Over the past 20 episodes of Leading Lights, we’ve heard from women leading some of the UK’s most impactful organisations.
Different journeys. Different challenges. Different styles of leadership.

But when asked one simple question “What’s your top tip for someone who wants to become a charity CEO?” some clear themes begin to emerge.

This special compilation brings those moments together.
Practical advice, hard-earned perspective, and honest reflections from leaders who’ve been there.
You’ll hear about:

• Backing yourself, even before you feel ready
• Stepping forward and saying yes to opportunity
• Building resilience in the face of rejection and uncertainty
• Leading with empathy, clarity and purpose

Some answers are direct. Some are surprising. All of them are grounded in real experience.

Taken together, they form something bigger, a collective insight into what it really takes to lead.

It's a reminder that there’s no single path to leadership, but there are shared qualities that shape the journey.

In this episode of Leading Lights, Abi is joined by Debra Allcock Tyler, CEO of the Directory of Social Change, author, and one of the most experienced voices in the UK charity sector, with over four decades of insight behind her. Debra’s story begins in a military family, growing up across countries and cultures - an upbringing that shaped her perspective on people, resilience, and the world around her. From there, she built a career defined not by a straight line, but by curiosity, conviction, and a willingness to step forward when it mattered most.

Debra speaks candidly about the challenges charities are facing today: shrinking resources, rising demand, and a growing sense of being misunderstood or undervalued. But she also challenges the narrative, reflecting on how easily the sector can fall into a “doom loop” of negativity, and why it matters to hold onto hope.

Because at its core, she reminds us, the work of charities is about exactly that. Hope.

Along the way, the conversation explores:

• What 40+ years in the sector teaches you about leadership and staying grounded.
• Why mindset matters as much as strategy in difficult times.
• The responsibility leaders have to create energy, not just manage pressure.
• How to build a career by stepping forward, even before you feel ready.

Debra also shares a simple but powerful piece of advice for anyone finding their way:

• Go for it.
• Put yourself forward.
• Be someone people want to work with.

There’s warmth in this conversation, but also honesty, including a moment that clearly moves Abi, a reminder that leadership, at its best, is deeply human.

This is an episode about perspective, about resilience without cynicism and about choosing hope.

Links

Find out more about Directory of Social Change

https://www.dsc.org.uk/

Follow DSC on social mediaLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/directory-of-social-change/

X: x.com/DSC_Charity

Enjoyed this conversation?

Subscribe to Leading Lights to catch future episodes, and please consider rating and reviewing to help others find the podcast.

Are you a Head of Brand, Marketing, Fundraising or Comms at a charity?

Come along to the MOREVER Meetup, a welcoming space to connect with other women working creatively in the charity sector.

Leading Lights is brought to you by MOREVER, an independent creative agency for charities and changemakers.⁠⁠

www.morever.co.uk

In this episode of Leading Lights, Abi is joined by Sophie Tebbetts, CEO of FoodCycle, the national charity turning surplus food into shared meals that tackle both hunger and loneliness.

Sophie traces her lifelong connection to food – from busy family meals growing up as one of six children to her first job in a pub kitchen. Those early experiences shaped a belief that food has the power to bring people together.

Before joining FoodCycle, Sophie worked in the third sector with the British Red Cross and later launched her own food start-up. But it was FoodCycle’s mission that truly captured her imagination.

She shares how the charity transforms food that would otherwise go to waste into three-course community meals, cooked and served by volunteers across the UK. The impact goes far beyond nutrition — creating spaces where people connect, share conversation, and build community.

Sophie also reflects on leadership, the power of volunteering, and why community dining can change lives in ways statistics alone can’t capture.

This is a conversation about food, community, and leadership rooted in purpose.

Find out more about FoodCyclehttps://foodcycle.org.uk/

Follow FoodCycle on social media

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/foodcyclehq/

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/foodcycle/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/foodcycle

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@foodcyclehq

FoodCycle community meals bring people together for good food and conversation. We serve free, wholesome meals made from food that would have gone to waste, prepared by volunteers and open to everyone. FoodCycle is about more than food – we create a cycle of positive change – reducing food waste and hunger, tackling loneliness, supporting mental health and encouraging healthy eating and sustainable living.

Subscribe to Leading Lights to catch future episodes, and please consider rating and reviewing to help others find the podcast.

Are you a Head of Brand, Marketing, Fundraising or Comms at a charity?

Come along to the MOREVER Meetup, a welcoming space to connect with other women working creatively in the charity sector.

Leading Lights is brought to you by MOREVER, an independent creative agency for charities and changemakers.www.morever.co.uk

Links
About FoodCycle
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