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Leaders with Ambition

Welcome to Leaders with Ambition, the podcast that dives deep into the careers of some of the most successful leaders working in professional services firms. We aim to discover the secrets behind their success, the challenges they face and to find out what traits make a successful leader. About the host: Nicky Acuna Ocana is the Regional Managing Director of Ambition, an international recruitment agency specialising in business services recruitment (Finance, Accounting, BD, Marketing, Insolvency, Restructuring and Corporate Finance) in professional services firms.

Ep. 91 Kathleen Ford - ''Networking is a skill that improves with practice.''

44 mins; March 23, 2026

Ep. 90 Gillian Ward-''Everything in life happens for a reason, you might not know it at the time.”

46 mins; March 09, 2026

Ep. 89 Alistair Johnson- ''Treat people with kindness, you never know when your paths will cross again.”

53 mins; February 23, 2026

Ep. 88 Nicola Meritt - ''Resilience isn’t toughness it’s having space for things to go wrong'

44 mins; February 09, 2026

Ep. 87 Seema Jones- ''You have to take ownership of your career and decide what you want.''

40 mins; January 26, 2026

Ep. 86 Rhys Madoc- “Being a leader is not about knowing all the answers, but about making sure together we can get the solutions.”

42 mins; January 13, 2026

Ep. 85 Connor Kinnear- ''Networking is about being authentic and making work fun.''

50 mins; December 09, 2025

Ep. 84 Koree Khongphand-Buckman - ''We’re all in it together. If you’re in it for yourself, you’re in the wrong group.

51 mins; November 17, 2025

Ep. 83 Kelly MacKinnon - “Nothing replaces hard work. The climb never gets easier, it just gets different.”

44 mins; October 20, 2025

Ep. 82 Jules Stott - ''Curiosity, creativity, and fairness - those are my guiding traits.”

45 mins; October 06, 2025

Ep 81. Adam Grainger- ''Be open to change and ask for opportunities. The worst that can happen is someone says no.”

50 mins; September 22, 2025

Ep 80. Emily Rogers- “A good client experience starts with a good employee experience.”

32 mins; September 08, 2025

Ep 79. Terry Williams- “If you’re willing to try a wide variety of things you will have a career that is very unexpected and incredibly meaningful.”

48 mins; July 21, 2025

Ep 78. Matt Meadows- “As professional advisors we really need to show that human element in order to be the best that we can be.”

39 mins; July 07, 2025

Ep 77. Vanessa Torres- “I try to look at every experience as a learning opportunity, even when it’s hard or challenging.”

49 mins; June 23, 2025

Ep 77. Matt Meadows- “As professional advisors we really need to show that human element in order to be the best that we can be.”

40 mins; June 16, 2025

Ep 76. Stephanie Larivee- When I’m speaking to staff I really try to stay focused on development rather than just management.''

32 mins; June 02, 2025

Ep 75. Matt Dixon- “You’re not selling a product. In professional services, we are the product.”

56 mins; May 20, 2025

Ep 74. Steve Rowan - ''“If you're at the C-Suite level...you have to have confidence without arrogance.''

52 mins; May 12, 2025

Ep 73 - William Washington - III- ''When I came to work, I made sure that I brought … the person I wanted to be in the future.”

50 mins; April 24, 2025

Ep 72. - Matthew Gardner - ''I think you can learn a lot faster if you throw yourself into and put yourself in difficult situations.''

78 hours 21 mins; April 14, 2025

Ep 71. - Heather Vadgama - ''For me, it’s important to really build a strong team culture.”

40 mins; March 31, 2025

Ep. 70-Jo Rolls- “Nobody’s entitled to a career. It’s what you create yourself. It’s grabbing those opportunities and learning from people..”

50 mins; March 10, 2025

Ep. 69- Melisa Rojas- “I don’t think you ever stop learning how to become a good leader.”

47 mins; February 24, 2025

Ep.68-Richard Dickson: "“Communication is at the heart of everything. You get that wrong and there are all sorts of ramifications.”

37 mins; February 10, 2025

Ep. 67- Daisy Williamson- “For a team, you need strong individuals but to be a strong individual you need to be in a good team.”

43 mins; January 27, 2025

Ep. 66- Luke Wilson - "Teetering on the edge of fears is where the maximum growth and learning takes place."

44 mins; January 13, 2025

Ep. 65- Alex Liddle, ''Anytime I get told that I can’t do something, I do it and prove that I can do it. It brings a smile to my face!”

50 mins; December 16, 2024

Ep. 64- Tahisha Fugate- “Having diversity of thought and experiences can only help a firm become stronger and better.”

47 mins; November 25, 2024

Ep. 63- Sophie Bowkett: ''You have to be able to pivot quickly..''

42 mins; November 11, 2024

Ep. 62- Mike Beswick: “If you focus on your impact, the rest – the salary and status – will follow. Get stuff done and focus on impact.”

53 mins; October 29, 2024

Ep. 61- Andy Cowie: “Marketing and business development are inextricably linked. You can’t do one without the other.”

47 mins; October 14, 2024

Ep. 60- Adrian Hyde, Partner at Begbies Traynor Group - ''Never assume anything…''

57 mins; September 30, 2024

Ep. 59 - Alessandra Almeida Jones, Global CMO at BCLP - ''Vulnerability can be a superpower if you use it with honesty and integrity and you do it right.''

49 mins; September 16, 2024

Ep. 58 - Claire Cavanagh, Head of Talent Acquisition at Bird & Bird - "Be brave and put yourself in a position where you're out of your comfort zone."

51 mins; August 05, 2024

Ep. 57 - Becky Lowe, UK & International Head of TA at CMS, "As a strong leader you’ve got to be able to promote others.”

54 mins; July 17, 2024

Ep. 56 - Jon Brewer, CMO, Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe - "'Being a great leader is about making those around you great."

44 mins; June 17, 2024

Ep. 55 - Samantha Keen: 'Don’t be afraid to take risks!'

46 mins; June 03, 2024

EP. 54 - Blandine Davies: “What drives me is bringing order to chaos and solutions to people’s problems.”

45 mins; May 13, 2024

Ep. 53 - Lesley O'Leary - Chief Operating Officer at Charles Russell Speechlys '''Make sure you feel that what you do – whatever it is – matters.''

47 mins; March 18, 2024

Ep. 52 - Emma Baylis - Managing Director of Interpath Advisory - “I never thought of myself as particularly ambitious. I just liked doing things that were interesting and challenging.”

46 mins; March 04, 2024

Ep. 51 - Kristian Gavan - Partner at ABG Corporate Finance LLP - ''Tap colleagues as learning resources and keep building your network.''

57 mins; February 19, 2024

Ep.50 - Jay Linder - Global Director of Communications - Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP - "There really is something to be said for building community and engagement in your profession."

58 mins; February 05, 2024

Ep .49 - Peter Columbus - Chief BD, Marketing & Communications Officer - ''Cultivate mentorship, sponsorship and friendship all along your career journey.''

43 mins; January 22, 2024

Ep. 48 - Kevin Iredell - CMO at Lowenstein Sandler '“It’s incumbent for people who get to a certain level to look out for the next generation.”

46 mins; January 08, 2024

Ep. 47 - Stuart Davis - Global Director of Marketing and Business Development, Litigation, Dechert LLP - 'Keep your eyes and ears open – and your mouth shut!'

47 mins; November 13, 2023

Ep. 46 - Brad McAvoy - Corporate Finance Partner, James Cowper Kreston - ''Keep on learning and investing in yourself!''

43 mins; October 23, 2023

Ep. 45 - Claire Mason - Founder & CEO, Man Bites Dog - ''Choose your tribe! Surround yourself with people who support, challenge and invite you to be better every day! ''

49 mins; October 11, 2023

Ep. 45 - Claire Mason - Founder & CEO at Man Bites Dog - ''Don’t be afraid to ask! If you don’t ask, you won’t get anywhere!''

49 mins; October 09, 2023

Ep. 44 - Robin Simmonds - CEO, Wilkin Chapman Solicitors - 'One of the biggest ways of demonstrating values is getting things done.'

35 mins; September 25, 2023

Ep. 43 - Kevin Hogarth - Business Adviser, Mentor and NED - 'Don't be afraid to try on many hats over the course of your career!'

59 mins; September 11, 2023

Ep. 42 - Nick Waterworth - Co-Founder & Executive Chair, Ambition Group - "Building Better Futures is our mission. We're very focused on growth and playing to our strengths."

68 hours 2 mins; August 16, 2023

Ep. 41 - Tammy Bessinger - FS UK Markets Finance Lead at a Big 4 - “It’s just about keeping going and an inherent belief that no one else is going to come and fix your story for you!”

45 mins; July 24, 2023

Ep. 40 - Erin Lawler - Head of Marketing & Business Development, Americas, at Hogan Lovells - “You’ll be able to accomplish more when you really, genuinely enjoy what you’re doing.”

42 mins; July 10, 2023

Ep. 39 - Maureen Penfold - Managing Partner at ⁠Moore Kingston Smith - “It’s really about those relationships and the people around you that make you successful.”

41 mins; June 26, 2023

Ep. 38 - Mike Mellor - Chief Marketing & Business Development Officer at Pryor Cashman LLP - "In your absence, your digital footprint is you.”

39 mins; June 05, 2023

Ep. 37 - Chris Hinze - Chief Marketing & Business Development Officer, Steptoe & Johnson LLP - “I like working in situations where things have just gone wrong and fixing them.”

55 mins; May 22, 2023

Ep. 36 - Lee Curtis - Head of Global Sales at Simmons & Simmons - "No one is perfect and the great thing about life is the diversity of people you meet in all walks of life.”

46 mins; April 03, 2023

Ep. 35. Jess Gowar - Partner, Markets & Clients, BDO UK - “Being bold doesn’t mean challenging the people around you, but sharing a different way of looking at opportunities to get the most back.”

47 mins; March 20, 2023

Ep. 34 - Sue Staunton - Joint Managing Partner & Head of Life Sciences at James Cowper Kreston - "You will encounter roadblocks. Embrace the diversions and see what they bring!"

46 mins; March 07, 2023

Ep. 33 - Peter Skinner - Head of Business Development & Marketing at Wedlake Bell - 'If you're going to make a mistake, make a good one. But don't make the same one!'

56 mins; February 06, 2023

Ep. 32 - Susanne Pugsley - "You must retain value in who you are or no one else will value you. You have to believe in yourself first and know the threshold you won’t go below."

50 mins; January 23, 2023

Ep. 31 - Doug Michael - “You don’t force people out if something’s not a good fit. You make sure whatever happens is the right answer for them.”

62 hours 25 mins; December 05, 2022

Ep. 30 - Eddie Bowman - 'What sets people apart is their ability to pick themselves up and keep on going. I'm all for tenacity.'

35 mins; November 21, 2022

Ep. 29 - Adam Soames - 'The common theme of everything I've done is about driving change and strategic transformation.'

70 hours 52 mins; November 07, 2022

Ep. 28 - Rob Fowler - 'Remain true to yourself. Authenticity is key to growth and leadership.'

43 mins; October 24, 2022

Ep. 27 - Sheetal Sanghvi - 'Leaders have a responsibility to bring out the best in others.'

34 mins; October 10, 2022

Ep. 26 - Kristina Kicks - 'If there is a challenge, it's a time of reflection on how we can turn it around'

29 mins; October 03, 2022

Ep. 25 - Owen Williams - "Careers are long. And memories are even longer...so it's vitally important to maintain healthy relationships and leave on good terms."

48 mins; August 01, 2022

Ep. 24 - Sadie Baron - "If you empower and trust people it brings out the best in them."

54 mins; July 18, 2022

Ep. 23 - Francis Mainoo - “Don’t try to be the smartest person in the room. You should never want to be the smartest. You should want to be in a room where you can learn and grow.”

42 mins; July 07, 2022

Ep. 22 - Moira Slape - "Effective decision-making, I believe, is driven by a diverse group of people."

45 mins; June 13, 2022

Ep. 21 - Caroline Allen-Monaghan - "You have to be happy in what you're doing."

57 mins; May 29, 2022

Ep. 20 - Roy Sexton - "If you're in the moment and of service to people, it's going to work out."

61 hours 5 mins; May 17, 2022

Ep. 19 - Rosie Le Gros - "Take a chance on things. Hunt down opportunities and create them yourself."

43 mins; April 25, 2022

Ep. 18 - Dominic Ayres - "Having a broad skill set but then being the expert on something really helps you in your career."

39 mins; March 30, 2022

Ep. 17 - Verity Jackson-Grant - "If something needs doing and there’s no one else to do it, then often I’ll step in and pick that up.”

35 mins; March 09, 2022

Ep. 16 - Bridget Uebel - “I like a challenge. I’ve always enjoyed challenges in my life and my work.”

52 mins; February 21, 2022

Ep. 15 - Rippan Vig - "Being open to possibilities is certainly going to bring more opportunities."

30 mins; February 07, 2022

Ep. 14 - Nick Wallis - “I love the feeling of helping people achieve their life goals.”

40 mins; January 24, 2022

Ep. 13 - Lucy Rao - "One of my biggest values is integrity and you can't be perfect all the time."

53 mins; December 13, 2021

Ep. 12 - Dave Gibson - "There’s always a way.”

53 mins; November 24, 2021

Ep. 11 - Penny Newman - "The more senior you get, the more important it is to have a network outside of your organisation."

51 mins; November 01, 2021

Ep. 10 - Leor Franks - "Work with a focus on learning"

39 mins; October 25, 2021

Ep. 9 - Lorraine Gibson - "Set your sights on what it is you ultimately want to achieve"

49 mins; October 18, 2021

Ep 8. Karen Snell - "Build a career doing something that you love."

29 mins; October 05, 2021

Ep 7. Brian Johnson - "Your human capital is all about your relationships."

58 mins; September 27, 2021

Ep 6. Paul Davies - "If a good opportunity comes along, you should look at it and consider it."

37 mins; September 20, 2021

Ep 5. Marie Wadeson - "Find your voice and channel it in the right ways."

45 mins; September 13, 2021

Ep 4. Sarah Draper - "It's about making a difference and doing the best you can for other people."

37 mins; September 06, 2021

Ep 3. Paul Davis - "If you want a career and you want to advance, it's all about hard work"

24 mins; August 23, 2021

Ep 2. Katie Cramond - "When you're presented with opportunities, it's really worth taking those with both hands."

27 mins; August 13, 2021

Ep 1. Nick O'Reilly - “I don’t see the pursuit of money as the most important thing to running a business.”

26 mins; August 02, 2021

Leaders with Ambition

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