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The Connected Leadership Podcast

The Connected Leadership Podcast

By: Evergreen Podcasts
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Speaker and author on professional relationships, Andy Lopata, explores great connections with experts and high achievers worldwide.Andy Lopata, H & A Lopata ltd 2020 Career Success Economics Leadership Management & Leadership
Episodes
  • A Hand Up, Not a Hand Out with Nigel Kershaw OBE

    A Hand Up, Not a Hand Out with Nigel Kershaw OBE
    Jun 15 2026
    When The Big Issue launched in 1991, it didn't just introduce a new publication; it fundamentally changed the face of homelessness. By offering a "hand up, not a hand out," it turned vulnerable individuals into micro-entrepreneurs and challenged the traditional charity model. In this inspiring episode from the archive, Andy Lopata speaks with Nigel Kershaw, Chairman of The Big Issue Group, about the incredible 30-year journey of this iconic social enterprise. Nigel shares the origin story—sparked by an encounter on the streets of New York—and the initial pushback they faced from both the homeless community and established charities. Discover how The Big Issue built a powerful, interdependent relationship with its vendors, the critical pivot they made overnight during the pandemic lockdown, and how a "mad idea" to start a social merchant bank led to managing £300 million in impact funds. This is a masterclass in leading with purpose, scaling impact, and proving that business solutions can solve social crises. What you will learn in this episode: The Origin Story: How a chance encounter with a "two-time loser from upstate New York" inspired the creation of one of the world's most successful social enterprises. The Business of Prevention: Why The Big Issue was strictly structured as a business, not a charity, and the initial resistance they faced from both charities and homeless individuals. The Interdependent Relationship: How the dynamic between The Big Issue and its vendors differs entirely from the traditional "giver and receiver" charity model. Actionable Insights: Build Interdependent Relationships: Move away from purely transactional or paternalistic relationships with your stakeholders. The Big Issue succeeds because the business needs the vendors to sell, and the vendors need the business for stock. Create structures where your success is directly tied to the success of your partners. Incubate Radical Ideas Separately: When you have a disruptive or highly innovative idea, don't force it onto a core team that is already busy managing day-to-day operations. Like The Big Issue did with their investment arm, incubate these ideas outside the main structure to allow them space to grow without facing immediate resistance or resource constraints. Use Crises to Force Digital Transformation: When the pandemic wiped out their street sales overnight, The Big Issue didn't just ask for donations; they accelerated a planned digital pivot, introducing cashless sales and digital wallets. Use major disruptions as a catalyst to push through necessary innovations that might otherwise take years to implement. SELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODE Connect with Andy Lopata: Website | Instagram | LinkedIn | X/Twitter | YouTube Connect with Nigel Kershaw OBE: Website |LinkedIn | The Financial Times Guide to Mentoring Episode 173 Featuring Nigel Kershaw OBE
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    22 mins
  • How to Lead When the Rules Keep Changing with Nikki Bush

    How to Lead When the Rules Keep Changing with Nikki Bush
    Jun 8 2026
    When the pandemic hit, the instruction was simple: "Go home." But returning to a hybrid model? That's a complex, messy experiment full of grey areas. In this episode from the archive, Andy Lopata chats to human potential expert Nikki Bush, dialing in from Johannesburg. They explore why the return to hybrid work is causing so much stress for both leaders and teams, and why standardising rules across an entire organisation often leads to disaster. Nikki shares practical strategies for navigating this new autonomy, emphasising the need for employees to act as "intrapreneurs." Discover why the number one hybrid trap is "meeting-itis," how to ensure your virtual one-on-ones aren't just tick-box exercises, and the profound difference a leader can make by truly seeing the essence of their team members beyond their job descriptions. If you're struggling to balance flexibility with productivity, this episode offers a roadmap for connection. What you will learn in this episode The Autonomy Shift: Why hybrid work requires employees to stop acting like traditional staff and start thinking like "intrapreneurs" who are solely responsible for their output. The Illusion of Choice: Why giving employees too much choice in a hybrid model actually increases stress, and how to find the right balance of structure. The "Meeting-itis" Trap: Why over-scheduling meetings is the biggest mistake hybrid leaders make, and how it actively prevents real work from getting done. Beyond the Job Description: How to uncover the hidden "essence" of your team members. The Power of Intentional Listening: Why the success of your one-on-ones depends entirely on your intent, and how to prove you are listening with your "whole being." Actionable Insights Decentralise Hybrid Mandates: Do not try to mandate a single hybrid schedule (e.g., "everyone is in on Tuesdays") for an entire organisation. Empower individual team leaders to create their own bespoke hybrid mandates based on the specific operational needs and cross-departmental requirements of their group. Visibly Protect "Sacred Time": When conducting a one-on-one (especially virtually), explicitly state that you are turning off your devices to be fully present. If you must leave your phone on for an emergency, set that expectation at the very beginning of the meeting. This verbal boundary demonstrates profound respect. Conduct an "Essence Audit": Look past your team's job titles. Identify their innate strengths—who is the nurturer? Who brings levity during a crisis? Actively share these observations with them. Reflecting these strengths back to your team not only builds confidence but allows you to deploy them more effectively when unforeseen challenges arise. SELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODE Connect with Andy Lopata: Website | Instagram | LinkedIn | X/Twitter | YouTube Connect with Nikki Bush: Website |Instagram | The Financial Times Guide to Mentoring Episode 172 Featuring Nikki Bush
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    21 mins
  • Mastering Your Emotional Responses with Vicky O'Farrell

    Mastering Your Emotional Responses with Vicky O'Farrell
    Jun 1 2026
    Have you ever let a bad commute ruin a crucial meeting? Or sent a hasty, frustrated reply to a message you misunderstood? In this highly relatable episode, Andy Lopata sits down with Vicky O'Farrell, known as the "Queen of Behaviours," to unpack how the minor inconveniences of our day can hijack our brains, alter our moods, and ultimately sabotage our professional relationships. Andy and Vicky dive deep into the psychology of our daily triggers—from the "limbic" fight-or-flight response of getting cut off in traffic, to the toxic nature of instant-reply culture on WhatsApp and social media. Vicky shares a powerful personal story of how her own traffic-induced bad mood infected an entire construction site, highlighting the contagious nature of our emotions. Together, they explore practical tools to reset your emotional temperature and how pausing to consider another person's perspective can save your most valuable connections. About Our Guest:Vicky O'Farrell is an expert in human behavior and communication, widely known as the "Queen of Behaviours." With 25 years of corporate experience, from charming Sales rep to Boardroom boss, Vicky founded Queen of Behaviours in 2013 after her own behaviour had a tiny impact on her corporate trajectory. Splitting her time between delivering high-level corporate workshops in London and helping run her husband’s construction business, Vicky has a unique, boots-on-the-ground understanding of how to adapt communication styles, read the room, and manage emotional energy across vastly different workplace cultures. What we discussed in this episode: The Traffic Jam Trigger: Why getting cut off in traffic immediately triggers our "chimp" limbic system, and how the stories we tell ourselves about why the other person did it dictate our mood for the rest of the day. The PAUSE Model: Vicky introduces the concept of PAUSE—starting with "P" for Perspective—and how assuming a positive intent (e.g., they are rushing to the hospital) can instantly lower your dangerous cortisol levels. Code-Switching and Authenticity: How to adapt your communication style and energy when moving between entirely different environments (like a corporate boardroom vs. a construction site) without losing your authentic self. The 0 to 10 Energy Scale: Why striving to be a "10 out of 10" every day is actually a mistake, and why finding your grounded "5" is often the best way to match your audience's emotional needs. The Doorway Reset: Practical tools—like curating a specific Spotify playlist, checking your "mirror," and Box Breathing (4 in, 4 hold, 4 out)—to reset your mood before you walk into a room. Resources Mentioned in this Episode: Paul McGee’s Book: S.U.M.O (Shut Up, Move On) Breathing Technique: Box Breathing (Inhale for 4 seconds, hold for 4 seconds, exhale for 4 seconds). Download the full episode to learn how to master your mood and protect your professional relationships! SELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODE Connect with Andy Lopata: Website | Instagram | LinkedIn | X/Twitter | YouTube Connect with Vicky O’Farrell: YouTube |LinkedIn |Facebook The Financial Times Guide to Mentoring Box Breathing Relaxation Technique
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    48 mins
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