“What’s the biggest bullshit in leadership?”Chris Hirst answers without blinking. But you’ll have to watch to hear what he says.In this Fast & The Curious episode,Chris, former Global CEO of Havas Creative goes from sharp insight to guilty pleasures in under six minutes.☕ A very strong opinion on herbal tea🎸 A Nickelback moment he didn’t see coming🧦 And the one workplace trend he’d cancel foreverIt’s short. It’s sharp. And it’s leadership with a side of dry humour.📺 Watch now on YouTube and check out the full Courageous Leaders episode while you’re there.💬 Join the Conversation:Register for our exclusive Leaders Connect Roundtables:https://thechangecreators.com/leaders-connect/👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you!https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ🚀 Elevate Your Leadership:Book a call for transformative leadership and team coaching:Website: https://thechangecreators.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannahowes/
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6:46
How to Build a High-Performing Team (Even If You’re Failing)
What happens when you’ve spent years inside a failing business, then asked to take over as CEO and turn it around?For Chris Hirst, it wasn’t just a step up. It was a defining challenge that forced him to rethink everything he knew about leadership.In this episode of The Courageous Leaders Podcast, I’m joined by leadership expert, award-winning author, and former Global CEO of Havas Creative, Chris Hirst. Known for transforming struggling companies from within, Chris shares what it really takes to lead under pressure and why clarity, courage, and conviction matter more than ever.We Cover: 01:22 – Becoming CEO of a broken business, and why it felt like career suicide04:00 – The Harvard moment that changed Chris’s mindset and life05:50 – How to fix a failing company: honesty, clarity, and ruthless prioritisation08:00 – Why commitment beats capability when it comes to business growth10:23 – What makes a great CEO and how to build a high-performing culture13:18 – Attitude vs. aptitude: the core of Chris’s new book Indispensable16:49 – Workplace autopilot: why most people don’t show up with intention20:24 – Leading 100 CEOs: spotting the difference between good and great26:00 – Decision-making as a leadership superpower30:50 – Chris’s personal demon and the advice he’d give his younger selfDon’t miss out on this powerful episode. 💬 Join the Conversation:Register for our exclusive Leaders Connect Roundtables:https://thechangecreators.com/leaders-connect/👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you!https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ🚀 Elevate Your Leadership:Book a call for transformative leadership and team coaching:Website: https://thechangecreators.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannahowes/
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46:35
3 Simple Steps to Lead with Empathy
Many leaders still see empathy as a weakness.This is shortsighted as empathy is one of the most powerful skills to drive trust, performance, and real connection.In this episode, I explain what it means to lead with empathy and share three practical ways to integrate it into your leadership today. You’ll learn how empathy shifts behaviour, strengthens accountability, and builds a culture where people feel seen, safe, and motivated to give their bestWe Cover: 01:03 – What empathy in leadership really means01:39 – Real story: How one CEO shifted outcomes with one question02:24 – Why empathy is often misunderstood as “going soft”03:14 – Leadership shift: Empathy as a strategy, not sentiment03:41 – Tip #1: Always start with empathy04:22 – Tip #2: How to practice active listening05:02 – Tip #3: Check in regularly, beyond the task list05:39 – Final thoughts: Why empathy is good for performance and for youDon’t miss out on this powerful episode. 💬 Join the Conversation:Register for our exclusive Leaders Connect Roundtables:https://thechangecreators.com/leaders-connect/👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you!https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ🚀 Elevate Your Leadership:Book a call for transformative leadership and team coaching:Website: https://thechangecreators.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannahowes/
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6:01
The Fast and The Curious with Dave Buonaguidi
What can a grizzly bear in a denim jacket teach us about leadership?More than you’d think.In this week’s Fast & The Curious, Dave takes us from Hackney to Hollywood (almost) with his usual cheeky, sweary brilliance.⚡ What leadership advice does he swear by?⚡ Why pink paint is his power colour⚡ And how he ended up designing a jacket for an 8-foot bearIt’s fast, funny, and full of the kind of wisdom only a rebellious artist can serve.📺 Dave’s full Fast & Curious episode drops today on YouTube. Don’t forget to check out his full Courageous Leaders interview while you’re there.💬 Join the Conversation:Register for our exclusive Leaders Connect Roundtables:https://thechangecreators.com/leaders-connect/👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you!https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ🚀 Elevate Your Leadership:Book a call for transformative leadership and team coaching:Website: https://thechangecreators.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannahowes/
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9:48
“Don’t Be a Wanker”: Dave Buonaguidi’s No-BS Leadership Rule
Naughty, and unfiltered – Dave Buonaguidi, ex-adman turned full-time artist, shares how he blew up a 35-year career, lost everything, and finally found joy. From co-founding iconic agencies like St. Luke’s and Karmarama to walking away from the industry (and his marriage) at 50, Dave tells it like it is – with plenty of swearing, sharp wit, and hard-won wisdom.If you’ve ever wanted to throw out the rulebook and build life on your own damn terms, this episode is for you.We Cover: 01:40 – “I just rebooted my life at 55” – The moment Dave walked away from it all07:20 – Wearing a mask at work for 35 years08:40 – Why he doesn’t see his past ventures as “success”10:05 – The brutal reality of founding a business12:00 – Ripping up the rulebook: doing things differently in advertising15:00 – Starting over after losing his agency – and his marriage18:20 – Going all-in with no plan B: the real reason he made it work20:00 – “If you’re doing it for the money, f*ck off”32:00 – Letting go: what Dave struggled with most41:00 – “I jumped out the burning building” – on walking away from everything42:20 – Why 2020 was the best year of his life43:00 – Advice for anyone ready to change their life46:40 – How a screen-printing class changed everythingDon’t miss out on this powerful episode. 💬 Join the Conversation:Register for our exclusive Leaders Connect Roundtables:https://thechangecreators.com/leaders-connect/👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you!https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ🚀 Elevate Your Leadership:Book a call for transformative leadership and team coaching:Website: https://thechangecreators.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannahowes/
The Courageous Leaders Podcast aims to inspire leaders to step into their courageous zone, be the leader they know they can be and discover the mindset skills and behaviours to take their leadership to the next level. So listen in, get inspired on how you can grow your leadership impact. Leave a legacy you can be proud of, and build an environment for future leaders to thrive. Who is Joanna Howes?Joanna Howes is an award-winning international coach, behavioural expert, specialising in leadership and performance coaching and No 1 best selling international co-author. Her focus is to help individuals and teams activate their full potential, so they can step into their courageous zone to maximise their influence, build their resilience and take the action needed to become high performers and future-ready leaders.Joanna is a unique phenomenon within her industry, with over 20 years’ experience working internationally with some of the world's most awarded advertising agencies and leading them to operational and leadership success. Her blend of both innovative operational and transformative change solutions empowers organisations to create environments that are supportive and fearless for their employees. Website: https://thechangecreators.com/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannahowes/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@courageousleaderspodcast IG: https://www.instagram.com/the.changecreators/Podcast IG: https://www.instagram.com/courageous_leaders/
South Africa