This is Leadership

THIS IS LEADERSHIP is a new series that explores what it really takes to lead-not only in the boardroom, but in life.

Hosted by Karen Blackett CBE & Katie Lloyd, we spotlight leaders who moved the needle in their fields, transformed things around them, and left a lasting mark.

Our Guests include: The Honourable Mia Amor Mottley, S.C., M.P., Prime Minister of Barbados, filmmaker and entrepreneur Ava DuVernay and rugby star Maro Itoje.

This is Leadership. This is for Everyone.

Listen to this preview now.

New episodes every Tuesday.

Bonus conversations every Friday.

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A Hera Production.

Proudly supported by British Airways.

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What does it mean to lead when the only certainty is uncertainty?

In the series premiere of This is Leadership, Karen Blackett CBE and Katie Lloyd are in Barbados to interview The Honourable Mia Amor Mottley S.C., M.P.

A political force of nature, Prime Minister Mottley discusses her journey from being the youngest QC in Barbados to becoming one of the world's longest-serving female heads of government.

The conversation dives deep into:

• The Mission: Why leadership must be rooted in fighting injustice and creating opportunity.
• Resilience and Uncertainty: How to stop wasting emotion on the "uncertain moment" and go straight to solving the problem.
• The Pursuit of Perfection: Why perfection is the obstacle to progress and why we must reframe failure as experience.
• Global Impact: The origins of the Bridgetown Initiative - a proposal to reform international development finance - and the duty to challenge the post-1945 imperial order for global fairness.
• Leadership at Every Level: Why leadership is a daily practice in homes, communities, and workplaces.

Credits:

• Guest: The Honourable Mia Amor Mottley S.C., M.P., Prime Minister of Barbados
• Hosts & Executive Producers: Karen Blackett CBE and Katie Lloyd
• Production: Hera
• Sponsor: British Airways

This is Leadership. This is for Everyone.

New episodes every Tuesday.

Bonus conversations every Thursday.

-----------------------

Follow the conversation

• Instagram: https://instagram.com/thisisleadership.podcast
• LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/thisisleadership
• YouTube: https://youtube.com/@thisisleadership
• Substack: https://thisisleadership.substack.com/

Trust is easy to lose and hard to build, especially when you are challenging long-standing global systems.

In this additional episode, The Honourable Mia Amor Mottley S.C., M.P., Prime Minister of Barbados shares more with hosts Karen Blackett CBE and Katie Lloyd to break down the personal and political mechanics of trust.

Prime Minister Mottley reveals how she builds trust while simultaneously challenging the status quo.

Key Takeaways include:

• Consistency over Perfection: Trust is built by what you do and say every day; when you vary from your word, you have a responsibility to explain why.
• Solution-Focused Leadership: How coming to the table with a plan or commitment to resolve—rather than just criticism—builds credibility.
• The Two Ears, One Mouth Rule: The vital role of listening and reading body language to understand the perspectives of others.
• Finding the Bridge: Strategies for finding common ground with leaders who hold opposing views.
• The "Chipping" Method: Why moving forward often involves taking three steps forward and two steps back, yet still achieving ultimate progress.

Listen to the full interview with Prime Minister Mottley on the This is Leadership feed.

This is Leadership. This is for Everyone.

New episodes every Tuesday.

Bonus conversations every Thursday.

Credits:

• Guest: The Honourable Mia Amor Mottley S.C., M.P., Prime Minister of Barbados
• Hosts: Karen Blackett CBE and Katie Lloyd
• Production: Hera
• Sponsor: British Airways

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Follow the conversation

• Instagram: ⁠instagram.com/thisisleadership.podcast⁠
• LinkedIn: ⁠linkedin.com/company/thisisleadership⁠
• YouTube: ⁠youtube.com/@thisisleadership⁠
• Substack: ⁠thisisleadership.substack.com

What does it take to change an industry from the inside out? Hollywood trailblazer Ava DuVernay joins hosts Karen Blackett CBE and Katie Lloyd in Paris.

Known for ground-breaking projects like Selma, 13th, When They See Us, and Origin, Ava has spent her career bypassing traditional Hollywood gatekeepers.

In this conversation, she breaks down how a decade spent as a film publicist provided her with the insider blueprint to create her own multi-faceted organisation, Array, transforming how inclusive stories are financed, produced, and distributed.

Ava challenges conventional corporate ideas of authority, describing leadership as a collective practice rather than a solo performance. From growing up in a strong matriarchal family to directing $100M+ feature films, she reveals how constructive honesty, curiosity, and empathy form the foundation of her creative ecosystem.

The conversation dives deep into:

• Redefining Authority & Control: Why leadership is about holding hands and creating space for ideas, rather than dictating every detail with an iron fist.
• Systemic Innovation with Array: How Ava built an independent ecosystem for overlooked filmmakers, including grassroots distribution models and inclusive crew databases.
• Strategic Career Pivots: A step-by-step blueprint for moving into a passion-led career progressively while maintaining financial stability.
• Cultural Responsibility & Mental Health: Balancing the heavy emotional weight of telling historical truths with a commitment to nurturing employee well-being on set.
• Mentorship and Legacy: The impact of her top mentors; from Oprah Winfrey’s intentional business approach to her father’s quiet, service-driven leadership in his local community.

Credits:

• Guest: Ava DuVernay
• Hosts and Executive Producers: Karen Blackett CBE and Katie Lloyd
• Production: Hera
• Sponsor: British Airways

This is Leadership. This is for Everyone.

New episodes every Tuesday.

Bonus conversations every Thursday.

-----------------------

Follow the conversation

• Instagram: ⁠instagram.com/thisisleadership.podcast⁠
• LinkedIn: ⁠linkedin.com/company/thisisleadership⁠
• YouTube: ⁠youtube.com/@thisisleadership⁠
• Substack: ⁠thisisleadership.substack.com

We hear more from Hollywood trailblazer Ava DuVernay who shares the art of collaborative leadership.

Focusing on how to build powerful, diverse teams that thrive, Ava outlines her precise methodology for assembling project crews and running inclusive spaces with hosts Karen Blackett CBE and Katie Lloyd.

She argues that hiring isn't just about filling a function, it’s like "curating a table for a family dinner" where every dynamic matters. From uncovering a candidate's true reputation to structuring communication with clarity, Ava provides actionable management insights for leaders across all industries in this conversation.

Key Takeaways include:

• Deep Vetting & Curation: Why standard recommendation letters are curated "dates," and how digging into unlisted industry contacts reveals a person's real track record.
• Fostering Connection Before Tasking: Why setting ground rules for human connection outside of work builds the trust needed for seamless execution.
• The Power of the Big Picture: How constantly refreshing and communicating the overarching vision turns basic job descriptions into meaningful contributions.
• Methodical Storytelling: Applying narrative principles (beginning, middle, and end) to everyday presentations and hard conversations to achieve maximum clarity.
• Thoughtful Inclusivity: Why forcing quiet team members to speak on the spot can backfire, and how post-meeting, curiosity-led check-ins reveal overlooked genius.

Listen and watch the full interview with Ava DuVernay on the This is Leadership feed.

This is Leadership. This is for Everyone.

New episodes every Tuesday.

Bonus conversations every Thursday.

Credits:

• Guest: Ava DuVernay
• Hosts: Karen Blackett CBE and Katie Lloyd
• Production: Hera
• Sponsor: British Airways

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Follow the conversation

• Instagram: ⁠⁠instagram.com/thisisleadership.podcast⁠⁠
• LinkedIn: ⁠⁠linkedin.com/company/thisisleadership⁠⁠
• YouTube: ⁠⁠youtube.com/@thisisleadership⁠⁠
• Substack: ⁠⁠thisisleadership.substack.com

Baron Andrew Roe, former London Fire Brigade Commissioner, current member of the British House of Lords and Chair of the Building Safety Regulator sits down with hosts Karen Blackett CBE and Katie Lloyd.

Andy reflects on a career spent stepping into crisis environments, from his early military tours in Northern Ireland to serving as Incident Commander during the tragic Grenfell Tower fire in London.

He challenges traditional notions of the "heroic leader," advocating instead for an "inverted pyramid" model where leaders exist to serve, protect, and empower their teams.

Key takeaways include:

• Leading by Serving: Why true leadership stems from serving others and taking care of a team's foundational welfare (Maslow’s hierarchy of needs) before expecting high performance during crises.
• Lessons from Grenfell: The personal and professional reality of commanding during the Grenfell disaster, honoring the frontline firefighters and campaigning families, and making critical decisions in high-stress environments.
• Cultural Transformation & Systemic Accountability: How Andy confronted uncomfortable institutional realities-including sexism, racism, and lack of basic resources-to drive authentic, measurable culture change rather than relying on superficial fixes.

Credits:

• Guest: Andrew Roe
• Hosts and Executive Producers: Karen Blackett CBE and Katie Lloyd
• Production: Hera
• Sponsor: British Airways

This is Leadership. This is for Everyone.

New episodes every Tuesday.

Bonus conversations every Thursday.

-----------------------

Follow the conversation

• Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠instagram.com/thisisleadership.podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠
• LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠linkedin.com/company/thisisleadership⁠⁠⁠⁠
• YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠youtube.com/@thisisleadership⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠thisisleadership.substack.com⁠

Baron Andrew Roe, former London Fire Brigade Commissioner thinks building trust in a team takes patience, honesty, and consistent evidence.

Andy Roe discusses with hosts Karen Blackett CBE and Katie Lloyd what it truly takes to earn and maintain trust within an organisation.

From briefing firefighters in extreme danger at Grenfell to introducing mental health support through the London Fire Brigade Boxing Club, Andy illustrates how vulnerability, transparency, and two-way trust create resilient and high-performing teams.

Key Takeaways include:

• Building Trust Through Evidence: Why trust cannot be built quickly or through promises alone, but requires consistent delivery and touchable progress over time.
• Trust as a Two-Way Street: How senior leaders must rely on and trust the expertise of their teams, while creating a culture where alternate voices can safely challenge ideas.
• Embracing Early Accountability & Transparency: The liberating power of owning up to mistakes early, setting public benchmarks, and accepting personal accountability when things go wrong.
• Fostering Mental Health & Vulnerability: Normalising mental health conversations and connection in traditionally male-dominated environments through shared experiences, such as the LFB Boxing Club.

Listen and watch the full interview with Andrew Roe on the This is Leadership feed.

This is Leadership. This is for Everyone.

New episodes every Tuesday.

Bonus conversations every Thursday.

Credits:

• Hosts: Karen Blackett CBE and Katie Lloyd
• Guest: Baron Andrew Roe
• Production: Hera
• Sponsor: British Airways

---------------------------------------------------------

Follow the conversation

• Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠instagram.com/thisisleadership.podcast⁠⁠⁠
• LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠linkedin.com/company/thisisleadership⁠⁠⁠
• YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠youtube.com/@thisisleadership⁠⁠⁠
• Substack: ⁠⁠⁠thisisleadership.substack.com

Baroness Martha Lane-Fox joins hosts Karen Blackett CBE and Katie Lloyd for an inspiring conversation on reshaping leadership, handling public scrutiny, and staying adaptable in a rapidly changing world.

Key Takeaways include:

• Redefining Leadership: Rejecting the "strong man" caricature of leadership, emphasising that true leadership lives in micro-moments of bravery, high EQ, and bringing people along with a shared vision.

• Navigating High-Profile Setbacks: She reflects candidly on taking lastminute.com public during the dot-com era, dealing with extreme public criticism, and learning to focus strictly on what you can control.

• Leading in the Age of AI: Why leaders and CEOs must stay hands-on with emerging tech, foster continuous learning across teams, and advocate for widespread digital inclusion.

Credits:

Guest: Baroness Martha Lane-Fox

Hosts and Executive Producers: Karen Blackett CBE and Katie Lloyd

Production: Hera

Sponsor: British Airways

This is Leadership. This is for Everyone.

New episodes every Tuesday.

Bonus conversations every Thursday.

-----------------------

Follow the conversation

• Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠instagram.com/thisisleadership.podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠
• LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠linkedin.com/company/thisisleadership⁠⁠⁠⁠
• YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠youtube.com/@thisisleadership⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠thisisleadership.substack.com⁠

Baroness Martha Lane-Fox and hosts Karen Blackett CBE and Katie Lloyd further the conversation with a focus on leading through uncertainty and leading with courage.

Martha discusses how to reframe discomfort into growth, demystifies resilience as a trainable muscle broken down into micro-moments and shares actionable tips for staying engaged and grounded in an ambiguous world.

Key takeaways include:

• Courage as an Enabling Tool: How standing up for core values and having direct, uncomfortable conversations is the real key to achieving meaningful goals.
• Storytelling and Delivery in Complex Environments: Lessons from founding the UK Government Digital Service (GDS)—balancing a compelling narrative with relentless execution.
• Resilience as a Muscle: Rebuilding through micro-milestones and breaking down overwhelming challenges into tiny, achievable steps (illustrated by her time on the Twitter board while hospitalised).
• Navigating Ambiguity and Setbacks: Giving yourself permission to process grief during setbacks while actively seeking knowledge, data, and human connections to regain agency in an uncertain world.

Listen and watch the full interview with Martha Lane-Fox on the This is Leadership feed.

This is Leadership. This is for Everyone.

New episodes every Tuesday.

Bonus conversations every Thursday.

Credits:

• Hosts and Executive Producers: Karen Blackett CBE and Katie Lloyd
• Guest: Baroness Martha Lane-Fox
• Production: Hera
• Sponsor: British Airways

-----------------------

Follow the conversation

• Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠instagram.com/thisisleadership.podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠
• LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠linkedin.com/company/thisisleadership⁠⁠⁠⁠
• YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠youtube.com/@thisisleadership⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠thisisleadership.substack.com⁠

Award-winning journalist, author, and social entrepreneur Ashley John-Baptiste joins hosts Karen Blackett CBE and Katie Lloyd. Reflecting on his journey from the UK care system to Cambridge University and national broadcasting, Ashley redefines traditional concepts of leadership by sharing the profound impact of everyday mentors. He discusses how staying true to his authentic self enabled him to connect deeply with communities and drive real-world change through his journalism and advocacy.

Key takeaways include:

• Redefining Everyday Leadership: How simple, unglamorous acts of consistency-such as a residential care worker ensuring Ashley got to school every morning-demonstrate true leadership.
• Navigating Elite Environments: The mental battles, self-advocacy, and determination required to overcome systemic barriers when transitioning from care to Cambridge University.
• The Power of Authentic Storytelling: How bringing his lived experience to major news assignments, like the Grenfell Tower fire coverage, built trust and reshaped his approach to broadcasting.
• Driving Policy and Systemic Change: How Ashley's memoir Looked After and his documentaries directly influenced government policy, parliamentary motions, and social support for care leavers.
• Empowerment and Advice for Aspiring Leaders: Why titles aren't necessary to make an impact, using your voice against injustice, and Ashley’s essential recipe for effective leadership.

Credits:

• Hosts and Executive Producers: Karen Blackett CBE and Katie Lloyd
• Guest: Ashley John-Baptiste
• Production: Hera
• Sponsor: British Airways

This is Leadership. This is for Everyone.

New episodes every Tuesday.

Bonus conversations every Thursday.

-----------------------

Follow the conversation

• Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠instagram.com/thisisleadership.podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠linkedin.com/company/thisisleadership⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠youtube.com/@thisisleadership⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thisisleadership.substack.com⁠

Ashley John-Baptiste joins hosts Karen Blackett CBE and Katie Lloyd to discuss the critical role of courage in effective leadership. Ashley reflects on the initial risks of sharing his personal, traumatic past in his memoir Looked After and how taking those risks created a lasting impact for the care-experienced community. He shares practical lessons on stepping up to authority, balancing vulnerability with self-protection, and building a foundation for courageous leadership.

Key takeaways include:

• Vulnerability as a Leadership Superpower: How opening up about personal struggles and trauma can spark change and resonate deeply with audiences.
• Setting Boundaries with Authenticity: The importance of knowing when to be vulnerable on your own terms and learning to say "no" to protect your personal well-being.
• Challenging the Status Quo: Ashley’s experience advocating for himself with his local MP to keep his housing when entering university, illustrating the need to push back against arbitrary barriers.
• The Sum Total of Support: Recognising that courageous individual leadership is often built on the collective support of local mentors, care workers, and advocates.

Listen and watch the full interview with Ashley John-Baptiste on the This is Leadership feed.

This is Leadership. This is for Everyone.

New episodes every Tuesday.

Bonus conversations every Thursday.

Credits:

• Hosts and Executive Producers: Karen Blackett CBE and Katie Lloyd
• Guest: Ashley John-Baptiste
• Production: Hera
• Sponsor: British Airways

-----------------------

Follow the conversation

• Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠instagram.com/thisisleadership.podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠linkedin.com/company/thisisleadership⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠youtube.com/@thisisleadership⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thisisleadership.substack.com⁠

Dame Julia Hoggett DBE, CEO of the London Stock Exchange joins hosts Karen Blackett CBE and Katie Lloyd to discuss what it truly takes to transform a 300-year-old institution.

Julia unpacks her non-linear journey, from navigating high-stakes decisions during the 2008 financial crisis to becoming the first openly gay woman to lead the exchange. In this conversation, she shares practical leadership philosophies that apply everywhere, whether in the boardroom or in daily life.

Key takeaways include:

• Leading from Any Seat & "Dancing on the Edge of Authority": Why leadership isn't tied to a fancy title, but rather to taking complete ownership of your space, stepping up to solve problems, and pushing boundaries to achieve clear goals.
• Navigating High-Stakes Crisis Leadership: Learnings from leading a major bank during the 2008 financial crisis and the vital importance of making long-term, ethical decisions you can be proud of years later.
• Authenticity vs. "Covering": Julia’s experience coming out early in her finance career, why she chooses to be the exact same person at home as in the office, and the operational value of building environments where everyone can thrive.
• The "Life’s Little Victories" Habit: A daily habit for building confidence, embracing continuous learning, and staying grounded through honest self-reflection.

Credits:

• Guest: Dame Julia Hoggett DBE
• Hosts and Executive Producers: Karen Blackett CBE and Katie Lloyd
• Production: Hera
• Sponsor: British Airways

This is Leadership. This is for Everyone.

New episodes every Tuesday.

Bonus conversations every Thursday.

-----------------------

Follow the conversation

• Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠instagram.com/thisisleadership.podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠linkedin.com/company/thisisleadership⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠youtube.com/@thisisleadership⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thisisleadership.substack.com⁠

In this further conversation with London Stock Exchange CEO Dame Julia Hoggett DBE, hosts Karen Blackett CBE and Katie Lloyd focus on one essential leadership behaviour: putting deep collaboration and great teamwork at the centre of an organisation. Julia shares concrete, highly actionable frameworks for building high-performing, psychologically safe teams capable of solving complex problems together.

Key takeaways include:

• The Power of "Straw Man" Decision-Making & Psychological Safety: How offering a starting hypothesis and encouraging your team to "shoot it down" speeds up progress, breaks down hierarchy, and builds a culture where admitting mistakes is normalised.
• Addressing "The Elephant in the Room": Why every team needs "pokey, proddy" people who are explicitly empowered to speak up about hard truths and point out blind spots before they become problems.
• The 9:00 AM Monday "Open Outcry" Village: Why bringing every business function-from risk and legal to HR and marketing-into the same room weekly breaks down silos and ensures total alignment.
• Reframing Personal Brand for Others: Overcoming discomfort around personal branding by realising that your visibility isn't for your ego, but to give your team confidence, purpose, and direction.
• Mastering Time Management with "Purple Patches": Julia's two 1/3-based pie charts for time allocation and how colour-coding her diary allows her to intentionally block out non-negotiable time for strategic internal focus.

Listen and watch the full interview with Dame Julia Hoggett DBE on the This is Leadership feed.

This is Leadership. This is for Everyone.

New episodes every Tuesday.

Bonus conversations every Thursday.

Credits:

• Guest: Dame Julia Hoggett DBE
• Hosts and Executive Producers: Karen Blackett CBE and Katie Lloyd
• Production: Hera
• Sponsor: British Airways

-----------------------

Follow the conversation

• Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠instagram.com/thisisleadership.podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠linkedin.com/company/thisisleadership⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠youtube.com/@thisisleadership⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thisisleadership.substack.com⁠

England and Saracens rugby captain Maro Itoje joins hosts Karen Blackett CBE and Katie Lloyd. Maro reflects on his career and the lessons he has learned about leadership on and off the pitch. He discussed managing peers, staying authentic, learning from defeat, and balancing elite sport with impactful work beyond the pitch.

Key takeaways include:

• Authenticity & Adaptability: Why effective leadership looks different for everyone and requires staying true to your core values.
• Foundational Values & Early Lessons: How family, heritage, discipline, empathy, and humility shape his approach as a leader.
• Leading Peers & Younger Talent: Navigating the dynamics of leading teammates who are both older and younger, while gaining respect through clear standards.
• Growth Through Winning & Losing: Reflections on high-pressure moments—such as the 2019 World Cup final—and the vital importance of trusting the process over short-term results.
• Impact Beyond the Pitch: The role of athletes as societal role models and Maro's passion for art, culture, and social philanthropy.

Credits:

• Guest: Maro Itoje
• Hosts and Executive Producers: Karen Blackett CBE and Katie Lloyd
• Production: Hera
• Sponsor: British Airways

This is Leadership. This is for Everyone.

New episodes every Tuesday.

Bonus conversations every Thursday.

-----------------------

Follow the conversation

• Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠instagram.com/thisisleadership.podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠linkedin.com/company/thisisleadership⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠youtube.com/@thisisleadership⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Substack: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thisisleadership.substack.com⁠