What happens when you get everything you thought you wanted, and it still doesn’t feel like enough? For Paul Ollinger, that question surfaced after leaving Facebook with financial freedom in his early forties. On paper, it was success. In reality, it sparked a deeper reckoning about identity, purpose, and what actually makes a life feel whole. In this conversation, Paul reflects on the disorienting space that can follow achievement, the moment he realised money had stopped being the motivator he thought it was, and the uncomfortable freedom of having no obvious next step. He explores the tension between ambition and contentment, why work plays such a powerful role in belonging, and how redefining happiness became essential rather than optional. This episode is an honest look at what really defines success … and a reminder that fulfilment doesn’t begin when you reach the number, but when you ask better questions about what comes next.

Some leadership lessons arrive through strategy. Others arrive at 38,000 feet, reading a single sentence that reframes everything. For Garry Ridge, former CEO and Chairman Emeritus of WD-40, that moment sparked a radical shift in how he thought about leadership, culture, and responsibility. In his second appearance on The Unlock Moment, Garry returns to reflect on what he’s learned since stepping away from the CEO role … and what still matters most about leading well. In this conversation, Garry shares deeper insight into servant leadership, psychological safety, and why fear is the enemy of learning. He unpacks the real meaning behind his provocatively titled book Any Dumb Ass Can Do It, and explains why leadership doesn’t require brilliance - just care, consistency, and courage. This episode is a reminder that great leadership isn’t about control or charisma. It’s about how you show up and the environment you create for others to thrive.

Recorded live at Climb25 - The UK’s Festival of Business Growth & Innovation, this episode of The Unlock Moment features Dr Bob Gomersall: physicist, teacher, accidental entrepreneur and pioneer of global educational technology. Bob traces his journey from teaching physics in the late 1970s to building a business delivering assessment platforms now used around the world, supporting awarding bodies, professional organisations and educational institutions to deliver over 45 million exams across 140 countries. Along the way, we explore the Unlock Moments that shaped his path … the decisions that didn’t come from having a perfect plan, but from gaining clarity about how to choose when the stakes were high and the future uncertain. Drawing on the ideas behind his new book, Worthwhile Wealth, Bob challenges conventional measures of success and invites us to rethink what achievement really means. Rather than chasing scale or status, he reflects on usefulness, impact, and the satisfaction that comes from doing work that genuinely matters - to you and to others. A thoughtful conversation about innovation, clarity, and building a business and a life that feels worthwhile.

Some unlock moments arrive quietly. Others come when life is in full conflict. For executive coach and conflict mediator Adam Vane, clarity appeared only after he walked away from the family business and into years of intense Zen training. Alone on a mountaintop retreat, he realised a truth that changed everything: “Nobody’s going to help me figure this out… it’s just little me.” That moment became the foundation for a career spent teaching leaders how to stay calm in chaos. In this episode, Adam offers a masterclass in de-escalation - how to hear the “charged words,” diffuse hostility and guide conversations from confrontation to breakthrough. From UN crisis zones to high-stakes boardrooms, he shows that effective conflict resolution isn’t about power … it’s about presence, attention and the courage to truly listen.

Some moments don’t arrive gently. They shake you awake and force you to see the world differently. For Professor Arad Reisberg, that clarity began in childhood, sitting on “whites only” benches in apartheid-era South Africa and feeling, long before he had language for it, that something was deeply wrong. Growing up openly gay, Jewish and a migrant, he learned early what it meant to move through the world as both insider and outsider. Years later, a quiet moment at home changed everything. His husband, a cardiologist, listened to his chest, paused, and said the words that led to a life-altering diagnosis and open-heart surgery. Recovery brought its own lessons - about invisible struggles, misplaced expectations and the humanity we all rely on but rarely talk about. Emerging from that experience, Arad found a clarity he hadn’t had before. A sharper sense of what matters, what doesn’t, and why lived experience is often the most powerful form of leadership. And he understood that real change, whether in education, healthcare or society, starts with empathy, courage and the willingness to truly listen. This conversation is a reminder that purpose isn’t discovered in titles or achievements … but in the moments that break the script and show us who we really are.

Some lessons in leadership come from success. Others come from failure ... and the courage to own it. For Tim Lupinacci, Chairman and CEO of Baker Donelson, one of America’s leading law firms, his Unlock Moment came early in his career - a late night in the office, a costly mistake, and a boss who unexpectedly saw potential instead of failure. That moment changed everything, sparking a lifelong mission to help others discover that leadership isn’t something you wait for … it’s something you choose. We talk about taking ownership, showing up when it’s hard, and how the way you lead - your “leadership aroma,” as Tim calls it - shapes the people around you. He shares practical insights on building trust, creating psychological safety, and finding resilience when the world feels uncertain. This conversation is a reminder that leadership doesn’t begin with a promotion ... it begins with how you show up today.

In a time when companies talk about culture but struggle to live it, one truth stands out: culture doesn’t happen by accident … it happens by design. Father and daughter James and Krista White have spent their careers on opposite ends of the leadership spectrum - James in the boardrooms of Fortune 500 companies, Krista in the world of purpose-driven strategy and social impact. Together, they’ve written Culture by Design, a blueprint for building organisations that are high-performing, human and intentional. We talk about leading across generations, the role of empathy as a true leadership skill, and how to close the gap between what companies say they value and what people actually experience every day. Their story is a powerful reminder that great culture isn’t inherited … it’s created, moment by moment, choice by choice, by leaders who dare to design it.

In a world that celebrates networking, collecting contacts and trading favours, we often overlook a more meaningful truth: real connection isn’t built through transactions … it’s built through generosity, trust and shared purpose. David Homan understands this deeply. A classical composer, CEO and author of Orchestrating Connection, he is known as a “connector of connectors”, bringing remarkable people together in ways that create genuine impact. We talk about the experience of feeling like an outsider, the courage it takes to show up with generosity when you’re not sure anything will come back, and how to build relationships that are rooted in resonance, not reciprocity. David’s story is a powerful reminder that belonging isn’t found by trying to fit in … it’s created by choosing to show up as yourself, and inviting others to do the same.

We all carry an inner fear of failure ... of getting it wrong, falling short, or not becoming who we thought we should be. But what if the moments you label as “failure” are actually the turning points that reveal who you truly are? In this Box of Keys episode, I explore the quiet power of failure - not as the opposite of success, but as the path that shapes it. I share the story of Retail Trust CEO Chris Brook-Carter, who experienced a career-shaking setback that ultimately transformed his leadership. And I reflect on my own moment of feeling like I’d failed when I stepped away from medicine … only to discover, years later, that leaving was the most important Unlock Moment of my life. Failure doesn’t diminish you. It redirects you. It teaches you who you are, where you thrive, and what matters most. If you’ve been holding on to a moment you wish had gone differently, this key is for you ... because the part of your story you’re most reluctant to revisit might just be the chapter that changed everything.

For years, Navid Nazemian was the one guiding leaders through big changes ... C-suite appointments, career pivots, and organisational upheaval. As an executive in global HR and the author of Mastering Executive Transitions, he built a reputation for helping others navigate uncertainty with clarity. But then, life brought a transition of his own. In this powerful episode, Navid opens up about the personal and professional reckoning that led him to walk away from a high-flying corporate career and step into the unknown. He shares what it really takes to leave behind an identity you’ve spent decades building ... and how you start again with intention, purpose and courage. We explore the hidden emotional cost of transition, the gender gap in leadership support, and the surprising truths that emerge when the expert becomes the one in need of guidance. This isn’t just a conversation about change. It’s a masterclass in what it means to transform.

We tell ourselves there’s always time ... time to start the dream project, make the change, take the leap. But when life throws us a wake-up call, we realise how fragile that assumption is. In this Box of Keys episode, I reflect on the moving story of Hayley Thomas, who, after her husband’s cancer diagnosis at 40, chose to stop waiting for the “right” moment and launch their fashion business, Eleven Loves, right in the middle of his treatment. Their courage is a reminder that the best time to begin isn’t someday ... it’s now. Because when we truly understand that time isn’t infinite, we stop procrastinating and start prioritising what matters most.

What happens when the energy that’s always defined you simply vanishes? For decades, Sue Holly-Rodway was a powerhouse … a dynamic senior leader in the tech world, an executive coach, and a woman known for her drive, passion and light. Then long COVID struck, and that light dimmed overnight. The fatigue was relentless. The smallest tasks became impossible. Life as she knew it collapsed into stillness. In this deeply moving conversation, Sue opens up about the physical and emotional unravelling that followed, and the long process of rediscovery that came next. We talk about the loss of identity that comes when your strength - your energy - is gone, and what it takes to rebuild not from momentum, but from meaning. Sue’s story is one of resilience and grace. It’s about finding clarity when everything goes dark … and learning that even when the light goes out, it can come back in a softer, wiser form.

Stepping into leadership can feel overwhelming ... especially when you’re looking around at how everyone else does it. But here’s the truth: no-one else leads like you, because no-one else is you. In this Box of Keys episode, I discuss why the best leaders don’t copy someone else’s style - they lean into their own strengths and lead in a way that feels authentic. Drawing on Gallup research and years of coaching experience, I share why self-awareness is the key to confident, effective leadership, and how to let go of comparison so you can inspire others in a way that only you can. If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re “doing leadership right”, this conversation will remind you that your unique approach is exactly what your team needs.

How do you stay human in a world that’s being redefined by technology? How do you keep your work creative, meaningful and alive ... when sameness and automation are all around us? In this episode, we explore how curiosity, creativity and agency can transform the way you show up - at work and in life. Greg Orme and I talk about the moments that light you up, why it’s so easy to get stuck on the “rails” of your career, and how to rediscover your human edge in the age of AI. Greg is the award-winning author of The Human Edge, named Business Book of the Year, and a global executive educator. He helps leaders and organisations unlock innovation and create space for people to do the best work of their lives.

What if disagreement is exactly what your team needs? In this Box of Keys episode, I explore why pushing too hard for total agreement can actually hold your team back. When everyone feels pressured to nod along with the strategy, what you often get is hidden tension, quiet resentment, and a lack of true engagement. But disagreement isn’t a problem to eliminate ... it’s an opportunity to explore. When we create space for dissent and ask questions like “tell me more about why you disagree,” we uncover blind spots, surface fresh ideas, and build strategies that people truly believe in. This episode is a reflection on how leaders can turn moments of tension into moments of clarity. By leaning into disagreement with curiosity, we transform conflict into creativity, invite real collaboration, and ultimately move the team forward together with greater energy and commitment.

In August 2025, I travelled to Kyiv, Ukraine, during a week that marked both the country’s Independence Day and one of the largest aerial attacks on the capital since the war began. I wanted to understand, firsthand, what life is really like in a city at war. To walk its streets. To listen to its people. To witness what the headlines can’t capture. What I found was a city of striking contrasts. Playgrounds beside burned-out tanks. Gold-domed cathedrals standing silent under the threat of missile strikes. A grand hotel ballroom turned emergency bunker. Every conversation just one step away from someone who has lost someone. And always, an inescapable tension beneath the resilience. This is not analysis from afar. It is a personal reflection on resilience, survival, and the quiet courage of people living through extraordinary circumstances. From Kyiv, Ukraine … this is a special edition of my Box of Keys.

You can’t fix what no one feels safe to say out loud. In this episode, I sit down with astronaut Dr Charles Camarda to explore the cultural roots of catastrophic failure ... and how even the most advanced organisations can lose their way. We talk about the moments that led to the Columbia tragedy, the silence that surrounded it, and what Charlie learned when he was removed from his role after speaking out. This is a conversation about what real leadership looks like in high-pressure environments. Not just launching missions - but creating space for truth, dissent, and critical thinking at every level of a team. Charlie Camarda is a former NASA astronaut, research engineer, and Director of Engineering. He’s spent nearly five decades working at the intersection of innovation and risk ... and he’s on a mission to help leaders learn from the failures we don’t talk about enough.

How do you tell the difference between someone who’s a solid performer and someone who’s driven by something deeper ... by purpose, mission, and impact? In this Box of Keys episode, I reflect on a conversation with a senior leader who believed everyone in his organisation was motivated by money and promotion. But when you look more closely, the exceptional ones often signal something else entirely. This is a conversation about learning to read those signals. Because when someone asks for more money, they’re telling you something. And when someone asks how they can help create more impact, they’re telling you something too. The question is ... are you listening? If you want to understand how to identify and support your purpose-driven people, this one’s for you.

This is a conversation about what happens when the data you’ve trusted your whole career turns out to be pointing you in the wrong direction. It’s about the moment when logic starts to unravel, and real clarity begins ... not in more numbers, but in understanding what the customer truly sees. Michael Ross brings a deep humility to his insight: that the story behind the numbers can be more powerful than the numbers themselves. Michael is one of the most respected thinkers in retail and customer data today. A Cambridge mathematician and entrepreneur, he co-founded one of the UK’s earliest online retailers, now advises global brands, and teaches at London Business School. But in this episode, it’s not what he knows - it’s what he rethought - that will stay with you.

Leadership isn’t about being liked, though most great leaders are likeable. The difference is that their likeability comes from credibility and respect, not from chasing approval. In this Box of Keys episode, I explore why trying to lead by being liked almost always backfires, and why boundaries are essential for both children and teams. Leaders need to separate tough decisions from personal feelings, resisting the pull to be manipulated by emotions or the desire to be popular. Because when you build authority first, genuine likeability tends to follow. So where are the moments you’re most tempted to prioritise being liked over doing the right thing ... and how do you handle them?