Not In The Handbook

In this episode, we’re joined by Nick Basannavar, whose work covers philosophy, history and organisational culture. Nick has held senior advisory roles at firms such as Deloitte and the inclusion consultancy Included, where he has worked with leaders across the corporate, public and charity sectors on questions of ethics, leadership and culture change. Alongside this, he is also a social historian with a PhD from Birkbeck, University of London.In today’s conversation with Dr Susan Hetrick, Nick reflects on his personal journey as well as how philosophical thinking can be applied to the realities of modern work. We discuss what he’s learned from working with organisations trying to change their cultures, what historical case studies can teach us about organisational change, and the kinds of shifts he believes are needed to move toward the ultimate goal of building a more thoughtful, ethical and humane work environment.

Gill Ereaut is a linguist and discourse analyst, and a founding director of Linguistic Landscapes, a research consultancy specialising in the analysis of language in media, corporate and public policy contexts. With a background in applied linguistics, she has spent years examining how institutions construct narratives, frame responsibility, and shape public understanding through the subtle choices embedded in everyday language.In this episode, Gill joins Dr Susan Hetrick to explore how organisational culture is created and maintained through words — and silences. We discuss euphemism, crisis language, corporate framing, and the ways institutions protect themselves linguistically when things go wrong. Together, we unpack how power operates not just through policy or hierarchy, but through what feels sayable, reasonable, and professional at work.

Alexandra Frean spent 25 years at The Times as a reporter, foreign correspondent and business journalist, working in Paris, New York and Washington, DC. In 2018, she moved into the corporate world, joining a challenger bank as Chief Corporate Affairs Officer during a period of rapid expansion. In this episode with Dr Susan Hetrick, she reflects on scaling a fast-growing company, the practical realities of leadership, and the differences between the worlds of journalism and banking.

Colin D Ellis is a global workplace culture expert, award-winning speaker, and best-selling author who helps organisations build happier, healthier, and more effective workplaces. With over three decades of experience across public and private sectors, he has worked with hundreds of organisations worldwide, including major global brands, government bodies, and elite sporting organisations. Colin is the author of Culture Fix, The Project Book, and Detox Your Culture, and is widely known for his practical, human approach to leadership and organisational change.In this episode, Colin joins Dr Susan Hetrick to reflect on his work on workplace culture, and  the personal and professional challenges he has faced along the way Listen to find out more on what his work with football teams has taught him about leadership, accountability, and performance under pressure.

In this episode, we speak to Ian Fraser about his investigation into the culture of the Royal Bank of Scotland, drawing on his reporting for Shredded: Inside RBS, The Bank That Broke Britain.An award-winning financial journalist and broadcaster, Ian unpacks what employees told him about life inside the bank, what his reporting uncovered about leadership under Fred Goodwin, and how internal culture contributed to RBS’s collapse. His work offers a rare, detailed account of how power, fear, and ego shaped behaviour at one of Britain’s most influential institutions.Correction: A mistake was made when discussing Fred Goodwin's honorary title in the RAF: Fred Goodwin was appointed an Honorary Air Commodore in No 602 (City of Glasgow) Squadron of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force in April 2008. He was effectively stripped of this honour in June 2009.

In this episode, we speak with Sandro Boeri about his journey as an internal auditor, the insights he has gained from working with organisations around the world, and the concrete steps companies can take to build healthier workplace cultures.As former President of the Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors and Head of People Enablement & Culture Assessment at Deutsche Bank, he focuses on how leadership behaviour and ethics shape corporate systems.

On this episode, our host Dr Susan Hetrick speaks to Grahame Russell about his role in the recent report on the BBC's workplace culture, what has gone wrong for the institution in the past, and what changes can be made to improve the future. Grahame Russell is Chair of Change Associates, a consultancy focused on leadership, culture, and organisational change. With over twenty years’ experience advising boards and senior teams, he has helped organisations across sectors navigate complex challenges, build inclusive cultures, and strengthen leadership capability.