About This Episode:

What does it take to not just survive life’s toughest challenges—but to come back stronger and inspire others? In this extraordinary episode, I speak with Andrew Jenkins, a finalist on the BBC hit show The Traitors, and a powerful voice for resilience and mental health advocacy.

At just 21, Andrew’s life changed forever when a devastating car accident left him in a coma, with doctors fearing he might never walk, talk, or recognise his loved ones again. But against all odds, he defied the prognosis, fought back with unrelenting courage, and rebuilt his life from the ground up.

In this conversation, Andrew shares the raw and remarkable journey from silence and struggle to strength and purpose. We explore how he turned trauma into transformation, why mental health matters more than ever, and how each of us can unlock the strength within to rise again. Also a little insight into what it is like to become a star in a top tv show!

This is a story of grit, hope, and the unbreakable human spirit. Don't miss it!

More about Andrew Jenkins:

Andrew, a finalist on the BBC reality sensation "The Traitors" and a living embodiment of resilience!

At just 21, he faced a life-altering car accident that left him in a coma for four weeks, with doctors declaring he may never walk, talk, or recognize his loved ones again. But Andrew refused to be defined by his circumstances. He defied the odds, not only regaining his ability to walk but also reigniting his passion for life after losing his dream of playing rugby for Wales.

For nearly 24 years, Andrew battled his mental health in silence, but he eventually found the courage to share his struggles with family. Through deep reflection and self-discovery, he emerged stronger than ever.

In a powerful reunion in 2022 with the doctor who saved his life, Andrew was dubbed a "miracle patient," inspiring him to turn his story into a beacon of hope for others.

Now, as the founder of "Strength In You Ltd," Andrew is on a mission to shatter the stigma surrounding mental health. He delivers electrifying motivational talks and dynamic workshops, empowering individuals to rise above their challenges.

Andrew is determined to leave an indelible mark on the world, proving that with heart, grit, and determination, anyone can overcome adversity and find their strength.

About this episode:

In this highly compelling episode, we’re joined by David Bickford CB, a former senior intelligence official who served as Legal Director and Under-Secretary of State at both MI5 and MI6. David played a key role in shaping the UK's counter-terrorism and intelligence laws, creating the legal pathways that enabled operational intelligence to be used in court—revolutionising the intelligence community's ability to act and protect.

Now a bestselling author, David brings decades of real-life espionage experience into his critically acclaimed Katyathriller series, co-written with his wife Cary. His fiction is celebrated for its authenticity, moral complexity, and international scope—taking readers from Arctic missions to Cold War Berlin.

In this conversation, David reflects on his extraordinary career, the moral challenges of intelligence work, leadership lessons and how he continues to explore global intrigue through his writing.

Expect sharp insights, fascinating stories, and powerful reflections on leadership, loyalty, and the real world of espionage.

More about David Bickford:

About this episode:

In this inspiring Special Encore conversation, Chris Cooper is joined by Zoe Holland MBE, Group Chief Commercial Officer at Fletchers Group, legal entrepreneur, and passionate advocate for heart-led leadership.

With a leadership mantra of “there is no room for ego,” Zoe champions authenticity, inclusivity, and purpose-driven leadership, empowering leaders to create meaningful change.

Together, Zoe and Chris explore the power of self-leadership, invitational communication, and leading with care.

They also discuss Zoe’s journey, her commitment to using ‘law for good’, and her mission to uplift underrepresented groups.

From neurodiversity coaching to fostering a culture of authentic leadership, this conversation is packed with insights for leaders who want to lead with both heart and impact.

Join us for a thought-provoking discussion on leadership that truly makes a difference.

More about Zoe Holland MBE:

Zoe Holland MBE is an entrepreneurial, C-Suite leader (Fletchers Group Chief Commercial Officer), NED, Trustee, experienced Executive Coach, Neurodiversity Coach and motivational speaker. Zoe has a passion for heart-led leadership, championing authenticity, ambition, inclusivity, invitational communication and care. Zoe’s leadership mantra – ‘there is no room for ego’. Zoe has a mission to empower leaders to make a positive impact on individuals, organisations, and the community.

A thought leader on women’s leadership with a specific focus on ‘Leader of Self’ – understanding our life journey, our purpose, passion and presence as a powerful tool to positively reflect upon our leadership impact on organisations, culture, and community. Zoe was awarded an MBE in the King’s Honours in June 2023 – testament to a career-long commitment to use ‘law for good’.

About this episode:

Join us for this inspiring Special Encore episode of The Business Elevation Show, where Chris sits down with Dr. John Stahl-Wert, Founder of the Center for Serving Leadership.

With three decades of experience in pioneering training solutions and working with organizations worldwide, John has helped businesses achieve outstanding results by investing in their people.

In this interview, John shares insights from his international best-sellers, The Serving Leader and Ten Thousand Horses, and discusses his coaching experiences with top-tier companies like Progress Rail (a Caterpillar Company), Pan Pacific Hotel Group (Singapore), and Honda’s North American Lean Network.

Learn about John's passion for leadership, his approach to fostering growth and excellence, and his personal journey of forty-two years of marriage with his business partner Milonica.

Tune in for a conversation that promises to offer valuable lessons on serving leadership and creating thriving, people-focused organisations.

More about John Stahl-Wert:

Dr. John Stahl-Wert is the Founder of Center for Serving Leadership. He has pioneered training solutions for thirty years, working with organizations around the world that want to produce outstanding results by investing in their people. He has written eight books, including the international best-sellers, The Serving Leader and Ten Thousand Horses.

John has coached executives in Progress Rail (a Caterpillar Company), Pan Pacific Hotel Group (Singapore), Honda’s North American Lean Network, the Veterans Administration, hundreds of other businesses in the U.S., Singapore, and Hong Kong.

For eighteen years, John served as president and CEO of Pittsburgh Leadership Foundation, founded the International Training Institute for Leadership Foundations, Pittsburgh Urban Leadership Service Experience, Amachi Pittsburgh, City as Parish, and The Union Project.

John is married for 42 years to Milonica, his business partner. They love designing and building things, traveling, going to church, and spending time with their daughters, son-in-law, and grandson.

About this episode:

In this inspiring episode, Chris Cooper interviews Leilani Raashida Henry, leadership consultant, executive coach, and author of The Call of Antarctica: Exploring and Protecting Earth’s Coldest Continent. The book shares the powerful, little-known story of her father, George W. Gibbs Jr., the first person of African descent to set foot on Antarctica, and the lessons his historic journey offers for our lives and leadership today.

Drawing on her pioneering work with whole-brain leadership, intuitive tools, and cross-functional team development, we will discuss how Antarctica’s extreme environment and her father’s resilience illuminate what it takes to lead in uncertain times. Together, we will explore how leaders can build resilient “inner ecosystems” that foster thriving cultures, environmental stewardship, and positive societal impact.

Whether you are navigating personal change, leading teams in challenging environments, or passionate about protecting our planet, this conversation will equip you with practical insights and renewed energy to elevate your leadership and impact.

More about Leilani Raashida Henry:

Leilani Raashida Henry is a seasoned facilitator, executive coach, leadership consultant and keynote speaker whose experience ranges from one-on-one leadership clients to large-scale dialogues and workshops in industries such as healthcare, finance, non-profit, academia, and small business.

Her whole-brain strategies enable rapid individual and collective transformation. Like a network chiropractor, Leilani gently confronts obstacles that prevent optimal choice and change, and her experiential processes bring lightning speed results to touch challenges.

Leilani has over 25 years experience in the field of human resource and organizational development as a leading-edge architect influencing today’s redesign of corporate learning experiences and environments. Throughout her in-house corporate career at Honeywell, Lockheed Martin, Jones Intercable, and IDEA Champions, she implemented hundreds of workplace changes and redesign efforts that resulted in millions of dollars in savings for her organizations. Leilani has a Master’s Degree in Education, Learning, and Human Resource Development Technology from St. Thomas University and a Cum Laude Graduate in Psychology from Spelman College. She created the 360 degree Leadership Vitality CheckUp and Brain Jewells® for 21st century leaders who need to easily connect intuition and logic; energy and information. In 2021, she published The Call of Antarctica: Exploring and Protecting Earth’s Coldest Continent, a book about her father, George W. Gibbs, the first person of African descent to go to Antarctica.

Leilani specialises in small group coaching for cross-functional leadership teams to practice the skills of conflict resolution, authentic presence, mental fitness, and the vitality of leadership. Her lifetime of performing arts experience is integrated into her unique approach to leadership and learning.

About this episode:

Join us for a powerful and deeply human conversation with Stevie Ward—keynote speaker, freedom coach, and former professional rugby league captain—who now dedicates his life to helping leaders and teams unlock extraordinary performance while experiencing deep, lasting wellbeing.

Stevie’s journey is anything but ordinary. Once a rugby star and captain living his boyhood dream with the Leeds Rhinos, winning three Grand Finals, two Challenge Cups, and eventually captaining the side. But when a serious brain injury brought his playing career to an unexpected halt at just 27, he faced his toughest opponent yet—himself.

Through that life-altering turning point, Stevie discovered a powerful truth: that real strength comes not just from physical prowess, but from presence, vulnerability, and radical self-awareness.

During this interview we will discuss his hard-won insights that emerged from his personal reinvention and how to inspire outlandish team spirit, ignite purpose, and foster a freedom to be your absolute best.

More about Stevie Ward:

Stevie Ward is a keynote speaker and freedom coach, helping leaders and teams unlock their highest levels of performance while experiencing deep, sustainable wellbeing.

He grew up laughing at Ricky Gervais and Peter Kay, rocking out to Linkin Park and Nine Inch Nails, and living his childhood dream of playing for his beloved hometown team, the Leeds Rhinos—winning three Grand Finals, two Challenge Cups, and eventually captaining the side.

A brain injury brought his career to an early end at 27, creating space for a new mission: guiding teams and individuals through the authentic formula he’s lived and developed—one that conjures outlandish levels of team spirit and the freedom to be your absolute best.

About this epsiode:

In this powerful episode of the Business Elevation Show, Chris Cooper speaks with Brian Gallagher – former CEO of United Way Worldwide and current Founder of the Leargas Group – about one of today’s most pressing questions: Is capitalism good?

Drawing on a life journey from humble beginnings in a steel town to leading one of the world’s most influential non-profits, they discuss insights on inequality, planetary health, and the urgent need to rebuild social capital in our digital age.

With deep experience in systems thinking, impact investing, and philanthropy, Brian offers a rare, honest perspective on how we can realign economic models to serve both people and planet.

This conversation isn’t just about business – it’s about humanity, purpose, and the kind of future we want to co-create.

Essential listening for leaders, changemakers, and anyone committed to meaningful change.

More about Brian Gallagher:

Brian Gallagher is the Founder and CEO of the Leargas Group, an economic and social impact firm focused on creating social capital using digital technology, racial justice and equity, and impact investing.

Gallagher co-founded the Abundance Circle. Working with a group of partners, the Abundance Circle led a design process to create a multi-sector approach to impact investing. The Abundance Circle is an initiative with the purpose of developing a true multi-stakeholder approach to collective impact, through systems thinking, using conscious capital, through a biomimicry lens, and putting people and planet at the center.

Gallagher also co-founded Donorful. Donorful is a company working with commercial donor advised funds and wealth advisors and their clients to match their philanthropy with results-oriented non-profits and initiatives through an effective and trusted “Smart Network” of local United Ways and Community Foundations.

Gallagher had a long career with United Way. He served as the United Way Worldwide CEO for 19 years. He is responsible for several advancements at United Way. He established new membership standards that required internal consistency and public transparency in financial reporting. Under Gallagher’s leadership United Way became the largest privately supported non-profit in the world, and one of the non-profit sectors’ most valuable brands. United Way is now active in 40 countries around the world as a single brand.