My guest today is Patrick Andrews, lawyer and co-founder with Erica Neve of Yoak. He is author of The Incomplete Circle - Rethinking Business from the Inside Out, published in 2025.

1. Participation - real change only happens when we move from observers to participants.
2. Wholeness - what it means to lead, organise and make decisions from a sense of interconnectedness rather than separation.
3. Flow - How individuals and organisations flourish when effort, skill and purpose align.

Participation: What does it mean to move from being an observer into becoming a participant? What happens when we choose to become a participant? What are some of the steps towards moving from being an observer to a participant in business and organisations?

Wholeness: In Patrick’s wonderful book - The Incomplete Circle he writes about the dance of wholeness, and how leadership is a practice not a position; and that leading involves deep listening, trusting and creating structures that are encouraging of interconnectedness rather than separation. What are some of the challenges to doing this, and how can we as leaders, and people in business develop this practice? What is the impact on decision making when we do this? What do we need to pay attention to that will help us?

Flow: We often talk about ‘going with the flow’ in our lives, and what it feels like to be in the flow when everything feels aligned. What can we learn from our bodies, and from nature about flow? What happens to individuals and organisations when effort, skill and purpose align? How can we get into the flow, and what is the impact on people, on business?

1. Listening to yourself including and especially to your body.
2. Listening to others - particularly critics and to the quieter, often unheard, voices.
3. Listening to the universe. Nature is our first and best teacher.

LinkedIn: Patrick Andrews

Website: yoak.uk

Book: The Incomplete Circle. Available on Amazon or here.

To listen to other Leaders in Conversation with me Anni Townend go to my website, www.annitownend.com; to listen to Finding Your Collaborative Edge™ with Lucy Kidd and I, to do go our website www.collaborationequation.com

A big thank you to SHMOGUS Media for the wonderful production and marketing of the podcast with Louisa Penny, from Penny Writing.

To contact me Anni Townend do email me on

1. Supporting change and transition for success
2. Helping people be their best
3. The link between engagement, development and performance
4. Equity and fairness in leading change and transition

1. It sounds so simple but really get to know your people
2. Great people and talent come in different forms – there isn’t a single formula
3. Take time to think about how life can / will change for you and what you want from it and what you might need to do differently or learn. Don’t put things off! And never give up on what you want

LinkedIn: Marisa Kismul

To listen to other Leaders in Conversation with me Anni Townend go to my website, www.annitownend.com; to listen to Finding Your Collaborative Edge™ with Lucy Kidd and I, to do go our website www.collaborationequation.com.

To contact me Anni Townend do email me on anni@annitownend.com visit my website, subscribe to my newsletter, and podcast and do follow me on LinkedIn.

A big thank you to SHMOGUS Media for the wonderful production and marketing of the podcast with Louisa Penny, from Penny Writing.

If you are not already please do subscribe to the podcast, review and share it.

I look forward to connecting with you, thank you for listening.

Today’s guest is Lulu Minns, Fifth Dimension (5D) Teacher and author of The Genius Wheel®.

1. Understanding and aligning with your personal growth cycle
2. Leading from authenticity and claiming your unique genius
3. Integrating natural seasonal rhythms with personal and professional growth
4. Supporting women’s wellbeing and empowerment in leadership

1. Slow down and tune in.
2. Commitment to your creative power, exceptional intelligence or natural ability.
3. Look back.

I am a 5D teacher and thought leader who helps individuals and organisations understand and align with the deeper patterns that shape personal and collective growth. My body of work, The Genius Wheel®, developed over a decade, explores how consciousness evolves through natural 7-year cycles — a framework that offers clarity, perspective and direction through times of change and transformation.

Working from a 5D perspective means seeing beyond surface-level events to recognise the energetic and emotional layers influencing them. I support female entrepreneurs, creatives, and leaders to interpret these shifts with awareness and purpose.

My approach blends practical action with multidimensional insight, providing a bridge between inner evolution and real-world impact. Through 6-weekly empowerment circles and bi-annual retreats, I help women navigate their unique 7-year journey — providing a roadmap to navigate life’s big transitions.

If you don’t already have a copy of The Genius Wheel, you can get one at thegeniuswheel.com and use the discount code FRIENDS25 for a discount.

LinkedIn: Lulu Minns

Website: thegeniuswheel.com

Instagram: @thegeniuswheel

YouTube: @thegeniuswheel

Podcast: She Rebel Radio

Substack: @luluminns

To listen to other Leaders in Conversation with me Anni Townend go to my website, www.annitownend.com; to listen to Finding Your Collaborative Edge™ with Lucy Kidd and I, do go to our website

Today’s guest is, Senior Civil Servant, Mark Burden.

• How presenteeism is not about visibility
• The importance of seeking feedback
• Disability and the art of the possible
• And how everyone is integral to achieving the “thing”

1. Be comfortable in not knowing the answer but having the knowledge to connect people
2. Mistakes are great - learn from them rather than fearing them. It is an opportunity to move from fear to opportunity
3. Tell the story, explain the why and if possible the who and the when! The what bit is then quite easy!

LinkedIn: Mark Burden

Go to my website, www.annitownend.com

A big thank you to SHMOGUS Media for the wonderful production and marketing of the podcast with Louisa Penny, from Penny Writing.

To contact me Anni Townend do email me on anni@annitownend.com visit my website www.annitownend.com, subscribe to my newsletter and follow me on LinkedIn. I look forward to connecting with you, thank you for listening.

Today’s guest is Asad Dhunna Founder and CEO of the Unmistakables.

1. Creativity
2. Bravery
3. Humour
4. Spirituality

1. Work out what's going on for people.
2. Talk about what makes you nervous.
3. Sometimes you have to let go to let in.

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

Website: https://www.theunmistakables.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asaddhunna/

Go to my website, www.annitownend.com; to listen to Finding Your Collaborative Edge™ with Lucy Kidd and I, to do go our website www.collaborationequation.com.

A big thank you to SHMOGUS Media for the wonderful production and marketing of the podcast with Louisa Penny, from Penny Writing.

To contact me Anni Townend do email me on anni@annitownend.com visit my website, subscribe to my newsletter and follow me on LinkedIn.

Today’s guest is Nicola Bettesworth, Defra Chief People Officer, Group Corporate Services, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

I had the joy of meeting Nicola when she was looking for a leadership partner to work with her and her leadership team. We very quickly built our relationship, and have enjoyed a true partnership for a number of years. I greatly admire Nicola, her vision and her passion and am looking forward to her sharing her leadership story today.

• Contribution and Community;
• How Everyone Matters, Everyone Counts;
• The importance of knowing who you are, and of choices;
• Making every single moment count.

Email her on: nicola.bettesworth@defra.gov.uk

Go to my website: www.annitownend.com

A big thank you to SHMOGUS Media for the wonderful production and marketing, and to Louisa Penny of Penny Writing for the marketing of the podcast.

To contact me Anni Townend do email me on anni@annitownend.com visit my website www.annitownend.com, subscribe to my newsletter and follow me on LinkedIn. I look forward to connecting with you, thank you for listening.

Today’s guest are Kate Lowe Founder and Director and Alex Remington, Director of Partnerships at Both Barrels.

In our conversation Kate and Alex offer valuable insights into how their passions and purpose of Family, Relationships, Integrity and Never Giving Up are woven into the fabric of their lives and leadership.

1. Staying calm no matter what the situation;
2. Keeping the objective in mind when there are setbacks - and ability to pivot;
3. Building big trusting relationships

1. Trust and guide your team
2. Surround yourself with good people
3. Never be afraid to admit you don’t know something or when you are wrong

KATE LOWE:

Kate Lowe is a trusted PR and communications strategist with over 15 years of experience advising senior executives on how to harness sport as a platform to shape personal and organisational narratives.

Kate specialises in integrating into businesses to build a deep understanding of their goals, refining complex messaging into clear, impactful communications. Steering clients through the fast-moving world of sport and guiding C-suite leaders in navigating complex media landscapes to protect and enhance brand value.

Her established relationships across global sports and sports business media enable close collaboration in crafting messaging that achieves alignment and influence.

Her deep understanding of the business and cultural dynamics of sport enables her to build collaborative stakeholder relationships and deliver strategic communications solutions that build reputations and unlock commercial and reputational growth.

ALEX REMINGTON:

Alex Remington is a strategic partnership leader with over 18 years of experience driving transformative collaborations that position sport as a catalyst for business growth and cultural relevance.

A Harvard Business School alumnus, he combines expertise across sport, entertainment, media, and business, applying data and insights to guide commercial decisions and deliver sustainable results.

At Manchester United, Alex pioneered “performance partnerships,” redefining sponsorships as performance-driven collaborations integrating elite technology from sponsor brands into sporting operations.

He specialises in designing integrated strategies that align sporting operations with business objectives, building partnerships that deliver measurable impact, unlock new revenue streams, and create lasting competitive advantage for rights holders and brands.

LinkedIn: Both Barrels

Website: bothbarrels.co.uk

Instagram: @bothbarrelspr

To listen to other Leaders in Conversation with me Anni Townend go to my website, www.annitownend.com; to listen to Finding Your Collaborative Edge™ with Lucy Kidd and I, to do go our website

ABOUT THIS EPISODE

Today’s guest is Lisa Partridge, communication skills specialist, facilitator, founder of SIXCOMMS and host of the SIXCOMMS podcast. I had the joy of getting to know Lisa through following each other on LinkedIn, and through our shared passion for working in nature with leaders. Lisa invites people to ‘Come Curious, and Leave Connected’.

In our conversation Lisa offers valuable insights into:

• The 3Cs of human-centred effective communication: Connection, Curiosity and Compassion;
• The benefits of taking conversations outside in nature;
• How being in nature allows us to listen more deeply and be more present with ourselves and each other;
• How taking our conversations outside in nature can unlock insight and give us the clarity to see the path ahead.

Lisa’s Three Key Encouragements to Leaders:

1. Connection first, always.
2. Step outside to see inside.
3. Slow down to lead strong.

About Lisa:

Originally from the UK and based in Singapore since 2009, Lisa Partridge is a communication skills specialist, facilitator, and founder of SIXCOMMS. She has worked with leading organisations including Singapore Airlines, Marina Bay Sands, Maxwell Chambers, and ADB Bank. Guided by her 6Cs of Effective Communication: Connection, Curiosity, Compassion, Clarity, Customization, and Consistency, Lisa helps leaders and teams communicate with greater impact. She also hosts The SIXCOMMS Podcast, now with over 70 episodes, and leads 6Cs walking sessions in Singapore’s parks, where a community of professionals “Come Curious, Leave Connected.”

To connect, follow and find out more about Lisa:

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/lisasing/

Website: www.sixcomms.org

Instagram: @sixcommslisa

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@sixcommsconversations2025

Lisa's Podcast: sixcomms.buzzsprout.com

Free download: The 6Cs of a Thriving Communicator Guide

To listen to other Leaders in Conversation with me Anni Townend go to my website, www.annitownend.com; to listen to Finding Your Collaborative Edge with Lucy Kidd and I, to do go our website www.Collaboration.Equation.