In this captivating episode of Leaders in Business, host Marlene Lowe interviews Julie Ashworth, Chair of the Institute of Directors for Scotland. Julie shares her unconventional career path from filling shelves at Tesco to leading organizations across multiple sectors. Her story takes a dramatic turn when she left corporate life to participate in the Round the World yacht race—despite not being able to swim or sail.

Julie's career spans retail giants like Tesco, Liberty of London, and Marks & Spencer, as well as IBM's transition from hardware to professional services. Throughout her journey, she founded Broadreach, a leadership consultancy, whilst simultaneously holding executive roles. Her leadership philosophy centres on leaving people better than you found them and championing others when they're not in the room.

The conversation explores themes of career transitions, the importance of networks, giving back to communities, and the evolving nature of leadership across generations. Julie reflects on succession planning challenges and how five generations currently exist in today's workplace, with 70% of senior leadership positions held by baby boomers whilst younger generations bring different expectations and communication preferences.