The Strategic Leader
Episodes
5.03 - Moving from Operational to Strategic Leadership - a COO Perspective
17 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What actually changes when you move from operational leadership into the strategic conversations at the top table?In this episode we explore that ques...
5.02 Why Executive Teams Struggle Without Behavioural Awareness
03 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
If you have ever left an exec meeting feeling frustrated by how people behaved rather than what was decided, this episode will change how you see seni...
5.01 The Three Hats of Senior Leadership - do you wear all three?
17 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Getting a seat at the senior table is one thing. Knowing how to use it well is something else entirely. This series demystifies what senior leadership...
Six Christmas Wishes for HR Leaders in 2026
15 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We explore six Christmas wishes for the year ahead - and each one gives you something to think about as you step into 2026 wit...
4.10 Is It Possible to be Too Nice at Work?
16 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Is being ‘nice’ at work doing more harm than good?Many of us equate niceness with being a good leader. But we suggest that when we soften messages...
4.09 Why are there still so few women in senior leadership? with Geraldine Gallacher
02 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If you’re wondering why the number of women in senior roles remains low despite all the progress we think we’ve made, this episode unpacks what’...
4.08 How transparent should we be about pay?
19 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Pay transparency is no longer just a nice-to-have. We explore why it’s fast becoming a legal and cultural expectation. We talk about the EU Pay Tran...
4.07 How to be a more strategic HR leader - with Indy Lachhar, CPO
05 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Tired of being told to “be more strategic” with no real guidance on what that means? Chief People Officer Indy Lachhar shares her real-world persp...
4.06 Hybrid, remote or in-office - what's better? with Dr Gemma Dale
22 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Is hybrid working better than being fully remote or fully in-office? Frankly, that's the wrong question. This episode explores how decisions about wor...
4.05 What skills will we need in 2030?
08 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The year 2030 may feel like the distant future, but it's just five years away, and the skills we need by then are already shifting. Drawing on the Wor...
4.04 How can HR lead the AI revolution? with Naureen Hussain
24 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
AI is already reshaping work, and HR has a perfect opportunity to take the lead.In this episode, we speak with Naureen Hussain, a privacy, data govern...
4.03 Is it time to redefine performance?
10 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Performance is a word we throw around easily in work and HR conversations, but do we actually agree on what it means?In this episode we challenge the ...
4.02 Are Performance Ratings Still Fit for Purpose in Today’s Workplace?
27 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Performance ratings spark strong views – some see them as essential for clarity and motivation, others as outdated, divisive, and unhelpful. In this...
4.01 How to Tackle Challenges More Strategically
13 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Strategic thinking isn’t about having the strongest opinion in the room – it’s about knowing how to take a step back and ask better questions. I...
3.10 - How to be More Strategic with Team Gatherings
18 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Do you ever think about how to make every team gathering intentional, strategic, and worth the investment?In this episode the hosts look at how meetin...
3.09 - The 7 Characteristics of High Performing Teams
04 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We explore what makes a high-performing team, the difference between individual and collective performance, and a seven-part model for building effect...
3.08 From Being in a Team to Leading it
21 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We discuss the challenges and strategies when you move from team member to team manager,Drawing on personal experiences and coaching insights, we have...
3.07 Making Effective Team Decisions
07 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Discussing the complexities of making decisions as a team. The hosts examine how group dynamics, diverse perspectives, and unclear roles can hinder ef...
Behind the Scenes Christmas Special
17 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A behind-the-scenes festive chat to reflect on The Strategic Leader podcast journey over the past year. From how it all began to the highs, lows, and ...
3.06 How to Create High-Performing Teams Without Wasting Time
03 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How do you create high-performing teams in lightning speed? Drawing on the rapid teaming model developed by David Clutterbuck, the hosts discuss how ...
3.05 - How to Build Strong Hybrid Teams
19 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, hosts Gemma Bullivant and Fiona Craig discuss a pressing issue for modern teams - building and nurturing strong relationships in hybr...
3.04 Managing Up: Why Adapting Your Style to Suit Your Manager Matters
05 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Do you find it challenging to communicate effectively with your manager? We talk about the dynamics of optimising workplace relationships, especially ...
3.03 How to Build Trust in Leadership Using the Trust Equation
22 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Gemma and Fi explore the role of trust in building effective teams and strategic leadership.They start by sharing personal stories highlighting the im...
3.02 How Our Values Affect Our Relationships
08 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Exploring the impact of personal values on leadership and teamwork.Drawing from models such as love languages and core strengths, Gemma and Fi emphasi...
3.01 How to Work With Others More Effectively
24 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Gemma and Fiona dive into the third pillar of leadership: leading others. They reflect on how leaders can maximise collective impact, focusing on the ...
2.10 Systems and Processes: The Hidden Blockers to Strategic Leadership
27 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Gemma and Fi dive into a critical yet often overlooked aspect of strategic leadership: the systems and processes that support or hind...
2.09 How to Manage Stress to Stay Strategic
07 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Strategic Leader podcast, Gemma Bullivant and Fiona Craig discuss managing stress as a crucial aspect of strategic leadership.T...
2.08 Building Core Strength: The Key to Confident Leadership
23 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, hosts Gemma Bullivant and Fiona Craig discuss the multifaceted nature of confidence.They address how confidence is often misunderstoo...
2.07 The 3 P's to Combat Perfectionism
09 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Strategic Leader podcast, hosts Gemma Bullivant and Fiona Craig discuss perfectionism and its implications for strategic leader...
2.06 Managing Anxiety and Worry at Work
25 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode we explore the tricky topic of worry and anxiety and its impact on strategic leadership.We discuss the difference between worry and an...
2.05 How to procrastinate less
11 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Strategic Leader podcast, hosts Gemma Bullivant and Fiona Craig explore the topic of procrastination, and how it can get in the...
2.04 How to Stop Being a People Pleaser
28 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Strategic Leader podcast, hosts Gemma Bullivant and Fiona Craig explore the topic of people pleasing, discussing its implicatio...
2.03 - How to Overcome Conflict Avoidance
14 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Gemma is talking to special guest Jo Bamford.We talk about the dynamics of workplace conflict and ways to embrace diverse perspectives...
2.02 - Taming (and Reframing) your Inner Critic
30 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Does your Inner Critic sometimes take over and stop you from operating with impact? Managing your inner critic is a critical strategic skill. In...
2.01 Overcoming Imposter Syndrome
16 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We discuss the complex topic of imposter syndrome, including a discomfort with the term itself, and whether it’s even really ‘a thing&rsqu...
1.12 - Forget Gravitas. Strategic Curiosity is the real leadership skill we need
20 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Strategic Leader podcast, we explore the concept of gravitas, through the lens of strategic curiosity. We share personal experi...
1.11 - How to Operate More Strategically using the Eisenhower Matrix
05 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode we delve into the art of strategic time management using the Eisenhower matrix. They emphasise the importance of consciously planning ...
1.10 - How to Align your Strategy to Business Goals
20 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode we delve into the crucial aspect of aligning strategy with business goals. We emphasise the need for HR professionals and leaders to s...
1.9 - How to Apply Strategic Thinking to Simple Tasks
07 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we discuss a model that can be applied to various scenarios, from larger strategic initiatives to everyday tasks like planning a Chri...
1.8 Unlocking the Power of Strategic Self-Care
23 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Strategic self-care is essential for HR professionals and leaders who want to maximize their impact. In this podcast episode, we discuss how important...
1.7 - From Reactive to Transformational: Taking HR to the Next Level
09 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we discuss the concept of HR maturity levels. We explain the transition from transactional to transformational HR practices, emphasis...
1.6 - Why HR belongs on the Executive Team
12 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This episode explores the challenges faced by HR in attaining a seat at the executive table, and its shift from compliance to being a crucial strategi...
1.5 - Exploring the Three A's of Strategic Thinking
28 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
According to a recent article in Harvard Business Review, strategic thinking involves acumen in understanding context, allocation of resources for opt...
The Strategic Leader Trailer
18 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This podcast explores and demystifies strategy to equip you with the tools to be naturally strategic. Our mission? To empower you to think, act and fe...
1.4 - Overcoming Internal Barriers to Strategic Thinking
15 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of "The Strategic Leader," Gemma Bullivant and Fiona Craig explore the internal barriers that can hinder our ability to think and act ...
1.3 - Why thinking strategically is important in your career
08 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Are you looking to operate more strategically in your career? Have you ever wondered what it truly means to be strategic, or why it's essential for ca...
1.2 - Crafting a Simple Yet Effective Strategy
31 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome back to The Strategic Leader Podcast with your hosts, Gemma Bullivant and Fiona Craig. In this episode, we're delving deep into the art of cra...
1.1 - The 3 Essential Keys to Being Strategic
24 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, hosts Gemma Bullivant and Fiona Craig delve into the fundamental concept of what it means to be strategic. They break down strategy i...