What does it take to raise a football star while staying grounded in love, learning and loyalty? In this powerful and personal episode, I sit down with Marcia Lewis, proud mum and agent to Myles Lewis-Skelly—Arsenal and England’s 18-year-old sensation and one of the most talked-about young players in football today. But this conversation isn’t about hype. It’s about humanity. Marcia shares the real journey behind the headlines—from getting her first agent call when Myles was just 11, to juggling...
Jul 01, 2025•51 min•Ep. 223
What happens when John Cleese personally selects you to play Basil Fawlty in the West End revival of one of the most iconic sitcoms in TV history? If you're Adam Jackson-Smith, you say yes… and then quietly panic. In this special episode of The Leadership Enigma, we go behind the curtain with the man trusted to resurrect Basil on stage. Adam shares the rollercoaster ride from virtual auditions (complete with tweed jacket and moustache) to 300+ physically demanding performances that quite literal...
Jun 15, 2025•55 min•Ep. 221
In this powerful and timely episode, Adam sits down with Olivier Award-winning director-turned-writer Mark Rosenblatt, the creative force behind Giant, the searing and sensational play that explores the genius and the darkness of Roald Dahl. Starring the legendary John Lithgow—who also took home an Olivier for Best Actor—Giant dives deep into the tangled web of brilliance, grief, controversy, and antisemitism that surrounded one of the world’s most beloved and most complicated authors. Recorded ...
Jun 01, 2025•41 min•Ep. 222
In this episode, I am joined by Tom Stevenson – Investment Director at Fidelity, respected columnist, and broadcaster – for a wide-ranging and brutally honest look at the global economic storm we’re all trying to navigate. From tariffs and Trump to inflation, war, and AI-driven disruption, Tom unpacks why we’re entering a new era of unpredictability – one where the calm of the past few decades has well and truly ended. For leaders and organisations, the message is clear: adapt fast or risk irrel...
May 18, 2025•46 min•Ep. 220
In this powerful episode, I welcome Spencer Gore, the dynamic CEO of Gorely Group and owner of Chelmsford City FC. A serial entrepreneur with seven ventures under his belt, Spencer shares the raw truths of leadership, innovation, and purpose-led business. 💡 Key takeaways for leaders and entrepreneurs: Turn Neurodiversity into a Superpower: Spencer opens up about discovering his dyslexia later in life—and how it’s become his secret weapon in spotting opportunities and hiring diverse thinkers. Le...
May 04, 2025•43 min•Ep. 219
In this raw and powerful episode, Adam sits down with Josh White, the accidental CEO and co-founder of Cano Water – the eco-conscious drinks brand shaking up the industry. Josh opens up about his journey from addiction, ADHD, and mental health struggles to building a brand that’s now selling 15+ million cans a year and backed by global icons. From school dropout to DJ, from rock bottom to rehab, Josh's story is one of pain, purpose, and planet-positive disruption. 🌊 Hear how a trash-filled isla...
Apr 20, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 218
The Dean of Dumbassery Returns to The Leadership Enigma In this energising episode, Garry Ridge, former Chairman & CEO of WD-40 (yep, that iconic blue and yellow can with a red top), returns to the Leadership Enigma – flying in from the West Coast to London just for this chat! 🔥 Garry shares powerful lessons from his new book “Any Dumb Ass Can Do It”, drawn from 25 years of scar tissue, leadership insights, and culture-first wisdom. As he says, “We sell memories, not just oil in a can.” 🧠 ...
Apr 06, 2025•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 217
In this captivating episode, we dive deep into the remarkable leadership journey of Tiger Tyagarajan, former CEO of Genpact, who led the company from a humble team of 20 to a global powerhouse of 130,000 employees with over $5 billion in revenue. Tiger's story is one of curiosity, humility, adaptability, and relentless growth. 🚀 Key Leadership Insights: 1. Curiosity as a Superpower:Tiger emphasizes the importance of maintaining a child-like curiosity, even as a leader. For him, "Exhibiting igno...
Mar 24, 2025•55 min•Ep. 216
Charl Bassil is the BBC’s first-ever Chief Brand Officer, tasked with developing a unified brand strategy to engage global audiences, strengthen loyalty, and drive digital growth. With a background in marketing and leadership, Charl, originally from South Africa, brings a fresh, external perspective to one of the world’s most iconic institutions. The BBC, founded in 1922, has been at the heart of historic moments—from the first high-definition broadcast in 1936 to the moon landing in 1969. It ha...
Mar 09, 2025•52 min•Ep. 214
Kelly Latimer is no ordinary pilot. A former NASA, Virgin Galactic, and Boeing test pilot—and a combat veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan—Kelly has spent her career navigating high-stakes environments, from military command to the outer edges of space. As Virgin Galactic’s first female test pilot, she stepped into the role after the tragic VSS Enterprise crash in 2014, helping push the boundaries of space travel and human potential. In this episode, Kelly takes us inside the world of tes...
Feb 23, 2025•48 min•Ep. 213
Greg Orme is a global educator and author of Business Book of the Year, "The Human Edge." 'The Human Edge' focused on the fearful narrative that was and is growing around the use and development of AI. If we challenge AI on it's own ground we will certainly lose, Greg explains. Greg's book researched how leaders can differentiate themselves in this world of AI and digitisation. He constructed the 4C's Consciousness - which is finding meaning and vision and a sense of purpose in your work Curiosi...
Feb 09, 2025•48 min•Ep. 212
Dan Hart left his 34-year career at Boeing to embark on a new adventure as CEO of Virgin Orbit. Working for Richard Branson’s startup was the opportunity of a lifetime during the heyday of new space, and the company enjoyed a string of successes before the company filed for bankruptcy in April 2023. The 1969 moon landing had a big impact on Dan in his early years and he simply cold called NASA to see if he could get a job! To his luck, they answered and he found his way to Kennedy Space Centre. ...
Jan 26, 2025•52 min•Ep. 211
Doctor Thom Mayer has been a leader in times of crisis for over 25 years, navigating some of the most significant challenges imaginable. He is the Medical Director for the NFL Players Association, as well as an emergency physician-sports medicine leader of international renown. He served as the Command Physician at the Pentagon Rescue/Recovery Operation on 9/11, Incident Commander for the inhalational anthrax outbreak in Washington, DC that same year, and led a Team Rubicon Mobile Emergency Team...
Jan 13, 2025•58 min•Ep. 210
211: Angela Cretu is the former Global CEO of Avon. She is now an active Board Member, Beauty Industry Advisor, and Angel Investor. Angela took over as CEO just before the pandemic but had worked for Avon for 25 years starting her career in Romania. Growing up in a communist country meant that life was quite predictable, equality was standardised and the right to self expression was non existent. This set of experiences helped shape the leader that Angela was to become. Avon as a company was fou...
Dec 19, 2024•58 min•Ep. 209
Bob Skinstad represented South Africa Rugby at all levels. Having captained the under 21 Springbok side in 1996 and 1997, he ascended to the adult team as a replacement on 29 November 1997 against England. He would go on to play 42 tests for the Springboks, scoring 11 tries – and captained the national side to its second Rugby Union World Cup in 2007, before retiring. Bob is now a Partner at the challenger consultancy firm Elixirr. Very recently Bob and Andrew Mehrtens (former All Black) complet...
Nov 24, 2024•55 min•Ep. 208
This episode was filmed in front of a live studio audience at Vorboss in central London. Kevin O'Leary spent 30 years as a police officer with the Metropolitan Police retiring as a Chief Superintendent. Kevin was also, now famously, episode No.1 of The Leadership Enigma which started during the pandemic. This episode is a fascinating insight into the world of crime and punishment including undercover policing, hostage negotiation, stolen vehicles, riots, serial killers and more. Kevin decided to...
Nov 10, 2024•59 min•Ep. 207
Tom Monahan took on the role of CEO of Heidrick & Struggles in 2024. He came to Heidrick & Struggles with a decades-long career of building and leading innovative technology, data, and services companies and as a long-time Heidrick & Struggles client. Most recently, Tom was president and CEO of DeVry University, where he led the university to digital innovation, sustained growth, outstanding student success metrics, and financial strength as a newly independent institution. Tom is pa...
Oct 29, 2024•53 min•Ep. 206
Stevie Ward is the former captain of the Leeds Rhinos Super League Rugby team, winner of the Super League and Challenge Cup and he was also one of the youngest captains aged only 26. Stevie had 10 operations during his playing career and had to retire early due to a brain injury. This is a powerful episode of humility, vulnerability and resilience. Stevie was lucky enough to play for Leeds during the 'Golden Generation' playing with a number of England Internationals including the late Rob Burro...
Oct 12, 2024•53 min•Ep. 207
Loree Draude (call sign 'Rowdy') was one of the first female combat pilots in the US Navy with over 300 aircraft carrier landings and two deployments to the Persian Gulf. Loree who is based in Boston is currently an author, executive coach and keynote speaker with a passion for focusing on the human being and not just the human doing. Leadership and service are part of Loree's personal values and she leverages her military experiences to help teams across the world. Loree grew up in a Marine Cor...
Sep 29, 2024•44 min•Ep. 206
This episode features Sir Max Hill KC who was the former Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and Tom Sprange KC who is the Managing Partner of the London office of King & Spalding, the international law firm. Both are highly experienced trial lawyers who have made the transition from individual contributors to leaders and experts in their respective fields. The path into the legal profession was not easy for either Max or Tom yet both have risen to h...
Sep 18, 2024•46 min•Ep. 205
Edwin Brenninkmeyer is the CEO of Oriens Aviation and this episode was filmed on a Pilatus PC24 jet at Biggin Hill. The Pilatus PC24 can carry 8 passengers and 2 pilots although it can be flown by a single pilot. Edwin started the company back in 2015 as he is passionate about aviation having qualified as a pilot at 17 years old. Edwin comes from a family of 6 generations celebrated within the fashion and retail industry as the original founders of C&A and now their business interests reach ...
Sep 01, 2024•45 min•Ep. 204
Sir Max Hill KC is the former Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for the Crown Prosecution Service in the United Kingdom. Max was called to the Bar in 1987, appointed a Recorder 2004, Queen's Counsel 2008 and knighted by The King in the 2024 New Years Honours list. The role of DPP is the highest non political appointment as the most senior prosecutor in the country, acknowledged by the Prime Minister but politically independent. As Head of the Crown Prosecution Service, Max was responsible fo...
Aug 04, 2024•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 203
Lisa Bodell is the CEO of Future Think , award wining author and one of the world's Top 50 Keynote speakers on issues such as creating simplicity and killing complexity. This episode was filmed in New York City during the 'Future of Everything' Festival. Lisa always thought of herself as a helper and was naturally creative from an early age. She grew up in Michigan, studied business and wanted to go into marketing and advertising. However, she wanted to find a path where her ideas would be heard...
Jul 21, 2024•45 min•Ep. 202
Giuseppe Stigliano is the global CEO of Spring Studios in New York which was the venue for the Wall Street Journal 'Future of Everything' Festival. We filmed this episode on the rooftop of the studio overlooking The Hudson river and surrounding area. Giuseppe is Italian and moved to Milan to study marketing working in multiple businesses with early experiences of leadership. He now travels between London and New York in his role as CEO for Spring Studios. He has an entrepreneurial spirit so the ...
Jul 07, 2024•40 min•Ep. 201
Viv Anderson MBE is our special guest for Episode 200 filmed in front of a live audience at Capco in central London in support of the amazing charity Leadership Through Sport & Business, which Viv is a patron. Viv has played for a number of teams including Manchester United, Arsenal and Nottingham Forest. He was the very first player signed by Sir Alex Ferguson and played for Brian Clough winning the Football League, European Cup, League Cup, FA Cup and made British sporting history by becom...
Jun 24, 2024•46 min•Ep. 200
Sarah MacDonald operates in a world that has been dominated by men since 1209. She is a Canadian-born conductor, organist, pianist, and composer, living in the UK, and she holds the positions of Fellow and Director of Music at Selwyn College, Cambridge, and Director of the Girl Choristers at Ely Cathedral. This episode is a glimpse into a world few know about but many have experienced including during the Queen's funeral and the King's Coronation. Sarah has recently been appointed to the role of...
Jun 17, 2024•45 min•Ep. 199
Mark Julian Edwards is the strengths explorer! As leaders always learning, should we focus on our strengths or our development areas? Mark suggests it should be our strengths. All the research shows if we fully develop our strengths, we are going to be 3 time happier and more productive. This episode is all about how we identify our latent talents and complimentary strengths and partnerships. The context and success of our work is about how we combine abilities to leverage the sum of the parts. ...
Jun 10, 2024•47 min•Ep. 198
Jennifer Sundberg is the co-Chief Executive of Board Intelligence a technology company helping thousands of businesses make better decisions. Jennifer was originally a strategy consultant, and her light bulb moment came when she was asked to be a ‘fly on the wall’ during a client’s board meeting. The client was riding high, but the storm clouds were gathering as regards future challenges. During the three hours she observed the board, they never got to the heart of the matter. It wasn’t based on...
Jun 02, 2024•48 min•Ep. 197
Ralph de la Vega is the former Vice Chairman of AT&T Inc. and CEO of AT&T Business Solutions and AT&T International. Ralph had a 42 year career at AT&T and is now living in Florida. His father was in the food distribution business and he came from a strong and religious tight knit family in Cuba. Once the Castro Regime took over they nationalised all food production and distribution and his fathers business was taken over by the regime, food was rationed and small kids were being...
May 31, 2024•51 min•Ep. 196
Donna Easton is a Joyologist. What's a Joyologist I hear you shout? It's somebody who is obsessed with the things that make us feel happy and the things we can do to help ourselves to feel more joy in life. In a world of constant change and chaos we could all do with a little more fun and joy in life, so enjoy this episode. Donna outlines the importance of each of us building a baseline in happiness not based on toxic positivity but by creating enough joy in our day to day activities in order to...
Apr 12, 2024•53 min•Ep. 195
