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PODCAST

The Unlikely Executive

Glee Coaching Ltd

You know there’s more in you, more to explore, more to give, and more to live. Welcome to The Unlikely Executive Podcast, a bi-weekly show for people who want to make a difference both in their own careers and the world around them. You don"t have to be failing to want more. If you are curious about how others have navigated the rocky road to leadership and fulfillment you are in the right place. This podcast is designed especially for the curious, the ambitious and the slightly nervous! It

business management

All Episodes

00:10:33

Why Your Best People Leave | Barbra Carlisle | The...

The Unlikely Executive ·

2026/10/09

When a high performer hands in their notice, most organisations immediately focus on salary, benefits or what a competitor has offered.But what if the real reason they're leaving is much closer to home?In this episode of The Unlikely Executive, Barbra Carlisle explores the leadership behaviours that have the greatest impact on employee retention. Drawing on research and her own experience developing leaders, she challenges the common assumption that people leave organisations primarily for more

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00:09:58

The reason change fails| Barbra Carlisle | The...

The Unlikely Executive ·

2026/09/27

Why do so many organisational change programmes fail despite significant investment, planning and communication?In this episode of The Unlikely Executive, Barbra Carlisle explores one of the most misunderstood challenges in leadership: managing change. Drawing on research that suggests up to 70% of organisational change initiatives fail, she challenges the common belief that employees simply resist change.Instead, Barbra argues that success or failure often rests with middle managers and frontline

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00:30:22

Leading Culture Change | John Davidson | The Unlikely...

The Unlikely Executive ·

2026/09/04

In this episode of The Unlikely Executive, Barbra Carlisle speaks with John Davidson, CEO of Almond Housing Association, about leadership, culture change, career progression, and the realities of stepping into a chief executive role after a predecessor who had led the organisation for 26 years. John shares his unconventional route into leadership, leaving school at 17 with limited qualifications before finding his way into social housing, progressing through management and director roles, and

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00:08:45

Have a difficult conversation | Barbra Carlisle | The...

The Unlikely Executive ·

2026/08/21

The Conversations Your Leaders Know They Need to Have but Are Not HavingSeason: Leadership Impact Scorecard Series | Host: Barbra Carlisle FCIPD, MCiOH | Duration: approx. 8 minutesSummaryThere is a conversation happening in your organisation right now that somebody needs to have and nobody is having. In this episode, Barbra tackles why leaders in the built environment avoid difficult conversations, why this is a capability gap rather than a courage gap, and what authority actually looks like in

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00:38:40

Onsite and Breastfeeding is it possible? | Sarah...

The Unlikely Executive ·

2026/08/10

In this episode of The Unlikely Executive, Barbra Carlisle speaks with strategic construction leader and entrepreneur Sarah Thorne.With more than 20 years in construction and project delivery, Sarah explains why project management is about far more than processes and timelines.She reveals how stakeholder relationships, listening skills and strategic thinking create successful outcomes across industries.Sarah also shares the personal journey that led her to discover her true purpose. Through her work

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00:10:04

From Expert to Leader| challenges and opportunities |...

The Unlikely Executive ·

2026/07/23

Season: Leadership Impact Scorecard Series | Host: Barbra Carlisle FCIPD, MCiOH | Duration: approx. 8 minutes SummaryPromoting your best technical performer into a management role and expecting them to lead effectively is one of the most common and costly mistakes in housing, construction and engineering. In this episode, Barbra examines why the expert-to-leader transition fails so often, what the Centre for Creative Leadership's research tells us about the 40% failure rate for new leaders, and the

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00:31:44

Leading Sustainably | Claire Brown | The Unlikely...

The Unlikely Executive ·

2026/06/05

Sustainability Leadership in Construction, Net Zero & Influencing ChangeIn this episode of The Unlikely Executive Podcast, Barbra Carlisle speaks with Claire Brown, Senior Sustainability Consultant at Turner & Townsend, about what it really takes to lead sustainability in construction, housing and the built environment.From net zero housing targets to retrofit strategy in UK homes, Claire shares practical insights on how to influence stakeholders, communicate complex sustainability issues,

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00:28:48

Leading at Pace with Roselyn Unegbu

The Unlikely Executive ·

2026/05/22

In this episode of The Unlikely Executive, I sit down with Roselyn Unegbu, Delivery Director at Thames Water, to explore what it really takes to lead at scale when the stakes are high, the pressure is constant, and failure isn’t an option.Roselyn is responsible for delivering nearly £200 million of clean water and wastewater infrastructure, work that directly affects millions of people.What stood out in our conversation wasn’t just the scale of responsibility… it was how she leads.She describes her

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00:07:18

Life after Redundancy

The Unlikely Executive ·

2026/05/08

Barbra Carlisle, host of The Unlikely Executive podcast takes the opportunity on the 4th anniversary of her business, Glee Coaching, to reflect on how she navigated redundancy from a job she loved and had been a great fit for. She discusses the impact of redundancy on identity, the importance of seeking help, and the opportunity for self-reflection and realignment with personal values.TakeawaysRedundancy can significantly impact one's sense of identity and purpose.Seeking help, self-reflection, and

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00:27:56

Leaving the corporate world - Chris Waine

The Unlikely Executive ·

2026/04/23

In this episode of The Unlikely Executive, Barbra Carlisle is joined by Chris Waine, Equity Director at Hive Projects, for an honest conversation about senior leadership realities that are rarely discussed.Chris reflects on his journey from nearly 20 years in a large corporate environment to co‑owning and growing an SME and the moments along the way when leadership stopped being about competence, confidence or strategy, and became about responsibility.Together, we explore:Why the hardest leadership

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00:29:59

Finding Your Place in a System That Wasn’t Built for You

The Unlikely Executive ·

2026/04/09

In this powerful and deeply honest episode of The Unlikely Executive, Barbra Carlisle is joined by Nike Folayan, Technical Director at WSP and Chair of the Association for Black and Minority Ethnic Engineers (AFBE UK).Nike shares her journey through engineering and leadership from an early fascination with how televisions work, through a PhD in antenna design, to leading a global technical team while navigating an industry that still struggles with gender and racial inclusion.This conversation goes

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00:28:03

From the Bottom to the Top- Leader insights with...

The Unlikely Executive ·

2026/03/20

What is it like if you start on the tools, literally sweeping the floors and doing the brews, to years later being the owner of the business?Find out whether Colin McEllin, Operations Director and Coowner for Clan Contracting and co-owner of Smart Hire Tools always knew what he wanted or whether he worked hard, took opportunities and navigated his way to success. He discusses the success of Clan Contracting, the challenges of a management buyout, and his leadership style. Colin's advice for

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00:22:27

Being Master of Your Own Destiny

The Unlikely Executive ·

2026/03/05

Learie Gonsalves, the Director of Blackbird Property Surveyors, shares his journey armed with his one CSE in art to owning a successful property surveying firm for over 10 years. He shares the challenges of not seeing people like him in work, but talks about the role of great managers in helping you dream big. Hear about why running is so important to him now and why he runs to support Prostrate Cancer. Learie's story is one of resilience, determination, and the pursuit of balance in work and

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00:25:24

Its all in the title: Renee Preston CEO

The Unlikely Executive ·

2026/02/19

Renee Preston, doesn't just do nice chats - she wants change and she is happy to role her sleeves up and be a leading force in creating change. A reluctant CEO of Gallaway Construction, in this episode we dive into everything from representation of women on site, to mentoring and imposter syndrome.It explores the importance of leadership, male allies, and support for women in construction, as well as the need for representation and change in the industry culture. Renee shares her personal journey,

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00:24:20

The Unlikely Executive: On the runway with Tim Walder

The Unlikely Executive ·

2026/02/05

Tim Walder shares his journey in the aviation industry, emphasizing the importance of career purpose and emotional intelligence. He discusses career progression, leadership, mentorship, challenges, resilience, and retirement, highlighting the need for a sense of purpose in life after retirement.TakeawaysCareer purposeEmotional intelligenceChapters00:00 Passion for Aviation05:55 Leadership and Mentorship24:29 Challenges and Resilience30:12 Retirement and Purpose

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00:25:33

From Geologist to Global Growth Officer

The Unlikely Executive ·

2026/01/22

The conversation covers Kathleen Abbott's career journey, challenges in the construction industry, work-life balance, and societal impact in the construction sector. It also delves into the transition into a new role, starting a new job, and career planning. Kathleen shares insights on navigating career growth, expectations, and the importance of balancing work and personal life.TakeawaysCareer journey and growthBalancing work and personal lifeChapters00:00 Navigating Career Growth and

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34:22

Creating a Blueprint for a Sustainable Future: With...

The Unlikely Executive ·

2026/01/09

Chief Arcadian. People Champion. Passionate about sustainable transformation and finding solutions to global challenges. Playing his part in helping to preserve the planet and improve quality of life.Alan was born in Chester in the United Kingdom. He has lived and worked abroad in Asia, but home now is in Warrington, just over half an hour away from where he grew up. He’s married to Tracy and has four children – who are now (young) adults – and is a ‘retired’ amateur singer and lover of all kinds of

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33:53

No Linear Path: From Journalist to Charity CEO

The Unlikely Executive ·

2025/12/19

For more information, please visit:Company Website: https://careerready.org.uk/Guest's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anne-spackman-3bb19a82/?originalSubdomain=ukbarbra@gleecoaching.com | www.gleecoaching.co.uk | (17) Barbra Carlisle (FCIPD) | LinkedInIf you found this episode of The Unlikely Executive helpful, please do rate and review it on Apple, Spotify or Amazon.Subscribe now to start your journey of discovery, and together, let’s build a better future—one purposeful step at a time.Visit

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30:37

Opening Up Workforce Opportunities: Connecting...

The Unlikely Executive ·

2025/12/05

Appointed as Chief Executive, Liz Mayes brings dynamic leadership and a forward-thinking perspective to Connect Northumberland. Her extensive experience in industry and regional development positions her well to drive the organisation's strategic vision. Liz's passion for diversity and equality of opportunity is set to elevate Connect Northumberland's impact, ensuring it continues to address the evolving needs of the county.For more information, please visit:Company Website:

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34:03

Building Success Against All Odds: A Journey to...

The Unlikely Executive ·

2025/11/21

For more information, please visit:Company Website: https://www.harrogategroup.co.uk/Guest's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sue-wright-bb024516a/barbra@gleecoaching.com | www.gleecoaching.co.uk | (17) Barbra Carlisle (FCIPD) | LinkedInIf you found this episode of The Unlikely Executive helpful, please do rate and review it on Apple, Spotify or Amazon.Subscribe now to start your journey of discovery, and together, let’s build a better future—one purposeful step at a time.Visit

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