In this episode, host Jacqueline Frost talks to Karel van Gorp, Vice President Marketing MEA,

India, South East Asia and ANZ & Global VP Consumer Brands at Solenis.

Karel shares his leadership philosophy that whilst anyone can sail in calm summer weather, true leadership emerges during storms. He emphasises that current global conditions - economic and social uncertainty; require strong leaders who can navigate rough waters and help others through challenging times.

Discussing future leadership development, Karel advocates for transparency. He addresses common fears and the need for gradual skill-building, with preparation being key to overcoming such challenges.

Karel concludes with his favourite quote from Walt Disney: "If you can dream it, you can do it." He explains that whilst dreaming is the crucial first step, the journey to achievement requires effort.

To get in touch with Karel, find him here:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/karel-van-gorp-b073ab1/

In this episode, host Jacqueline Frost talks to Paolo Beltrame, CEO Australia & New Zealand at EQUANS.

Paolo shares his passion for treating gender balance as a business transformation rather than merely an HR initiative. He believes injecting inclusion at field level is crucial, especially as a high percentage of employees hold technical roles, and many future leaders emerge from these positions. Without inclusion at the base, achieving balance at senior levels becomes nearly impossible.

Paolo's experience in Saudi Arabia, where only three of 800 employees were female, sparked his commitment to change. At his previous company, he achieved 50/50 gender balance in apprentice programmes within three years, with male technicians eventually bringing their daughters to recruitment events.

Concluding with a quote from Jerry Dunn, an endurance athlete, that inspires and drives him: “Don't limit your challenges, challenge your limits.”

To get in touch with Paolo, find him here:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/paolobeltrame12111971/

Stay tuned for future episodes of the Finding Your EPIC® podcast

Welcome to the Finding Your EPIC® podcast.

In this episode, host Jacqueline Frost talks to Pamela Thomson-Hall, Head of International and Executive Officer at WTW.

Pamela shares the incredible story of how at just 13 years old, she decided to become an international lawyer. Growing up as the only child of a single mother in difficult circumstances, she was driven by a desire for financial self-sufficiency. This clarity of purpose, combined with an innate wanderlust, shaped her early career choices.

After joining WTW as an in-house lawyer, Pamela falls in love with both the insurance industry and the company. She faces significant challenges, including working on the groundbreaking 9/11 insurance litigation, which transformed how the UK insurance market operates.

The conversation concludes with Pamela sharing Henry Kissinger's words: "The task of a leader is to get their people from where they are to where they have not been," - helping them not just survive or thrive but truly flourish.

To get in touch with Pamela, find her here:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/pamela-thomson-hall-28915321/