This fascinating episode features Richard Stubbs, CEO of Yorkshire and Humber Academic Health Science Network. Richard grew up in a mining community in South Yorkshire - the first of four generations not to go down the pits. A self-professed "nerd", he was extremely competitive both academically and in sport - falling in love with golf at an early age, looking up to Tiger Woods as a mixed race kid in a white working class community.

After studying politics and economics at university, where he contributed to student radio, Richard worked at the BBC, which he values as an experience which taught him a lot about leadership and "making the impossible happen". Wanting to "do something he really cared about", he joined the NHS graduate scheme, starting an 18 year long career.

Richard provides insight on the diversity conversation - sharing his personal thoughts on systemic racism and unconscious bias, as well as his views on the wider issues highlighted by George Floyd and the pandemic. He acknowledges that the right conversations are starting to happen, but the statistics, particularly in senior leadership in the NHS, show a clear problem.

S01 E14 | Richard Stubbs, CEO, YHAHSN - The Person Behind the Job Title

In this episode, Jack has the privilege of speaking with philanthropist and healthcare leader Sir Thomas Hughes-Hallet, Chairman of Chelsea and Westminster Healthcare NHS Trust, Founder and Chair of The Marshall Institute within the London School of Economics and Political Science, and Founder and Chair of Helpforce.

Sir Thomas gives a fascinating account of his life and career journey. He admits he has been privileged and lucky to attend some of the world's most prestigious institutions, including Eton ("it was a very privileged life wearing pretty unusual clothes") and Oxford University, where he sang every night in the choir at evensong and "fell in love disastrously on a number of occasions".

On a gap year from university, he lived in Zimbabwe for year teaching in the first mixed-race school, perhaps setting the scene for his passion for volunteer and charity work later in his career. Sir Thomas has spent the last few decades giving back - firstly heading up Marie Cure Cancer Care, then going on to set up his own charitable projects The Marshall Institute and Helpforce.

This episode offers a unique view on leadership, work, and life from someone who has been both in the fast-paced, world of investment banking as well as leading major charitable initiatives and healthcare organisations with a real passion for protecting and supporting the NHS.

S01 E15 | Sir Thomas Hughes-Hallet, Chairman - "The Person Behind the Job Title"

In this episode Jack chats to Lisa Kelly, Chief Operating Officer at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust. 

Raised in a small village in South Derbyshire (10 minutes from where she lives now), Lisa grew up a self-professed "teacher's pet", who tried very hard academically - a virtue which is demonstrated by the senior role she occupies today. 
Her leadership qualities showed themselves early - in her pre-school nativity she played Mary and had a tendency to boss her schoolmates around. At university, she first studied Geography, involved a lot of human geography and international relations, furthering her interest in people and the social aspects of healthcare, sparked by a trip to Ethiopia when she was 16. To this day, in her current role, she manages the partnership with a hospital in Ethiopia. 

As a leader, Lisa emphasises building relationships and connections, recognising the value of every team member's contributions, understanding what they bring to the table and how you can make the best use of that.

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