Beyond Potential

Ep 54: Building a culture of experimentation - with guest Tom Holliss

In this episode of Beyond Potential, the team is joined by Tom Holliss, Chief People Officer at consumer insights platform, Zappi.

Tom shared his experience working for a scale-up and how they manage the constant pace of change by building a culture of experimentation. He discussed key disruptors in the tech industry, including the opportunities and challenges associated with using AI to scale and change business models, and what that means for jobs.

As the conversation turned to culture, Tom explained why it's important to develop intrinsic motivation amongst a team through personal development, a sense of purpose and understanding what makes people tick. He talked about Zappi's culture of experimentation, how they're upskilling and engaging teams, and revealed how he manages 'crunchy' conversations.

Connect with Tom on LinkedIn.

 

Ep 53: Leading with purpose in a fast paced world: Launching The Sustain Collective - with guest Leanne Spencer

In this episode of Beyond Potential, Tom Emery is sitting on the other side of the mic with guest Leanne Spencer to introduce their new initiative: The Sustain Collective.

Remote working, hustle culture and the AI boom have all contributed to an increased pace in today's working world. For many, including senior HR leaders, this results in feelings of constant firefighting and reactivity, instead of leading with purpose and consideration. So, how do we deal with this pace, learn to slow down, and start to take agency over our lives?

The Sustain Collective brings senior HR leaders together to become more impactful leaders whilst ensuring their wellbeing remains a priority. It combines Leanne's expertise in workplace wellbeing and personal sustainability with Tom's lived experience as a CHRO and his passion for supporting HR leaders to reach their potential.

The initiative includes peer discussion and support, one-to-one coaching, plus monthly in-person meets in London. This isn't just a place to complain about the struggles of HR leadership; it's a space to be challenged and receive guidance and support to enable you to make a change. 

Find out more about The Sustain Collection, get your personalised report and sign up to the waitlist here: https://sustain-collective-waitlist.scoreapp.com/

Find out more about Leanne: https://leannespencer.co.uk/ 

Learn more about Tom and HEX: https://www.hex-development.com/ 

Ep 52: Turning upward feedback into a learning conversation - with guest Tom Henschel

In this episode, we're joined by the brilliant Tom Henschel, Executive Coach and host of 'The Look & Sound of Leadership' Podcast.

Tom took us on a tour of his career journey, from acting, through teaching, to coaching, and the transferable skills between the roles. He told us how his podcast began - right back in 2008 - when someone told him he had a great voice for audio, and he went from having no idea what a podcast was to launching within weeks.

We discussed at length his tools and rules for turning upward feedback into a learning conversation, including how finger-pointing won't yield results, the importance of framing to encourage better outcomes, and why you need to approach a conversation with solutions, not just problems.

Tom explained how learning conversations can take time and repetition, and revealed how approaching a discussion assuming that nothing will change can actually take the pressure off.

It's an insightful and enjoyable listen.

Find Tom on LinkedIn.

Listen to The Look & Sound of Leadership Podcast.

Find out more about Essential Communications. 

Download the Giving Upward Feedback PDF.

 

Ep 51: The secrets of successful virtual communication - with guest Andrew Brodsky

In this episode of Beyond Potential, we're joined by Management Professor and author Andrew Brodsky, as he reveals the secrets to successful virtual communication.

Citing research and tips from his book, 'Ping', Andrew left no stone unturned when it came to advice on virtual communication, including choosing the best channel, agreeing an appropriate frequency, and how to decide when is a good time to follow up.

He covered:

• The benefits of camera on versus off
• When it's better to pick up the phone
• Why voice notes are so divisive
• How to make your meetings more engaging
• The fine balance between over and under-communication

Andrew explained how his immune deficiency drove his passion for the subject area, his approach to his research, and talked us through the PING Framework. You'll also find out what people really think about your typos! 

We learned a lot from this conversation and know you will too.

Follow Andrew on LinkedIn.

Find out more about the book and access free tools and resources on the Ping Group's website.  

Ep 50: How to successfully integrate AI into your business - with guest Felix Mitchell

This week, we're joined by Felix Mitchell, Founder and Co-CEO of Instant Impact, and host of the We Need to Talk About HR podcast. 

Felix spoke to us about the work he and his team do at Instant Impact to support organisations with talent acquisition through their advanced tech stack and specialist recruiters. He discusses the new, and fast-growing, transformation side of the business, an area focused on supporting organisations to successfully adopt and integrate AI.

During our chat, he spoke of the challenges many businesses are facing as they try to keep up with the pace of AI transformation, and reveals how those managing it most successfully are the ones investing in dedicated resource and capability that enable them to focus on AI fully. A solution, he says, may sound obvious, but he feels many still aren't doing. 

The conversation also moved to Felix's podcast 'We Need to Talk About HR', including the story behind setting it up (and choosing the show's name), how he decides what to discuss on each episode, and his experiences with his guests.

You can find Felix Mitchell on LinkedIn.

Listen to the We Need to Talk About HR podcast. 

Ep 49: Why 'Activators' continue to succeed - with guest Matt Dixon

We welcome sales expert Matt Dixon to Beyond Potential. Co-author of multiple bestselling books, including The Challenger Sale, The Challenger Customer, The Effortless Experience and The JOLT Effect, he joined us to discuss the research from his new book, The Activator Advantage.

Using findings from a comprehensive study of almost 3,000 service partners, Matt discussed the five types of partners found across professional services and how the attributes of one of them, 'The Activator', consistently drives growth.

He discussed the decline in client loyalty, the reasons why, and how the Activator still succeeds, giving real examples of ways they outshine other types, including in the art of the pitch.

It's a must-listen for anyone focused on engaging and winning clients.

Follow Matt on LinkedIn.

Find out more about Matt's work on his website and DCM Insights website

Ep 48: Leading through uncertainty and embracing what’s next

In this mid-year episode of Beyond Potential, Tom and Tom take stock of 2025 so far – a year that’s already brought its fair share of economic uncertainty, rapid organisational change, and shifting leadership dynamics. From the continued integration of AI to the ongoing tension around hybrid working, leaders are navigating change, uncertainty and more.

But it’s not all doom and gloom. Amidst the challenges, we’re seeing encouraging signs: organisations investing in their people, leaders becoming more intentional, and teams looking for connection, clarity and care.

The Toms share what they’re noticing in their work with leaders and teams across industries – including real examples from recent coaching and development sessions. They talk candidly about the pressure to do more with less, the reality of change fatigue, and how leaders can build resilience without burning out. And if you haven’t already, we encourage you to revisit our recent conversation with Wyndham James, where we explore the importance of consistency and alignment when leading through change, especially when it comes to return-to-office expectations.

This episode is packed with practical reflections, mindset shifts, and book recommendations for anyone looking to lead more intentionally through the second half of the year.

Cues: Master the Secret Language of Charismatic Communication by Vanessa Van Edwards

The Activator Advantage: What Today's Rainmakers Do Differently by Matthew Dixon, Rory Channer, Karen Freeman, and Ted McKenna

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Ep 47: Unlearning the rules and rewriting your life’s BluePrint

This week, Tom and Tom are joined by coach and author Wyndham James to explore the deeply personal journey of finding and living the life you truly want. Drawing from his debut non-fiction book Find Your Freedom: It's Time To Write Your Own BluePrint, Wyndham shares his powerful story of being trapped in the wrong career for two decades, the shame that kept him stuck, and the emotional reckoning that finally set him free.

We unpack Wyndham’s BluePrint philosophy, a compassionate framework that helps us understand how our early inclusion criteria shape our behaviours, often unconsciously, and how we can take responsibility for rewriting the narrative. We reflect on shame, identity, and leadership, plus you'll take away practical insights into using the BluePrint to shift behaviour, lead more intentionally, and create the life (and workplace) you really want.

Whether you’re navigating a personal turning point or leading others through change, this is an episode that we hope will challenge you, inspire you, and stay with you.

Connect with Wyndham James:

Via his website: https://www.wyndhamjames.com/ 

LinkedIn 

Instagram

YouTube