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• Ep61: What It Takes to Lead in the Boardroom Today with Shefaly Yogendra
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• Ep63: Leading Through Uncertainty Without Losing Yourself with Sally Henderson

What happens when leaders are expected to deliver commercial results while navigating increasing scrutiny, complexity, and competing expectations? In this episode of Human Wise, Helen Wada is joined by leadership advisor, coach, and author Kate Adams to explore how leaders can remain human when the pressure is relentless.

Drawing on two decades of experience across business, technology, innovation, and the social sector, Kate shares insights from her book Accountability Under Fire. Together, Helen and Kate discuss why leadership today is no longer about having all the answers. Instead, it requires curiosity, courage, and the ability to hold space for different perspectives while making difficult decisions.

This is a thoughtful conversation for leaders seeking to balance performance, accountability, and humanity in an increasingly complex world.

Topics Discussed

• What it means to be human at work under pressure
• Why leadership complexity is increasing
• The relationship between accountability and scrutiny
• How curiosity and listening improve decision-making
• Leading yourself before leading others
• Understanding stakeholders and systems thinking
• Balancing commercial performance with societal impact
• Why awareness creates better leadership
• The importance of holding different perspectives
• Creating space between stimulus and response

View extended shownotes here

Further links to follow:

Read HUMAN-WISE: How to lead from within and sell with confidence

Helen Wada: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/helen-wada

The Human Advantage: https://www.thehumanadvantage.co.uk/