The Lead Story

Paul Downing, my dad, is back! With 40 years of experience working in hotels internationally, Paul once again brings us lots of colourful stories about how he’s successfully handled cultural differences around the globe. There’s ice cream served in the desert from Lawrence of Arabia’s train, a goat stew brings a team together, and a manager must agree to hold meetings again, 25 years after the revolution*. What should companies be doing to prepare their managers to lead in new territories? Wh...

I had so much fun talking about positivity with Tiffany Bradbury and had to find out a little more. This bonus segment gets a few more insights into how she keeps positivity in her life: with coffee, gratitude, 90’s grunge music and a whole lotta glitter. "The Lead Story" episodes 1-5 are available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts and other podcast platforms.

Who’s the most positive member of your leadership team? Ever think about the steel that’s supporting all that sunshine and smiles? We’re exploring *positive* leadership so it’s time to get down to the details and look at positivity. It’s a conscious way to approach the day, the attitude with which to tackle a challenge, the thing you can be known for. But how do you sustain the energy to always be the one bringing positivity into the workplace? How do you remain positive during challenging ti...

Pop quiz, hot shot! You didn't think I was going to speak to a teacher and not spring a pop quiz on him, did you? I put Mr Gartman into the hot seat to ask about first day superstitions, hidden talents, and the truth about the teachers' lounge. Grab a pencil, heads down, and begin! "The Lead Story" episodes 1-5 are available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts and other podcast platforms.

It’s back to school time! We’re sneaking into the teacher’s lounge to speak to Jeff Gartman, who left television news production to turn to teaching. We chat about working with bright stars and more challenging students, how an old dog has to constantly learn new tricks to keep up with ever-changing technology, the balance between respect and authority, and the ever-lasting effects a teacher can have on a student, and vice versa. It’s a semester-full of inspiration that’ll have you reminiscin...

We're going back to school for episode three of the Lead story, exploring positive leadership in the classroom and beyond. Available from 9th September. "The Lead Story" episodes 1-5 are available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts and other podcast platforms.

Only celebrities need media training, right? Wrong. If you are in an upper management role, have a brand to protect, and your company provides a product or service to the public, you'll likely deal with the media at some point. It's one thing to speak to the press when you're promoting something. It's a different game when there's a crisis to manage. "The Lead Story" episodes 1-5 are available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts and other podcast platforms.

Did you know President Ronald Reagan had his post-presidency office in Fox Plaza, aka Nakatomi Tower, aka the Die Hard building? Here's a little bonus story from Paul about paying President Reagan a visit, with a nice takeaway we can all put to use. "The Lead Story" episodes 1-5 are available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts and other podcast platforms.

Die Hard is one of the most famous action films of all time, but what happens when you're working in Nakatomi Tower and a real hostage situation is taking place? Do you leave the building or work through lunch? Check out episode 2 of The Lead Story to hear what one guy did. "The Lead Story" episodes 1-5 are available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts and other podcast platforms.

August 2023 - The Lead Story - Episode 3: “Crisis” How good are you at an emergency? Good leadership can really be put to the test when a crisis invades the workplace. How does a good leader prepare for the unknown? How you handle an active situation personally can really affect how everyone else responds. Episode 2 of The Lead Story explores preparing for crisis. Paul Downing is back with over 40 years of global experience in hotel & regional management. He’s a mentor to man...

Have you ever wondered how your manager got to where they are? Ever considered that they may have taken a demotion to move up? Sounds counter-intuitive, but sometimes it's what's needed, especially when making the move from a small company to a large. Paul Downing talks about how he went from leading a small but mighty kitchen to dropping down to sous chef to achieve his goals. "And I realized then there was no growth, so I needed to do something else. And so I got this opportunity to go to...

Introducing The Lead Story, exploring the qualities of positive leadership with people who’ve worked their way up, find ways to inspire, and continue to mentor new leaders. My first guest is Paul Downing who worked globally in the hospitality industry for over 40 years, starting in the kitchen and finishing as an in-demand consultant taking care of luxury hotels all over the world. He's mentored scores of people in the industry and continues to mentor me through my career, despite my le...

"The Lead Story" episodes 1-5 are available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts and other podcast platforms.