Finding Your Collaborative Edge

What does it take to truly collaborate?How can leaders create environments where diverse perspectives are valued, trust is nurtured, and meaningful conversations drive innovation? Finding Your Collaborative Edge™ is a podcast for leaders, teams, and professionals who want to unlock the full potential of collaboration in their organisations and lives.Hosted by Anni Townend and Lucy Kidd, co-founders of Collaboration Equation™, this show explores the essential elements of psychological safety, inclusive dialogue, and diversity of thought and feeling—helping you cultivate a mindset of curiosity, care, and courage.Each episode delves into real-world leadership challenges, expert insights, and powerful stories from those who are finding their Collaborative Edge™. Whether you’re a senior leader, team manager, or someone passionate about creating human-centred workplaces, this podcast will inspire you to build connections, embrace difference, and lead with authenticity.Join the conversation and start your journey towards more impactful, collaborative leadership. Find out more at: www.collaborationequation.comFollow us on LinkedIn: Collaboration EquationABOUT THIS EPISODE:In this episode we are delighted to be in conversation with Kat Parsons, Group Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at CentricaTogether we explore:The power of open questions to create connection and build trustHow diversity metrics can get in the way of inclusive behaviours—and how to move beyond themWhat it means to invite others to feel what it’s like for someone elseFinding freedom in career change and personal rebrandingThe courage it takes to step aside, so others can step forwardKnowing when, and how, to ask for help—and to receive itKat’s three encouragements to invite you to explore your Collaborative Edge™:Find the areas you are less comfortable with, get curious and immerse yourself Notice the differences between you and others and create some flex to meet each other wellReal success is seeing others find their voice to step up and lead the wayAbout Kat:Kat is the Group Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for Centrica, a thought leader who has experience driving company wide cultural change and inclusion where all colleagues feel they belong - Every Colleague Counts: Powering Inclusion: Fuelling Change.Kat’s passion and drive for change led her to join the Fellowship of Leaders, appear on the HIVE Top 75 D&I leads in EMEA and the WiTHL Women to Watch list, The Pride Power List is 2023 and 2024 as well as multiple Head of D&I Awards. Kat’s work supported ISS receiving a highly Commended commendation at the European Diversity Awards.Connect and collaborate with Kat:On LinkedInOn InstagramLearn about Centrica : https://www.linkedin.com/company/centrica/ Learn about Work Boutique :

What does it take to truly collaborate?How can leaders create environments where diverse perspectives are valued, trust is nurtured, and meaningful conversations drive innovation? Finding Your Collaborative Edge™ is a podcast for leaders, teams, and professionals who want to unlock the full potential of collaboration in their organisations and lives.Hosted by Anni Townend and Lucy Kidd, co-founders of Collaboration Equation™, this show explores the essential elements of psychological safety, inclusive dialogue, and diversity of thought and feeling—helping you cultivate a mindset of curiosity, care, and courage.Each episode delves into real-world leadership challenges, expert insights, and powerful stories from those who are finding their Collaborative Edge™. Whether you’re a senior leader, team manager, or someone passionate about creating human-centred workplaces, this podcast will inspire you to build connections, embrace difference, and lead with authenticity.Join the conversation and start your journey towards more impactful, collaborative leadership.Find out more at: www.collaborationequation.comFollow us on LinkedIn: Collaboration EquationABOUT THIS EPISODE:In this episode we are delighted to be in conversation with Barrie Millett, Security and Resilience Leader, Crisis Management Expert, Collaboration Champion, Mitie. Together we explore:The fear of appearing to need others - and why real strength lies in connectionThe power of self-awareness as the foundation for leadershipBuilding a circle of trusted confidants who challenge and support youWhy fun isn’t a bonus - it’s essential to performanceHow trust and commitment fuel the cycle of collaborationBarrie’s three encouragements to invite you to explore your Collaborative Edge™:Understand yourself especially what drives and excites you Build a diverse team of confidants around you Remember to have fun!!Connect and collaborate with Barrie:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barriejm/ Learn about Mitie : https://www.linkedin.com/company/mitie/Learn about the Royal Marines Charity : https://www.linkedin.com/company/thermcharity/posts/?feedView=allIn this conversation we referenced the book Raising Hare by Chloe Dalton. Learn more about Chloe here: https://www.chloedalton.uk Thank you to you, the listener and viewer. And a huge thank you to Brown Bear Studios for the production of our show, to SHMOGUS Media and Pennywriting for the marketing of it.Please share, subscribe and continue to join us in Finding Your Collaborative Edge™.

What does it take to truly collaborate?How can leaders create environments where diverse perspectives are valued, trust is nurtured, and meaningful conversations drive innovation? Finding Your Collaborative Edge™ is a podcast for leaders, teams, and professionals who want to unlock the full potential of collaboration in their organisations and lives.Hosted by Anni Townend and Lucy Kidd, co-founders of Collaboration Equation™, this show explores the essential elements of psychological safety, inclusive dialogue, and diversity of thought and feeling—helping you cultivate a mindset of curiosity, care, and courage.Each episode delves into real-world leadership challenges, expert insights, and powerful stories from those who are finding their Collaborative Edge™. Whether you’re a senior leader, team manager, or someone passionate about creating human-centred workplaces, this podcast will inspire you to build connections, embrace difference, and lead with authenticity.Join the conversation and start your journey towards more impactful, collaborative leadership. Find out more at: www.collaborationequation.com Follow us on LinkedIn: Collaboration EquationABOUT THIS EPISODE:In this episode we are delighted to be in conversation with Di Spindley, Head of Delivery for Technology at Currys and Amy Glynn of Hydrogen group. Together we explore:The importance of clarity in creating purposeful collaboration Bringing the best version of yourself into your collaborationsWhat it means to build human connection in a virtual world The value of actively caring for colleagues and leading with love Being in collaboration with AI to create organisational value Di and Amy’s encouragements to invite you to explore your Collaborative Edge™:Get comfortable being uncomfortable to discover the growth moments that often come through failing and learning Trust yourself to discover your own pathCheck in with people - be nice!ABOUT Di and Amy:Di Spindley has worked in the Retail, Media & Entertainment sectors for 20yrs leading complex transformation programmes ranging from fashion, e-commerce, supply chain, infrastructure and digital.  She is currently Head of Delivery at Currys and is passionate about E,D&I Chairing the Tech D&I committee and co-Chairs the Women’s Network. Amy Glynn has worked in the technology sector for over 6 years, a large portion of this was in DEI ~ growing a global community and helping companies to hire more diversely across technology teams. She now works for Hydrogen Group adding all this experience to workforce solutions for technology clients.Connect and collaborate with Di and Amy:LinkedIn: Di SpindleyLinkedIn: Amy GlynnLearn about Currys and Hydrogen Group: LinkedIn: CurrysLinkedIn: Hydrogen GroupThank you to you, the listener and viewer. And a huge thank you to Brown Bear Studios for the production of our show, and to SHMOGUS MEDIA for...

What does it take to truly collaborate?How can leaders create environments where diverse perspectives are valued, trust is nurtured, and meaningful conversations drive innovation? Finding Your Collaborative Edge™ is a podcast for leaders, teams, and professionals who want to unlock the full potential of collaboration in their organisations and lives.Hosted by Anni Townend and Lucy Kidd, co-founders of Collaboration Equation™, this show explores the essential elements of psychological safety, inclusive dialogue, and diversity of thought and feeling—helping you cultivate a mindset of curiosity, care, and courage.Each episode delves into real-world leadership challenges, expert insights, and powerful stories from those who are finding their Collaborative Edge™. Whether you’re a senior leader, team manager, or someone passionate about creating human-centred workplaces, this podcast will inspire you to build connections, embrace difference, and lead with authenticity.Join the conversation and start your journey towards more impactful, collaborative leadership. Find out more at: www.collaborationequation.com Follow us on LinkedIn: Collaboration EquationABOUT THIS EPISODE:In this episode we are delighted to be in conversation with Jatin Patel, Inclusion & Diversity Director at England Rugby, the governing body for grassroots and elite rugby in England.Together we explore:The role of healthy team culture and collaboration in sportWhy inclusion has to come before diversity with collaboration as a key enablerThe need to get curious about the underlying beliefs shaping our behaviours  Recognising how it feels to meet our own edges and what we need to venture beyondHow encouragement from others feeds our confidence, courage and self-beliefJatin’s three encouragements to invite more people to find their Collaborative Edge™:Start with yourself and seek to understand beyond what you think you already knowDon't underestimate how important being a good listener is to really know the issues deeplyFind the courage to be yourself and let that shine through ABOUT JATIN:Jatin has spent 15 years working in the inclusion and social equality space. With a focus on inclusion first – adapting behaviours, decision-making, and ways of working to develop cultures which allow diversity to flourish – Jatin has driven impactful and sustained change in a multitude of sectors. This includes developing policy positions on behalf of charities working to improve education and employment outcomes for young people from low-income backgrounds, embedding systemic focus on social mobility at KPMG UK, to designing and delivering international staff engagement programmes at DLA Piper.Jatin is presently the Inclusion and Diversity Director at the Rugby Football Union and a member of the organisation’s Leadership Team. In this role, Jatin’s strategic focus is on the improving the experiences and representation of under-represented groups participating across the grassroots and elite end of the game, embedding inclusion into leadership structures in rugby, working with commercial partners to establish collaborative approaches to scaling inclusion and diversity ambitions, and evolving the organisation’s employee life cycle. Outside of Rugby, Jatin is a Non-Executive Director at Sussex County Cricket Club.Connect and collaborate with Jatin Patel:LinkedIn: Jatin Patel Learn about England Rugby: a...

What does it take to truly collaborate?How can leaders create environments where diverse perspectives are valued, trust is nurtured, and meaningful conversations drive innovation? Finding Your Collaborative Edge™ is a podcast for leaders, teams, and professionals who want to unlock the full potential of collaboration in their organisations and lives.Hosted by Anni Townend and Lucy Kidd, co-founders of Collaboration Equation™, this show explores the essential elements of psychological safety, inclusive dialogue, and diversity of thought and feeling—helping you cultivate a mindset of curiosity, care, and courage.Each episode delves into real-world leadership challenges, expert insights, and powerful stories from those who are finding their collaborative edge. Whether you’re a senior leader, team manager, or someone passionate about creating human-centred workplaces, this podcast will inspire you to build connections, embrace difference, and lead with authenticity.Join the conversation and start your journey towards more impactful, collaborative leadership. Find out more at: www.collaborationequation.com Follow us on LinkedIn: Collaboration EquationABOUT THIS EPISODE:In this episode we are delighted to be in conversation with James Renwick, Recast Coaching Ltd.. Recast Coaching offers a space to reframe your thoughts, renew your energy and reimagine your future; and Tony Spong Lead Consultant at AAR. AAR works with brands to design marketing ecosystems, building inspiring partnerships and driving commercial performance.Together we explore:The excitement when collaboration feels right How growth happens at our edges to help us go beyond our limitsThe risk of overusing collaboration and the importance of consciously choosing itThe importance of creating the right conditions for collaboration How a sense of belonging helps build the commitment to driving collective successFour of Tony and James’s encouragements to invite more people to find their Collaborative Edge™:Be clear about what collaboration is and how you can use it for the greatest valueDesign the physical and social space necessary to create the right environmentCreate a culture of belonging where people are committed to and energised by collaborative successTalk less and listen more - to truly understand rather than just respondTo connect and collaborate with Tony Spong, and James Renwick do follow them on LinkedIn.During our conversation we mention the following references: Nancy Kline’s book -  A Time to Think Accenture Song’s research on the Life Trends 2025 and Social rewilding Please do share, reshare and subscribe to our podcast Finding Your Collaborative Edge™. Thank you to you, the listener and viewer....

Welcome to Finding Your Collaborative Edge™, hosted by Anni Townend and Lucy Kidd.This short introductory explainer invites you into the heart of our work—helping leaders, teams, and professionals live and lead with more curiosity, care, and courage.🔶 Why psychological safety matters in collaboration🔶 How meaningful connection is built before you’re even in the room🔶 The role of intention and behaviour in leadership🔶 The beginnings of our Collaboration Equation™We created this podcast to help you unlock new ways of working, foster inclusive dialogue, and find your own Collaborative Edge™.🔗 Learn more at: www.collaborationequation.com🔗 Follow us on LinkedIn: Collaboration Equation

How can leaders create environments where diverse perspectives are valued, trust is nurtured, and meaningful conversations drive innovation? Finding Your Collaborative Edge™ is a podcast for leaders, teams, and professionals who want to unlock the full potential of collaboration in their organisations and lives.Hosted by Anni Townend and Lucy Kidd, co-founders of Collaboration Equation™, this show explores the essential elements of psychological safety, inclusive dialogue, and diversity of thought and feeling—helping you cultivate a mindset of curiosity, care, and courage.Each episode delves into real-world leadership challenges, expert insights, and powerful stories from those who are finding their Collaborative Edge™.    Whether you’re a senior leader, team manager, or someone passionate about creating human-centred workplaces, this podcast will inspire you to build connections, embrace difference, and lead with authenticity.Join the conversation and start your journey towards more impactful, collaborative leadership. Find out more at: www.collaborationequation.com Follow us on LinkedIn: Collaboration EquationABOUT THIS EPISODE In our conversation with Emma Edwards, CEO of Spotlight Young Onset Parkinson’s and Dawn Harding Trustee of Spotlight YOPD we explore:What it means to truly collaborate.What Emma and Dawn have learnt through their leadership and life experiences about the value of collaborationWhy collaboration and partnership are so important to the charity. And the impact of these collaborations on raising awareness of Young Onset of Parkinson’sWhat they have noticed in their collaborations, and partnerships, in particular with the NHS, Parkinson’s UK and other communities, and organisations that facilitate successful collaborationWhat can sometimes hinder, and get in the way of collaborationHow bringing the mindset and behaviours of Curiosity, Care and Courage helps people find their Collaborative Edge™And finally what has helped them to find their Collaborative Edge™Emma and Dawn’s key encouragements to finding your Collaborative Edge:Build a community through conversations that raise awareness for people, clinicians, family members, and the wider community.Stretch yourself! You may be a professional in a field, however you can add a huge amount to a lot of small charities who need your skills especially in IT ,Digital and Communication.Embrace technology, it can help you collaborate and connect with people.Connect with people who have lived experience, and that's true of all sorts of collaborations.Enjoy and have fun in your collaborations no matter how difficult and challenging the issues.Find out more about Spotlight YOPD: Go to their website, Spotlight YOPD; follow them on LinkedIn, and follow both Emma Edwards and Dawn Harding on LinkedIn.  They would love to connect with and to collaborate with you.  Dawn especially is on the hunt for people to share their skills with the charity. Also do follow Gaynor Edwards...

Hello, and welcome to the second Collaboration Equation™ episode in Leaders in Conversation with Anni Townend and Lucy Kidd. Today’s guest is Somya Agrawal, Leader, Collaborator and Motivator and the title of our conversation is Finding your Collaborative Edge™.Leaders in Conversation is the podcast in which leaders share their life and leadership stories, and in our Collaboration Equation™ episodes their experience of collaborating and how they find their Collaborative Edge™ to encourage you to bring even more curiosity, care and courage to your leadership.  If you are not already please do subscribe to the podcast, review and share it. Thank you!ABOUT THIS EPISODEIn our conversation we talk about the application of Collaboration Equation™ and Somya shares her experience of collaboration and offers valuable insights into:1. Bringing two teams together to get to know each other, to be able to have an open conversation, and how  this fast tracks success.2. Connecting through being vulnerable in sharing her experience of hearing loss and how this has created meaningful connection  with others. 3. Creating psychological safety that invites people to give and ask for help, getting what we need from each other and caring about each other.4. Building trust through being human and authentic with colleagues.5. Meeting people where they are at, and making time for everyone to have a voice, and for different thoughts and feelings to be heard.6. Creating a culture of care and connection whether working online or in person.To connect, follow and find out more about Somya:LinkedIn: Somya AgrawalInstagram: @somyaagrTo listen to more Leaders in Conversation with Anni Townend visit my website www.annitownend.comA big thank you to Coco O’Brien for the wonderful intro and outro music, for the lovely design and marketing of the podcast and to Tom at Brown Bear Studios for the excellent production of this episode.To contact Anni Townend and Lucy Kidd do email us on anni@annitownend.com and lucy@lucykidd.com, or via our dedicated email address connect@collaborationequation.comTo explore more about how to find your Collaborative Edge™,  visit our website www.collaborationequation.com, subscribe to our fortnightly Leadership Conversations and follow us on LinkedIn Collaboration Equation™.  We look forward to connecting and collaborating with you, thank you for listening.

ABOUT THIS EPISODECo-Founders Anni Townend and Lucy Kidd in conversation with Natalie Shering for a special episode of Leaders in Conversation with Anni Townend podcast. Here they explore why Curiosity, Care and Courage are the mindsets and behaviours that underpin their Collaboration Equation™ to:Build Psychological SafetyPractice Inclusive DialogueInvite Diversity of Thought & Feeling andDrive Collaborative EdgePsychological SafetyTogether they share how they met some 18 years ago and realised very early on in their working relationship that starting with and building psychological safety underpins creating cultures of care and connection in which people enjoy connecting, contributing and collaborating.Curiosity, Care and CourageThey discuss how they partner with senior leaders and their teams helping them to bring the mindset and behaviours of Curiosity, Care and Courage to develop people and drive performance and how these underpin each of the building blocks of their Collaboration  Equation™.Meeting People where they are at, and moving from ‘me to we’They specialise in meeting people where they are at, on having people well met, and supporting them in leading and driving Collaborative Edge through Inclusive Dialogue, Diversity of Thought and Feeling. And why for them inclusivity comes before diversity, the importance of Inclusive Dialogue, and how language can have a huge impact on how people think, feel and behave.Open Conversations to get to Collaborative EdgeTheir approach is one of helping leaders do their best thinking together, to think differently, to have open conversations in which people feel confident and safe, enjoy Inclusive Dialogue, and can bring Diversity of Thought and Feeling in order to get to Collaborative Edge. The conversations are always in service of enabling performance and driving results through people working together.CONNECT WITH USCollaboration Workshops, We are all Culture Creators:How to Find Your Collaborative Edge workshops.Fortnightly Coaching Conversations Series:A series of questions to prompt conversations that will help you to lead with Curiosity, Care and Courage. Subscribe here.WHO WE ARELucy Kidd is a leadership team and culture coach, and describes how culture is the wrapping that feeds change and, or stifles it. Lucy’s passion is to help people find meaning and connection in their lives and work.Anni Townend is a leadership partner to senior leaders and their teams. Anni’s passion is to help leaders create a culture in which people feel safe and able to have open conversations and do their best work. Anni is the author of Assertiveness and Diversity, published in 2007.Natalie Shering is a leadership coach specialising in creative leadership and using nature in leadership. She is a collaborator with Collaboration Equation™.