Nina Lockwood talks to Angie Doll, Chief Executive Officer of Govia Thameslink Railways (GTR), the UK’s largest train operator. Angie discusses her unorthodox route into rail, which all started with a teenage passion for travel. Angie talks about how she “fell into rail” after 12 years as a holiday rep in Spain, starting out as a station manager with no prior experience in the industry, and reveals how her earlier working experiences shaped the core beliefs to which she still holds true today. In a wide-ranging conversation, Angie and Nina also delve into philosophies of leadership, the importance of visibility in encouraging more women to take up senior positions in UK rail, and the future of GTR as it moves into public ownership. What you’ll learn in this episode Why leadership is about people rather than hierarchy The importance of visibility in fostering enduring trust Why curiosity often matters more than technical perfection Why it’s not enough for UK rail just to talk about “track and train” How high-performing teams are built – carefully and deliberately Key takeaways Purpose, visibility, and trust: Angie’s biggest impact themes were living on the patch, staying close to customers and frontline colleagues, and using that real-world insight to lead better decisions. Her point was simple: you can’t lead a service business from a distance. Why clarity of vision matters: Angie’s Southern turnaround story was a masterclass: create belief, name what “good” looks like, and bring people with you over time. The “more hands go up every six months” moment really landed — progress becomes possible when leaders give teams hope, pride, and measurable outcomes. Reframing rail: Angie kept coming back to rail’s wider role in society — economic uplift, community impact, sustainability, and social value. And crucially: if we want to attract the next generation (and more diverse talent), we have to talk about why the work matters and build inclusive pathways, not just list technical requirements. About Angie Doll Angie Doll is the Chief Executive Officer of Govia Thameslink Railways. She previously served as GTR’s Chief Operating Officer from 2021 to 2023, having first joined the rail industry as a station manager in 1999. One of UK rail’s most prominent female leaders, she has consistently emphasised the need for a cultural transformation in the industry to foster new talent.

In this episode of Intuitive Insights, Nina Lockwood is joined by Richard Brown CBE, former Chairman and Chief Executive of Eurostar. Together, they discuss topics including the importance of supporting younger talent in bring through future leaders, and what the coming years hold for the rail industry. Richard talks about his own 40-year career in UK rail and how, having entered the industry originally by chance, he worked his way into its highest echelons. In particular, he highlights the importance of supportive leaders willing to trust capable young people with real responsibility. Also, Richard and Nina delve into the politics of running the UK’s rail network. Richard argues that the complexity of running railways is often underestimated by policymakers, insisting that change will only succeed if both leaders and frontline staff are trusted and empowered. What you’ll learn in this episode Why ‘luck’ is more about attitude than good fortune The role of leaders in creating space for new talent to grow Why political involvement in rail has increased since privatisation The skills future rail industry leaders need The value of recruiting more leaders from outside the industry Key takeaways Evolution, not revolution: The railway can’t be “redesigned on paper” while it’s still running 24/7. The most credible path is to build on what already exists, merge and integrate intelligently, and resist the temptation to throw everything in the air for the sake of “instant change”. Culture is the hard bit: A major thread was that structural reform won’t land unless you invest in the “people system”: team-building, leadership development, and a common way of working across very different cultures. Richard also stressed using respected existing leaders as anchors so change feels navigable, not frightening. Political skills count: Richard’s view of the “GBR era” leader isn’t a lone hero but someone who can build a high-performing blended team, communicate success and progress properly, and operate confidently in the political reality of UK rail, earning enough confidence from Whitehall so the industry is trusted to run with more freedom. About Richard Brown Richard Brown CBE is a senior British transport executive. He was Chairman of Eurostar until June 2013, and Chief Executive from 2002 to 2010. A former chair of the Association of Train Operating Companies and former president of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, among numerous other roles in the industry, he has served on the board of HS2 Ltd since 2012.

In this episode of Intuitive Insights, Nina Lockwood is joined by Laura Shoaf, Chair of Shadow Great British Railways, to discuss the meaning of leadership, culture change and what a truly passenger-first transport system looks like. Laura shares her unorthodox career journey – from early customer-facing roles in the US to senior leadership in UK public transport – and explains how curiosity, a commitment to public service and saying “yes” to opportunity have combined to shape her unique path. Together, Laura and Nina talk through what good leadership truly means, why learning the right lessons from failure is a vital precursor to enduring progress and how empowering the people closest to passengers can inspire meaningful change across UK rail.   What you’ll learn in this episode Why careers don’t have to be straightforward to be successful How frontline roles shape customer experience and reputation The importance of honesty and clarity to effective leadership Why it takes more than slogans to drive real culture change What a passenger-first railway means in practice How lessons from failure can drive future success   About Laura Shoaf Laura Shoaf CBE is Chair of Shadow Great British Railways. With extensive experience across public both public transport and local government, Laura has led initiatives to enhance transport connectivity, economic growth and encourage skills development. She also served as one of the UK’s first Transport Champions for tackling violence against women and girls.

An introduction to the Intuitive Insights series of Podcast, featuring inspirational leaders from the UK Rail Sector

Nina is joined today by Sarah Boyd, MD, Lothian Buses About Nina Lockwood Nina is founder and CEO of Intuitive Interim & Executive Search, a boutique agency focused completely on the UK Transport sector - she can be contacted by email at nina.lockwood@intuitiverecruitment.com   About Intuitive Interim & Executive Search Intuitive are a boutique agency focused completely on the UK Transport sector, delivering exceptional mid/ senior executive level recruitment and interim management solutions www.intuitiverecruitment.com 

Nina is joined today by Vinay Parmar, Chief Everything at Dhruva Star About Nina Lockwood Nina is founder and CEO of Intuitive Interim & Executive Search, a boutique agency focused completely on the UK Transport sector - she can be contacted by email at nina.lockwood@intuitiverecruitment.com   About Intuitive Interim & Executive Search Intuitive are a boutique agency focused completely on the UK Transport sector, delivering exceptional mid/ senior executive level recruitment and interim management solutions www.intuitiverecruitment.com 

Nina is joined today by Laura Hadzik, Partner, Co-Head Commercial Road Transport at JMW LLP About Nina Lockwood Nina is founder and CEO of Intuitive Interim & Executive Search, a boutique agency focused completely on the UK Transport sector - she can be contacted by email at nina.lockwood@intuitiverecruitment.com   About Intuitive Interim & Executive Search Intuitive are a boutique agency focused completely on the UK Transport sector, delivering exceptional mid/ senior executive level recruitment and interim management solutions www.intuitiverecruitment.com 

Nina is joined today by Louise Cheeseman, Founder and Chair of Women in Bus and Coach About Nina Lockwood Nina is founder and CEO of Intuitive Interim & Executive Search, a boutique agency focused completely on the UK Transport sector - she can be contacted by email at nina.lockwood@intuitiverecruitment.com   About Intuitive Interim & Executive Search Intuitive are a boutique agency focused completely on the UK Transport sector, delivering exceptional mid/ senior executive level recruitment and interim management solutions www.intuitiverecruitment.com 

Nina is joined today by Mike Roberts, Railway Chaplain for the North West About Nina Lockwood Nina is founder and CEO of Intuitive Interim & Executive Search, a boutique agency focused completely on the UK Transport sector - she can be contacted by email at nina.lockwood@intuitiverecruitment.com   About Intuitive Interim & Executive Search Intuitive are a boutique agency focused completely on the UK Transport sector, delivering exceptional mid/ senior executive level recruitment and interim management solutions www.intuitiverecruitment.com 

Nina is joined today by Leon Daniels, President Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport About Nina Lockwood Nina is founder and CEO of Intuitive Interim & Executive Search, a boutique agency focused completely on the UK Transport sector - she can be contacted by email at nina.lockwood@intuitiverecruitment.com   About Intuitive Interim & Executive Search Intuitive are a boutique agency focused completely on the UK Transport sector, delivering exceptional mid/ senior executive level recruitment and interim management solutions www.intuitiverecruitment.com 

Nina is joined today by Paul Evans, CEO of Carlisle Support Services About Nina Lockwood Nina is founder and CEO of Intuitive Interim & Executive Search, a boutique agency focused completely on the UK Transport sector - she can be contacted by email at nina.lockwood@intuitiverecruitment.com   About Intuitive Interim & Executive Search Intuitive are a boutique agency focused completely on the UK Transport sector, delivering exceptional mid/ senior executive level recruitment and interim management solutions www.intuitiverecruitment.com 

Nina is joined today by Fraser Pithie, Community Rail champion and Customer Account Manager, Network Rail About Nina Lockwood Nina is founder and CEO of Intuitive Interim & Executive Search, a boutique agency focused completely on the UK Transport sector - she can be contacted by email at nina.lockwood@intuitiverecruitment.com   About Intuitive Interim & Executive Search Intuitive are a boutique agency focused completely on the UK Transport sector, delivering exceptional mid/ senior executive level recruitment and interim management solutions www.intuitiverecruitment.com 

Nina is joined today by Ann Marie Purcell, Chief Transformation Officer at Transport for Greater Manchester About Nina Lockwood Nina is founder and CEO of Intuitive Interim & Executive Search, a boutique agency focused completely on the UK Transport sector - she can be contacted by email at nina.lockwood@intuitiverecruitment.com   About Intuitive Interim & Executive Search Intuitive are a boutique agency focused completely on the UK Transport sector, delivering exceptional mid/ senior executive level recruitment and interim management solutions www.intuitiverecruitment.com   

Nina is joined today by Rachel Geliamassi, Customer Service Director, GWR About Nina Lockwood Nina is founder and CEO of Intuitive Interim & Executive Search, a boutique agency focused completely on the UK Transport sector - she can be contacted by email at nina.lockwood@intuitiverecruitment.com   About Intuitive Interim & Executive Search Intuitive are a boutique agency focused completely on the UK Transport sector, delivering exceptional mid/ senior executive level recruitment and interim management solutions www.intuitiverecruitment.com 

Nina is joined today by Sambit Banerjee, Joint CEO of Siemens Mobility. About Nina Lockwood Nina is founder and CEO of Intuitive Interim & Executive Search, a boutique agency focused completely on the UK Transport sector - she can be contacted by email at nina.lockwood@intuitiverecruitment.com   About Intuitive Interim & Executive Search Intuitive are a boutique agency focused completely on the UK Transport sector, delivering exceptional mid/ senior executive level recruitment and interim management solutions www.intuitiverecruitment.com 

Nina is joined today by Martijn Gilbert, Managing Director, Open Access Rail Operations (Lumo and Hull Trains) About Nina Lockwood Nina is founder and CEO of Intuitive Interim & Executive Search, a boutique agency focused completely on the UK Transport sector - she can be contacted by email at nina.lockwood@intuitiverecruitment.com   About Intuitive Interim & Executive Search Intuitive are a boutique agency focused completely on the UK Transport sector, delivering exceptional mid/ senior executive level recruitment and interim management solutions www.intuitiverecruitment.com 

Nina is joined today by David Simpson, Operations Director, ScotRail About Nina Lockwood Nina is founder and CEO of Intuitive Interim & Executive Search, a boutique agency focused completely on the UK Transport sector - she can be contacted by email at nina.lockwood@intuitiverecruitment.com   About Intuitive Interim & Executive Search Intuitive are a boutique agency focused completely on the UK Transport sector, delivering exceptional mid/ senior executive level recruitment and interim management solutions www.intuitiverecruitment.com 

Nina is joined today by Toufic Machnouk, Director, Industry Partnership for Digital Railway at Network Rail About Nina Lockwood Nina is founder and CEO of Intuitive Interim & Executive Search, a boutique agency focused completely on the UK Transport sector - she can be contacted by email at nina.lockwood@intuitiverecruitment.com   About Intuitive Interim & Executive Search Intuitive are a boutique agency focused completely on the UK Transport sector, delivering exceptional mid/ senior executive level recruitment and interim management solutions www.intuitiverecruitment.com 

Nina is joined today by Simon Pearson, Chief Commercial Officer, UK Bus at FirstGroup plc About Nina Lockwood Nina is founder and CEO of Intuitive Interim & Executive Search, a boutique agency focused completely on the UK Transport sector - she can be contacted by email at nina.lockwood@intuitiverecruitment.com   About Intuitive Interim & Executive Search Intuitive are a boutique agency focused completely on the UK Transport sector, delivering exceptional mid/ senior executive level recruitment and interim management solutions www.intuitiverecruitment.com 

Nina is joined today by Andy Lord, Commissioner at Transport for London (TfL) About Nina Lockwood Nina is founder and CEO of Intuitive Interim & Executive Search, a boutique agency focused completely on the UK Transport sector - she can be contacted by email at nina.lockwood@intuitiverecruitment.com   About Intuitive Interim & Executive Search Intuitive are a boutique agency focused completely on the UK Transport sector, delivering exceptional mid/ senior executive level recruitment and interim management solutions www.intuitiverecruitment.com