Anna Lungley – Sustainability is a business opportunity Anna Lungley is one of the UK’s most influential voices in corporate sustainability and responsible business. In Episode 72 of Nottingham Business School’s Business Leaders Podcast she says that, as climate change threatens raw material supplies and long-term profitability, successful businesses are seeing sustainability as a driver of innovation, not compliance. She tells Visiting Honorary Professor Mike Sassi that sustainability is moving beyond simply reducing harm, to creating “regenerative business models” that drive resilience and open new market opportunities. Anna acknowledges the huge political challenges that sustainability currently faces. But she urges business leaders to stay “fact-based and courageous”. “Celebrate progress, not perfection,” she adds.

Louise Rodrigues owns Dubai-based construction consultancy AQUILA For more than 20 years she has worked on billion-dollar building projects right across the Middle East, including luxury hotels, five-star holiday resorts and exclusive golf courses. In Episode 71 of the Nottingham Business School’s Business Leaders’ Podcast, Louise tells Visiting Honorary Professor Mike Sassi about the importance of being direct, having the right attitude… and why there is no place for egos on a big construction project.

Air Chief Marshal Sir Andrew Pulford KCB CBE was the first helicopter pilot to be appointed Britain’s Chief of the Air Staff – the professional head of the Royal Air Force. In Episode 70 of the Nottingham Business School’s Business Leaders’ Podcast, he explains that good leadership rests on the core principles of clear intent, achievable goals and shared purpose. Drawing on frontline experience in Afghanistan, Iraq, the Falklands, and Northern Ireland, Sir Andrew also reflects on the importance of balance in leadership. He tells Visiting Honorary Professor Mike Sassi: “You’ve got to provide the space for fun!”

Dr Jessica Lautz is Deputy Chief Economist at the National Association of Realtors – representing 1.5m American estate agents. In Episode 69 of the Nottingham Business School’s Business Leaders’ Podcast, she tells Visiting Honorary Professor Mike Sassi how she built her leadership career in a traditionally male-dominated industry. From testifying before the US Congress to baking cakes at a local homeless shelter, she explains why honesty, trust, and preparation are her guiding principles. She also reveals why women too often feel the need to “over-prepare”. And Dr Lautz’s standout advice for other would-be leaders? Embrace your “nerdy passions” …use them as a foundation for authentic leadership.

Ben Dorks has taken Nottingham-based Ideagen from a £100m local software company to a £1bn international tech business. He left school with just a handful of GCSEs. But his drive, ambition and entrepreneurial spirit have built him a career as a hugely successful international CEO. A lifelong Nottingham Forest fan, his company’s logo also sits proudly on the shirt sleeve of the team he supports. And he has turned his passion for football into community impact, teaming up with Forest to launch the Think Big initiative that helps local teenagers discover careers in technology. In Episode 68 of the Nottingham Business School’s Business Leaders’ Podcast, Ben tells Visiting Honorary Professor Mike Sassi about his desire to inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs.

Caroline Wayman is an accomplished, high-profile leader who – as Chief Executive of the Financial Ombudsman Service – lead the drive to compensate bank customers caught up in the national Payment Protection Insurance (PPI) scandal. Over ten years, her team dealt with two million PPI complaints, forcing the banks to hand over £38bn in compensation to customers who had been wrongly sold insurance policies. In Episode 67 of the Nottingham Business School’s Business Leaders’ Podcast, Caroline tells Visiting Honorary Professor Mike Sassi about the pressures of working in the national news spotlight – and the importance of being guided by a set of core values.

Dr. Marcellus Baz BEM is an award-winning social entrepreneur, youth mentor, and the founder of Switch Up and the Marcellus Baz Foundation. Honoured with a British Empire Medal and an honorary doctorate from Nottingham Trent University, Baz has dedicated his life to empowering young people affected by crime, violence, and inequality. Through sport, mentoring, and education, he leads a powerful movement for change across Nottinghamshire and beyond. In Episode 66 of the podcast, Baz shares his journey, the challenges of social enterprise, and how business can be a force for community transformation.

Dr Anino Emuwa is an entrepreneur, academic and thought leader. She is also a passionate advocate for women in leadership. In Episode 65 of the Nottingham Business School’s Business Leaders’ Podcast, Dr Anino talks to Visiting Honorary Professor Mike Sassi about the unconscious bias faced by women leaders. She also highlights how AI is reinforcing centuries-old stereotypes – and explains why gender-balanced leadership benefits everyone in society.

Anton Roe first joined the fledgling MHR payroll software company as an apprentice, on a £27-a-week Youth Training Scheme. More than 30 years later, Anton is now the company’s CEO – and MHR software pays the salary of more than three million people across Britain. In Episode 64 of the Nottingham Business School’s Business Leaders’ Podcast, Anton tells Visiting Honorary Professor Mike Sassi about his rise from tech trainee to strategic leader. He passionately believes that chief execs are only as good as the teams of colleagues they build around them. Which is how the best companies nurture talented staff – and grow their own future leaders.

Rob Barker is an entrepreneur, adviser and investor in the international fitness industry. He started his career as a sales rep with Precor – one of the world’s largest suppliers of gym equipment – rising to the rank of President. He then led the team that sold Precor to American fitness giant Peloton for $420m. Rob is now an investor in, among others, billion-dollar fitness tech company EGYM. In Episode 63 of the Nottingham Business School’s Business Leaders’ Podcast, Rob tells Visiting Honorary Professor Mike Sassi how he stays optimistic, leads by example… and tries to improve his performance by 15 per cent every year!

Sarah Ellis – Making ‘squiggly careers’ better for everyone Sarah Ellis is co-founder of the pioneering Amazing If company that is revolutionising the way in which people view their careers. She and her business partner Helen Tupper have written two Sunday Times best-selling books about their innovative Squiggly Careers theory. They also host the hugely popular Squiggly Careers podcast. In Episode 62 of the Nottingham Business School’s Business Leaders’ Podcast, Sarah tells Visiting Honorary Professor Mike Sassi about recognising that the traditional career ladder no longer exists... and embracing squiggly careers.

Salma Tuqan is Director of the Nottingham Contemporary – one of Britain’s most prestigious galleries outside of London. She has worked with arts organistions all over the world, and for eight years was inaugural Curator of Middle Eastern Art at London’s Victoria and Albert Museum. During Episode 61 of the Nottingham Business School’s Business Leaders’ podcast, Salma talks to Honorary Visiting Professor Mike Sassi about her cultural leadership, her Palestinian heritage and her fundamental faith in people.

Marvin Cooke OBE was Vice President of Manufacturing for Toyota Europe – responsible for more than 20,000 staff and the production of 800,000 cars, at factories in Britain, France, Poland, Turkey and the Czech Republic. He started out as an apprentice engineer. Today he is Professor of Entrepreneurship at Derby Business School. During a candid conversation for Episode 60 of the Nottingham Business School’s Business Leaders’ podcast, David talks to Honorary Visiting Professor Mike Sassi about the importance of mentors, the fascination of engineering, and the nagging fear of failure that drives him on.

David Edwards is Managing Director of Seiko UK. He has been a senior leader in the British watchmaking industry for more than a quarter of a century, with brands including Seiko, TechnoMarine, Swatch and luxury Swiss timepieces Richard Mille. In Episode 59 of the Nottingham Business School’s Business Leaders’ podcast, David talks to Honorary Visiting Professor Mike Sassi about developing future leaders, marketing heritage brands, and dealing with customers who pay £100,000 for a diamond-encrusted wristwatch.

Dan Maher has spent more than four decades in and around the construction industry. He is now MD of both Via East Midlands and Arc Partnership, two companies providing services for Nottinghamshire County Council. But he started his career as a teenage apprentice at Sheffield City Council. In Episode 58 of the Nottingham Business School’s Business Leaders’ podcast, Dan tells Honorary Visiting Professor Mike Sassi about people-centric culture, walking the business… and the differences between working in the public and private sector.

Banker Sue Hayes is the first woman CEO of the Nottingham Building Society in its 174-year history. She arrived in Nottingham via senior leadership roles at GB Bank, Aldermore Bank, Barclays and Santander. In Episode 57 of the Nottingham Business School’s Business Leaders’ podcast, Sue tells Honorary Visiting Professor Mike Sassi about the significance of data, her fascination with Nudge Theory and the problem with Robin Hood. She also tells him that women leaders are too often underestimated.

Bal Bansal is Director of Global Technology Strategy at IHG Hotels & Resorts – a company with 6,000 hotels and 350,000 staff, around the world. He is an innovator and digital transformer. But he is also a leader who recognises the importance of community. In Episode 56 of the Nottingham Business School’s Business Leaders’ podcast, Bal talks to Honorary Visiting Professor Mike Sassi about Coke cans in Australia, hotels on Mars – and why he cooks meals for the homeless.

Small and medium businesses account for half of Britain’s turnover, 60 per cent of UK employment and 99 per cent of all our business enterprises. They also generate around half of Britain’s greenhouse gas emissions. But according to research by Santander, businesses are struggling to become more sustainable – and hit the Government target of achieving Net Zero by 2050. In Episode 55 of the Nottingham Business School’s Business Leaders’ Podcast, Wendy Whewell - Head of ESG and Climate Change at Santander, and Polly Harold - Senior Public Affairs and Public Policy manager at Santander, explain why climate change is such a big issue for businesses – and what they can do to become more sustainable.

Sean Bowles is a Managing Director at construction company Morgan Sindall – an organisation that employs 3,000 staff and turns over one billion pounds every year. His teams have built everything from city centre primary schools and university student blocks to salt barns for road gritters… and even a museum display case for a Spitfire. In Episode 54 of the Nottingham Business School’s Business Leaders’ Podcast, Sean tells Honorary Visiting Professor Mike Sassi about the importance of team building, networking, authenticity… and the need for leaders to stay calm.

Pete Markey is Chief Marketing Officer of Boots UK. He has also been hailed as the finest marketer in Britain. He has held leadership roles with a clutch of stellar brands, including TSB, AVIVA, The Post Office, RSA and More Than. He has also won five national Marketer of the Year titles. In Episode 53 of the Nottingham Business School’s Business Leaders’ podcast, Pete tells Honorary Visiting Professor Mike Sassi about his love of knotty challenges, his determination to stay relevant and his passionate belief that marketing (and business) should be a force for good. He also reveals how improvised comedy classes have helped him hone his leadership skills.