Épisodes

  • Diversity fuels Innovation with Ernesto Marinelli

    Diversity fuels Innovation with Ernesto Marinelli
    Jun 25 2025
    Empathy and collaboration are the tools for our future.

    In this episode, Dr Ernesto Marinelli (Chief People Officer at Aareon Group, LGBTQ+ ally, and leadership expert) talks to host Charlotte Otter about the power of empathy, inclusivity, and collaboration in the age of AI.

    Ernesto's lens on how to lead means he focuses on employee success (not engagement - hooray!), outcomes not processes, and flexible working in order for companies and humanity to progress and prosper. Leadership for him is values and purpose driven.

    He talks about a shift of leadership from command and control (power) to coach and promote (experience) to purpose and autonomy (collaboration and trust).

    Ernesto describes what growing up as a gay man in a small village in Italy meant for him, being an immigrant to Germany, and his wish to represent for others as an LGBTQ+ leader.

    This is a heart-warming episode with a leader who embraces vulnerability, authenticity, and diversity.

    This podcast is a companion piece to Charlotte Otter's book We Need New Leaders, published on 3 June by Practical Inspiration Publishing. Find it online or in all good bookshops. Follow Ernesto on LinkedIn · · Join the We Need New Leaders membership site · Follow Charlotte on LinkedIn · Subscribe to Speech Bubbles the newsletter · Link to buy We Need New Leaders
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    48 min
  • Transgender Awareness and Support with Joanne Lockwood

    Transgender Awareness and Support with Joanne Lockwood
    Jun 18 2025
    Building inclusion through listening and learning.

    In this episode, Joanne Lockwood (founder and CEO of SEE Change Happen, a DEI practice with a specialism in transgender awareness) talks to host Charlotte Otter about living and working as a trans woman.

    Trans rights shifted in the UK with the Supreme Court ruling on 16 April 2025 that the legal definition of a woman was based on biological sex. Joanne, who holds a gender recognition certificate, describes her deep sense of disenfranchisement and loss of agency as a result of the ruling.

    Joanne is a leader and spokesperson, CEO and founder, consultant, and mentor. She embodies the epitome of transformative change in the field of Inclusive Cultures. As a transgender woman in her late 50s, she is uniquely qualified to infuse authenticity and experience into the realm of diversity and inclusion.

    She works with companies to help them shape their idea of inclusion and unlock the full potential of their workforce.

    Joanne speaks from the heart about her transition and how living as a woman shapes how she sees and acts in the world.

    This is a moving episode with a leader who's at the vanguard of the mission for transgender awareness and support.

    This podcast is a companion piece to Charlotte Otter's book We Need New Leaders, published on 3 June by Practical Inspiration Publishing. Find it online or in all good bookshops. Joanne's website · Follow Joanne on LinkedIn · · Join the We Need New Leaders membership site · Follow Charlotte on LinkedIn · Subscribe to Speech Bubbles the newsletter · Link to buy We Need New Leaders
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    52 min
  • Intersectionality and Resilience with David Nath

    Intersectionality and Resilience with David Nath
    Jun 11 2025
    A non-binary leader shares their experience of living diversity out loud.

    In this episode, chartered accountant and model David Nath talks to host Charlotte Otter about walking into a new job presenting as non-binary without first asking what the HR policy was. They talk about choosing themself, how their values form a key part of their reputation, and how collaboration fosters growth and performance at work.

    David is a chartered accountant, statistician, analytics lead, board member, a part-time model, and identifies as a first-generation immigrant as someone who is queer, non-binary and neurodiverse.

    This is a raw, real conversation with a person who's changing the face of leadership, putting their vulnerability and authenticity above being guarded and artificial.

    This podcast is a companion piece to Charlotte Otter's book We Need New Leaders, published on 3 June by Practical Inspiration Publishing. Find it online or in all good bookshops. Follow David on LinkedIn · Check out Diversecity Models · · Join the We Need New Leaders membership site · Follow Charlotte on LinkedIn · Subscribe to Speech Bubbles the newsletter · Link to buy We Need New Leaders
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    45 min
  • Getting Systemic with Anita Lettink

    Getting Systemic with Anita Lettink
    Jun 4 2025
    Talking pay equity and transparency, AI in HR, and negotiating your salary.

    In this episode, Anita Lettink talks to Charlotte Otter about the EU Pay Transparency Directive and how its going to affect pay equity in the EU.

    Anita busts some myths about the pay gap, especially the pervasive notion that women aren't as good at pay negotiation as men are.

    She talks about what HR leaders need to know about AI (spoiler: it's the same for heads of communication) - and she advises job applicants on how to negotiate their next salary. Anita has some piquant opinions on the lack of real training for middle managers.

    Anita is a keynote speaker, a LinkedIn top voice, and one of the top 100 HR Tech influencers for 2025.

    This is chunky episode with some really great information from one of the top HR experts! Leadership needs to be addressed in a systemic way, as well as on a personal level.

    This podcast is a companion piece to Charlotte Otter's book We Need New Leaders, published on 3 June by Practical Inspiration Publishing. Find it online or in all good bookshops. Follow Anita on LinkedIn · Anita's website and links to all her books · · Join the We Need New Leaders membership site · Follow Charlotte on LinkedIn · Subscribe to Speech Bubbles the newsletter · Link to buy We Need New Leaders
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    46 min
  • Ask Me Anything with Charlotte

    Ask Me Anything with Charlotte
    May 28 2025
    Getting real about reputation, leadership, and the writing process.

    In this episode, Charlotte answers listener questions - ranging from who's your podcast inspiration, to what's your pet peeve in corporate communications.

    Charlotte also talks about reputation, leadership (good and bad), and gives some insights into her book-writing process.

    She also gives listeners some ideas on how and where they can buy We Need New Leaders and how they can take part in some of the book launch events.

    This podcast is a companion piece to Charlotte Otter's book We Need New Leaders, published on 3 June by Practical Inspiration Publishing. Find it online or in all good bookshops. · Join the We Need New Leaders membership site · Follow Charlotte on LinkedIn · Subscribe to Speech Bubbles the newsletter · Link to buy We Need New Leaders
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    20 min
  • Reputation as Currency with Vuyiswa M'Cwabeni

    Reputation as Currency with Vuyiswa M'Cwabeni
    May 21 2025
    Your reputation enters the room before you do, so act with integrity.

    In this episode, Vuyiswa M'Cwabeni describes how real personal growth and transformation happens outside the comfort zone. Having had to reassess her career completely after a shocking experience (which she describes), she ensures that she lives and works according to her deeply held values.

    Vuyiswa describes her life as the CEO of software company Bloon, keynote speaker, immigrant in Germany, and mother of two teenagers. She is also poised to launch her own skincare brand.

    She talks about how she has learned to love the 80:20 rule, how the representation of people of colour in leadership positions needs to become the norm rather than the exception, and the power of the pause. Vuyiswa also talks about challenging the status quo both quietly and out loud.

    This is a raw, real conversation with a leader who's never anything but authentically herself.

    This podcast is a companion piece to Charlotte Otter's book We Need New Leaders, published on 3 June by Practical Inspiration Publishing. Find it online or in all good bookshops. Follow Vuyiswa on LinkedIn · Follow Vuyiswa on Instagram · · Join the We Need New Leaders membership site · Follow Charlotte on LinkedIn · Subscribe to Speech Bubbles the newsletter · Link to buy We Need New Leaders
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    39 min
  • The ADHD Leader with Paul Nolan

    The ADHD Leader with Paul Nolan
    May 14 2025
    Diversity and Inclusion in the PR Industry.

    In this episode, PR agency leader Paul Nolan describes his ADHD diagnosis at the age of 42 - along with his whole family - and how that gave him insight into himself, how he manages his energy, responds to triggers, and his leadership style.

    Paul champions his agency's blueprint diversity mark process from the BME PR Pros - something he says has been deeply transformative for the organisation.

    In this episode, he talks about the challenges for organisations to create real change, how he leads, and how he thinks about his own reputation (spoiler alert: "far too much").

    This is an honest, open conversation with a leader whose self-awareness makes him incredibly thoughtful about how he shows up and how he engages, motivates, and inspires his teams.

    This podcast is a companion piece to Charlotte Otter's book We Need New Leaders, published on 3 June by Practical Inspiration Publishing. Find it online or in all good bookshops. Follow Paul on LinkedIn · Paul's book recommendation: ADHD is Awesome · · Join the We Need New Leaders membership site · Follow Charlotte on LinkedIn · Subscribe to Speech Bubbles the newsletter · Link to buy We Need New Leaders
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    40 min
  • Shedding Limiting Beliefs with Gillian Jones-Williams

    Shedding Limiting Beliefs with Gillian Jones-Williams
    May 7 2025
    The brilliance you can achieve when you throw off limiting beliefs.

    Gillian Jones-Williams is a dynamic and inspirational business leader, author, and motivational speaker who exemplifies how neurodiversity can be a driver of innovation, resilience, and success.

    As the founder of Emerge Development Consultancy, a thriving learning and development firm established nearly 30 years ago, Gillian’s extraordinary career is a testament to determination and adaptability.

    Gillian was forced to leave home at age 17 without completing further education and, despite living with Bipolar Disorder and ADHD, she has navigated two recessions, Brexit, and the catastrophic challenges of March 23, 2020, when her business faced collapse due to COVID-19 lockdowns.

    She took on the challenge of reinventing Emerge and in 2024 she was honoured with the award for Businesswoman of the Decade in the Best Women’s Awards.

    In this episode, she talks about living and thriving with neurodiversity, inclusive leadership, resilience, and empowering women with her award-winning Rise programme.

    This podcast is a companion piece to Charlotte Otter's book We Need New Leaders, published on 3 June by Practical Inspiration Publishing. Find it online or in all good bookshops. Follow Gillian on LinkedIn · More about Emerge · Gillian's books · Dare to Lead by Brene Brown · Breath by James Nestor · · Join the We Need New Leaders membership site · Follow Charlotte on LinkedIn · Subscribe to Speech Bubbles the newsletter · Link to buy We Need New Leaders
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    36 min