headhunter(ka) Podcast

This week, I sit down with Amanda Collier, a former Senior Chief Detective with the Metropolitan Police who worked in counter-terrorism, and who became a fan favourite on The Traitors UK Series 4.Death and Taxes. Murders and Banishments. I interview people for a living. Amanda spent a career interrogating them, then took on a game built on deception. Together we explored what makes a real leader in any profession, tax and finance included.With Anti-Bullying Week under way, Amanda also shares the personal story behind a cause close to her heart, following the red carpet screening of The Roof of Africa: Bullied - The Mountain We Face, sponsored by IBH Executive.We also talk about her farewell words, “my house is your house,” and the episode ends with a surprise gift.In this episode00:00 Intro: a headhunter meets a detective00:00 Who was Amanda Collier before the country knew her name?00:00 Detective vs. headhunter: interrogation, interviews, and spotting lies00:00 Being suspected in the castle and proving innocence00:00 Anti-Bullying Week: Amanda’s story00:00 “My house is your house”: her farewell words00:00 What makes a real leader in any profession00:00 Would the host make a Traitor?00:00 The Traitor’s Cloak surpriseKey takeawaysInterviewing and interrogating use similar skills, and both depend on listening for what doesn’t fit.Leadership qualities carry across fields, from policing to finance.Bullying leaves a lasting mark, and awareness matters beyond one week a year.Warmth can be a strength even in a game of suspicion.About the guestAmanda Collier is a retired Metropolitan Police detective and a contestant on The Traitors UK Series 4.About the hostIzabela is a global headhunter and the founder of IBH Executive. She also hosts the headhunter(ka) Podcast, featuring real conversations with real leaders from every corner of the globe.

A while back, a Big4 Client came to me with a search request: find them female tax technology leaders. Senior. Ready now.I couldn't fill it. The shortlist was that short.So for this episode, I sat down with a woman who is that profile — Montana → Boston → London, now a partner at a Big4 firm, and one of a small number of women leading in tax tech. We talk about the road from small-town Montana to a Big4 partnership, what it's really like to be an American in London, the obstacles female tax professionals face on the way to the top, and why tax tech might be one of the smartest career moves available to women in the profession right now.There is also music — and an Ally McBeal comparison she did not see coming.In this episodeGrowing up in Montana and studying in BostonThe move to London and adjusting to life — and work — as an American in the UKWhat it actually takes to make Partner at a Big4 firmThe obstacles for women on the partner track that don't get named out loudWhy the market is short on senior female tax tech leaders — and what that means for women considering the fieldLeadership lessons from being one of the few women in the roomMusic, singing, and life outside the day jobAdvice for female tax professionals on career progression and perseverance

What does it take to move halfway across the world, build a career at the intersection of tax and technology, overcome professional setbacks, and ultimately reach Big 4 partnership?In this episode, Izabela sits down with James, a London-based Tax Technology Partner, whose journey began in Sydney, took him through Budapest, and ultimately led him to the helm of one of the profession’s most innovative tax technology practices.From Australian culture and coffee debates to leadership, resilience, rejection and Formula 1, this conversation explores the human side of success—and why the road to partnership is rarely a straight line.Key Topics DiscussedGrowing up in Sydney and the Australian traits that shaped his careerHow tax technology found James, rather than the other way aroundMoving from Australia to Budapest and LondonUnexpected cultural differences between Australia and the UKThe Director promotion setback that transformed his leadership journeyWhy vulnerability and emotional intelligence matter at Partner levelWhat it really takes to progress from Senior Manager to Director and PartnerThe importance of sponsorship, visibility and commercial awarenessLessons from CrossFit and how fitness influences leadership and resilienceFormula 1, high-performance cultures and parallels with professional servicesAdvice for his younger self arriving in London with big ambitions but no roadmapMemorable ThemesThe Power of "No"James reflects on a failed promotion attempt and how rejection became a catalyst for growth rather than a career-defining setback.Technical Excellence Isn't EnoughGreat work alone won't take you to the highest levels of leadership. Relationships, sponsorship, visibility and commercial instincts matter too.Vulnerability as LeadershipAn honest discussion about authenticity in professional services and why successful leaders should be willing to acknowledge setbacks, uncertainty and growth.High Performance Beyond the OfficeFrom CrossFit to Formula 1, James explores the disciplines, routines and mindsets that help him perform under pressure.Who Should Listen?This episode is for tax professionals working towards Senior Manager, Director or Partner level; tax technology specialists navigating complex career paths; Big 4 professionals seeking career progression insights; leaders interested in resilience, vulnerability and emotional intelligence; and anyone facing professional setbacks and wondering what comes next.About the GuestJames is a London-based Tax Technology Partner at a leading Big 4 firm, advising multinational organisations on transforming tax functions through technology, data and process innovation. His career spans Australia, Central Europe and the UK, giving him a uniquely global perspective on leadership and professional growth.Connect with the HostIzabela Hollander is a specialist recruiter in global tax, tax technology, SAP and related leadership markets. Through this podcast, she explores the people behind the professions, uncovering the stories, challenges and motivations that shape successful careers.If you enjoyed this episode, share it with someone working towards Director or Partner, considering an international move, or who has recently heard "no" and needs a reminder that successful careers are built as much through setbacks as successes. 

Peter, a Global Indirect Tax Leader and Partner and, more importantly, a father of four, is usually based in Saudi Arabia, but during a recent stay in the UK, he generously took the time to join me for a truly meaningful conversation at the Brighton Podcast Room.We explored his career journey, life experiences, lessons learned along the way, and a few humorous situations that have shaped his story.As always, there was plenty of practical advice for anyone looking to grow both personally and professionally.From studying humour in Gulag literature then riding the fiscal theme park of VAT through to singing by royal appointment and witnessing massive change first-hand in the Middle East, stay tuned for an episode full of insight, humour, and unexpected twists.

Brighton sunshine. Dallas energy. Cowboy hats.Nicole Robinson,  a Global Tax Leader, who has spent her career transforming tax operations around the world. Having led projects in more than  80 countries, she' become a trusted voice on technology, transparency, and the future of global tax. A regular international conference speaker and passionate people leader, she is known for turning complex global tax challenges into clear, practical solutions.  Nicole - my first American guest – based in Dallas, joined me in Brighton while speaking at a leading London tax conference.