Simon Kingston

Certainly is, Marla. And to give us more insight, today we have a really fascinating guest who, until very recently, was a global leader in the sporting goods and outdoor products industry. And I'm really looking forward to hearing her talk about her experiences there and in what was an extraordinarily global context. experience and career prior to that.

She's got a wonderfully diverse background. So if any of our listeners is into hiking, camping, or any outdoor pursuits, they've probably bought one or maybe several of the products of her former company. So Marla, tell us who is our guest on Redefine Us today?

She's got a wonderfully diverse background. So if any of our listeners is into hiking, camping, or any outdoor pursuits, they've probably bought one or maybe several of the products of her former company. So Marla, tell us who is our guest on Redefine Us today?

She's got a wonderfully diverse background. So if any of our listeners is into hiking, camping, or any outdoor pursuits, they've probably bought one or maybe several of the products of her former company. So Marla, tell us who is our guest on Redefine Us today?

Barbara, thank you. We're going to spend a bit of time talking about the period when you were CEO at Decathlon. But before we do that, it would be really interesting to hear you talk a little about the formative stages of your career and the journey up to that point. Was there a redefining moment for you in the course of that or maybe several?

Barbara, thank you. We're going to spend a bit of time talking about the period when you were CEO at Decathlon. But before we do that, it would be really interesting to hear you talk a little about the formative stages of your career and the journey up to that point. Was there a redefining moment for you in the course of that or maybe several?

Barbara, thank you. We're going to spend a bit of time talking about the period when you were CEO at Decathlon. But before we do that, it would be really interesting to hear you talk a little about the formative stages of your career and the journey up to that point. Was there a redefining moment for you in the course of that or maybe several?

And that power of difference seems like an incredibly topical lesson for people to relearn just at the moment. How did you know when it was succeeding, that power of being different? How long did it take you to learn that lesson?

And that power of difference seems like an incredibly topical lesson for people to relearn just at the moment. How did you know when it was succeeding, that power of being different? How long did it take you to learn that lesson?

And that power of difference seems like an incredibly topical lesson for people to relearn just at the moment. How did you know when it was succeeding, that power of being different? How long did it take you to learn that lesson?

And thinking about that at Decathlon, quite soon after you joined as chief executive, you established a new North Star for the company. You talked about the mission to move people through the wonders of sport. And you've already talked about a desire to democratize sport at Decathlon. Colleagues are referred to as teammates.

And thinking about that at Decathlon, quite soon after you joined as chief executive, you established a new North Star for the company. You talked about the mission to move people through the wonders of sport. And you've already talked about a desire to democratize sport at Decathlon. Colleagues are referred to as teammates.

And thinking about that at Decathlon, quite soon after you joined as chief executive, you established a new North Star for the company. You talked about the mission to move people through the wonders of sport. And you've already talked about a desire to democratize sport at Decathlon. Colleagues are referred to as teammates.

Can you unpack a little bit of the values that lay behind that and why you decided that building, as you called it, of a new North Star was important?

Can you unpack a little bit of the values that lay behind that and why you decided that building, as you called it, of a new North Star was important?

Can you unpack a little bit of the values that lay behind that and why you decided that building, as you called it, of a new North Star was important?

And what did it mean for your people? I mean, how did it inform leadership development and the shape of your teams?

And what did it mean for your people? I mean, how did it inform leadership development and the shape of your teams?

And what did it mean for your people? I mean, how did it inform leadership development and the shape of your teams?

Barbara, we've talked about the different components of your career as you were in the run-up to becoming a chief executive. But what do you think really prepared you for that when it came?