The Rebel Perspective

Purpose gets talked about endlessly. Very few leaders know how to use it.JP and Neil are joined by Norma Dove-Edwin who has worked at some of the biggest companies on the planet; Shell, BP, British American Tobacco and HSBC. This is a no-theory conversation about what purpose really means inside organisations, and why it so often fails to land.This isn’t about bullsh*t mission statements or corporate slogans. It’s about clarity, consistency, and the leadership behaviours that either bring purpose to life or quietly undermine it.If you’re navigating change, disengagement, or uncertainty, this episode is a reality check.What you’ll learn:Why organisational purpose often lacks clarityHow leaders keep purpose relevant, not performativeThe hidden dangers of hero cultureWhy purpose must align with strategyHow empathy supports change and engagementWhat leaders owe their teams in moments of ambiguityPress play and lead with purpose, not ego.Join the conversation: https://perfectrebel.com/

The end of the year is supposed to be about, Christmas parties, slowing down or getting everything done in time. But not at Rebel HQ.In this Christmas mash-up of The Rebel Perspective, Christoph returns to join JP and Neil to look back at some of the biggest ideas from the series so far and ask a dangerous question: why are organisations still behaving like time, talent, and truth are infinite resources?From p*ssing about at prioritisation to measurement madness, this episode pulls together the lessons leaders keep learning the hard way, usually after burning out teams, missing outcomes, or mistaking activity for progress.If you need more;Honesty about capacity. Honesty about outcomes. Honesty about ego.Press play.There’s no tinsel. There’s no platitudes. (But there is a Christmas quiz) Just the ideas leaders need if they want next year to be different. This episode is a reminder that transformation isn’t about frameworks or festive planning decks. It’s about making choices, measuring what matters, and leading people toward something bigger than profit alone.Merry Christmas Rebels.Join the rebellion: https://perfectrebel.com/

Transformation isn’t a buzzword. It’s a discipline, and, let’s be honest, most organisations are winging it.JP and Neil pull back the curtain on what real high performance looks like with Sarah Foxton, a Performance Coach and Transformation Leader. She’s got a lot to say on the subject especially borrowing from the world of elite sport and applying it to the chaos of organisational change.Forget talent worship, buzzword bingo, and strategy decks thicker than a phone book. This conversation goes straight to the behaviours, mindsets, and leadership decisions that actually shift performance; the unglamorous, uncomfortable, relentlessly consistent stuff that separates real transformation from corporate cosplay.What you’ll take away:High performance is a system, not a personality trait.Stretch goals create momentum; safe goals create stagnation.Adaptability is the difference between reacting and winning.Culture can’t be outsourced; leaders set the weather.Accountability fuels trust; avoidance destroys it.Data tells you the story, conversations uncover the truth.If you’re ready for transformation advice that’s grounded in reality — not theatre — hit play and dive in.Join the rebellion: https://perfectrebel.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-foxton/

Sick of leadership talks that sound less like a motivational speech but more like propaganda for a leader’s ego? You’re not alone.This episode of The Rebel Perspective rips the glossy veneer off “inspirational leadership” and gets real about what it actually takes to lead with guts, clarity, and a good dose of humanity.Hosts JP and Neil dives into the messy, human side of leadership with Helen Webb OBE and Jemima Bird, two leaders who’ve cut their teeth at Co-Op, ASDA, Sainsbury’s and beyond. Together, they unpack servant leadership, empowerment, and why authenticity isn’t just a buzzword, it’s the bedrock of trust.They share what happens when culture and consistency collide, why simplicity beats overengineering every time, and how feedback delivered with kindness and precision can transform teams faster than any shiny leadership framework ever will.This one’s for anyone tired of jargon-filled leadership seminars that forget one crucial fact: leadership is about people.What you’ll learn from this conversation:Authenticity isn’t optional it’s the foundation of great leadership.Empowerment without accountability is chaos.Culture isn’t built in away- days it’s forged in everyday habits.Feedback, done right, is the ultimate leadership superpower.Simplicity beats strategy decks. Every. Single. Time.Servant leaders don’t climb ladders they leave them behind for others.Radical transparency earns more trust than any motivational slogan ever could.If you’re ready to trade the buzzwords for brutal honesty — hit play.Got something to say? We're listening. Drop us a line or join the rebellion at: https://perfectrebel.com/

We’ve all had enough of leadership books that bang on about “vision” and “synergy” while your teams quietly plot their escape on LinkedIn. So what do you do it about it?This episode takes a sledgehammer to the old-school management playbook and shows you what real leadership transformation looks like, the kind that actually turns businesses around instead of just creating more PowerPoint slides.Hosts JP and Neil sit down with a heavy-hitter who’s been in the trenches, driving change at household names like Sainsbury’s and Pandora. This isn’t theory, it’s hard fought stories from the front lines and the strategies that turned things around in weeks, not years.Forget ego-driven managers and endless gatekeeping. This is about empowerment, collaboration, and leadership that mobilises people to move fast and stay inspired.What you’ll discover:Why clinging to control kills momentum (and your culture).How a clear, gutsy call to action sparks rapid change.Real-world success stories that prove transformation doesn’t have to take a lifetime.Why leaving your ego at the door is the smartest leadership move you’ll ever make.Ready to ditch the corporate theatre and step into leadership that actually works? Press Play.Got something to say? We're listening. Drop us a line or join the rebellion at: https://perfectrebel.com/

Tired of “networking” that feels like a limp speed dating session with business cards? Same.This episode cuts through the awkward handshakes and LinkedIn spam to get real about what networking actually means; building relationships that actually matter to you and those around you.JP and Neil Finnie team up with Benjamin Chilcott, a man who knows the difference between collecting contacts and creating connections that change careers. He describes himself as a connector, catalyst and enabler.We’re talking about authenticity, trust and why introverts have just as much of an edge as extroverts when it comes to visibility and influence. Forget the schmooze, this is about playing the long game, and doing it in a way that doesn’t make you feel like a walking sales pitch.No fluff. No BS. Just straight talk on how to make networking work for you.Here’s what you’ll take away:Networking is about trusted relationships, not empty contacts.Authenticity + trust = long-term influence.Introverts win with strategy and thought leadership.Extroverts need to go deeper than surface-level charm.Cross-functional networks give you sharper insights.Consistency beats one-off connections every time.Intentional networking is career rocket fuel.LINKShttps://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminchilcott/https://benjamin-s-site-b6f3.thinkific.com/products/courses/wheresbenjhttps://perfectrebel.com/

Most companies are p**sing away their AI budgets. Yours might be next.Let’s cut the crap: AI isn’t magic, and slapping “generative” on your latest initiative won’t save it from being a glorified tech demo. Right now, businesses everywhere are throwing money at AI with zero strategy, sh**ty data, and no clue what success even looks like.In this episode, we rip into the bulls**t that's dominating boardrooms, where AI is more about trend-chasing and LinkedIn posturing than solving real problems. If your organisation’s AI "transformation" feels like a buzzword parade wrapped in PowerPoint slides, it probably is.JP talks to Shikha Hornsey, she’s a board-level technology and operations leader driving large-scale transformation, innovation, and growth across complex, regulated industries.And Dr Christoph Burtscher – with Nearly 30 years driving change at major players like Deutsche Bank, Avis, Yodel, and Late Rooms.We’re talking about the real stuff: data that doesn’t suck, feedback loops that actually close, and leadership that stops playing tech tourist and starts making hard calls.What you’ll learn:Why most AI projects crash harder than your last company away dayHow generative AI can be usefulThe number one reason your AI strategy is a big flopWhy bad data = bad AI, no exceptionsThe uncomfortable truth about AI and jobsWhy leaders need to stop outsourcing their tech literacy to consultants and grow the f**k upAI isn’t going away. But neither is the need for real creativity, critical thinking, and leadership with a spine.So if you’re ready to stop bullsh***ing yourself and start making AI actually do something—press play.Got opinions? We’re not here to stroke egos. Join the rebellion: https://perfectrebel.com/

Sick of watching your teams drown in chaos while you juggle priorities like flaming swords—blindfolded? This episode is your antidote to the madness.JP dives into the messy world of prioritisation with guests who don’t just talk theory—they’ve led through the fire. We're talking real stories, hard truths, and practical insights on why most organisations get prioritisation wrong.You’ll hear how lack of trust torpedoes collaboration, how vague priorities kill motivation, and why measuring capacity and value isn’t optional—it’s survival. Forget buzzwords. This is about building a culture that faces reality and keeps moving forward.No sugar-coating. No bullsh*t. Just the raw conversation your team wishes they’d had in the last quarter.Joining JP as always is Neil Finnie as well as Georgina Owens – A member of the house of Rebel who was Top UK CIO 100 in 2019 and 2020, she was named UK Top 50 Most Influential Women in Tech 2020 and 2021, and is a customer obsessed leader and transformation expert, she’s on the front line everyday, getting sh*t done.Here’s what you’ll take away:Many organisations struggle with prioritisation due to a lack of clear authority.Human nature often leads to a reluctance to say no, complicating prioritisation.Trust and collaboration are essential for effective decision-making.Visibility and transparency in work management can prevent chaos.Measuring capacity and value is key to successful prioritisation. LINKShttps://perfectrebel.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgina-owens-0435755/

Tired of getting fluffy, feel-good advice on measuring transformation while your organisation burns through budget faster than a teenager with a credit card? You’re in the right place; this very first Rebel Perspective episode cuts through the corporate measurement theatre that's plaguing businesses everywhere.Here's the brutal truth: measurement isn't just some nice-to-have dashboard you glance at during quarterly reviews. It's the difference between transformation success and becoming another cautionary tale whispered about in boardrooms.In this no-bulls**t conversation, host Jonathan Potter (JP to anyone who doesn't want to sound like they're in the headmasters office) sits down with two battle-tested transformation veterans who've seen it all:Neil Finnie - Three decades of helping organisations scale through transformations so complex they'd make a Rubik's cube weep. If there's a transformation disaster waiting to happen, Neil's probably already prevented it twice.Dr Christoph Burtscher - Nearly 30 years driving change at major players like Deutsche Bank, Avis, Yodel, and Late Rooms. Currently pursuing his second PhD (because apparently one wasn't masochistic enough) with a third book dropping soon. This guy doesn't just study change—he lives it.What you'll discover:Why most transformations crash and burn harder than a reality TV showWhat businesses can steal from the sports world (spoiler: it's not just the protein shakes)The one thing you can do right now to stop your transformation from becoming an expensive clusterf**kReady to face the uncomfortable truth about your transformation? Let's get real. Press Play Now!Got something to say? We're listening. Drop us a line or join the rebellion at: https://perfectrebel.com/

The pace of change in business over the next 10 years will outstrip anything we've seen in the last 100. Is your organisation ready? Spoiler alert: most aren't.At PerfectRebel, we believe leaders must think differently to get different results. This isn't your grandfather's business landscape - it's a volatile, uncharted world where the old rules have been torched.Our mission? To help businesses lead with agility, adaptability, and resilience in a world that doesn't give a damn about your five-year plan. We'll give you a clear path to sharpen your strategy execution in today's VUCA world, because let's face it, shit just got real. This isn't the Industrial Revolution. This is the age of digital and AI.In each episode of The Rebel Perspective, you'll hear from transformation experts, business agility evangelists, and battle-tested leaders who've survived the corporate battlefield and lived to tell the tale. Expect straight talk, unfiltered advice, and zero corporate bullshit.Who are we? Rebels with a cause and actual business credentials. We believe cross-functional, value-led teams perform best, but we're not here to force-feed you generic frameworks. Every organisation is different, and we meet you where you are, not where some consultant thinks you should be.Ready to stop pretending everything's fine while your competition eats your lunch? Subscribe now and catch every episode as it drops. For deeper insights and wake-up calls, check out the Rebel Perspective blog series at Perfectrebel.com