The Wellbeing Rebellion

Learning can’t be treated like an extra anymore. Not when the pace of change is this high.Kerri O’Neill, Chief People Officer at Ipsos UK & Ireland, joins me this week, and we look at what it takes to build capability in an intentional and useful way, especially when strategies, markets, and tools keep shifting.We talk about why organisations need to focus less on big learning programmes and more on clear outcomes, everyday practice, and the human skills that still matter no matter how much technology changes.This episode is a useful one for leaders, HR teams, and anyone thinking seriously about how people keep learning, adapting, and making good decisions when the future feels anything but settled.Highlights:(02:28) Why capability building starts with commitment(05:28) Focusing on outcomes instead of fixed learning plans(09:48) Why learning with others matters, especially around AI(13:20) The human skills that still matter in an uncertain future(35:52) The risk of relying too heavily on AI for people decisionsConnect with us here:Website: https://aurorawellnessgroup.co.uk/Ngozi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ngozi-weller-aurora/Obehi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/obehi-alofoje-psychologist-aurora/Aurora Company Profile 2025Book a Call here: https://aurorawellnessgroup.co.uk/#book-meeting

Accountability sounds simple, but it gets complicated quickly in fast-paced, global organisations.In this conversation with Aaisha Knights-Ihediwa, we talk about what accountability actually looks like in practice. From hiring the right people to creating space for individuals to speak up when something isn’t working.We also explore how values hold up under pressure, and what happens when there’s a gap between what’s said and what’s lived.There’s a focus on leadership too. Managing global teams, navigating trade-offs, staying aligned when expectations are high and conditions keep shifting, and figuring out what that actually looks like in practice.Highlights:(03:20) What accountability really looks like in practice(08:30) Values in principle vs values in execution(14:40) Navigating global teams and cultural differences(20:45) Leadership pressure, budgets, and difficult trade-offs(40:20) Why leaders need to stay connected to their “why”Connect with us here:Website: https://aurorawellnessgroup.co.uk/Ngozi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ngozi-weller-aurora/Obehi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/obehi-alofoje-psychologist-aurora/Aurora Company Profile 2025Book a Call here: https://aurorawellnessgroup.co.uk/#book-meeting

Career progression is often presented as straightforward. Work hard, perform well, and opportunities will follow. For many professionals, especially women and migrants, the path is rarely that simple.In this conversation, I’m joined by Elham Fardad, founder of Migrant Leaders. We explore the hidden barriers that shape career mobility and why talent alone does not always translate into opportunity.Elham reflects on her journey from investment banking to building a global leadership platform supporting migrants and diverse talent. We talk about confidence, visibility, and the difference between mentorship and sponsorship.We also explore how organisations can recognise potential earlier and create cultures where people from every background can step into leadership.Highlights:(02:30) Elham’s journey from banking to founding Migrant Leaders(07:10) Why talent alone doesn’t always lead to opportunity(14:20) The difference between mentorship and sponsorship(22:15) Confidence, visibility and leadership identity(39:40) Building organisations where diverse talent thrivesConnect with Migrant Leaders: https://www.migrantleaders.org.uk/Connect with us here:Website: https://aurorawellnessgroup.co.uk/Ngozi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ngozi-weller-aurora/Obehi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/obehi-alofoje-psychologist-aurora/Aurora Company Profile 2025Book a Call here: https://aurorawellnessgroup.co.uk/#book-meeting

Can business genuinely be a force for good, and if so, what does that actually require in practice?In this conversation, I’m joined by Anwar Ali OBE, CEO and co-founder of Upturn Enterprise. We explore what sustainable impact really looks like when you’re trying to balance commercial discipline with social purpose.Anwar shares how his upbringing shaped his values, from growing up in a family of ten in a three-bedroom house to leaving a successful private sector career to build a social enterprise rooted in opportunity and dignity. We talk about why social good must stack up commercially, what’s broken in procurement systems, and why passion alone is never enough. We also reflect on leadership in a divided society, the courage it takes to speak up, and what it means to be a visible role model for the next generation.This is a conversation about responsibility, resilience, and believing that business can still be used as a tool for collective good.Highlights:(03:00) Growing up in a family of ten and the roots of purpose(06:40) Leaving a global IT career to build a social enterprise(12:30) Why social good must be commercially sustainable(23:30) Immigration, belonging, and leadership in today’s climate(44:15) Advice for purpose-driven entrepreneursConnect with Anwar:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anwar-ali-obe-6335811a/Upturn Enterprise: https://www.upturn.org.uk/en/Connect with us here:Website: https://aurorawellnessgroup.co.uk/Ngozi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ngozi-weller-aurora/Obehi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/obehi-alofoje-psychologist-aurora/Aurora Company Profile 2025Book a Call here: https://aurorawellnessgroup.co.uk/#book-meeting

Further education sits under constant pressure, balancing funding constraints, public scrutiny, safeguarding responsibilities, and rising learner need. This conversation explores what leadership really looks like inside that reality, not in theory, but in day-to-day decisions that shape culture.I’m joined by Hayley Ross, Head of HR and Organisational Development at Salford City College Group, to talk about the emotional load leaders carry in vocational systems, where people care deeply about outcomes and responsibility doesn’t end at the job description.Our discussion looks at culture as the result of small, consistent choices. From onboarding and workload management to accountability, values, and difficult conversations, Hayley shares how leadership teams can protect wellbeing while still delivering under sustained pressure.This episode is for anyone leading in complex systems, especially where the stakes are human and the margin for error is small.Highlights:(01:00) Why leadership decisions shape culture in further education(05:10) The emotional weight carried by leaders in mission-driven systems(09:30) How small operational choices influence wellbeing(14:00) Accountability, values, and difficult conversations(31:00) Pride, belonging, and what makes people stayConnect with us here:Website: https://aurorawellnessgroup.co.uk/Ngozi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ngozi-weller-aurora/Obehi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/obehi-alofoje-psychologist-aurora/Aurora Company Profile 2025Book a Call here: https://aurorawellnessgroup.co.uk/#book-meeting