Engage for Success

Special Guest: Lei Wang :🎙️Leadership Speaker A former corporate professional turned adventurer, Lei now works as a leadership speaker and executive coach helping individuals and teams unlock bold ambition and resilience in the face of uncertainty. In this episode, Lei will share actionable strategies for building mental strength, shifting perspective in adversity, and reigniting motivation when challenges seem overwhelming. Drawing from both high-altitude extremes and boardroom dynamics, Lei will deliver powerful insights on how to reframe discomfort, find meaning in effort, and lead with courage when the path ahead feels unclear. Join us as we discuss Lei’s experience climbing the highest peak on each continent and skiing to both the North and South Poles. Host: Jo Moffatt

Guest: David Frost: Group People & Organisational Development Director at Dole Plc David’s career started in automotive component manufacturing after he graduated with a degree in manufacturing engineering. After a period specialising in quality management and continuous improvement he became a Chartered Engineer and then went on to complete a master’s degree at Loughborough University in quality and human resource management. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and a Member of the Institution of Engineering and Technology. He is passionate about building highly-engaged organisations and he decided to move his career into human resources, organisation development, people strategy and talent development. He has held executive and board-level HR roles in international businesses such as Carlsberg and Norbert Dentressangle (now XPO Logistics). David is currently People and Organisational Development Director at Dole plc, the world’s largest fresh produce supplier with 40,000 people operating out of 30 countries. He reports to the CEO and is responsible for group people strategy, organisation design, succession planning and talent development. Since joining the company in early 2017, David has been involved with several strategic initiatives including designing and implementing a group people strategy in addition to being part of the process of listing the company on the New York Stock Exchange. David has been designing and establishing global talent development programmes. At Dole, David has been fortunate in having the opportunity to lead the strategy to establish their global programme (called the Key Talent Programme or KTP). This has been running since 2018, with 7 cohorts and 120 participants taking part. Dole partners with Cranfield University and other providers and the KTP has now won 2 awards. David will talk about how these programmes add value to the organisation and how you gain buy-in. Join us as we discuss the design and implementation of global development programmes Host: Andy Goram

Guest: Louisa Hogarty- Group HR Director and Non Executive Director What does it take to transform workplace culture in one of Britain’s toughest sectors? Louisa will share how Noble Foods, a fourth-generation family business achieved something remarkable: consistent improvement across all eight pillars of employee engagement while navigating the agrifood industry’s perfect storm of skills shortages, an ageing workforce, and mounting pressure for sustainability. Noble Foods reduced colleague turnover from 62% to 35%, increased their Best Companies Index score by over 20 points, and returned to profitability—all while their people reported higher engagement than ever before. But this isn’t a story about quick fixes or expensive programs. It’s about systematic cultural change built on listening, investing in people at every level, and ensuring that purpose and performance go hand in hand. Louisa will share how Noble Foods embedded their TO CARE values across every site, developed leaders from within, created genuine belonging, and proved that in challenging times, culture becomes your greatest competitive advantage. Join us as we discuss Cultural Transformation. Host: Jo Dodds

Guest: Clare Kenny: Leadership and Culture Consultant Neurodivergent individuals are not a problem to be solved. They are often powerful assets that too often go untapped in the workplace. In this episode, leadership and culture consultant Clare Kenny joins us to explore what true neuro-inclusion looks like, drawing on her work with organisations including Channel 4, KPMG and Burberry along with her own lived experience of ADHD. Through honest conversation and practical insight, Clare unpacks how leaders can build environments where neurodivergent individuals feel safe, seen and supported. We will also explore how inclusive leadership benefits everyone, why psychological safety matters more than ever, and how workplaces can better support parents and carers of neurodivergent children. Join us as we discuss neurodiversity in the workplace. Host: Andy Goram

Guest: Antonio Weiss: AI Digital and Technology Expert Antonio Weiss is an AI, digital and technology expert. He has advised leading UK and international institutions on major technology transformation including the NHS, Office for Artificial Intelligence, UK Government Digital Service and UK Space Agency via his role as a Senior Partner at The PSC. His written work has been shortlisted for the CMI Book of the Year Award, a #1 UK WHSmith Business Bestseller, won the Business Book of the Month award, and been translated into several languages across the globe. He has a PhD from the University of London and holds a research post at the Bennett School of Public Policy at the University of Cambridge, focusing on digitisation. Antonio is regularly featured in the media discussing his work, having appeared on the BBC, ABC News, The Guardian and others. Antonio is a three-times elected councillor in London, serving as a Cabinet Member and Group Chair. He was a Governor at a leading FE college for ten years. Antonio served as Senior Advisor on digital, data and technology to the Office of the incoming UK Prime Minister. He is also the co-founder of Thomas Clipper, a GQ-award winning UK fragrance company. Join us as we discuss what AI means for business and society. Host: Jo Moffatt

Guest: Zena Everett: Business Speaker and Executive Coach Zena Everett is an international business speaker and executive coach, helping people to elevate their careers in a crazy busy, noisy world. She has published three books: Mind Flip: Take the Fear out of Your Career, the award-winning Crazy Busy Cure and Badly Behaved People, WH Smith’s Travel Business Book of the Month. Originally a recruitment entrepreneur, Zena exited her business and then studied an MSc in Organisational Psychology and Career Management and other post graduate qualifications in psychological coaching and leadership, including at MIT’s Sloan Business School in Boston. She has coached on the Executive MBA Programme at Oxford University’s Saïd Business School, is a member of the Associate Faculty at Henley Business School and a regular speaker for the prestigious London Business Forum. Zena divides her time between her homes in London and West Cork and wherever her work takes her. We are going to talk about Zena’s latest book, ‘Badly Behaved People’. This book is a series of case studies from Zena’s coaching practice. It dissects familiar tricky workplace relationships, such as the ‘mother hen manager’ who is overly protective to their team and won’t give feedback, the hotshot colleague who only does ‘wow’ pieces of work leaving his colleagues to pick up the slack and the underperforming high performer who has become overwhelmed because they can’t say no. Apart from one classic toxic manager, none of these people are badly behaved, they are just struggling in the context they find themselves in. Zena blends theory and practice in the case studies that we can draw on if we find ourselves in similar scenarios. (We might even be the cause of them.) Join us as we discuss how to deal with badly behaved people at work. Host: Jo Dodds

Guest: Adrian Kelly: Author Irish author Adrian Kelly originally trained and practised as a Criminal Solicitor. Since then, he has had a number of careers from entrepreneurial work in the renewable energy industry to business training and consultancy services with big law firms and governmental agencies. He has lectured and been an external examiner at the Law Society of Ireland and is currently undertaking a Master’s Degree in Performance Psychology (University in Wales). He regularly speaks at business conferences and wellness events on the subjects ranging from motivation, performance to life direction. He also works closely with a number of secondary schools, pioneering Dragon’s Den programs competitions for students and overseeing a college scholarship program. In other voluntary work is also the Chairperson of the Peace Link Sports Complex, Clones. More recently he has authored a non-fiction book on behavioural science and performance psychology called The Success Complex which became an Amazon best seller in October 2024. Join us as we discuss the building blocks of life and the path to sustained success Host: Andy Goram

Guest: Ryne Sherman: Chief Science Officer at Hogan Assessments Ryne is the chief science officer at Hogan Assessments. In this role, he is responsible for managing the primary functions within Hogan’s industry-leading data science department, including talent analytics, product innovation, business intelligence, and Hogan’s research archive and infrastructure. Ryne’s research in personality has examined the role of personality in daily life, career pursuits and workplace performance, and the assessment and measurement of personality and individual differences. Ryne is also an expert on modern approaches to personality assessment, including unobtrusive assessment, such as voice prosody, word use, and affective responses to stimuli. He is also in an expert in data analytics, including the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning in conjunction with personality assessment. Prior to joining Hogan, Ryne was a professor of psychology at Texas Tech University and Florida Atlantic University, where he was recognized as the FAU College of Science Distinguished Teacher of the Year in 2013. His research on the psychological properties of situations and their interaction with personality was awarded federal support from the National Science Foundation, and in 2016 he was named an APS Rising Star by the Association for Psychological Science. In addition, he received the SAGE Young Scholars Award in 2018 for his research concerning person-situation transactions and how people navigate their social worlds on a daily basis. In this episode, he’ll discuss the decline of ‘quiet quitting’. We’ve entered a new era of bold exits, where frustrated employees aren’t just handing in their notice—they’re making sure it’s heard loud and clear. According to a survey by Software Finder, 17% of employees have revenge quit in the past and 4% of employees plan to do so in 2025. Welcome to the world of revenge quitting, where top talent walks away not in silence, but with impact. While nearly half of all employees are frustrated with their salary, revenge quitting isn’t only about pay. It’s also about broken promises, toxic leadership, and a chronic lack of genuine engagement. The traditional methods of dangling perks and performance reviews are falling flat. Why? Because today’s workforce is driven by purpose, flexibility, and psychological safety—none of which can be solved by a ping-pong table or free snacks. Join us as we discuss exiting with a bang Host: TBC

Radio Show #608 Redefining Engagement Through Freedom by Engage for Success

Guest: Sergey Gorbatov: Talent & Leadership Strategist Sergey Gorbatov is a professor at IE University, an academic, author, and consultant specializing in talent management, leadership development, and organizational effectiveness. With a PhD from VU Amsterdam, Sergey has spent over 18 years in corporate HR roles with global companies like Shell, Philip Morris International, and AbbVie, living and working across Russia, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, and the USA. His thought leadership combines cutting-edge research with real-world application, making complex concepts accessible to general audiences. Sergey’s books, including Move Up or Move On and Fair Talk: Three Steps to Powerful Feedback, aim to empower individuals and organizations to thrive through meaningful and practical insights. In this episode, we will be discussing insights from our latest book, Move Up or Move On: 10 Secrets to Develop Your Career, which offers a clear blueprint for career development and intentional career planning. The book is designed to help individuals take control of their professional growth, pursue a career on their own terms, and master the ten essential behaviors for success at work. The conversation will center around empowering listeners to reflect on their personal definition of success and how to achieve it, grounded in science and brought to life with practical advice and memorable examples. Join us as we discuss empowering listeners to reflect on success. Host: Jo Dodds

Guest: Leando Herrero: Psychiatrist, Author and Organisational Architect While countless ‘fads’ have come and gone over the past 25 years, culture has always been there… neglected and misunderstood due to its commercialisation. Over the years, culture has been carved up and served to organisations – usually via tech and/or training firms – via a platter of ‘labels’ (from DEI, ESG and Wellbeing, to Employee Engagement and Experience). These labels only serve to place a border on a ‘part’ of culture, effectively creating an entity; something segregated from the whole so effectively that interdependencies and underpinnings become lost. In turn, large-scale change simply doesn’t happen. Nothing moves on. A case of failure of management? Potentially. A sad state of affairs? Definitely. In this interview, Dr Leandro Herrero – psychiatrist, author and organisational architect, says all these things are important, but it’s time to stop the labels and start focusing on the whole – the real oil in the engine: namely people and their behaviour. This year represents 25 years since Dr Herrero pioneered Viral Change™️. In doing so, he bridged behavioural science with hands-on strategies to create lasting, real-world impact for organisations. He’s seen lots of ‘fads’ come and go over those 25 years, but he’s also overseen real change for organisations worldwide. Join us as we discuss stopping the labels. Host: Jo Moffatt

Guest: Gary Geogh: Leadership Coach Gary Keogh holds an MBA from the University of Bath and a Masters (MSc) in Coaching and Behavioural Change from Henley Business School. His 27-year career in two FTSE100 and two family-owned businesses includes 11 years on various boards. His Masters dissertation explored six decades of empirical evidence on psychological safety in the context of the workplace, alongside his own research. Today he dedicates his efforts to supporting leaders build psychological safety, unlocking the potential within individuals, teams and organisations. He is currently working with FMCG, creative industry, professional services and elite sporting businesses. 2 in 5 colleagues in a meeting are not speaking up about ideas, risks, or asking questions & talking about mistakes to learn. This means organisations are missing out on insights, opportunities and colleagues. And colleagues in unsafe environments become demotivated and excluded leading to higher staff turnover. Psychological Safety is the ability to express oneself without fear of reprisal – we worry less about losing face/status and focus on the task in hand. It brings diverse perspectives, better decision making, higher engagement and performance. Countless studies provide irrefutable evidence teams with psychological safety are 60% more likely to turn today’s complex business challenges into growth opportunities (PWC). Psychological safety is not about guaranteed applause for all ideas or everyone being nice – it’s about creating a candid energising environment where debate, vulnerability, diverse thinking, and contributions are welcomed for better decision-making, higher performance, and increased engagement. Challenge: 70% of leaders overestimate how psychologically safe their teams are and only 26% of leaders have the skills to create psychological safety (McKinsey) Good news: leaders do not need to guess – you can measure psychological safety, in minutes and start the work on the behaviour changes required to reap the rewards. And there is no civil war between psychological safety and accountability – you can have both. Join us as we discuss psychological safety. Host: Jo Moffatt

Guest: Jennifer Sproul: Chief Executive: Institute of Internal Communication Jennifer Sproul is the Chief Executive of the Institute of Internal Communication (IoIC), the only independent professional body solely dedicated to internal communication. She leads IoIC’s efforts in setting standards and advancing the profession through qualifications, career development, thought leadership, and best practices. A passionate advocate for the value of internal communication, Jennifer is a regular speaker and co-hosts the podcast ‘The Future of Internal Communication’. With over 20 years of experience in professional associations, Jennifer has led strategic efforts across marketing, communications (internal and external), membership, professional development, and publishing. In this episode, Jennifer unpacks the latest findings from the IC Index 2025, revealing key trends, challenges, and opportunities straight from employees themselves. What’s working, what’s not, and how can organisations adapt to build trust, boost engagement, retain talent and garner advocacy? Tune in to discover the insights that could transform your internal communication strategy. Join us as we discuss how organisations can adapt to boost engagement. Host: Jo Dodds

Guest: Marina Bezuglova: Expert in Customer and Employee Experience The biggest threat to business success isn’t market volatility or economic downturns—it’s the employee disengagement and mental health crisis happening inside organisations right now. With global employee engagement at just 23% and burnout affecting nearly half of workers worldwide, Gallup estimates that $9.6 trillion in productivity could be added to the global economy if workplaces were fully engaged—equivalent to 9% of global GDP. Yet most leaders continue to look externally for growth opportunities whilst ignoring the untapped potential within their own organisations. As Peter Drucker famously said, “Culture eats strategy for breakfast.” In this episode, we’ll explore: From External to Internal Growth: How my journey from market research to human psychology revealed that the biggest growth opportunities lie within your existing team The Hidden Impact of Mental Health on Business Performance: How employee wellbeing directly affects strategy implementation and bottom-line results The Six Organisational Factors of Burnout: Understanding workload, reward, community, fairness, values, and control—plus the individual factors that leaders must address From Burnout to Purpose: Moving employees through the hierarchy of needs—from basic security to self-actualisation and finding meaning in work Why Empathetic Managers Prevent Burnout: The contagious nature of burnout and how coaching-based leadership creates resilient teams Three Pillars of Human-Centric Culture: Teaching empathy as a core skill, building recognition systems, and amplifying employee voice Dr. Marina Bezuglova is a PhD in Medicine, certified coach, and expert in Customer and Employee Experience (CX/EX). With over 20 years in senior leadership roles at global research companies GfK and Ipsos, she has witnessed firsthand how organisational crises—from M&A disruptions to pandemic challenges—reveal the critical link between employee wellbeing and business performance. Marina coaches leaders and organisations internationally to build wellbeing-focused, human-centred cultures that drive sustainable success. Author of “Balancing on the Edge” (published June 2025) and “Finding Serenity Amid the Chaos,” Marina’s work bridges neuroscience, psychology, and practical leadership strategy. She serves on the judging panel for the International Customer Experience Awards (ICXA) and was longlisted for a national mental health book prize in Russia. Her mission is simple: helping organisations understand that when you take care of people, they take care of business—and when business thrives, everyone wins. Join us as we discuss employee disengagement and the mental health crisis happening inside organisations Host: Andy Goram

Guest: Erika Wasser: CEO and Founder of Prospr Erika Wasser is the CEO and Co-Founder of Prospr, a workforce management platform built specifically for deskless workers in industries like retail, hospitality, and franchises. With a background in operational efficiency and employee engagement, Erika is passionate about leveraging technology to streamline workforce management and improve retention in high-turnover industries. In this episode, Erika will dive into: How franchises can improve employee retention through better workforce management strategies. The role of technology in streamlining operations for brick-and-mortar businesses. Strategies to engage and empower deskless employees in industries facing high turnover. Join us as we discuss employee retention strategies Host: Andy Goram

Guest: Peggy Sullivan: Author of Beyond Busyness It’s time to free yourself from Hustle Culture and stop feeling like there’s never enough time to truly thrive. In her powerful keynote, Break Free from the Busyness Trap: Achieving More with Less, Peggy Sullivan reveals how to escape the overwhelming demands of always being “on” and reclaim your energy, focus, and joy. Drawing from her groundbreaking book, Beyond Busyness: How to Achieve More by Doing Less, Peggy shares her proven three-step “Busy Busting” methodology to help individuals and organizations boost performance, prioritize self-care, and achieve greater success with less stress. Peggy is a keynote speaker, author, consultant, and trusted researcher who has uncovered the hidden costs of busyness on our health, happiness, and success. Through her work, she helps individuals and organizations break free from the cycle of constant activity to unlock peak performance, improve self-care, and discover true fulfillment. She has shared her insights with both small teams and Fortune 500 companies, including Google, Bank of America, Blue Cross BlueShield, and Ingram Micro. In her new book, Beyond Busyness: How to Achieve More by Doing Less, Peggy introduces her signature three-step “Busy Busting” methodology. Actionable and effective, this approach has already helped thousands of people shift from overwhelm to achievement by focusing on what truly matters. Join us as we discuss achieving more with less. Host: Jo Dodds

Guest: Shell Mendelson: Career Coach Shell Mendelson is a seasoned career coach with over 30 years of experience, specializing in supporting adults with ADHD. She helps individuals navigate career transitions, uncover their true strengths, and build fulfilling careers without forcing themselves into neurotypical molds. Shell’s approach is deeply personal, rooted in her own journey with ADHD, and is designed to empower clients to work with their brains—not against them. In addition to her individual coaching, Shell leverages her expertise to guide businesses in effectively supporting ADHD employees, aiming to prevent the need for PIP (Performance Improvement Plan) programs. By offering practical insights on creating supportive work environments, Shell helps organizations save time and money while boosting the resilience and productivity of their workforce. She encourages businesses to take a proactive, inclusive approach that better aligns with the strengths of neurodivergent individuals, ultimately fostering a more motivated and engaged team. Through her Your Next Career Move MasterClass and one-on-one coaching, Shell provides ADHD-friendly strategies that go beyond surface-level advice, equipping individuals with tools to build confidence, clarity, and direction in their careers. Shell is on a mission to transform the way career coaching and workplace policies are approached for the ADHD community, advocating for more supportive practices that prioritize empowerment over punitive measures. Shelley distinguishes herself by not just coaching career strategies but also advising on how to create ADHD-friendly work environments. She understands that external factors, such as workspace design and daily routines, can significantly impact ADHD professionals. On this podcast, Shelley will share practical insights on how to arrange physical spaces and incorporate tools like digital reminders and focus-enhancing techniques to improve productivity. Her goal is to help clients optimize their surroundings and routines to reduce distractions, improve focus, and foster creativity, making work a place of flow rather than frustration. Join us as we discuss ADHD friendly work environments Host: Jo Dodds

Guest: Sarah Rozenthuler: Author of Now We’re Talking: How to Discuss What Really Matters Sarah Rozenthuler will delve into the power of conversation as a transformative tool. This talk is for leaders, managers and coaches seeking to go from good to great with their communication skills, both in personal and professional settings. It is based on the book Now We’re Talking: How to discuss what really matters, which simplifies complex territory with clarity, insight and practical tools. The talk will emphasize the importance of authenticity and emotional connection in conversation as well as ‘reading the room’ and ‘holding space’ in group and team settings. Sarah Rozenthuler is an international keynote speaker, chartered psychologist and published author. With over 20 years of experience working globally at senior levels in large, complex organizations, Sarah brings extensive expertise in executive coaching, team coaching, board facilitation and leadership development consulting. As an accomplished author, Sarah has written several impactful books: Now We’re Talking: How to Discuss What Really Matters (2024), Powered by Purpose: Energise Your People to do Great Work (2020) and How to have Meaningful Conversations (2012.) In 2007, Sarah founded Bridgework Consulting Ltd, a renowned consultancy firm dedicated to empowering leaders, teams, and organizations to achieve greatness. Join us as we discuss the power of conversation. Host: Jo Moffatt

When you become a manager you are expected to motivate people, but no-one tells you how to do it. In this show, we discuss the practical actions you can take to motivate the individuals in your team. You’ll find out how to meet their needs for autonomy, competence and connection at work, and how this makes a positive difference to their well-being too. You’ll pick up tips on how to build their persistence and resilience. We’ll also delve into leadership style, and the impact of different styles on other people. You’ll discover how to flex your style to build more effective connections. As a Leadership Coach, Team Consultant and Type Practitioner, Catherine has coached hundreds of managers to develop their leadership skills, facilitated many teams to develop high performance ways of working and enabled clients to improve their relationships through understanding personality type. She lived overseas for several years and this was a life-enhancing experience and really opened her eyes to human behaviour and cultural differences. Her work has continued with this underlying theme of behavioural change and personal development ever since. Join us as we discuss how to motivate people. Host: Jo Dodds

Guest: Sophie Allington, Head of People Operational Excellence, Ocado Group Sophie leads a team of HR Product Experts focused on HR tooling and global HR and Finance processes, as well as governance, compliance, and risk. With a background in Talent Acquisition and HR transformation, Sophie has led large teams across the public and private sectors. She is passionate about workplace equity and chairs Ocado’s Parents and Carers Community. Join us as we discuss the vital role that parents and carers communities play within corporate environments, not just as support networks, but as influential voices in shaping policies and workplace culture. Sophie will share her experience of negotiating the balance between influencing formal policy change and simply “doing the right thing.” Drawing from her experience chairing Ocado’s Parents and Carers Committee, she’ll discuss where they have seen the most impact from events, what they have heard from the voices in their community, and where they have seen challenges. Host: Jo Moffatt