The Leaders With Lessons Podcast

Matt Cochrane, COO of Fairlo, joins Shaun Walsh to share the leadership lessons he's learned from navigating business growth, change, and resilience, explaining why proactive action and adaptability create long term success. He reflects on overcoming unexpected challenges, from endurance events to steering Fairlo through market uncertainty, highlighting the importance of staying focused on what you can control and continually adjusting your approach. Matt also discusses why growth comes from embracing difficult challenges, building resilience over time, and viewing every milestone as part of a much larger journey rather than a final destination.
Learn more about Matt and his work: https://dontbealemon.io/
This show is sponsored by The Opportunity Framework.
If you have no shortage of options, especially around technology and business change, but need clarity on where you are before deciding what to do next and what to leave alone, The Opportunity Framework helps you get out of your head and into a practical format you can work with.
It's a short, focused session with a senior pair of eyes. You'll walk away with clear recommendations on the best direction to take, what not to do and a better understanding of the real risks.
To find out more, go to https://perform-partners.com

In this episode of the Leaders With Lessons Podcast, Shaun Walsh speaks with James Moran, Head of People at Stepping Stones Care, about scaling the organization from six employees to 160 while protecting its culture and quality of care. James shares how thoughtful use of AI and better data collection have helped the business improve efficiency, accelerate projects, and make stronger decisions through his “ideate, delegate, iterate” approach. He also explains why human expertise, critical thinking, and “closing the circle” remain essential even as AI takes on more of the repetitive work.
This show is sponsored by The Opportunity Framework.If you have no shortage of options, especially around technology and business change, but need clarity on where you are before deciding what to do next and what to leave alone, The Opportunity Framework helps you get out of your head and into a practical format you can work with.It's a short, focused session with a senior pair of eyes. You'll walk away with clear recommendations on the best direction to take, what not to do and a better understanding of the real risks.To find out more, go to https://perform-partners.com

In this episode of the Leaders With Lessons Podcast, Shaun Walsh speaks with Rish Tandapany, founder of Trynkle, about navigating rapid technological change and the evolving role of leadership in an AI-driven world. Rish draws on his international financial services and fintech experience to explain why listening, emotional intelligence, human connection, and a coaching mindset are increasingly important as technology reshapes the workplace. They explore how leaders can embrace AI while retaining critical thinking, support people through uncertainty, and balance technological efficiency with the human qualities that technology cannot replace.
This show is sponsored by The Opportunity Framework.If you have no shortage of options, especially around technology and business change, but need clarity on where you are before deciding what to do next and what to leave alone, The Opportunity Framework helps you get out of your head and into a practical format you can work with.It's a short, focused session with a senior pair of eyes. You'll walk away with clear recommendations on the best direction to take, what not to do and a better understanding of the real risks.To find out more, go to https://perform-partners.com

In this episode of the Leaders With Lessons Podcast, Shaun Walsh speaks with Abigail Tester about the human side of HR, leadership, and organizational change as she prepares to step into a new HR Director role. Abigail shares why leaders should listen more, ask better questions, communicate clearly, and understand where their people are today before introducing new processes or driving transformation. She also explores the importance of diverse perspectives, open conversations, and helping new managers develop the confidence and people skills needed to bring their teams with them through change.
This show is sponsored by The Opportunity Framework.If you have no shortage of options, especially around technology and business change, but need clarity on where you are before deciding what to do next and what to leave alone, The Opportunity Framework helps you get out of your head and into a practical format you can work with.It's a short, focused session with a senior pair of eyes. You'll walk away with clear recommendations on the best direction to take, what not to do and a better understanding of the real risks.To find out more, go to https://perform-partners.com

In this episode of the Leaders With Lessons Podcast, Shaun Walsh speaks with Josh Dawson, COO of Tamarindo, about navigating change, technology, and leadership in an increasingly complex business environment. Josh explores why strong relationships, including the relationship you have with yourself, are fundamental to success and why modern leaders must become comfortable with continual change rather than trying to preserve the status quo. He also shares his approach to ecosystem thinking, explaining how leaders can zoom in on individual challenges while understanding their wider impact to make better decisions and create meaningful value across an organization.
This show is sponsored by The Opportunity Framework.If you have no shortage of options, especially around technology and business change, but need clarity on where you are before deciding what to do next and what to leave alone, The Opportunity Framework helps you get out of your head and into a practical format you can work with.It's a short, focused session with a senior pair of eyes. You'll walk away with clear recommendations on the best direction to take, what not to do and a better understanding of the real risks.To find out more, go to https://perform-partners.com

In this episode of the Leaders With Lessons Podcast, Shaun Walsh speaks with Catherine Wallis, COO of The ONE Group, about the realities of leadership in a rapidly changing recruitment industry. Catherine shares how her approach has evolved from being highly involved and output focused to stepping back, coaching others, and recognizing that influence can be more powerful than instruction. She also reflects on learning through mistakes, staying authentic while adapting as a leader, and accepting that solving difficult problems is not an interruption to leadership but a fundamental part of the job.
This show is sponsored by The Opportunity Framework.If you have no shortage of options, especially around technology and business change, but need clarity on where you are before deciding what to do next and what to leave alone, The Opportunity Framework helps you get out of your head and into a practical format you can work with.It's a short, focused session with a senior pair of eyes. You'll walk away with clear recommendations on the best direction to take, what not to do and a better understanding of the real risks.To find out more, go to https://perform-partners.com

In this episode of the Leaders With Lessons Podcast, Shaun Walsh speaks with Jules Sharples, Head of Change at coeo UK, about creating organizations that remain adaptable rather than treating change as something with a fixed endpoint. Jules shares her stay slushy approach to change management, exploring how businesses can embrace AI and technology while keeping human insight, communication, and connection at the heart of transformation. She also discusses the importance of commercial awareness, empowering managers to lead change, and using AI as a tool to spark better conversations while ensuring people remain central to meaningful and lasting change.
This show is sponsored by The Opportunity Framework.If you have no shortage of options, especially around technology and business change, but need clarity on where you are before deciding what to do next and what to leave alone, The Opportunity Framework helps you get out of your head and into a practical format you can work with.It's a short, focused session with a senior pair of eyes. You'll walk away with clear recommendations on the best direction to take, what not to do and a better understanding of the real risks.To find out more, go to https://perform-partners.com

In this episode of Leaders With Lessons, Shaun Walsh speaks with Howard Wimpory, Transformation Director at Encompass, about the lessons gained from more than four decades in banking and his experience leading technology and business transformation. Howard explores how understanding processes, maintaining human judgment alongside AI, finding the right cultural fit, and staying adaptable can help leaders navigate continuous change more effectively. He also reflects on the importance of resilience, self-awareness, authenticity, and learning from setbacks rather than becoming frustrated by them, encouraging professionals to take greater ownership of their careers and remain open to new opportunities.
This show is sponsored by The Opportunity Framework.If you have no shortage of options, especially around technology and business change, but need clarity on where you are before deciding what to do next and what to leave alone, The Opportunity Framework helps you get out of your head and into a practical format you can work with.It's a short, focused session with a senior pair of eyes. You'll walk away with clear recommendations on the best direction to take, what not to do and a better understanding of the real risks.To find out more, go to https://perform-partners.com

In this episode of Leaders With Lessons, Shaun Walsh speaks with Nenesko Williams about her experience leading transformation across insurance, finance, technology, and people-focused roles, and why understanding the human side of change is essential to successful delivery. Nenesko shares how listening to resistance, developing strong stakeholder relationships, aligning leadership around a clear vision, and involving change champions early can help uncover problems before they become major obstacles. She also reflects on the value of coaching, self-awareness, and people management, explaining why understanding what drives others has become one of the most powerful leadership skills she has developed throughout her career.
This show is sponsored by The Opportunity Framework.If you have no shortage of options, especially around technology and business change, but need clarity on where you are before deciding what to do next and what to leave alone, The Opportunity Framework helps you get out of your head and into a practical format you can work with.It's a short, focused session with a senior pair of eyes. You'll walk away with clear recommendations on the best direction to take, what not to do and a better understanding of the real risks.To find out more, go to https://perform-partners.com

In this episode of the Leaders With Lessons Podcast, Shaun Walsh speaks with Vince Pemberton, CEO of Rivervale, about his journey from selling Mercedes-Benz vehicles to helping grow Rivervale into a diversified leasing, fleet management, maintenance, and minibus business. Vince shares lessons on spotting opportunities, building a strong team, developing people, and creating a culture where success is measured by both commercial results and the growth of employees. He also reflects on the importance of embracing technology, staying adaptable, and continuously looking outside the business for new ways to improve efficiency, service, and long-term competitiveness.
This show is sponsored by The Opportunity Framework.If you have no shortage of options, especially around technology and business change, but need clarity on where you are before deciding what to do next and what to leave alone, The Opportunity Framework helps you get out of your head and into a practical format you can work with.It's a short, focused session with a senior pair of eyes. You'll walk away with clear recommendations on the best direction to take, what not to do and a better understanding of the real risks.To find out more, go to https://perform-partners.com