In this episode, Matthew Radley and Sophie Taylor are joined by Lisa Wheatcroft, Chief People Officer, to explore the hard truths behind cultural integration and why it so often fails. Drawing on her experience leading executive teams through mergers, acquisitions, and organisational change, Lisa shares the defining moments that revealed just how much leaders underestimate the people impact.From the misplaced belief that Day One is the finish line, to the absence of shared goals and people strategy, Lisa unpacks the leadership blind spots that derail integration. She speaks candidly about the emotional toll on early-career talent, the disconnect that grinds performance to a halt, and the courage it takes to lead culture with clarity and intent. It’s a powerful reflection on what happens when leaders stop delegating culture and start owning it.

In this episode, hosts Matthew Radley and Hilary Farrington are joined by Gemma Board, Head of Talent, to explore the defining moments that transformed their mentoring from an unplanned, informal practice into a strategic capability with structure, confidence, and credibility. What began with a simple question - “How many people are mentoring here?” - evolved into a movement that reshaped their leadership development, inclusion, and succession planning. This conversation offers rare insight into the human side of mentoring. From mentor self-belief to the complexity of doing it well, Gemma reveals the stretch, stillness, and courage it takes to raise the bar. It’s a candid look at what happens when leaders stop assuming and start investing in what good really looks like.

In this episode, Matthew Radley and Sophie Taylor sit down with Linda Sleath, experienced Chair and Non-Executive Director, for a frank conversation about what really drives people to join the boardroom. Together, they unpack the question every aspiring NED should face: Why do you really want the role? Is it about status - or a genuine desire to add value? Linda and Matthew explore the realities behind the prestige: the accountability, the pressure, and the purpose that define effective leadership at the top. Through moments of stretch, courage, and reflection, they reveal the human side of board-level influence. The truths that never make it into the governance papers. This episode is a must-listen for current and aspiring board members ready to challenge their own motivations and redefine what impact really means.

In this episode, Alison Hands, CEO of Lincolnshire Co-Op, takes us behind the boardroom doors to reveal the defining moments that shaped their approach to leadership at the highest level. From critical strategic decisions to navigating complex stakeholder dynamics, they share the moments of stretch, stillness, and courage that tested and transformed their leadership. This conversation offers rare insights for board members, executives, and aspiring leaders into the human side of board-level decision-making. The dilemmas, lessons, and turning points that don’t make it into the annual report. It’s an unfiltered look at what it really takes to lead at the top.

MRA’s Courageously Candid Coaching Podcast takes listeners beyond the polished corporate profiles that exist in organisations globally, and instead explores the pivotal moments that shape extraordinary leaders and professional coaches. Hosted by Matthew Radley, CEO of MRA Executive Coaching, each episode uncovers moments of shift, stretch, or stillness that reveal the turning points defining their journeys. Let's get candid.