Helping Organisations Thrive with Julian Roberts

Marjie Hadad | Strategic Communication: How to Get What You Want Without Manipulation

In this engaging conversation, global PR expert and executive coach Marjie Hadad reveals why every leader needs to adopt a "PR mindset" – and it's not what you think. Moving beyond the stereotypes of spin and press releases, Marjie reframes PR as strategic communication that helps us achieve our goals and solve problems in every area of life. Through vivid real-world examples – from handling an unresponsive waitress to inspiring frustrated team members – she demonstrates how intentional communication, clear goal-setting, and empathetic delivery can transform outcomes in both professional and personal contexts.
Marjie shares her practical framework for effective communication: reverse engineer from your desired outcome, understand your audience's mindset, and deliver your message with the right words, tone, and timing. She emphasises the power of listening over talking, the importance of body language, and her favourite Irish proverb: "Keep your eye on the donut, not on the hole." Whether you're leading a team, preparing for a presentation, or simply trying to get your dry cleaning done faster, Marjie's insights offer a refreshing approach to communication that prioritises win-win outcomes, authenticity, and strategic thinking. 
 
Connect with Marjie:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marjiehadad/
Website:  https://marjiehadad.com/
 
 
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If you are looking for a Blueprint to help you and your business manage uncertainty, deal with failure and navigate change then reach out to Julian at: julian@julianrobertsconsulting.com
 
You can buy my book "Weathering the Storm: A Guide to Building Resilient Teams" on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DFTYN2Y2
 
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Laurence Penn | Bed Number One: Surviving the Impossible and Finding Resilience

In March 2020, a seemingly routine walk turned into a fight for survival when Laurence Penn, a West Sussex businessman became one of the UK's first COVID-19 patients. Rushed to Worthing Hospital, he was placed in an induced coma in Bed Number One—and didn't wake up for 29 days. When he finally regained consciousness, he faced a devastating reality: he'd lost 25 kilograms of muscle mass, couldn't walk unaided, had developed a drop foot and speech impediment, and was told recovery would take 18 months. But rather than accept this prognosis, he chose a different path—one built on discipline, breaking down impossible goals into small wins, and celebrating every milestone, no matter how minor.
This episode explores an extraordinary journey of resilience and mental toughness, from learning to stand five times in a row to cycling 106 miles along the South Downs Way exactly one year after being put into a coma. Discover how daily discipline, controlling what you can control, and seeking perspective from others can transform adversity into strength. Whether you're facing business challenges, health struggles, or personal setbacks, this conversation offers practical wisdom on building resilience, maintaining focus, and finding purpose in the darkest moments. The conversation also touches on how this life-changing experience reshaped his approach to business, leading him to create a leaner, more intentional way of working that prioritises what truly matters.
 
Connect with Laurence:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurencepenn/
Website:  https://www.bednumberone.com/
 
 
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If you are looking for a Blueprint to help you and your business manage uncertainty, deal with failure and navigate change then reach out to Julian at: julian@julianrobertsconsulting.com
 
You can buy my book "Weathering the Storm: A Guide to Building Resilient Teams" on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DFTYN2Y2
 
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Vincent Murphy | From Linear to Exponential: Leadership in the Age of AI

We're living through one of only four times in human history when everything fundamentally changes. Just as the printing press didn't just make books faster, it sparked the Renaissance, Reformation, and Enlightenment. AI isn't just making our work more efficient. It's reshaping how we think, lead, and connect.
In this episode of Helping Organisations Thrive, I sit down with Vincent Murphy, an AI strategist who helps leaders shift from linear thinking to exponential mindsets. Vincent explores why traditional leadership approaches fall short in the face of exponential change, and why the best leaders today are more like ship captains navigating uncharted waters than experts with all the answers. Discover why radical honesty, not certainty, is the new currency of leadership and how AI might just free us to do what humans do best: care for each other.
 
Connect with Vincent:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brainstormvince/
Website:  https://www.vincentmurphy.co.uk/
 
 
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If you are looking for a Blueprint to help you and your business manage uncertainty, deal with failure and navigate change then reach out to Julian at: julian@julianrobertsconsulting.com
 
You can buy my book "Weathering the Storm: A Guide to Building Resilient Teams" on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DFTYN2Y2
 
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Mary Kemp | It's About People, Not Tech: The Human Side of AI Implementation

In this insightful episode of Helping Organisations Thrive, Julian sits down with Mary Kemp, award-winning founder of AI Potential, to explore the human side of AI implementation in the workplace. Mary challenges the common narrative around AI job displacement, delivering the powerful insight that "people worry that AI is going to replace their jobs and it will not—people using AI will replace their jobs." She emphasises that AI should be viewed as a skill rather than a tool, requiring intentional development and organisational support. The conversation reveals that the real challenge isn't the technology itself, but managing the unprecedented uncertainty that comes with this transformation, making it fundamentally about people, not tech.
Mary shares practical strategies for organisations looking to build an "AI culture," including her five stages of AI adoption (indifference, fear, cheating, confidence, and transformation) and explains why skeptics—whom she calls "meerkats"—can become an organisation's biggest AI champions when properly supported. Drawing from real-world examples ranging from council tutors to plumbing firms, she demonstrates how AI can solve repetitive tasks and unlock human potential when implemented thoughtfully. The discussion also addresses critical concerns around data security, the rise of "shadow AI" in organisations, and the World Economic Forum's prediction that 40% of current job skills will be replaced over the next five years—while simultaneously creating 78 million new jobs we can't yet imagine.
 
Connect with Mary:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-kemp-ai/
Website:  https://aipotential.ai/
 
 
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If you are looking for a Blueprint to help you and your business manage uncertainty, deal with failure and navigate change then reach out to Julian at: julian@julianrobertsconsulting.com
 
You can buy my book "Weathering the Storm: A Guide to Building Resilient Teams" on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DFTYN2Y2
 
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Alex Panayotou | Building an Endurance Mindset: Lessons from 400km of Non-Stop Running

In this episode of Helping Organisations Thrive, Julian speaks with Alex Panayotou, one of only five women globally to complete extreme solo running challenges including a 400km non-stop run. Alex shares her transformation from a place of repeated failures and pessimism in her 30s to becoming an endurance mindset expert who has developed leaders at companies like Coca Cola, Uber, and Microsoft. She reveals how her eight years of solo extreme challenges became a strategic process for personal development, ultimately shaping her approach to leadership resilience and burnout prevention.
Alex takes listeners inside her most challenging moment during the 400km run when everything went wrong simultaneously; team member absences, accidents, equipment failures, and near heat stroke. Through vivid storytelling, she demonstrates how mental clarity under extreme pressure translates directly to business crisis management. The conversation explores practical strategies for developing what Alex calls the real "hard skills" - emotional regulation, strategic thinking under stress, and building teams based on attitude rather than just technical competence. Alex's insights on preparation, pivoting under pressure, and maintaining clarity during both professional challenges and personal crises like her cancer diagnosis offer actionable frameworks for anyone facing significant obstacles.
 
Connect with Alex:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexpanayotou/
Website:  https://alexandrapanayotou.com/
 
 
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If you are looking for a Blueprint to help you and your business manage uncertainty, deal with failure and navigate change then reach out to Julian at: julian@julianrobertsconsulting.com
 
You can buy my book "Weathering the Storm: A Guide to Building Resilient Teams" on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DFTYN2Y2
 
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Angela Cox | Unmasking Your True Leadership Potential

In this eye-opening episode of Helping Organisations Thrive, we talk with Angela Cox, founder of Paseda 360 coach training academy, multi-award winning executive coach, therapist, and two-time bestselling author. Angela shares her powerful journey from corporate exhaustion to authentic leadership, revealing how she transformed her life after walking away from a lucrative consulting role when the weight of "pretending" became unbearable. Her story of losing eight stones while searching for fulfillment, only to realise that external changes couldn't fix internal disconnection, sets the stage for a profound exploration of workplace authenticity.
Angela unveils her groundbreaking research showing that 97% of leaders wear masks at work, identifying four primary personas: the Perfectionist (driven by fear of mistakes), the People Pleaser (seeking approval at all costs), the Persecutor of Self (engaging in constant self-blame), and the Persecutor of Others (deflecting blame when things go wrong). She explains how these protective mechanisms, born from our fundamental need to belong and avoid rejection, create an exhausting cycle that hampers both individual resilience and organisational effectiveness. The conversation provides practical tools for breaking free from these patterns, including exercises to build self-value and self-trust, while acknowledging the challenging but ultimately rewarding journey of removing the masks we've worn for decades to reveal our authentic leadership potential.
 
Connect with Angela:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelacoxpaseda360/
Website:  https://angelacoxcoaching.com/
 
 
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If you are looking for a Blueprint to help you and your business manage uncertainty, deal with failure and navigate change then reach out to Julian at: julian@julianrobertsconsulting.com
 
You can buy my book "Weathering the Storm: A Guide to Building Resilient Teams" on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DFTYN2Y2
 
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Melissa Franks | Stop Freezing, Start Pivoting: The Leader's Guide to Resilient Decision-Making

In this compelling episode, seasoned fractional COO and business strategist Melissa Franks shares her unique perspective on developing resilience in leadership through what she calls "strengthening your resilience muscle." Drawing from her 20+ years of operational excellence, including her journey from administrative assistant to CEO of a $350 million business, Melissa reveals how resilience is fundamentally about problem-solving and adapting to our rapidly changing world. She introduces her powerful basketball analogy, where leaders must learn to "plant their pivot foot" when original plans don't work out, then look up and assess the ever-changing landscape around them to determine their next right move. This framework helps leaders avoid the paralysis that often comes with unexpected challenges and instead maintain momentum through uncertainty.
Melissa dives deep into practical leadership strategies for building resilient teams, emphasising the critical importance of vulnerability, observation, and creating psychological safety. She shares a memorable story about publicly apologising to her team after making a major procurement mistake, demonstrating how authentic leadership builds trust and encourages innovation. The conversation explores how successful leaders must transition from doing everything themselves to becoming facilitators who leverage the collective strengths of their teams. Melissa argues that at the executive level, leadership becomes fundamentally "a people business" focused on developing, coaching, and growing individuals rather than hands-on operational work. Her insights offer actionable guidance for leaders navigating today's complex business environment while building organisations that can thrive through change.
 
Connect with Melissa:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissafranks/
Website:  https://www.melissafranks.com/
 
 
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If you are looking for a Blueprint to help you and your business manage uncertainty, deal with failure and navigate change then reach out to Julian at: julian@julianrobertsconsulting.com
 
You can buy my book "Weathering the Storm: A Guide to Building Resilient Teams" on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DFTYN2Y2
 
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Dr Torben Norby | Contextual Leadership: How to Adapt Your Style Without Losing Your Authenticity

In this compelling episode, Dr. Torben Norby shares his expertise on contextual leadership, drawing from over two decades of experience spanning military service, retail management, and international business transformation. Torben breaks down contextual leadership into three core disciplines: understanding your context by identifying crucial performance factors, matching your leadership style through the balance of opening/closing and directing/sharing approaches, and actively shaping organisational structures and culture to promote performance. He reveals how military concepts like "leading through intent" have evolved into civilian applications, and shares a powerful real-world case study of helping a European organisation adapt during the Ukraine conflict by decoupling interdependencies and building contingent responses.
Throughout the conversation, Torben addresses the challenge every leader faces: how to remain authentic while adapting to different contexts, whether leading a production team versus a marketing department, or managing across cultures from Denmark to China. He emphasises that successful contextual leadership requires building common ground around shared values and principles, then leveraging diversity rather than being fragmented by it. The episode concludes with Torben's warning about the most common implementation mistake: failing to involve people in organisational alignment, reminding us that "you can't tell an organisation to align - you can only do that by mobilisation and enrollment."
 
Connect with Torben:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drnoerby/
Website:  https://drnoerby.com/
 
 
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If you are looking for a Blueprint to help you and your business manage uncertainty, deal with failure and navigate change then reach out to Julian at: julian@julianrobertsconsulting.com
 
You can buy my book "Weathering the Storm: A Guide to Building Resilient Teams" on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DFTYN2Y2