The Future of Internal Communication

Institute of Internal Communication

The Future of Internal Communication podcast is a series commissioned by The Institute of Internal Communication.

Organisations today face widespread and continuous disruption. The way communication takes place within and across teams, departments and business units is more critical than ever.

The podcast hosts subject matter experts from within and outside internal communication, each sharing their insights on the future of work and the role of communication as an essential driver of workplace trust, connection, culture, innovation, resilience and performance.

Hosts Jennifer Sproul, Dominic Walters and Cat Barnard explore opportunity for internal communicators. In increasingly digital, data driven, distributed and on-demand work landscapes, their conversations with thought-leaders examine the human side of work.

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20 episodes
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Avg 47 min
English

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#98
Wednesday · 49 min
Hope is a strategy with Ian Pettigrew
Having completed an MSc in Applied Positive Psychology and Coaching Psychology, leadership development coach Ian Pettigrew wanted to share his findings. His studies have identified hope as an essential feature of any leadership communication endeavour and a linchpin of successful and lasting change. And yet it’s no mean feat to instil a sense of hope when the external operating landscape throws up persistent challenge, complexity and ambiguity. But as a recent Harvard Business Impact article noted, leaders “have astonishing influence over the internal performance environment, including employee engagement, morale, and productivity.” This episode, Jen, Cat, Dom and Ian explore the link between trust and hope and the role internal communication plays in helping build hopeful, high-performing operating environments About Ian Pettigrew Ian B Pettigrew is a coach and leadership development consultant focused on helping leaders inspire hope. He’s a Gallup-certified strengths coach, a Fellow Member of the Association for Coaching, and a member of the Association for Business Psychology. He has an MSc in Applied Positive Psychology and Coaching Psychology, has twice been named by HR Magazine (in 2023 and 2026) as one of HR’s Most Influential Thinkers, and his debut book – Hope is a Strategy – is a finalist for the Business Book Awards Leadership book of the year. Ian is the founder of a skills-based volunteering initiative called Connecting HR Africa. Outside of work, Ian competes in Agility with his Border Collie, Buddy, and is currently training for an Everesting cycling challenge to raise money for charity. Find Ian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ianpettigrew/ Ian’s website: https://hope.tips/
#97
August 5 · 49 min
The vital importance of access to good work with Anna Ambrose
Good quality, meaningful work is vital for mental, emotional and financial wellbeing. This is even more important for young people entering the labour market for the first time. US research shows university graduates entering the workforce during a recession experience lower earnings for at least 10-15 years longer than those who start work when economies are doing well. But what is good work and why does it matter? As pathways into working life face their biggest challenge in decades, creating high-quality apprenticeships matters more than ever. In this final episode of series 16, Anna Ambrose, CEO of Workwhile, shares her insights on the importance of creating work and career opportunities that deliver meaning and purpose for young people. About Anna Ambrose Anna is CEO of Workwhile – a small charity with a mission to create a fairer world of work. She has led Workwhile’s strategy and operations from its inception as a pilot project incubated by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR). Since 2020, Workwhile has improved the working lives of 3,000 people from disadvantaged and marginalised backgrounds, by creating new apprenticeships and high-quality work opportunities. Prior to joining IPPR in June 2019, Anna worked for education charity Ambition Institute, supporting schools and multi-academy trusts to develop their workforce and leading the operational delivery of Ambition's sales and account management function. Anna also led Ambition's staff equality, diversity and inclusion work. Outside work, Anna is chair of governors at a local primary school. Find Anna on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-ambrose-46400234/ Workwhile website: https://workwhile.org.uk/
#96
July 22 · 47 min
Using internal communication to inspire young people at work with Antoinette Gyan
Given the range of global forces disrupting the way work gets done, do we need new ways of leading? What role does communication play in motivating and inspiring young people at work? Through this lens, internal communication has a critical role to play. This episode, Jen, Dom and Cat meet with Antoinette Gyan. With more than a decade’s experience working with the UN and non-profits including UNICEF and Plan International, Antoinette has accumulated a wealth of experience in helping organisations communicate, lead and grow. She blends this with her passion of developing young leaders who will shape tomorrow’s workplaces. About Antoinette Gyan Some professionals build careers. Antoinette Gyan, builds people — and the systems that allow them to thrive. A Leadership Communication Coach and Internal Communication Auditor, Antoinette has spent over a decade working with the United Nations, UNICEF, and Plan International, shaping how organisations communicate, lead, and grow. She now partners with organisations globally to transform culture from the inside out. But perhaps her most personal work lives closest to her heart — as Founder of YSA Global, a youth-focused NGO investing in the development of young leaders who will shape tomorrow's workplaces. Today, she joins us to share what internal communication must do differently to support, retain, and empower young professionals. Please welcome Antoinette Gyan. Antoinette on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoinette-gyan-apr-574a41225/ Antoinette’s website: https://www.araba-africa.com/
#95
July 8 · 46 min
How to have difficult conversations at work with Neil Hopkins
In 2026, across the board, organisations are struggling to maintain team cohesion. With so many societal issues in need of resolution, and an inflammatory media whose success depends on sensationalist headlines that blame and shame, there’s no shortage of things to disagree on. This has profound consequences for organisations that desperately need group harmony for successful collaboration and innovation. This episode Dom and Cat meet communications strategist Neil Hopkins to learn about how to have inclusive, empathic conversations that build unity, even when topics are delicate and require deep diplomacy and tact. About Neil Hopkins Neil is a writer by trade, a strategist at heart and a geek when it comes to behaviour change communications. Insatiably curious, his specific interest is in building the systems and growing the soul of great communications, which he’s developed during 20+ years leading communications agendas mostly in the UK public sector. His projects have won awards, he’s secured industry accolades for a wide range of organisations and deftly steered the response to multiple crisis events. For fun, he reviews submissions for international social marketing conferences and curates a LinkedIn community for ‘Secret Social Marketers’ (to which you’re all invited). Find Neil on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/interacter/ Find Interacter : https://interacter.co.uk/
#94
June 24 · 55 min
How to simplify internal communication with Chris Lovett
Organisations face unprecedented levels of challenge. New technologies, economic and geopolitical instability and more create complexity on a scale most organisations are ill-equipped to address. Confusion reigns and most people at work struggle to know what to address first. But how much of our current work turmoil is compounded by out-of-date working practices and processes? How much day-to-day work activity no longer delivers value? Colleagues are endlessly busy but are they doing work that matters? This episode, Chris Lovett introduces the concept of workplace minimalism. His latest book Relentless is an elegy for simplifying work so that people can deliver better outcomes. For harried internal communicators, this is an episode not to be missed. About Chris Lovett Chris Lovett is an executive coach, TEDx speaker, and the author of two books about the power of less. His TEDx talk, 'Less Busy More Impact', and his bestselling first book Discovery of Less established him as one of the UK's most distinctive voices on sustainable work and living with less. His second book, Relentless: The Power of Doing Less in a Workplace that Demands More, brings that same philosophy into the workplace, helping the busiest of people manage their time, prevent burnout and navigate the chaos of modern work. Over the last ten years Chris has coached c-suite teams and senior leaders in FTSE100 companies spanning Europe, APAC and the US, as well as clients in the legal, retail and insurance industries. His work has been featured in The Times, The Independent, CEO Magazine, Marie Claire and HR Magazine, and he has appeared on dozens of podcasts including Leaders in Finance, Truth Lies and Work, and The Self Care Club. With endorsements from Olympic legend Colin Jackson CBE, Professor of Leadership Dr Megan Reitz and LinkedIn Top Voice Bruce Daisley, Chris strikes the perfect balance between inspirational coach and your mate down the pub, warm, witty and occasionally hilarious. Find Chris on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-lovett-29176933/ Chris’s website: https://www.chrislovett.co.uk/ Chris’s SubStack: https://chrislovett3.substack.com/
#93
June 10 · 45 min
AI and the future of the intranet with Suzie Robinson
As new generative and agentic AI’s become commercially available, the way colleagues access and consume information and knowledge at work is set to transform. Rather than browse an intranet, soon colleagues will interact with AI agents that cross-reference, interpret, summarise proprietary information and deliver insights in a fashion that’s customised to the unique needs of each user. This presents a massive opportunity for internal communicators, assuming of course that current intranet set-ups are optimally configured. This episode, digital employee experience consultant Suzie Robinson shares her experience of working with intranets and her predictions for how AI will transform the workplace in the coming years. Suzy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suzie-robinson/ Clearbox website: https://www.clearbox.co.uk/
#92
May 27 · 47 min
AI and the future of internal communication with Frank Dias
AI continues to dominate boardroom conversations. As organisations race to achieve efficiency gains, a key question for all professions is the extent to which these new technologies will transform core responsibilities. While certain elements of internal communication are, and should always remain, uniquely human, other more transactional components can be automated. But breaking down workflows isn’t always easy. It can be challenging to know where and how to get started. Internal communication consultant Frank Dias has worked with GenerativeAI since its launch in late 2022. In this episode he shares his experience, expertise, hints and tips for successful AI integration into internal comms activities. About Frank Dias Frank Dias is an AI Adoption & Change Consultant at Quilter, and the founder of Ai x Comms Lab, where he helps organisations build sustainable AI capability through a human-first lens. With over 15 years in communications, he brings a grounded, practical perspective to AI transformation, having led early AI integration across four complex global organisations. His work focuses on cutting through vendor promises to identify the real organisational conditions needed for successful adopt and foster AI aligned with your use cases. Find Frank on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/frankdias/ Frank’s website: https://www.aixcommslab.com/
#91
May 13 · 55 min
Bridging generations: the power of mentoring and early careers support with Mercy Abel
The world of work has been in continuous flux since 2020. Every week another crisis emerges to further complicate the delivery of strategic objectives. This is stressful across the board. But what is it like for those who started work for the first time after COVID? What impact do continuously shifting work priorities and practices have on younger workers and the support they need to progress? In this first episode of series 16, Jen, Dom and Cat chat with Mercy Abel, founder of It Is Who You Know, to uncover the value of mentoring to bridge intergenerational divides and superpower early years careers. Despite university attendance reaching record levels in recent years, the latest UK data shows nearly one million young people aged between 16-24 are now not in education, employment or training. Young people are struggling to enter, and remain in, the labour market. While there are many reasons for this, AI job displacement seems to have hit younger workers far harder than other generations. Unless addressed, this will have disastrous consequences in the years to come. A COVID graduate herself, Mercy Abel experienced first-hand the challenges of entering the workforce for the first time. Having gained immense value from a mentorship opportunity, she has gone on to build an award-winning internship programme to help kickstart early careers within the creative industry. About Mercy Abel Mercy is a multi-award winning marketer & founder of a future workforce consultancy, Who You Know (WYK) shaping the talent of tomorrow. WYK supports organisations to understand, connect, and recruit incoming talent through intergenerational learning, mentorship, and strategic insight. She is passionate about platforming talent, building community and connecting people to opportunity. She has done this through co-founding an award-winning marketing and creative internship programme named Futures UNLOCKED, providing almost 50 paid internships and free upskilling workshops for a 600+ network of emerging creatives across Scotland. Throughout her career, she has been awarded for 2025’s The Media Leader’s 50 Black Women Gamechangers in Media, 2024 Campaign’s IPA iList, 2023 Media Week 30 under 30, The Media Leader Future 100 Club and 2022 Advertising Association’s BRiM Changemaker. Find Mercy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mercyabel/ Mercy’s website: https://www.itiswhoyouknow.co.uk/
#90
April 15 · 52 min
The business value of sustainability communication with Daniel Cope
The UK's net zero sector is now growing three times faster than the broader economy. In summer 2025, the UK Office for Budget Responsibility confirmed that achieving net zero costs far less than inaction and renewable energy has become significantly cheaper faster than previously forecast. Yet most of this positive news doesn’t feature in the mainstream media, overshadowed by clickbait doom-mongering headlines. In this episode, Chartered Environmentalist Daniel Cope shares his experience of helping organisations reduce carbon emissions and waste and highlights why internal communication is an integral element of sustainable business. About Daniel Cope Dan is a Chartered Environmentalist and the Founder of Green Lark Environmental Solutions, bringing nearly two decades of experience helping organisations navigate the realities of climate change. His work spans small enterprises to global multinationals, supporting leaders to cut emissions, strengthen resilience, and embed sustainability into strategic decision‑making. Driven by a belief that environmental stewardship and economic viability must work in tandem, Dan specialises in carbon accounting, net‑zero strategy, and the development of credible, measurable emission‑reduction programmes. He is known for translating complex climate data into clear, actionable insight, and for challenging organisations to recognise both their impact and their opportunity to lead. A passionate climate‑change speaker, Dan works to move climate action beyond political polarisation, helping organisations communicate with clarity and purpose. His focus is on enabling leaders to reduce emissions in ways that enhance performance, credibility and long‑term value. Find Daniel on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/copedaniel/ Greenlark: https://www.greenlark.co.uk/
#89
April 1 · 1 hr 1 min
The way we talk around here with Gill Ereaut
Highly commended in the 2025 Business Book Awards, The Way We Talk Around Here offers a treasure trove for internal communicators. It examines the intricate interplay between culture and language, showcasing how the forensic analysis of language and discourse can accelerate organisational performance. In this episode, Jen, Dom and Cat chat with Gill to learn about her work and what she has learned about how the choice of language – both written and spoken – go on to shape and underpin culture. Understanding the relationship between language and culture is a superpower to be leveraged by internal communicators seeking to deliver strategic impact. About Gill Ereaut Gill Ereaut is a researcher, author, speaker and organisational consultant. She founded the consultancy Linguistic Landscapes in 2002, pioneering the application of language sciences to real organisational issues. Her book "The Way We Talk Around Here: How your organization's culture shows up in your language and why it matters" is an Amazon No.1 Bestseller, was Highly Commended in the 'People, Culture and Management' category of the Business Book Awards 2025, and won in the 'Stories and Conversations' category of The Change Ninja Book Awards 2025. She holds degrees in Psychology and Contemporary Cultural Processes and has amassed more than 40 years’ experience in business consulting. She remains insatiably curious about organisations and language and the effects they have on each other. She lives in Oxford, UK with an oversized whippet and (probably) too many books. Find Gill on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gillereaut/ Linguistic Landscapes website: https://linguisticlandscapes.com/ Get the book: https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-way-we-talk-around-here/gill-ereaut/9781788604840
#88
March 18 · 45 min
From crisis communication to resilience communication; the reality of geopolitical conflict with Ada Borucka
With no shortage of external crises to worry about, most forward-thinking organisations by now have devised a crisis communication plan, to assist and reassure colleagues in case of emergency. But what happens when crisis turns from temporary to sustained? How do people working under the threat of persistent danger maintain focus on core business objectives? In this episode, Dom, Jen and Cat talk with internal communication professional Ada Borucka. Located in Poland, Ada has spent the past four years helping organisations leverage internal communication to allay colleague anxieties. She introduces the concept of resilience communication and shares her experience of the pivotal role internal communication now plays in helping organisations sustain performance despite the odds. About Adriana Borucka Adriana Borucka is an internal communication strategist with 20 years of experience helping organizations build effective communication and navigate change. As the founder of Poland’s first agency dedicated to internal communication, PinPoint, she has supported leaders and teams in shaping strategies, refining processes and adapting to an evolving market. For the past decade, Adriana has also been building a national community of communication practitioners through an annual industry conference, podcasts and regular meet-ups for professionals. She co-authors Poland’s annual IC market report and recently published a study on workplace communication during election periods. She additionally supports international companies in understanding and entering the Polish IC landscape. Adriana believes communication creates real value when it connects people, builds understanding and helps organizations evolve responsibly in a changing world. Find Ada on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adrianaborucka/ Find Pin-point: https://pin-point.pl/
#86
March 4 · 42 min
The impact of financial confidence on organisational wellbeing with Heidi Allan
This episode, Cat, Jen and Dom chat with Heidi Allan who heads up Employee Financial Wellbeing at pensions and investment advisory firm LCP. LCP’s research into financial wellbeing provides illuminating data points that link financial worries to poor engagement, in turn impacting wider organisational performance. Heidi’s work in this field highlights the benefits of offering financial education and support to anxious colleagues and showcases the opportunity for internal communicators looking to support colleagues in retirement and wider financial planning. About Heidi Allan Heidi has been in the pension and employee benefits industry since the early 1990s and has worked for organisations from both a consultancy and provider perspective. Over the last decade she has produced and authored a number of thought leadership papers on many facets of employee wellbeing. Heidi helps clients to understand their workforce and the challenges they may be facing, supporting them in providing a valued, engaging, and well-communicated benefits package Find Heidi on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidijallan/ LCP’s website: https://www.lcp.com/en LCP’s employee wellbeing report: https://www.lcp.com/en/insights/publications/employee-wellbeing-report
#85
February 18 · 43 min
2026: a year of internal communication impact with Colin Archer FIIC
Global economic uncertainty shows no sign of abate and most organisations face a challenging 2026. Headcount and budgets are under intense scrutiny and internal communication carries the additional threat of, in some quarters, GenerativeAI offering a plausible and more cost-efficient alternative to human contribution. Under such intense pressure, how can internal communicators successfully advocate for the value they bring? This episode, Dom. Cat and Jen chat with Colin Archer, Head of Communications for Spirax Sarco. With a wealth of experience spanning several decades, Colin succinctly argues against using ROI to measure internal communication. This is both transactional and reductivist. A more effective measure is that of impact – showcasing the powerful effect that the thoughtful use of words and language can have on human behaviour. About Colin Archer Colin Archer has worked in Internal Communications across different sectors and industries and loves working with people and cultures. His reason for working in the profession comes from a strongly held view that if we are to spend such a lot of our life in work, then we should enjoy it and certainly not waste any of the precious hours we have in something which doesn’t make us feel good. His strategies encourage deep personal connection with purpose, and with other people, to achieve significant steps forward for the organisations he has worked with. A Fellow of the IoIC and great believer in extending our sphere of influence to make things better for everyone who is touched by our work, Colin cares deeply about bringing people and ideas together through impactful communication Find Colin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colin-archer-fiic-072a306/
#84
February 4 · 40 min
Exploring the polymorphic organisation with Perry Timms
Whether its geopolitical turmoil, AI, climate chaos, stakeholder activism or intergenerational differences, there’s no shortage of issues inhibiting organisational progress. But this is hardly surprising when we consider so many of the operating frameworks still in use today are now decades old. It’s time to introduce new ways of workplace organising. Dom, Jen and Cat welcome global HR thinker Perry Timms to this episode to introduce the concept of polymorphic organising. They examine communication as a primary organisational linchpin and explore what this means for internal communicators. About Perry Timms Perry Timms has over three decades of experience in business change and performance, with the last 23 years in HR/Organisation Development. He ranked Number 1 in HR's Most Influential Thinkers 2022 (his fifth inclusion in that list) and is now in the HR Most Influential Hall of Fame. He is a 4x Guest Professor, a 2x TEDx speaker, a 3x Author, 4x Engagement 101 Global Influencer plus 2024’s Global People & Culture Icon. Perry is a Chartered Member of the CIPD, a Fellow of the RSA and in 2024 was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his work in self-managed, democratic organisations, and a Thinkers 360 Top 100 Global HR Influencer. Perry on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/perrytimms/ Perry on Substack: https://pthr.substack.com/ PTHR website: https://pthr.co.uk/ Additional Company Information Perry founded People and Transformational HR 13 years ago. The venture is a (re) Certified BCorporation, a WorldBlu Certified Freedom-Centred organisation, a Global Top 50 Self-Managed Organisation awarded the Haier Institute’s RDHY Certification; is a Gold Standard 4-day Working Week, a 2023 Top 50 EMEA Inspiring Workplace, a Top 2 Most Flexible Workplace on the Flexa Index, a Living Wage employer, and a Climate Positive enterprise.
#83
January 21 · 47 min
Exploring 2026 labour market dynamics with Neil Carberry OBE
As economic instability continues to confound politicians across the spectrum, the UK labour market remains fragile. With more young people than ever before not in education, employment or training (NEET) and the ever-present threat of AI-induced job losses, internal communicators must find novel ways to marry the delivery of key organisational information with the concerns of increasingly stressed and anxious workforces. In this episode, Neil Carberry shares his latest reflections on the current and emergent state of the UK labour market, offering insights for the internal communication professionals as they consider their priorities for 2026. About Neil Carberry OBE, Chief Executive, REC Neil Carberry was appointed as Chief Executive of the Recruitment and Employment Confederation in June 2018. He began his career in recruitment in 1999, before doing a post-graduate degree in Human Resources at the London School of Economics and specialising in employment relations. Joining the CBI in 2004, he led the CBI’s work on the labour market, skills, energy and infrastructure. Neil spent a decade as a member of the council of the conciliation service ACAS and two terms as member of the Low Pay Commission, which recommends UK minimum wages. He was appointed an OBE in the King’s Birthday Honours List of 2025. Neil is a Chartered Fellow of the CIPD, a Fellow of the RSA and a member of the Company of HR Professionals. A seven-time nominee to the SIA staffing100 in Europe, Neil is also on the board and exec of the World Employment Confederation and of a Multi-Academy Trust in England. Neil is an RFU-qualified rugby referee and coach and is one of the 8000 co-owners who made Heart of Midlothian the UK’s biggest fan-owned football club. Find Neil on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neil-carberry-obe-95948938/ REC: https://www.rec.uk.com/
#82
Dec 17, 2025 · 43 min
S14, Bonus Episode: Exploring the future of internal communication whitepaper, with Joe Salmon
This year, the IoIC published a new whitepaper to explore the future of internal communication. As the only professional body dedicated to internal communication, it is invested in understanding how workplace communication will change and what this means for its members. It strives to understand both risk and opportunity. Next-generation technology paves the way for doing more human work – work that no technology can replicate. In increasingly digital environments, fostering human connection to create the cultural conditions for peak performance and flourishing is set to become the most vital of organisational enablers. In this episode, Jen, Dom and Cat are interviewed by IoIC board member and fellow Joe Salmon. Together they discuss the factors driving change for internal communication and ways in which internal communicators can prepare for an altogether exciting future. Joe has over two decades of internal comms experience, including in-house, consultancy, and agency roles. He specialises in leadership communications, employee engagement, organisational culture, and communicating change. Joe is currently Director Corporate Communications at Iron Mountain. His career highlights include senior communication roles at Vodafone, BT, Inmarsat, Spotify, and Hill & Knowlton Strategies. In these roles, he designed and developed compelling employee campaigns to help global clients grow from the inside out by building pride, advocacy, a sense of belonging, and excitement. Joe is an elected Board Director and Fellow at the Institute of Internal Communications, a trailblazer for the UK Black Comms Network, and a mentor to others in the IC profession. He holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Internal Communication Management. He is also a regular event host, panelist, guest speaker, and awards judge, and was featured on the PRovoke Media Innovator 25 list. About Joe Salmon FIIC Joe has over two decades of internal comms experience, including in-house, consultancy, and agency roles. He specialises in leadership communications, employee engagement, organisational culture, and communicating change. Joe is currently Director Corporate Communications at Iron Mountain. His career highlights include senior communication roles at Vodafone, BT, Inmarsat, Spotify, and Hill & Knowlton Strategies. In these roles, he designed and developed compelling employee campaigns to help global clients grow from the inside out by building pride, advocacy, a sense of belonging, and excitement. Joe is an elected Board Director and Fellow at the Institute of Internal Communications, a trailblazer for the UK Black Comms Network, and a mentor to others in the IC profession. He holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Internal Communication Management. He is also a regular event host, panelist, guest speaker, and awards judge, and was featured on the PRovoke Media Innovator 25 list.
#81
Dec 3, 2025 · 43 min
Using conversation to navigate uncertainty with Margaret Heffernan
Award-winning author and business executive Margaret Heffernan has written extensively about uncertainty. Her book Uncharted: How to map the future became an instant bestseller and featured on Bloomberg’s Best Books of 2021 list. Her most recent book Embracing Uncertainty: How writers, musicians and artists thrive in an unpredictable world outlines how creatives use ambiguity to stimulate innovation and novel ideas. In this episode, Jen, Dom and Cat chat with Margaret to her views on the power of conversation. In ambiguous and chaotic work landscapes, convening group discussions to hear diverse perspectives and harness collective intelligence is a new leadership meta-skill. About Margaret Heffernan Dr. Margaret Heffernan produced programmes for the BBC for 13 years. She then moved to the US where she spearheaded multimedia productions for Intuit, The Learning Company and Standard&Poors. She was Chief Executive of InfoMation Corporation, ZineZone Corporation and then iCast Corporation, was named one of the “Top 25” by Streaming Media magazine and one of the “Top 100 Media Executives” by The Hollywood Reporter. The author of six books, Margaret’s third book, Willful Blindness : Why We Ignore the Obvious at our Peril was named one of the most important business books of the decade by the Financial Times. In 2015, she was awarded the Transmission Prize for A Bigger Prize: Why Competition isn’t Everything and How We Do Better, described as “meticulously researched…engagingly written…universally relevant and hard to fault.” Her TED talks have been seen by over 13 million people and in 2015 TED published Beyond Measure: The Big Impact of Small Changes. In 2020, she published Uncharted: How to map the future, which quickly became a bestseller and was nominated for the Financial Times Best Business Book award, was one of Bloomberg’s Best Books of 2021 and was chosen as the “Medium Best of the Best” business book. 2025 saw the publication of Embracing Uncertainty: How Writers, Musicians and Artists Thrive in an Unpredictable World, described as ‘a timely, insightful book….Heffernan highlights what it takes to excel in turbulent times.’ In 2024, she was inducted into the Thinkers50 Hall of Fame, in recognition of her lasting impact on management thinking. She is a Professor of Practice at the University of Bath, Lead Faculty for the Forward Institute’s Responsible Leadership Programme and, through Merryck & Co., mentors CEOs and senior executives of major global organizations. She chairs the board of DACS and is a parish councillor. Find Margaret on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/margaret-heffernan-ab5205/ Margaret’s website: https://www.mheffernan.com/ Margaret on Substack: https://heffernanm.substack.com/ Margaret’s TED talks: https://www.ted.com/talks/margaret_heffernan_the_human_skills_we_need_in_an_unpredictable_world https://www.ted.com/talks/margaret_heffernan_the_dangers_of_willful_blindness
#80
Nov 19, 2025 · 45 min
Rethinking leadership for the future of work with Louise Mowbray
The range of challenges confronting businesses today are constant, complex and deeply entangled. There is no rule book for this level of ambiguity and business leaders must grapple with the unknown on a daily basis. This requires an entirely different mindset and the ability to make sense of and interpret novel situations as they arise. In this episode, Jen, Dom and Cat chat with coach and futurist Louise Mowbray about the rapidly evolving future of work and the skills required to successfully navigate it. Access to trusted networks of individuals with alternative viewpoints is a must for those organisations looking to successfully futureproof and survive the coming years. Communication, connection and community have never been more needed in business today. About Louise Mowbray Louise is the Founder of Mowbray by Design, the Future-Focused Conscious Leadership Consultancy. She specialises in The Future of Work and Leadership, working with clients across the sectors at the intersection of futures, technology, innovation, transformation and purpose-driven business. Louise is a leadership advisor, coach, strategist and futurist, the author of Relevant: Future-Focused Leadership, and a co-author of Uncertainty: Making Sense of the World for Better, Bolder Outcomes. She is a sought-after keynote speaker, an occasional visiting lecturer for business schools and a regular guest on podcasts, panel discussions and live events. In earlier career chapters, Louise worked for listed organisations in the investment banking, technology and executive search sectors, co-founded an executive search firm and was MD MENA for a British luxury lifestyle company. She has lived and worked in the UK, the UAE and South Africa and works with clients around the world. Find Louise on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louisemowbray Mowbray by Design: https://mowbraybydesign.com Relevant: Future-Focused Leadership: https://amzn.eu/d/e677nfv Relevant Substack: https://louisemowbray.substack.com Key blogs Sensemaking: Making Sense of Non Sense: https://louisemowbray.substack.com/p/sensemaking-making-sense-of-non-sense The Information Overload: https://louisemowbray.substack.com/p/the-information-overload
#79
Nov 5, 2025 · 39 min
Nurturing inclusive work cultures with Amraze Khan
As economic, societal and environmental conditions deteriorate, social tensions are escalating. Some politicians use fear to fuel their own extreme agendas and it’s increasingly popular to blame others for the ills of the world. Nationalism and discrimination are at their worst in decades. This has significant negative impact on workplace cohesion as many feel increasingly marginalised. Yet in contrast, scientific research shows the extent to which successful innovation – much needed in most organisations today – comes from diversity of thought. And different perspectives come, of course, from a rich diversity of lived experience. In this episode, Amraze Khan shares his experience of working in EDI and examines the increasingly urgent need for inclusion at work. Amraze Khan (He/Him) Amraze is the Head of EDI at Manchester Metropolitan University, where he leads the vision, supporting the University to become intentionally inclusive for its 4,500 staff members and around 40,000 students. He has worked in EDI for nearly a decade, with experience in senior leadership roles across various industries comprising of the NHS, within Charities and Local Government. Prior to this, Amraze worked in senior communication roles in the NHS and Civil Service. Outside of work, Amraze is a proud Yorkshireman, a carer, father to two cats, a Trustee at Rochdale Mind, an avid blogger, and podcaster. Find Amraze on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amraze-khan-mcipd-miepd-94a1a56b/
#78
Oct 22, 2025 · 40 min
Knowledge sharing in the age of AI with Zoe Colosimo
With a significant proportion of the UK already struggling to access basic online tools and services, digital accessibility is a key issue too few business or political leaders are addressing. Without urgent attention to educate and inform, already disadvantaged and vulnerable people and communities will continue to fall behind and miss out on the benefits AI has to offer, not least in addressing social and societal inequality. In this episode, Jen, Dom and Cat chat with Zoe Colosimo, COO of award-winning giving platform Neighbourly. They discuss what socially-minded organisations can do to address AI inequality and the opportunity for internal communication to help make a difference. About Zoe Colosimo Zoe is a founding member and the Chief Operating Officer at Neighbourly, an organisation dedicated to helping companies bring their brand purpose to life. Since its launch in 2014, Neighbourly has enabled businesses to make meaningful contributions to local communities through volunteer time, grants, and surplus products and built a network of over 45,000 local causes and 9000+ company offices and branches, creating nearly £1 billion in social value across the UK and Ireland. Zoe’s motivation is rooted in the belief that sustainable communities are built through local relationships, and good corporate citizenship is essential to any company’s success. Find Zoe on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zoecolosimo/ Neighbourly website: https://www.neighbourly.com/ Ai123 resource hub: https://hub.neighbourly.com/ai123-resource-hub

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