Mad Influence

What really makes people trust you at work, and why do some capable people progress while others get stuck?In this episode of Mad Influence, Helen Saul is joined by Betsy Gardner, CEO, leadership advisor and author of Human in the Room, a new book exploring what drives trust, credibility and progression at work. Betsy has spent decades in leadership roles and works with organisations to develop and promote talent, with a particular focus on the human skills that can be difficult to measure but often make the biggest difference.Betsy’s interest in these skills grew during her time working in London, where she helped prepare high-performing women for global and C-suite roles. She saw first-hand that competence alone isn’t always enough to progress. How you communicate, exercise judgement, build relationships and earn trust can be just as important.Helen and Betsy discuss why these skills could become even more valuable as AI takes on more of our day-to-day work, and what this means for younger people who may miss out on the early-career experiences that traditionally helped people develop them. They also explore generational differences at work, why a thumbs-up emoji can mean very different things to different people and Betsy’s framework for deliberately building trust.They also tackle the idea of bringing your “whole self” to work. Betsy argues that authenticity doesn’t have to mean sharing everything, and explains why being thoughtful about how you show up can be an important part of leadership.Music written by Joseph McDadeFollow BetsyWebsite: https://www.betsygardner.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/betsygardner22/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebetsygardner/Learn more about Human in the RoomWebsite: https://www.humanintheroombook.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/human-in-the-roomInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/humanintheroom/Follow Helen:LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/helensaul/Follow Mad Influence:YouTube: www.youtube.com/@madinfluencepodInstagram: www.instagram.com/madinfluencepodTikTok: www.tiktok.com/@madinfluencepod

Can technology help us live better lives, or is it simply making us busier than ever? In this episode of Mad Influence, Helen Saul is joined by Daniel Sih, productivity coach, TEDx speaker and founder of Spacemakers, a consultancy helping people work more intentionally in an always-on world. Daniel is the author of the award-winning Spacemaker, Raising Tech Healthy Humans and his new book, Wise AI, which explores how we can use artificial intelligence in a more intentional and deeply human way.After training as a physiotherapist, Daniel moved into management and quickly realised nobody had ever taught him how to work effectively in a modern knowledge job. That experience led him to explore productivity, attention and how we can create more space to think, rest, focus and build stronger relationships.As Daniel puts it: “I don’t like the term Copilot because I don’t think AI should be in the cockpit. I think it should be in the back seat and we control the plane.”This conversation explores why modern work leaves so many people feeling busy but unproductive, how organisations can create more time for deep work and why AI may be intensifying our workloads rather than freeing us from them. Helen and Daniel also discuss digital wellbeing, raising children in a technology-driven world, building intentional communities and why taking the road less travelled can lead to a richer life.If you are interested in productivity, AI, leadership or simply creating more space for the things that matter most, this episode offers practical ideas for using technology without allowing it to shape how you think, work and live.Music written by Joseph McDadeFollow DanielLinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielsih/Instagram:⁠ https://www.instagram.com/the_spacemakers_/ Site: https://www.danielsih.com Follow HelenLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/helensaul/Follow Mad Influence Podcast YouTube: www.youtube.com/@madinfluencepodInstagram: www.instagram.com/madinfluencepodTikTok: www.tiktok.com/@madinfluencepod

How can someone pursue ambition, creativity and high performance without burning out along the way?In this episode of Mad Influence, Helen Saul is joined by Matt Follows, a coach and performance psychologist who works with founders, creative leaders and senior executives operating in high-pressure environments. Before moving into psychology, Matt spent more than 15 years in the creative industries, working his way from junior copywriter to executive creative director.Today he helps leaders understand how stress, trauma and subconscious patterns can influence the way they work, make decisions and lead others. Drawing on training in clinical psychotherapy, hypnotherapy and multiple psychological disciplines, Matt works with individuals and leadership teams across organisations including Disney, National Geographic and Toyota.Matt’s perspective is shaped by his own experience of burnout. After years of pushing himself in the creative industries, he ended up in hospital at the age of 29 following a severe anaphylactic shock linked to alcohol during a shoot. The moment forced him to confront the cost of the lifestyle he had been living and rethink the relationship between ambition, identity and wellbeing. Not long afterwards, he stepped away from advertising and began rebuilding his career in psychology.As Matt puts it: “You can’t push your nervous system, you can’t push your physiology, you can’t push your brain continuously.”This conversation explores sustainable high performance, the hidden psychological drivers behind workaholism, and why many high achievers are motivated by a subconscious belief that they are “not enough”. Helen and Matt also discuss hustle culture, flow states, identity collapse after losing a job, and the difference between chasing external success and building a life you never feel the need to escape from.Music written by Joseph McDadeSite: mattfollows.com Follow MattLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattfollows/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mattfollowInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattfollows/Follow Helen SaulLinkedIn:⁠ www.linkedin.com/in/helensaul/⁠Follow Mad InfluenceYouTube: www.youtube.com/@madinfluencepodInstagram: www.instagram.com/madinfluencepodTikTok: www.tiktok.com/@madinfluencepod

How do creators turn influence into income - and build a career that lasts beyond one viral moment?In this episode of Mad Influence, Helen Saul is joined by Monique Sar, founder of De Vitesse, an agency focused on partnerships and influencer campaigns, and President of BNC Speakers, representing pro athletes, speakers and business leaders. Over the past decade, Monique has worked with Fortune 500 brands to secure high-value partnerships, helping creators move from visibility to sustainable revenue.Monique’s path into talent representation wasn’t linear. After building a successful career in finance, she made a leap into marketing following what she describes as a “movie moment” realisation that she was meant for something different. What followed included failed ventures, financial risk and rebuilding from scratch - experiences that now shape how she advises creators and founders today.As Monique puts it: “I do have this very bold vision that any creator that has over a hundred thousand followers should be earning six figures.”This conversation explores positioning, pricing and the realities behind brand deals - from why virality doesn’t equal value, to how creators can negotiate confidently, to what brands often misunderstand about return on investment. Helen and Monique also discuss offline activations, the resurgence of real-world community in a digital-first industry, and how AI is reshaping talent representation, including the legal and ethical questions that come with cloning your name and likeness.If you’re interested in the business behind influence - not just the highlight reel - this episode offers a candid look at what it takes to build credibility, command higher fees and create meaningful partnerships that go beyond likes and followers.Music written by Joseph McDadeFollow MoniqueLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/moniquesar/Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/moniquesar.boss/Follow Helen Saul: LinkedIn:⁠ www.linkedin.com/in/helensaul/⁠Follow Mad InfluenceYouTube: www.youtube.com/@madinfluencepodInstagram: www.instagram.com/madinfluencepodTikTok: www.tiktok.com/@madinfluencepod

What if the only thing standing between you and being seen, heard and recognised is your clarity?In this episode of Mad Influence, Helen Saul is joined by Rebecca Okamoto, a communication and clarity expert whose TEDx talk on how to introduce yourself has been watched around 2 million times. Rebecca works with what she calls “Lost Einsteins” - people whose thinking is valuable and original, but whose ideas fail to land because they struggle to explain their value in senior or executive settings.Rebecca’s work is rooted in experience. Earlier in her corporate career at Procter & Gamble, she had the opportunity to pitch a game-changing leadership programme to a senior vice president. After delivering what she believed was a compelling presentation, the response was blunt: “God, I love your enthusiasm. I have no idea what you said.”The programme went on to succeed, but the moment changed everything. Rebecca began studying attention, message flow and the science behind how people process information, developing what she now calls the 20-word approach - a way of introducing yourself or pitching an idea clearly in seconds, not minutes.This conversation explores why intelligence alone is not enough, how clarity can transform how you are perceived at work, and why the most overlooked talent is often just misunderstood. Helen and Rebecca discuss attention spans, imposter syndrome, audience awareness, the psychology of persuasion and the power of a well-timed pivot point. They also reflect on what it feels like to finally be heard - and how learning to be clear can shift careers, confidence and opportunity.Music written by Joseph McDadeFollow RebeccaLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccaokamoto/Website: www.20words.com/Follow Helen SaulLinkedIn:⁠ www.linkedin.com/in/helensaul/⁠Follow Mad InfluenceYouTube: www.youtube.com/@madinfluencepodInstagram: www.instagram.com/madinfluencepodTikTok: www.tiktok.com/@madinfluencepod