When it comes to career journeys, few are as interesting as Steve’s three-decade tenure within what was technically the same business. Steve started his career in a business that actually spanned three distinct ownership models: Unilever, PE, and Nomad Foods. So in a world where frequent company moves are the norm, Steve stayed put. His story takes a slightly different path and is a testament to learning and growth through adaptation and progressing as a business went through multiple rounds of transformation.

Each ownership shift brought not only new cultural expectations but fresh commercial opportunities. These changes enabled Steve to feel as though he worked for three entirely different companies, all while deepening his relationship with iconic brands like BirdsEye, Goodfellas, and Aunt Bessie’s. Steve’s passion for the brands he’s worked on and what he terms as the “underrated purpose” of the frozen food sector has helped cement his long-standing commitment.

When most people hear the word “innovation,” they picture breakthrough products or trendy start-ups. But, true innovation is far more practical and accessible. Tom believes it’s a process anyone in an organisation can engage with and his simple, and actionable definition is that real innovation must:

• Be new (in some way)
• Create value for both customer and company
• And be real (actually implemented and driving results in the marketplace)

It doesn’t always have to fix something, it can also grow something. Sometimes innovation solves pain points, but often it’s about enhancing life in ways that are aspirational or simply enjoyable.

Greg didn’t start out with a 10-year plan. At 20, he was plating ham, egg, and chips in a village pub, trusting that “something would turn up”. His big break came not from a football career he admits, “I wasn’t even that good at football, I was just really fast”, but from being noticed by legendary coaches Margot Wells and later Linford Christie at his local athletics track. Within just three years, he skyrocketed from running 11.5 seconds in the 100 metres to a blazing 10.2, even lining up next to Usain Bolt at the Anniversary Games. 

But success was never straightforward. After missing the 2012 Olympics and being sidelined by injuries for several years, Greg faced continual setbacks. Instead of giving up, he pivoted to bobsleigh, a move initially met with skepticism even from his athletics mentors. 

Em’s journey has been anything but traditional. Trained in the craft of theatre including seven years of study and experience with Commedia dell’Arte in Italy, she’s spent the past two decades blending performance artistry with the world of business coaching. Her mission is simple but profound: help the world laugh more, think with kindness, and play more, whether that’s on stage, in the boardroom, or with leaders one-to-one.

What’s at the heart of her success with senior leaders? Em Stroud believes it’s about empathy, understanding what motivates people from their perspective, and fostering environments where everyone can win. Her first taste of leadership came at just 16, managing a double-glazing sales team, where she incentivised her team with early finishes if they hit targets, an early demonstration of her innate ability to tune into what others value.

Paul introduces us to the concept of “team of teams”, where real change happens not just within individual teams, but in the connections between them. He shares how breakthroughs come from coaching “the spaces in between,” daring leaders to move beyond traditional boundaries and invite cross-team collaboration.