What happens when you’re running at 150 miles per hour but the people around you can’t keep up?

In this candid conversation, AI advisor and CX leader Simon Kriss opens up about the career-defining mistake that blindsided him, moving too fast for his team and leaving them struggling in his wake.

From the high-pressure world of airlines to advising organisations on the future of AI, Simon shares:

• How a “strategic misfit” conversation with his boss changed everything
• Why leaders need to go beyond the “Are you okay?” surface check-in
• How to spot the quietest person in the room and why their voice matters most
• The strategies he uses now to keep teams aligned while still moving at speed

If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re bringing your team with you or just dragging them along, this episode is essential listening.

About Simon Kriss:

Simon is an AI advisor helping organisations navigate the fast-changing world of artificial intelligence. With decades of leadership experience in CX, he brings a unique blend of strategic insight and people-first thinking.

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If inaction is a decision, how do you explain it? In this thoughtful and candid conversation, Rajan Kumar, CEO & Co - founder of The Lumery, shares the leadership misstep that shaped him most: not acting quickly enough, and more importantly, not explaining why.

From transparency traps to communication preferences (are you yellow, green, blue, or red?), Rajan dives into the psychology behind trust, culture, and the misunderstood power of slowing down before speeding up.

If you lead a team or want to, this episode is a goldmine of insight into leading better by being more human.

"Inaction is still a choice. But if you don’t explain why you’re choosing it, people will make up their own reasons."

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The Grey Podcast

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Our host Thomas Haffenden sits down with Anna Jackson, Head of Creative Excellence at Telstra, for a raw and refreshingly honest conversation about trusting your gut, letting go of “the shoulds,” and taking the scenic route to a fulfilling career.

Before leading Telstra’s creative vision, Anna was on a very different path, training as an architect in one of the toughest degrees you can do. But a brutally hard year working in London forced her to confront a truth: she was in the wrong profession. That so-called “mistake” became the first step into a whole new world of creativity, storytelling, and leadership.

They discuss:

• How a chance encounter in a Kings Cross nightclub led her to advertising
• Why kids make the best critics (and sometimes the best boardroom consultants)
• The power of making decisions with your gut, even when it makes no sense on paper
• Building trust to take creative leaps in large organisations
• Why you should audit your life as often as your car
• The leader who changed her career trajectory
• The role other people play in helping you find your place, and why job descriptions are often BS

This one’s for anyone who’s ever felt stuck, misaligned, or on the wrong path. Anna’s story is a powerful reminder that it’s never too late to pivot and that the best careers are often built on the boldest decisions.

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