The Secrets of Learning & Development

Why It’s Never Too Late to Say Yes: Christine Marsh on Learning, Leadership and Reinvention

If you enjoyed this podcast, we'd love to hear from you! In this episode of The Secrets of Learning and Development, Julia Bend and Valerie Merrill are joined by Christine Marsh, transformation catalyst, global keynote speaker, author and working model.At 85, Christine continues to speak, write, create and model, with two active contracts and a career that challenges many assumptions about age, leadership and what is possible later in life.Christine shares how her early experiences, including returning from India unable to read and often being the new person, shaped her ability to observe, listen and understand people. She reflects on her work in learning and development, conflict resolution and organisational change, including her time supporting thousands of people across the UK and her decision to found Prime Objective at the age of 50.The conversation explores what gets in the way of real change in organisations, why leadership is about developing others rather than ego, and how Christine’s SELF model helps people bring clarity to complex situations by separating the situation, emotion, logic and forward movement.Christine also talks openly about grief, reinvention, writing her book Flashpoint Transformation: Life’s Choices: Ready to Jump or Waiting to Be Pushed, and the importance of saying yes before we talk ourselves out of what might be possible.This is a powerful and uplifting conversation about change, courage, learning, leadership and continuing to grow at every stage of life.Key LearningsReal change requires honesty, not just procedures.Christine makes a powerful point that organisations often create mission statements, training schedules and procedures, then stop revisiting them. Her view is that change has to stay relevant, fresh and connected to the real world, otherwise it becomes a tick-box exercise rather than something that truly helps people or the organisation move forward.Growth does not stop at a certain age or stage of life.Christine’s story challenges the idea that there is a natural point where we should slow down, step back or stop saying yes. At 85, she is still speaking, writing, creating and modelling, and her message is very clear: keep learning, keep trying and do not rule yourself out before you Guest informationhttps://thechristinemarsh.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/thechristinemarsh/Support the showSupport the ShowHelp us continue making great content and get a shout-out on the show!https://www.buzzsprout.com/2389736/support

Transcribe →

The Career Crossroads that doesn't feel like a crisis

2w ago00:20:15Tap to summarize

If you enjoyed this podcast, we'd love to hear from you! In this bonus episode of The Secrets of Learning and Development, Valerie Merrill is joined by co-host Julia Bend, Executive Career Transition Coach and founder of Premier Coaching, to explore the kind of career crossroads that doesn’t look like a crisis from the outside.For many senior professionals, the title, salary, reputation and performance may still be there. Nothing may have obviously gone wrong. Yet privately, a question keeps returning: “Is this still right for me?”Julia discusses why career transition is not always triggered by redundancy, burnout or major disruption. Sometimes it begins much more quietly, through a loss of connection, a flatness around achievement or the sense that an old version of success no longer fits.This conversation explores the guilt that can come with questioning a successful career, the identity shift that often sits beneath the surface and why reflection doesn’t have to mean making a sudden decision. It may simply mean paying proper attention to what has changed.If you’re outwardly doing well but privately wondering whether the next chapter of your career needs to feel different, this episode offers a thoughtful place to begin.Support the showSupport the ShowHelp us continue making great content and get a shout-out on the show!https://www.buzzsprout.com/2389736/support

Transcribe →

From CFO to Female Founder Champion: David Horne’s Story

3w ago00:36:26Tap to summarize

If you enjoyed this podcast, we'd love to hear from you! In this episode of The Secrets of Learning and Development, Julia and Valerie are joined by David Horne, award-winning businessman, CFO, author and advocate for fairer funding for female founders.David shares the pivotal moments that shaped his career, from learning German as a teenager in Vancouver to moving to Zurich with one-way tickets, building a successful finance career and later facing the difficult reality of a business that did not work out as planned.With honesty, humour and energy, David reflects on redundancy, reinvention, personal loss, confidence, opportunity and the people who spoke his name in rooms he was not in. He also shares the passion behind his work with female founders, the shocking funding gap they still face and his ambition to create meaningful change in how women-led businesses are supported.This is a conversation about courage, career pivots, resilience, purpose and the moments that ask us to rethink what success really means.Key LearningsCareer opportunities often come from skills you develop before you know why they matter.David’s decision to learn German began as curiosity, but it later became a defining thread in his career, opening doors to Pricewaterhouse in Zurich, senior finance roles and leadership development in a different language and culture.Setbacks can become turning points when they force honest reflection.David speaks openly about the wine business not working, losing savings and facing a difficult personal turning point after his father’s death. That period helped him reassess his direction, rebuild his confidence and move into work with greater purpose, including his focus on supporting female founders.Guest Information:LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-b-horne/+44 (0) 771 774 2134 dbh@addthenmultiply.com www.addthenmultiply.comSupport the showSupport the ShowHelp us continue making great content and get a shout-out on the show!https://www.buzzsprout.com/2389736/support

Transcribe →

Critical Thinking in the age of AI

4w ago00:07:30Tap to summarize

If you enjoyed this podcast, we'd love to hear from you! In this bonus episode of The Secrets of Learning and Development, Valerie leads a timely conversation with Julia on critical thinking in the age of AI and everyday decision-making.Together, they explore why it is no longer enough to accept information at face value, especially when AI tools can produce answers that sound confident but may not always be accurate or relevant. The conversation highlights the importance of pausing, asking better questions, checking assumptions and looking for evidence before making decisions.Valerie and Julia also consider the challenges of critical thinking, from the extra time it can take to the discomfort of questioning established ways of working. They reflect on why phrases such as “we’ve always done it this way” can limit progress and how a more thoughtful approach can support better decisions, greater confidence and stronger outcomes.A practical and timely conversation for anyone who wants to think more clearly, question more carefully and make decisions with greater intention.Support the showSupport the ShowHelp us continue making great content and get a shout-out on the show!https://www.buzzsprout.com/2389736/support

Transcribe →

From Cancer Research to ADHD Girls: Dr Samantha Hiew’s Remarkable Journey

Jun 1800:34:56Tap to summarize

If you enjoyed this podcast, we'd love to hear from you! In this episode of the award-winning Secrets of Learning and Development, we speak with Dr Samantha Hiew, founder of ADHD Girls, speaker, writer and advocate.Sam’s story is one of reinvention, self-discovery and purpose. From a career in cancer research and science communication to becoming a powerful voice for neurodivergent women, she shares the experiences that shaped her path and the moments that changed how she saw herself and her work.Following a late diagnosis of ADHD and autism, Sam began to make sense of years of feeling different, struggling to fit expected moulds and questioning her place in professional environments. What followed was not only greater self-understanding, but the creation of a platform that is helping other women feel recognised, informed and supported.In this conversation, we explore late diagnosis, identity, masking, burnout, workplace inclusion and the importance of creating spaces where people can work in ways that genuinely suit them. It is an honest and thought-provoking episode, full of insight for anyone interested in leadership, learning, wellbeing and what it means to live and work more truthfully.Key LearningsLate diagnosis can completely reframe a person’s life and workSamantha’s ADHD and autism diagnosis helped her make sense of years of feeling different, struggling in certain environments and questioning herself. A major learning from the episode is that self-understanding can shift shame into clarity and help people make choices that are far more suited to who they really are.Inclusion at work needs to go beyond surface-level awarenessThe episode highlights that many neurodivergent women may appear highly capable on the outside while quietly exhausting themselves through masking. A key takeaway is that organisations need to think more carefully about energy, flexibility, safety and individual ways of working rather than relying on one-size-fits-all support.Guest Information:Linkedin.com/in/samanthahiewhttps://linktr.ee/Samhiewhttps://hub.adhdgirls.co.uk/AuDHD-in-women-masterclasshttps://hub.adhdgirls.co.uk/AuDHD-Women-Intersectional-Scientific-LensSupport the showSupport the ShowHelp us continue making great content and get a shout-out on the show!https://www.buzzsprout.com/2389736/support

Transcribe →

The strength of weak ties: Why your opportunity isn't where you think it is.

Jun 1100:08:24Tap to summarize

If you enjoyed this podcast, we'd love to hear from you! In this bonus episode of The Secrets of Learning & Development, Julia and Valerie explore Mark Granovetter’s influential idea, The Strength of Weak Ties, and why the people we know less closely can often lead us to fresh ideas, unexpected opportunities and valuable new perspectives.The conversation looks at why strong ties offer trust and depth, while weak ties can expand our thinking, connect us to different networks and help learning travel across organisations. From LinkedIn conversations to cross-team learning and brief breakout-room exchanges, this episode is a reminder that opportunity does not always come from the obvious places.Julia and Valerie also reflect on what this means for L&D, social learning, hybrid work and organisational connection, ending with a simple challenge: reach out to one weak tie and start a conversation.Support the showSupport the ShowHelp us continue making great content and get a shout-out on the show!https://www.buzzsprout.com/2389736/support

Transcribe →

Abi Rogers on The Hidden Anxiety Behind High Performance

Jun 400:30:04Tap to summarize

If you enjoyed this podcast, we'd love to hear from you! S5:EIn this episode, we’re joined by Abi Rogers, founder of The Better Brain Company and solution-focused hypnotherapist, for a thoughtful conversation on the hidden cost of high performance. Abi reflects on her journey from running two optical practices while quietly struggling with anxiety, panic and relentless mental overload, to discovering a different way of working and living. Together, we explore confidence, identity, nervous system regulation and why so many capable people can appear fine on the outside while feeling very different underneath. Abi also shares practical insights for anyone caught in overthinking, along with the thinking behind her Leading Lighter programme and her book, 21 Days to a Better Brain.Key LearningsOutward success does not always mean inner ease.High performers can look capable while quietly carrying anxiety, pressure and mental overload.Confidence is not about becoming a different person.It often starts with calming the nervous system, reducing mental noise and creating space to think more clearly.Guest Information: https://linkedin.com/in/AbiRogershttp://www.betterbraincompany.com/21 Days to a Better Brain: How to be calm, confident & focused in a world that's losing its mind. Kindle Edition, https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0H22P1GT8Support the showSupport the ShowHelp us continue making great content and get a shout-out on the show!https://www.buzzsprout.com/2389736/support

Transcribe →

Why Borrowed Belief Can Change a Career

May 2900:10:03Tap to summarize

If you enjoyed this podcast, we'd love to hear from you! In this bonus episode of The Secrets of Learning and Development, Valerie and Julia explore the powerful idea of borrowed belief: those moments when someone sees a strength, quality or possibility in us before we can fully see it ourselves.Julia reflects on why this can be so significant at career crossroads, especially when confidence, self-trust or readiness are quietly holding someone back. The conversation explores how borrowed belief can shift what feels possible, how to recognise the patterns others may be reflecting back to us and why the real change begins when we start turning that belief into our own.A thoughtful episode for anyone who has ever been encouraged by someone else’s belief in them, and wondered whether it might be time to take that seriously.Support the showSupport the ShowHelp us continue making great content and get a shout-out on the show!https://www.buzzsprout.com/2389736/support

Transcribe →

Jacqueline Rogers: Creating the Room She Once Needed

May 2200:36:29Tap to summarize

If you enjoyed this podcast, we'd love to hear from you! Jacqueline Rogers didn’t set out to build a networking organisation. She simply noticed that the rooms she was being told to walk into were not working for her, or for many other women.In this episode of The Secrets of Learning and Development, we speak with Jacqueline Rogers, CEO and founder of The Athena Network, about the experiences that shaped her journey from military community life, through corporate learning and development, to creating one of the UK’s most recognised women’s networking organisations.Jacqueline shares the reality behind her career transition, including the exhaustion that told her something had to change, the quiet planning that helped her move forward and the early networking experiences that left her questioning whether there had to be a better way.What follows is a warm, honest and insightful conversation about confidence, reinvention, connection and the difference between transactional networking and genuinely relational business relationships. Jacqueline also gives us a glimpse into Athena’s next chapter, including international growth and the launch of the Athena Networking Companion, an AI tool designed to support women with their networking strategy.This is an episode for anyone who has ever walked into a room and wondered whether they truly belonged there, and for anyone interested in what can happen when frustration becomes the starting point for creating something better.Key LearningsNetworking is often happening before we ever call it networking.Jacqueline’s story shows that connection is not just about walking into formal business rooms or delivering a polished pitch. It can begin with someone recommending you for a role, sharing a useful contact or simply helping another person move forward. One of the key messages from the episode is that women are often already networking instinctively, but may not recognise the value of what they are doing.Career transition rarely happens in one dramatic leap.Jacqueline’s move from corporate life into entrepreneurship was not instant. She made the decision to leave, but then spent time learning, preparing and building what Julia described as a “parallel plan”. The learning here is that once you know something needs to change, even small actions can restore a sense of direction and help you move towards what comes next with more intention.Guest Information:Jacqueline’s profilelinkedin.com/in/jacquelineybrogerstheathenanetwork.com athenafranchiseuk.com jacquelineybrogers.com Support the showSupport the ShowHelp us continue making great content and get a shout-out on the show!https://www.buzzsprout.com/2389736/support

Transcribe →

Season 4 Round-Up

May 1400:07:51Tap to summarize

If you enjoyed this podcast, we'd love to hear from you! A look back at some of the most memorable moments from Season 4, as Julia and Valerie revisit the guest insights, standout quotes and thought-provoking reflections that stayed with them. From leadership and confidence to identity, resilience and growth, this round-up offers a rich snapshot of the conversations that shaped the season. Support the showSupport the ShowHelp us continue making great content and get a shout-out on the show!https://www.buzzsprout.com/2389736/support

Transcribe →

The Secrets of Learning & Development

All episodes

Why It’s Never Too Late to Say Yes: Christine Marsh on Learning, Leadership and Reinvention

The Career Crossroads that doesn't feel like a crisis

From CFO to Female Founder Champion: David Horne’s Story

Critical Thinking in the age of AI

From Cancer Research to ADHD Girls: Dr Samantha Hiew’s Remarkable Journey

The strength of weak ties: Why your opportunity isn't where you think it is.

Abi Rogers on The Hidden Anxiety Behind High Performance

Why Borrowed Belief Can Change a Career

Jacqueline Rogers: Creating the Room She Once Needed

Season 4 Round-Up