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Most of us rely on our strengths every day without naming them. But what happens when a strength goes into overdrive?

In this bonus episode, Valerie interviews Julia on how character strengths shape the way leaders make decisions, handle pressure and respond to change. They explore what it really means to ask, “What are you leading with?”, how strengths can become overused and quietly lead to burnout, and why sometimes the missing piece isn’t more capability, but better balance.

If you’re feeling stuck, stretched or questioning your next move, this episode will help you spot the patterns driving your working life.

Includes a free tool to help you identify your own strengths.

We are thrilled to share 'The Secrets of Learning and Development' Podcast has won Podcast of the Year 2025

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In this bonus episode, Julia Bend explores why coaching still matters in a world where AI can offer ideas, prompts and polished answers in seconds. Together with Valerie Merrill, she unpacks the difference between information and insight, showing why career crossroads are rarely just about options and far more often about identity, values, self-trust and the version of success someone is no longer willing to chase. It is a thoughtful conversation about discernment, human presence and why, when the stakes feel personal, honest reflection still matters more than fast answers.

We are thrilled to share 'The Secrets of Learning and Development' Podcast has won Podcast of the Year 2025

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Nigel Lowe’s career did not begin with a fast track or a perfect plan. It began with starting where he could, learning quickly and saying yes to opportunities that stretched him.

In this episode, Nigel Lowe, Partner at PA Consulting, reflects on returning to the UK at 22 after being raised in Jamaica, building resilience early and then working his way up from an administrative role in government to writing policy for ministers. He shares the pivotal moments that shifted his trajectory: a consultant who showed him what ‘real clarity’ looks like in practice, and an appraisal conversation where a manager challenged him to aim higher, leading to a funded MBA, which he completed with a distinction.

Nigel also speaks openly about being ‘the only one in the room’, navigating difference in senior environments, and taking on the assignments others avoided because he felt he could not afford to miss his chance. The result is a grounded conversation about integrity, ambition, mentorship and how success is rarely a solo effort, it is often shaped by the handful of people who believed in you before you fully believed in yourself.

Key Learnings

One person’s belief can change the size of your life.
Nigel credits “a handful of people” who saw potential he could not yet name, from the appraisal conversation that opened the door to a funded MBA, to the mentor who gave him a clear steer. The learning is not just ‘mentors matter’, it is that being properly seen can reset your ambitions and your standards overnight, because once you can picture what is possible, you cannot go back to a smaller version of yourself.

Integrity is not a trait, it is a practice with a memory.
Nigel describes three promises he was asked to make when he was offered the MBA opportunity: use it for good, keep developing yourself and contribute back, never use it to gain power over others. What makes this profound is how he describes it working in real life: when leadership tempts you to ‘flex’, he can still hear those promises, acting like a guide rail. The learning is that values only matter when they are specific enough to steer your behaviour in the moments where it would be easy to justify the opposite.

Guest Information:

http://www.linkedin.com/in/nigel-lowe-87710a2

We are thrilled to share 'The Secrets of Learning and Development' Podcast has won Podcast of the Year 2025

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In this episode of The Secrets of Learning and Development, we’re joined by Charlie Warshawski — coach, trainer, mentor, speaker, YouTuber, and founder of Love Your Coaching. Charlie’s known for his warmth, clarity and straight-talking insights on what it really takes to become a confident coach, supervisor or mindset practitioner.

You’ll hear how he went from hotel management in the 80s, through education, to building an ILM-accredited training centre and why he believes most people underestimate what’s actually learnable. From letting go of coloured pens to calling out the coaching industry’s silence on business realities, Charlie brings honesty, humour and hard-earned wisdom to this conversation.

If you're curious about growth mindset, coaching supervision, or building a practice with purpose, this one’s well worth a listen.

Key Learnings

Letting go of old habits is part of becoming a better coach
Charlie spoke candidly about the challenge of unlearning certain behaviours during his PCC journey, especially his tendency to over-explain and blend coaching with mentoring. Through supervision and reflection, he realised that true coaching often lies in brevity, presence and trust in the client's thinking.

Coaching as a business requires more than passion and accreditation
Charlie emphasised that many new coaches underestimate the challenge of building a sustainable coaching business. He believes it is essential to be upfront about the marketing, visibility and resilience needed and that learning how to position yourself is just as critical as the coaching skills themselves.

Guest Information:

Website: https://www.loveyourcoaching.com/

Our courses: https://www.loveyourcoaching.com/course-dates/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charliewarshawski/

Instagram / X: https://www.instagram.com/loveyourcoaching/?hl=en

Podcast or YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@loveyourcoaching

We are thrilled to share 'The Secrets of Learning and Development' Podcast has won Podcast of the Year 2025

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In this bonus episode, Julia and Valerie explore why strategy alone isn’t enough and how building from self-worth changes everything.

Julia reflects on what happens when your confidence is tied to job titles, outcomes or external validation. She shares her own experience of launching a coaching practice without guarantees, and how believing in her value before the results made the biggest difference.

If you’ve ever found yourself chasing the next goal without feeling fully grounded, this conversation is an invitation to pause, reflect and reconnect with the foundation that really matters.

We are thrilled to share 'The Secrets of Learning and Development' Podcast has won Podcast of the Year 2025

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What if the life you never planned for turns out to be exactly the one you needed?

In this powerful episode, we sit down with Louise Pengilley, a business growth and mindset mentor whose journey from global corporate leadership to running her own business was sparked by a single, unexpected question: “Can you teach me everything you know?”

Louise shares how she rebuilt her career and redefined success after redundancy, burnout and her husband's life-altering cancer diagnosis. This isn’t a story of polished pivoting. It’s about boundaries, burnout, brave choices and building a business that fits real life.

You’ll hear:

• Why self-employment wasn’t the plan but became the right path
• The three ‘D’s from corporate life that still shape her approach today
• How illness shifted everything—priorities, pace and purpose
• Why energy, mindset and wellbeing are the real performance strategy
• What her clients say when they finally feel calm, clear and back in control

Louise is real, grounded and unafraid to talk about the hard stuff. Whether you’re leading, building, or rethinking your next move this conversation will stay with you.

Key Learnings

Simplicity and Personalisation Beat Generic Strategy
Louise has developed over 60 tools, templates and models not to overwhelm, but to simplify. Her approach is rooted in making strategy practical, personal and easy to implement. She emphasises that tools alone aren’t enough they need to be shaped around each individual’s personality, energy and business needs.

Corporate Experience Still Matters Just on Your Own Terms
Though Louise walked away from a successful corporate career, she hasn’t left her experience behind. The structure, discipline and empathy she learned in leadership roles continue to underpin her work. Her story challenges the myth that reinvention means starting from scratch instead, she shows how to repurpose your past for the future you want.

Guest Information:

https://www.facebook.com/louisepengilleybusinessmentor/

https://www.instagram.com/louisepengilleybusinessmentor/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/louisepengilleybusinessmentor/

We are thrilled to share 'The Secrets of Learning and Development' Podcast has won Podcast of the Year 2025

A heartfelt THANK YOU to all our listeners for your encouragement, shares and support. It means the world.

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Social capital is the invisible force that shapes how work really gets done, especially in hybrid teams, fast-moving organisations and a world increasingly influenced by AI.

In this bonus episode, Julia and Valerie unpack what social capital actually is, how to spot it in action and why it has become a strategic advantage rather than a ‘nice to have’. Valerie breaks down the three types, bonding, bridging and linking, and explains how each one affects trust, collaboration and resilience.

You’ll also hear real-world prompts on what high social capital looks like when teams are distributed and when cross-functional work either flies or stalls, plus the potential downsides such as cliques and gatekeeping, and how leaders and L&D professionals can think about building it more intentionally.

We are thrilled to share 'The Secrets of Learning and Development' Podcast has won Podcast of the Year 2025

A heartfelt THANK YOU to all our listeners for your encouragement, shares and support. It means the world.

Support the show

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Help us continue making great content and get a shout-out on the show!

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In this episode of The Secrets of Learning and Development, we meet Lavinia Mehedintu, co-founder of Offbeat, whose journey from disengaged student to learning architect has reshaped how we think about professional growth. What began as a single LinkedIn post during lockdown has grown into a global newsletter, thriving membership hub and the intimate Offbeat Fest centred not on scale, but on real connection.

Lavinia opens up about:

• Why traditional learning never clicked for her
• The mindset shifts that came with entrepreneurship
• What it really means to build a learning environment not just push content
• How burnout taught her the importance of boundaries, identity and doing meaningful work on your own terms

If you're curious about the real stories behind purposeful business-building and want fresh insight into what’s possible when learning meets community, this episode is for you

Key Takeaways

Learning Flourishes in the Right Environment - Not in the Right Content
Lavinia emphasised that real learning doesn't come from cramming information or pushing more content. It comes from designing environments where people feel safe, autonomous and connected. Her concept of being a “learning architect” is rooted in this idea, it's not about delivering more, it's about shaping spaces where people want to learn.

Entrepreneurship is as Much About Self-Discovery as It Is About Business
Lavinia spoke candidly about the emotional journey of building Offbeat. Burnout, identity fusion and the pressures of growth all led her back to therapy and into a deeper understanding of how important it is to protect her own wellbeing. Her big lesson: separating your personal identity from your business is essential for long-term sustainability and mental health.

Guest Information:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/laviniamehedintu/
https://www.offbeat.works/
lavinia@offbeat.works
https://www.youtube.com/@offbeatlearning

We are thrilled to share 'The Secrets of Learning and Development' Podcast has won Podcast of the Year 2025

A heartfelt THANK YOU to all our listeners for your encouragement, shares and support. It means the world.

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Help us continue making great content and get a shout-out on the show!

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