In this episode, Julian is joined by Justin Fitzpatrick, former Irish international rugby player turned business CEO and creator of the Resilient Leaders Playbook. With 26 caps for Ireland and a Heineken Cup winner's medal with Ulster in 1999, Justin shares the hard-won lessons from his playing career and how they translate into building resilient teams in business. From handling the brutal highs and lows of professional sport to navigating his forced retirement through injury in 2010, Justin offers candid insights on what it really takes to bounce back — including his favourite Churchill quote: "If it's not fatal, it's not final."

The conversation explores the power of pre-mortems over post-mortems, why feedback is simply "a vehicle to improve," and how psychological safety isn't about being soft — it's about creating environments where people can challenge each other and grow together. Justin also reflects on his transition from player to coach to CEO, building a professional rugby franchise in Houston from scratch, and why doing things that "make your heart sing" has been the thread running through every chapter of his career. Whether you lead a sports team or a business team, this episode is packed with practical wisdom on resilience, identity, and what it means to keep contributing when things go wrong.

If you are looking for a Blueprint to help you and your business manage uncertainty, deal with failure and navigate change then reach out to Julian at: julian@julianrobertsconsulting.com

You can buy my book "Weathering the Storm: A Guide to Building Resilient Teams" on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DFTYN2Y2

##########

In this episode, Julian welcomes Anne Unsworth, founding director of Clear Path Success and certified trainer of NLP and hypnosis. Anne shares her fascinating journey into the world of NLP, which began during a challenging period in her life following the collapse of a family business. What started as a personal development need evolved into a passion, leading her through practitioner, master practitioner, and trainer certifications - including completing her initial training just days before the first COVID lockdown. Anne brings a unique perspective, combining her extensive FMCG corporate background with deep expertise in how we communicate, think, and create our version of reality.

The conversation explores why communication remains one of the biggest challenges in organisations, despite being something we do constantly. Anne explains the NLP communication model, revealing that only 7% of our communication comes from the words we use, with the rest driven by body language and tone. She shares practical tools like the hierarchy of ideas, which helps people shift between detailed and strategic thinking, and discusses how understanding someone's "model of the world" can transform workplace relationships. Whether you're a leader wanting to connect more effectively with your team or simply curious about why emails so often get misread, this episode offers valuable insights into the art and science of communication.

If you are looking for a Blueprint to help you and your business manage uncertainty, deal with failure and navigate change then reach out to Julian at: julian@julianrobertsconsulting.com

You can buy my book "Weathering the Storm: A Guide to Building Resilient Teams" on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DFTYN2Y2

##########

In this episode, Julian sits down with Professor Antonina Pereira, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Science, Social Sciences and Humanities at the University of Chichester, to explore the evolving landscape of leadership in higher education. Antonina shares her powerful "constant gardener" metaphor for leadership—the daily work of pruning, planting, and tending that never stops. She discusses the mounting complexities facing universities today, from frozen tuition fees that haven't kept pace with costs to the shift in student expectations since fees were introduced in 2012. Despite financial pressures that have seen fees remain largely static while operational costs have soared, Antonina emphasises that her non-negotiable remains putting people at the center of every decision, whether that's supporting staff development or ensuring students receive a transformative education rather than simply a transactional degree.

Throughout the conversation, Antonina reveals what makes the University of Chichester special—its unapologetically small size that allows leaders to know students by name at graduation, and its commitment to helping every student thrive regardless of their entry grades. She discusses the importance of developing leadership capabilities in higher education, as many academics step into management roles without formal training. Looking ahead with hope despite sector challenges, Antonina shares her vision for 2027 and beyond, grounded in understanding what makes Chichester unique: a cathedral group university that develops programmes in collaboration with industry, provides exceptional levels of support, and ensures students exit with far more than a degree—they leave with a well-rounded education prepared for the challenges of the world. Her passion for enabling people to achieve their goals, whether students or staff, shines through as the driving force behind her leadership approach.

If you are looking for a Blueprint to help you and your business manage uncertainty, deal with failure and navigate change then reach out to Julian at: julian@julianrobertsconsulting.com

You can buy my book "Weathering the Storm: A Guide to Building Resilient Teams" on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DFTYN2Y2

##########