What does it take to lose 40kg while navigating the high-pressure world of civil engineering? In this episode, Lee Piper, a senior leader at Costain, joins us to share his incredible journey from burnout to reclaiming his health. Lee candidly discusses the physical and emotional toll of site life, from the camaraderie of late-night team sessions in Cornwall to the isolation of living in away from home. As well as the specific "trigger" that led him to prioritise his well-being in the run up to retirement.

This conversation is a must-listen for any leader feeling the weight of their role as they approach the later stages of a career. Lee and Chris unpack the concept of being "fit to retire," moving beyond financial planning to focus on physical and mental longevity. From hitting a 15,000-step daily goal to navigating social pressures around alcohol, Lee offers practical, lived-in advice on how to tune out the external noise and invest in your own "Bank of Me".

Join us for an insightful conversation with Abida Lalani, Strategy and Transformation Director. Having worked with Jane Sparrow for several years, the two of them sit down and discuss her wealth of experience in navigating and leading significant change. Abida brings a grounded and practical perspective to the often complex world of transformation.

In this episode, Abida takes us on a journey through her career, from her early experiences in financial services during the financial crisis to her most recent and current roles driving changes. She candidly recounts her personal evolution in embracing change, moving from initial resistance to actively seeking out its challenges and rewards. Sharing key lessons learned along the way, highlighting the crucial role of communication and storytelling, and the importance of understanding the human element in successful transformations. Jane and Abida recount their experiences of guiding people through a change, share their practical insights into coaching people as leaders and talk about just how to foster a clear vision, and adapt with agility in the face of evolving circumstances.

This is a must-listen for anyone involved in leading or experiencing change, offering valuable takeaways on mindset, strategy, and the power of human connection in shaping the future.

Chris has recently been speaking to a number of experts on the subject of the 50-60 year sprint for professionals in business. Following on from his conversion with Joanna Lockwood, he has reconnected with regular TCB Podcast contributor Steve Butler - author of a number of books, the most relevant of which covers exactly this topic - The Midlife Review.

They highlight the new obstacles that arise in the 50-60 phase, such as family requirements, health and one's own commitment to a career that may well have peaked.

Steve and Chris also cover how important it is to give those in this phase space to air the needs that stem from the changes - the role of the employer to step into the conversation about changing needs, and how they can best support the person. But, in counterpoint to this, the discussion also covers the phenomenon of “ accidental managers” within many organisations, who have not been given the tools or development to manage such a complex scenario.

This an area of interest for you? If so, we highly recommend you to grab a copy of The Midlife Review, which details the conversation about what employees want out of the second half of their career, and how to help them achieve it.