Inspiring Leadership with Jonathan Bowman-Perks MBE

This is the quiet room. The conversation a CEO usually has only with their trusted advisor, now open for you to hear. Each week, former British Army officer Jonathan Bowman-Perks MBE sits down with the people who run the place. Global CEOs and Chairs. Founders who built something that lasts. Generals and SAS officers who led where the cost was real. Jonathan advises chief executives for a living, so he asks the questions peers ask each other behind closed doors. What kept you on course when the storm hit. What you got wrong, and what it cost. What you want to be remembered for. No noise. No flattery. Just honest lessons from leaders worth learning from, whether you run a company today or you are on your way there. More than 420 conversations. One promise: you will leave each episode with something you can use on Monday morning. Press play. Find your True North. <p style='color:grey; font-size:

Inspiring Leadership with Jonathan Bowman-Perks MBE is a business podcast hosted by Jonathan Bowman-Perks, with 440 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Jonathan Bowman-Perks hosts Inspiring Leadership with Jonathan Bowman-Perks MBE, a business show with 440 episodes published.

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  Episode #444

  444. Be Brave in the Attempt - Karen Coventry, CEO of Special Olympics Ireland

  Oct 6, 202643 minS1

  Karen Coventry is the Chief Executive Officer of Special Olympics Ireland, where she leads one of Ireland's most impactful sporting and social inclusion organisations. Passionate about the transformative power of sport, Karen is dedicated to creating opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities to thrive, develop confidence, build relationships and reach their full potential. As CEO, Karen oversees the strategic direction and day-to-day leadership of Special Olympics Ireland, working alongside athletes, families, volunteers, coaches, staff, partners and supporters across the country. Her focus is on ensuring that every athlete has access to high-quality sporting opportunities while advancing a broader vision of inclusion, dignity and belonging for people with intellectual disabilities throughout Irish society. Karen's leadership philosophy is rooted in purpose, collaboration and impact. She believes that the strongest organisations are built on a clear mission, authentic relationships and a deep understanding of the communities they serve. Throughout her career, she has successfully led teams through periods of growth, change and transformation, always with a strong emphasis on people, culture and impact. At Special Olympics Ireland, Karen has championed initiatives that strengthen athlete participation, volunteer engagement, organisational sustainability and strategic partnerships. She is a strong advocate for listening to the voices of athletes, families and volunteers ensuring that their experiences help shape organisational priorities and decision making. Her commitment to inclusive leadership has helped reinforce Special Olympics Ireland's reputation as a trusted and respected movement that changes lives both on and off the playing field. Karen is also deeply committed to developing future leaders and fostering high-performing teams. She believes that leadership is not about position or title, but about creating environments where people feel empowered to contribute, grow and make a difference. This perspective informs her approach to organisational development, stakeholder engagement and the cultivation of a values-driven culture. She believes that sustainable change happens when organisations remain connected to the people they serve and are prepared to learn, adapt and innovate. A respected voice within the non-profit and sporting sectors, Karen regularly engages with government bodies, national governing bodies of sport, corporate partners and community organisations to advance awareness, inclusion and opportunity for people with intellectual disabilities. Throughout her work, Karen has witnessed the extraordinary resilience, determination and talent of Special Olympics athletes. These experiences continue to inspire her leadership and reinforce her belief that sport is one of society's most powerful tools for breaking down barriers, challenging perceptions and building more inclusive communities. Through her leadership of Special Olympics Ireland, Karen continues to work toward a future where people with intellectual disabilities are fully included in every aspect of community life and where sport serves as a catalyst for confidence, connection and lasting positive change. Karen welcomes conversations with individuals, organisations and businesses interested in volunteering, donating or partnering with Special Olympics Ireland to support athletes and build more inclusive communities. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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  Episode #443

  443. Chairman and Entrepreneur - Paul Campbell

  Sep 29, 202654 minS1

  Paul currently serves as Chairman of Campbell Companies, a group of businesses supporting mining, energy development, construction, and technology operations across more than thirty facilities throughout the Western United States, employing over 1,300 associates and generating more than $1 billion in annual revenue. He also serves as Honorary Consul of Canada for Utah, representing the Canadian government in trade, foreign direct investment, and foreign affairs throughout the state. Paul has held numerous industry leadership roles, including the board of directors and National Chairman of Associated Equipment Distributors, a construction equipment dealer trade association serving the United States and Canada with more than 1,200 member companies. He previously served as President of Utah AED, on the Utah Board of Directors and executive committees of the Associated General Contractors, and on several other corporate and charitable boards and is an active investor/advisor in private equity and venture capital funds. Paul's career has centered on starting, acquiring, growing, and advising businesses, resulting in multiple successful exits. He co-founded and currently serves as CEO of Solutions Financial Services, which achieved 4x year-over-year revenue growth this year. Paul is also currently a faculty member at the David Eccles School of Business at the University of Utah. Paul is a graduate of the University of Utah, where he earned a degree in Business Law. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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  Episode #442

  442. Constructive Insubordination- General Sir Nick Parker

  Sep 22, 202658 minS1

  Nick Parker left the UK Army in May 2013 after 40 years’ service. His senior operational military experience includes Northern Ireland, the Balkans, Sierra Leone, Iraq and Afghanistan. He led the military reaction to the venue security crisis at the London 2012 Olympics. His final appointment was Commander in Chief UK Land Forces.&nbsp; Since leaving he has reviewed the senior structure of the UK Police, participated in the Citizens Commission on Islam, Participation & Public Life and has mentored senior business executives.&nbsp; He advised the Ukraine Minister of Defence from 2016 to 2019. He was the Chair of the Prince of Wales’ #iwill Campaign and was a Director of the Invictus Games 2014 .&nbsp; He is a Geopolitical Advisor to Academy Securities and a Director of Tenacious Holdings Ltd. He was the Chair of REACT Disaster Response for 10 years and now Chairs the Armed Services Trauma Rehabilitation Outcome (Advance) Study Charity.&nbsp;&nbsp; Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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  Episode #441

  441. Steve Byrne CEO Travel Counsellors

  Sep 15, 202646 minS1

  Steve Byrne leads one of the most distinctive businesses in global travel. Not call centres. Not high-street shops. People. As CEO of Travel Counsellors, he leads a community of more than 4,000 independent travel entrepreneurs connected through its platform and supported by over 400 support team colleagues across seven countries.&nbsp;&nbsp; His own start was humble. His first job was a paper round. Through sixth form he sold kitchens and beds in the evenings and at weekends. That early apprenticeship in graft and face-to-face selling shaped a leader who has always understood a simple truth. Trust is earned one customer at a time.&nbsp; Steve joined Travel Counsellors in 2004 as Managing Director, joining an already successful and distinctive business. In 2014 he led a management buyout backed by Equistone Partners. In September 2016 he became CEO. Two years later he led a secondary acquisition with Vitruvian Partners. Steve’s focus has been on helping the business continue to grow and evolve while building on the culture of care and personal relationships at its heart.&nbsp; The defining test came with COVID when the global travel industry effectively came to a standstill. For Steve, it was the clearest test of whether the values the business talked about would hold when circumstances were at their toughest. The company focused on supporting its people and looking after customers through extraordinary uncertainty, helping them navigate cancellations, changes and refunds at a time when trusted, personal advice mattered more than ever. The business subsequently emerged strongly from the pandemic. It topped MoneySavingExpert's customer care survey and returned to 65% growth above pre-pandemic levels. For Steve, the way the community responded remains one of the proudest chapters of his leadership.&nbsp; The track record reflects that consistency. The company has received 25,000 Trustpilot reviews and has won numerous awards and accolades over its 30-year journey, including most recently the 2026 King’s Award for Enterprise in Innovation and the Customer Loyalty Award at the 2025 Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards.&nbsp; Steve sees leadership as a privilege rather than a position. His approach is grounded in taking responsibility, remaining open to learning and creating the conditions for others to succeed. He believes in combining high challenge with high support, and in ensuring that growth never comes at the expense of care.&nbsp; Steve’s experience reflects a tension familiar to many leaders. He runs a PE-backed technology platform business with hard commercial targets while seeking to keep a human, values-led culture at its centre. His focus has been on helping an established, successful business grow and evolve, investing in data and technology while protecting the culture, care and human connection that make it distinctive. For CEOs navigating the pressures of growth, technological innovation and leading at scale, Steve brings practical experience of leading a high-performing business through significant growth and change without losing sight of its people, purpose or values.&nbsp; Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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  Episode #440

  440. Are You Speaking Truth to Power, or Just Your Opinion?

  Sep 8, 202650 minS1

  Sir Simon Gass is a Senior Adviser to SC Strategy, a London-based geopolitical strategy company. Simon had a long career as a British diplomat and national security expert. While in the British Foreign Office, his appointments included Ambassador to Greece (2004-2009), Ambassador to Iran (2009-2011) and NATO’s Senior Civilian Representative to Afghanistan (2011-12). As the Foreign Office’s Political Director (2013-2016) Simon led policy on the Middle East, Russia, Africa, South and Central Asia, the United Nations and other international institutions. During this period, he led the UK team at the prolonged E3+3 negotiations which resulted in the Iran Nuclear Agreement – the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action - in July 2015. After leaving the Foreign Office, Simon became Commandant of the Royal College of Defence Studies in 2018. From 2019 to 2023 Simon was appointed Chair of the Joint Intelligence Committee and Adviser on Intelligence to successive British Prime Ministers. He was responsible for providing the Prime Minister and National Security Council with strategic assessments on the full range of national security issues. Simon is also a Visiting Professor at King’s College London and a Distinguished Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute. He is a frequent media commentator on international affairs. Website: https://jonathanperks.com/podcasts/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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