What does it take to grow into leadership?
Leadership can look impressive from the title, but the reality is often far more complex. It can mean making decisions without having all the insight, shouldering responsibility without certainty, holding competing stakeholder needs, and recognising when the path you once wanted is no longer the right one.
In this conversation with Helen Brocklebank, Chief Executive of Walpole, the sector body for the UK’s leading luxury brands, we explore leadership as an evolving apprenticeship rather than the end goal or title you finally achieve.
Since becoming Chief Executive in 2017, Helen has led significant growth and transformation, strengthening Walpole’s advocacy, sustainability leadership and industry influence. She spearheaded the British Luxury Sustainability Manifesto, and serves on the Board of the European Cultural and Creative Industries Alliance and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Women in Business Committee.
Helen shares openly how a long-held ambition to run her own business ultimately taught her that success on paper does not always mean alignment in practice. That experience became a pivotal moment in understanding her values, strengths and the kind of leadership role in which she could make her greatest contribution.
Together, we explore why leadership starts with knowing yourself, why physical strength, creativity and cultural curiosity can support better decision-making, and why listening is the essential first step in communication, storytelling and stakeholder influence.
A core thought that emerged from this conversation- every role, relationship and difficult experience can become part of your leadership apprenticeship if you are willing to notice what it is teaching you.
What you will learn in this episode:
- How to recognise when career ambitions no longer align with your strengths, values or wellbeing
- Why self-leadership is the foundation for leading others effectively
- The role strength, energy and personal habits play in sustaining leadership performance
- How your learning can strengthen empathy, problem-solving and strategic thinking
- Storytelling is fundamental to leadership
- How listening helps leaders unlock challenging situations
- The role of candid, uncomfortable conversations
- Why leadership is a behaviour, not a job title
What is your current role teaching you as part of your ‘leadership apprenticeship’?
Resources:
- Connect with Helen Brocklebank on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/helenbrocklebank/
- Find out more about Victoria’s strategic communication programmes:https://culturecuppa.com/individuals /
- Buy Victoria’s book, Become a Global Leader:https://culturecuppa.com/book/
- Follow Victoria on LinkedIn for more strategies, ideas and inspiration: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoria-rennoldson
Read this episode’s Blog post:
- Leadership: the Journey, not the Job Title: https://culturecuppa.com/leadership-the-journey-not-the-job-title/
