Failure, Steve tells us, is a good teacher, and when you get involved in leadership, expect to make mistakes (and learn from them).

In this episode of our monthly series of leadership conversations, Dr Jonathan Darling, RCPCH VP for Education and Professional Development, speaks with Steve about how his academic and leadership roles evolved, starting with a thin CV and stepping up as opportunities arose. He became involved in child health research, first in small groups, and then collaborating with colleagues across the UK and globe. His route to RCPCH President began with other College roles, including Scottish Officer and Registrar.

Steve and Jonathan talk about his leadership values: realistic communication, a flat hierarchy and a culture of respect.

• Read Jonathan's reflections and download the transcript from episode 7 on RCPCH website
• See related resources about 'Leading the Way'- on RCPCH Learning

This month, it's our usual podcast host Jonathan in the spotlight! He's interviewed by Arnab Seal, who featured in our previous episode.

How to pinpoint the start of Jonathan's leadership journey? Perhaps when he was a senior registrar and helped set up a junior doctors' committee to come up with realistic proposals to resolve some of the things that weren't working as well as they could - like rotas. "That was leadership, but I didn't really realise it at the time," he says, "I was just doing what I felt needed to be done to make a difference."

It's a reminder that leadership often starts with small but meaningful actions.

Jonathan went on to become a consultant and senior lecturer in Leeds, and engaged in medical education and safeguarding. Now Vice President for Education and Professional Development at the College, where he enjoys learning from others' expertise and perspectives, he's been at the helm of the RCPCH Thrive Paediatrics programme, which supports paediatricians to promote wellbeing in their work. As Arnab says in his reflections on the episode, "the best leaders are those who lift others up and help them thrive".

• Read Arnab's reflections and download the transcript from episode 5 - on RCPCH website
• See related resources about 'Leading the way'- on RCPCH Learning

Arnab's story is ambitious and inspiring: he helped establish a new hospital and introduced a pioneering approach to healthcare in India. That's not something many of us can say we've done. What dreams do we hold, and how can we create space to pursue them?

In the fifth episode of 'Leading the way', our monthly series of leadership conversations, Dr Jonathan Darling, RCPCH Vice President for Education and Training, speaks with Dr Arnab Seal, a retired paediatrician in Leeds who worked in both general and community paediatrics (as he loved doing both). His special area of interest is neurodevelopmental paediatrics and he became the lead paediatrician for the service in Leeds.

Arnab shares his insights with us on pursuing dreams, developing leadership qualities and "leaning in" to adversity.

• Read Jonathan's reflections and download the transcript from episode 5 - on RCPCH website
• See related resources about 'Leading the way'- on RCPCH Learning