Better Under Pressure

In this episode, I’m talking to Louise Hughes, an experienced General Counsel, who has worked for over 20 years within the entertainment industry. She began her legal career at the leading law firm Wragge & Co (now Gowlings), moving to the legal team at Penguin Books Limited in 2003, where she worked for 13 years supporting the children and adults’ divisions in publishing, marketing and licensing.  

Louise is currently Group General Counsel and a leadership team member at The Blair Partnership, a leading literary and entertainment agency, representing J.K. Rowling and the management of the Wizarding World franchise. Day to day, Louise is actively involved in developing business strategy, deal-making, operations, innovation and governance across The Blair Partnership, Pottermore, and associated companies. 

Louise is also a mum of two, a keen runner, a dog lover, and a legal trustee on the Board of CLAPA (Cleft Lip and Palate Association).

During our conversation, she shares:

➡️ How her 11-year-old daughter pinpointed pressure for her.

➡️ What it’s like to be known as the Calm in the Storm,

➡️ And how being one of 11 children helps her under pressure.

 

Outline📍
00:00 Intro
02:38 When do you remember first experiencing pressure?
04:39 I can control the pressure better if I plan for it
05:40 How would you describe the emotional experience of anticipation?
09:40 What would you say has been your most challenging moment under pressure?
15:28 Craft an empowering narrative to reduce feelings of inadequacy.
16:56 Knowing my role turned the pressure into a powerful intention.
17:49 Insight 1: Lessons learned
20:18 How do you identify when pressure is negatively impacting your team?
22:23 How do you maintain your energy in pressure moments?
24:57 A routine that works for you
27:02 Do you ever get rocked out of calmness? 
33:39 Acknowledging emotions without identifying with them to prevent their influence on us
37:02 Insight 2: Lessons learned
38:55 Do you believe that pressure for you is positive, growing, and evolving, and is important to have?
41:02 What is the initial indicator that pressure transforms into unproductive pressure?
42:38 What 2 pieces of advice would you pass forward to be better under pressure?

 

In this episode, I have an engaging conversation with Ben Ryan, the Director of Elite Performance at Brentford FC. With a background in teaching, professional rugby, and being the most successful men's rugby sevens coach in the world, Ben has a wealth of experience in handling pressure. 

His book, Sevens Heaven, recounts his incredible journey coaching the under-resourced Fiji 7s team to their first-ever Olympic Gold in 2016. This achievement led to numerous accolades, including his face being featured on Fijian banknotes and coins, as well as being named a Fijian tribal chief.

During our discussion, Ben shares valuable insights on:

• Recognising when others are feeling the pressure
• The concept of "finding the trampolines" and what it means
• How he had to make a life-changing decision in just 20 minutes

Outline📍
00:00 Intro
02:33 What does pressure mean to you?
04:14 Do you remember the first time you felt pressure?
06:43 Constructive failure: Did that help you manage the pressure? 
08:59 How do you spot players who are starting to be under pressure?
12:08 What are your top interventions when you see a player under pressure?
14:40 Transferrable skills between sports and business
19:48 Consistency
24:33 What pushed to you go into the job in Fiji?
30:11 Insight 1: Lessons learned
36:12 How do you promote the value of enjoying the game at Brentford FC? 
41:45 Personally, what was the worst pressure you ever faced?
45:17 External perspective
50:00 The relationship between recovery and performance
51:08 Insight 2: Lessons learned
54:06 What would be your advice to people, on how to be better under pressure?
57:35 Outro

In this episode, I’m talking to Rachel Osborne, CEO of Ted Baker. Rachel was appointed to that role just as Covid hit the UK, and prior to that she had been CFO at Debenhams Retail Limited.

Having originally studied veterinary medicine at Cambridge, Rachel chose instead to qualify as a chartered accountant at KPMG. She now has over 30 years of financial experience with consumer-facing brands like Domino’s Pizza, Vodafone, and John Lewis. She has also previously held senior positions with Sodexo, Kingfisher and PepsiCo.

 In this conversation Rachel shares:

• What she‘s learnt from leading businesses in distress
• The advantages of a board that’s positively challenging
• And why she’s become grateful for ships in the night

Outline📍
00:00 Intro
01:56 Do you remember when you first experienced pressure?
02:52 Was that pressure advantageous to what you were doing, or was it negative?
03:29 Has pressure always remained a positive association with performing well? 
04:20 Can you share an example where you flipped negative pressure into a positive driving force?
06:16 Does that come instinctively to you?
08:30 Stepping into a distressed business, how do you lead your team forward in times of pressure?
12:13 What keeps you strong enough to manage yourself and lead others? 
13:27 How did you feel your team’s support?
16:27 Finding your natural energy, and finding your balance
23:46 Insight 1: Lessons learned 
26:10 What did you & your team do actively to help all of you manage the uncertainty and volatility over the last years with Ted Baker?
29:41 What is the worst pressure you have ever been under?
34:16 Where are you now with your relationship with pressure?
36:53 How do you make fast decisions in moments of crisis?
44:53 Insight 2: Lessons learned 
46:45: What 2 pieces of advice would you pass forward to people listening?
48:32 What are the first signs when you are starting to feel trapped?
51:22 Outro

In this episode, I’m in conversation with Tacita Small – founder of The Small HR Company, an HR Consultancy that supports businesses in the creative and entertainment industries with all aspects of HR and People needs.

As a senior HR leader, Tacita worked in-house for over two decades with many instantly recognisable brands such as Westfield, Ralph & Russo, Apple, Ministry of Sound, Freemantle and BBC Worldwide to name a few.

In our conversation Tacita shares:

1.   Why she’s happy answering emails on the beach
2.   The uncomfortable pressure of not being herself
3.   And what her son said that ignited her desire to set up her business.

Outline📍
00:00 Intro
02:28 How do you recognise pressure?
04:14 How tip the pressure into something positive?
07:07 When did you first experience pressure and how did you manage it?
10:58 How do you bring ‘your whole self’ to work? 
13:30 Are there times when this mindset doesn’t work to your advantage?
14:58 When do you choose to adapt and where is the tipping point?
19:00 Insight 1: Lessons learned
21:30 Know who you are
26:32 How do you stay true to yourself in your role?
34:00 Why did you decide to become an entrepreneur even though you didn’t want to at the beginning?
38:45 Stop apologising for being confident
40:26 Is there pressure as a founder?
44:07 Nothing is new for a very long
46:46 Insight 2: Lessons learned 
48:17 What would be two things you would pass forward to people to better manage that pressure?
52:30 Insight 3: Lessons learned
53:47 Outro

In this episode, I’m talking to David Shelley, a trailblazer in the world of publishing. With over two decades of experience, David has worked with some of the biggest names in literature, including J.K. Rowling, Dennis Lehane, and Mitch Albom. Starting out at Allison & Busby, he quickly rose through the ranks, eventually becoming the CEO of Hachette UK, the second-largest consumer publisher in the UK.

David's expertise in the industry is unparalleled, having overseen the publication of countless crime and thriller novels, as well as ebooks and audiobooks. He's a visionary leader, driving innovation and growth in an ever-changing landscape. 

During our conversation, David shares: 

- How he makes work not feel like work 

- How he uses storytelling in times of pressure 

- And, what he does to pull back from strong feelings

 

Outline📍
00:00 Intro
02:35 What does pressure mean to you?
10:07 Is your inclination to embrace pressure a natural habit?
13:18 The relationship between the feeling and the pivot
15:48 A strategy to cogitate 
19:07 Adrenaline caused by phone use during group meetings & conversations
20:28 Insight 1: Lessons learned 
22:57 The best strategy: Converting pressure into a stimulus for growth
25:32 What has changed in the last 5 years that enables you to respond differently and with greater freedom?
29:32 Feeling safe when failing
32:15 What was the worst pressure you’ve ever felt in your life?
36:02 How do you deal with other people’s pressure?
43:28 Insight 2: Lessons learned 
45:39 People’s emotions matter.
47:30 What are your non-negotiable practices for achieving optimal performance?
51:46 How to enhance performance under pressure?
59:20 Discovering ways to link pressure with our sources of inspiration to generate a distinct force
01:02:49 What 2 pieces of advice would you pass forward to be better under pressure?
Outro

In this episode, I’m talking to Myriam Coupard, who has worked all over the world leading and shaping creative businesses. A customer-centric entrepreneur at heart, she’s launched, run, reshaped and grown successful companies in France, the UK, China and Singapore. Myriam trained as a professional dancer in Contemporary Dance in Paris, specialising in the Martha Graham technique until that career was cut short following unsuccessful knee surgery.

Following that, she dedicated many years to Ascential PLC and more specifically to Cannes Lions, the organisation behind the renowned film festival, where she worked across a breadth of Executive roles leading teams through organizational transformation and change. She is currently Managing Director of the UK and EMEA for The Marketing Academy. She is a tireless champion of creativity and its ability to change people, organisations and the world.

In this conversation, she shares:

• The power of detangling emotions from facts
• Her non-negotiables when it comes to putting herself first
• And, why her body decided to take her out of the exciting promotion awaiting her in Singapore

Outline📍
00:00 Intro
02:36 Do you remember when you first experienced pressure?
06:21 The physical strength of dancing enables people to deal with pressure
10:56 The reason my body is the “barometer”
15:09 It’s important we begin to listen to the signs that our bodies give us.
20:16 Is your sense of reward the consequence of your incident in Singapore?
21:58 Insight 1: Lessons learned 
24:09 What do you feel about the statement “We can be better under pressure”?
25:08 How to manage excitement and pressure without tipping into damage?
28:06 What have you learned that is now non-negotiable for your health and well-being?
31:35 How do you handle pressure when it comes unexpectedly during the day?
36:25 A conscious choice
41:29 How do you manage a person or a team to prevent emotions from hindering progress?
45:00 Choosing your mood
48:19 Insight 2: Lessons learned 
50:45 What would be two things you would pass forward to people to better manage that pressure?
59:32 Outro