The Leadership Transition Nobody Talks AboutMany organisations promote their best technical people into leadership roles.
It makes sense on the surface. If someone is an exceptional engineer, accountant, lawyer, vet, clinician, consultant or technical specialist, surely they’ll make a great manager too?
Unfortunately, leadership doesn’t work that way.
Traditional networking events have a problem: everyone knows the drill, and it usually kills the conversation before it starts. Name badges, business cards, a room full of people quietly working out who’s worth talking to. It’s transactional by design, and that’s exactly why it so often falls flat.
What shapes a great leader?
Is it confidence? Ambition? Experience? Position?
Or does it begin much earlier – in community, belonging, resilience and the belief that you can make a difference?
In the latest episode of Walking the Talk, host Robert Lloyd Griffiths OBE is joined by Rhuanedd Richards, Interim Director of Nations at the BBC, for an inspiring conversation through Cardiff’s beautiful Bute Park.
Their discussion explores authentic leadership, public service, mentoring, resilience, women in leadership and the importance of helping future generations dream bigger.
For anyone interested in leadership development, personal growth or creating positive impact, the episode offers powerful lessons grounded in experience, humility and purpose.
Leadership styles can shape everything from workplace culture and employee wellbeing to innovation, productivity and long-term business success. In today’s fast-changing world of hybrid working, economic uncertainty and evolving employee expectations, leaders are under more pressure than ever to adapt how they lead.
There is no denying it. Technology is moving fast. AI, automation and digital tools are reshaping how work gets done at pace. Add global uncertainty into the mix and it is easy to assume that the future of business belongs to systems, data and algorithms.
And yet, across UK organisations, something interesting is happening.
At the very moment technology accelerates, people skills are becoming more valuable, not less.
Psychological Safety Is Now a Business ImperativePsychological safety has become one of the defining workplace priorities for UK organisations in 2026. As burnout reaches record levels, psychological health and safety is shifting from a ‘wellbeing initiative’ to an operational and risk‑management essential. Rising stress, changing hybrid work expectations, and increasing mental health claims have made psychological safety a core driver of performance, retention, and culture.
The conversation around neurodiversity in the workplace has grown rapidly in recent years.
There are ongoing debates about over- and under-diagnosis of neurodivergence, but one fact remains clear: people think, process and experience the world differently.
For leaders and HR professionals, the real question is not whether someone has a diagnosis.
It’s how we create workplaces where different ways of thinking are understood, valued and supported.
At Call of the Wild, we believe that professional development should be as dynamic as the individuals pursuing it. As the landscape of work continues to shift, the need for high-quality, professional career guidance has never been greater.
We are excited to highlight our Level 6 Career Development Professional Apprenticeship—a premier qualification designed to empower those in careers-focused roles to reach the height of their profession.
Today the Brecon Beacons has woken up under a blanket of crisp snow – bright, fresh and cold. It’s a shock to the system after the cosy comfort of festive hibernation. For the past few weeks many of us have lost track of what day it even was. Now, suddenly, we’re back to school runs, inboxes, meetings, diaries, duties and deadlines.
As 2025 draws to a close and the holidays approach, we wanted to pause and reflect – and say thank you.
This year has been shaped by moments of connection, growth and genuine change. Across organisations, teams and early-career talent, we’ve seen what happens when people are given space to step away from the everyday and learn through experience.
Lessons in Teamwork, Values and Human ResilienceLast week, we hosted another energising Breakfast Serial event in partnership with the Vale Resort – set in the breathtaking surroundings of Hensol Castle. These mornings are designed to bring business leaders together for insight, connection and inspiration, and our November session did exactly that.
No Black Friday Here, Just Brilliant Brecon Beacons Days (Whatever the Weather)What’s the best way to beat the stress of stormy November days? Outdoor team building in winter.
November in the UK often brings sideways rain, grey skies and a sense that stress is coming at us from every angle – work pressure, festive demands, inbox overload, and the national obsession with Black Friday.
While everyone else is diving into discounts, we’re stepping outside.
What would you do if you were 10% more confident today than you were yesterday?That question, posed by our senior leadership coach Lynda Campbell in Call of the Wild’s webinar Rewriting the Rules – Breaking Free from Silent Confidence Killers, captures a truth that many of us recognise: women in leadership confidence often has less to do with ability and more to do with permission.
Insights from the Walking the Talk podcast with Robert Lloyd Griffiths OBEWhat are the five qualities of a great leader? It’s a question that underpins every leadership journey – and one explored in depth in the Walking the Talk podcast, hosted by Robert Lloyd Griffiths OBE.
In a recent episode, our guest shared five defining leadership qualities that separate good leaders from great ones. These insights go beyond skills and strategy – they’re about the human side of leadership: how we connect, communicate, and inspire others.
Some conversations are never easy – whether it’s giving honest feedback, addressing conflict, or checking in on someone who isn’t quite themselves. But one thing we’ve learned, both through experience and research, is that where and how these conversations happen can make all the difference.
We’ve seen time and again – that stepping outside helps people open up. There’s something about the rhythm of walking, the fresh air, and the absence of four walls that softens the edges of even the most difficult discussions. Science agrees.
What can business leaders learn from space exploration? At our recent Breakfast Serial at Hensol Castle, leaders from across Wales came together to hear from Sue Horne OBE, Head of Space Exploration at the UK Space Agency. Interviewed by Robert Lloyd Griffiths OBE, Sue shared her extraordinary journey – from her beginnings in Sheffield to shaping the UK’s role in global space missions with ESA, NASA and JAXA.
With experience leading UK contributions to missions such as Rosetta, Cassini-Huygens, Mars Express and ExoMars, Sue’s story is full of insights that resonate far beyond science. Recently awarded an OBE in the King’s Birthday Honours list for her services to space exploration, she offered practical leadership lessons that can inspire any organisation.
Leadership Isn’t Complicated – It’s About PeopleIn leadership circles, we’re often bombarded with models, acronyms, and theories. But according to Dr Barrie Kennard, leadership doesn’t have to be complicated.
“The one thing about leadership? It’s people. It’s how you relate to people.”
That’s the message from Barrie, Head of Professional Practice at Call of the Wild, whose career has taken him from BT to lecturing at Cardiff University and advising organisations worldwide.
Last week, we had the privilege of hosting a Duke of Edinburgh supporters netwalking day here in South Wales. The day brought together DofE supporters, business leaders, and partners for a unique mix of inspiration, connection, and time in nature.
It’s a familiar story: you’re talented, capable, and driven, but something’s holding you back. You might think it’s a lack of ability or some hidden flaw, but what if the real culprit is something far more subtle? What if the biggest thing holding you back isn’t your potential, but the way you’ve been taught to show up?
For many, the weeks following A-Level and GCSE results are filled with excitement, relief, and often, a little bit of anxiety. The traditional narrative has long been a straight line from school to university, but for today’s students in the UK, the career landscape is more dynamic and diverse than ever. We believe that understanding the importance of alternative career paths is the first step to building a resilient and successful future.
We’ve been speaking with individuals who’ve recently joined entry-level roles in new sectors, and a pattern is emerging. It’s one that might make leaders feel uncomfortable, because while companies talk about retention, some onboarding processes seem to scream, “We know you won’t stay, so let’s just get you up to speed and ready for replacement.”. We’re missing opportunities to prevent employee churn in onboarding.
Are you ready to take the next step in your leadership journey?Strong leadership builds strong communities. It’s the difference between a team that thrives and one that simply survives. But what does it take to become a truly impactful leader in Wales? It starts with the right foundation, with Leadership and management qualifications in Wales.
In the dynamic landscape of 2025, the demand for truly impactful leadership development programmes UK-wide has never been higher. Organisations are seeking more than just theoretical knowledge; they need leaders who are agile, empathetic, resilient, and equipped to navigate an increasingly complex world. At Call of the Wild, with over 27 years of pioneering experiential development from the awe-inspiring Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons), we redefine what effective leadership training looks like.
