The SAFE Leader with Mark McBride-Wright

In this episode of The SAFE Leader Podcast, Mark McBride-Wright speaks with Dr Meghan Waldron, educator, advisor and founder, about the power of education to change lives. From teaching in high-needs schools near Washington, DC, to supporting students in healthcare pathways and building a tutoring business focused on writing, Meghan reflects on what it means to help learners find confidence, resilience and their own voice.

Together...

In this episode of The SAFE Leader Podcast, Mark McBride-Wright is joined by Dr Zafra Lerman, chemist, educator, human rights advocate and founder of the Malta Conferences. Together we explore Zafra’s extraordinary journey from a childhood shaped by relentless curiosity to a global career using science as a force for peace. She reflects on the mentors who shaped her path, her groundbreaking work in science education, and why she be...

In this episode of The SAFE Leader Podcast, Mark McBride-Wright is joined by Jay Jacobson, entrepreneur, author, funeral professional and service-led business owner, for a wide-ranging conversation about leadership, presence and the power of small human moments. Jay shares how early experiences, from delivering newspapers to building businesses, shaped his understanding of responsibility, trust and what it means to truly serve othe...

In this episode of The SAFE Leader Podcast, Mark McBride-Wright is joined by engineer, author and science communicator Dr Lucy Rogers for a conversation about curiosity, creativity and the many unexpected paths an engineering career can take. Lucy reflects on her early fascination with making things, the teachers and experiences that helped shape her journey, and how her career evolved from mechanical engineering and industrial res...

In this episode of The SAFE Leader Podcast, Mark McBride-Wright is joined by Michael Bach, internationally recognised inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility expert, author and speaker. Michael reflects on his unconventional journey from child actor to global DEIA leader, sharing how his early work in activism, his time at KPMG, and his leadership of the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion shaped his approach to crea...

In this episode of The SAFE Leader podcast, Mark McBride-Wright sits down with Anna Burgan for a conversation about leadership, workplace culture, and what really happens when people are forced to choose between success and wellbeing. Anna shares her personal journey through career change, motherhood, and the realities of navigating systems that often say the right things about inclusion but fail to support people when it matters m...

In this episode, Andrew Brümmer joins Mark McBride-Wright to challenge traditional ideas of leadership and explore why the future belongs to those who can think, adapt, and empower others. Drawing on his experience as a global operator and advisor, Andrew shares how leaders can move beyond control, avoid decision paralysis, and build teams that think independently rather than rely on constant direction.

From navigating generational...

In this episode of The SAFE Leader Podcast, Mark McBride-Wright is joined by technologist, entrepreneur, and systems thinker Stephanie Sylvestre, whose career spans global corporations, public service, and community impact. From her early ambitions growing up in Belize to leading transformation in organisations like Burger King and The Children’s Trust, Stephanie shares how her work has always centred on one core idea: technology s...

In this episode of The SAFE Leader Podcast, Mark McBride-Wright speaks with dyslexia researcher, educator and keynote speaker Russell Van Brocklen, whose life took an unexpected turn after being failed at university because of his dyslexia. What followed became a mission to transform how we understand literacy, learning and neurodiversity. Russell shares the personal story that drove him to challenge traditional education models an...

In this episode of The SAFE Leader Podcast, Mark is joined by quality and reliability engineer Dianna Deeney to explore what really happens in the early stages of product design. With over 25 years of experience across medical devices, manufacturing and consumer products, Dianna explains why teams don’t fail because they lack effort or expertise, they fail because of assumptions, misalignment and what she calls “the design fog.” To...

In this episode, Ben shares the deeply personal story that reshaped his life and set him on a path from aspiring Army Air Corps pilot to one of the UK’s leading mental health campaigners. After losing his younger brother Sam to suicide at just 15, Ben channelled his grief into action, interrogating the systems around education, healthcare and policy to understand what went wrong and how it can be prevented for others. What emerges ...

When a hydrochloric acid pipe ruptured early in her career, Sarah Ischer’s life changed forever. What followed was not just a workplace investigation, but a personal reckoning that reshaped her entire professional path. In this episode, Sarah shares how being questioned instead of supported sparked her determination to ensure no worker ever feels unsafe, unheard, or unseen again. From late night Googling industrial hygiene programs...

In this episode, Mark is joined by leadership strategist, keynote speaker and author Jodi Vandenberg-Daves to explore what it truly means to lead with courage in complex and uncertain times. Drawing on more than 25 years in higher education, social justice scholarship and leadership development, Jodi shares the personal influences that shaped her path and the values that continue to guide her work today. From the power of history a...

In this episode of The SAFE Leader Podcast, Mark McBride-Wright sits down with leadership coach and business owner Andy Neillie for a conversation about what truly defines great leadership. Drawing on decades of experience leading teams, running businesses, and coaching executives, Andy shares why leadership is less about status or authority and more about character, humility, and the willingness to serve others. From lessons learn...

In this episode, Mark sits down with Lance Cayko for a wide-ranging conversation about what drives ambitious people to keep building, experimenting, and pushing forward. Lance shares his “Renaissance” approach to life and work, blending old and new ideas while staying addicted to the process of creating, even when things don’t go to plan. Together, they explore how curiosity, resilience, and momentum shape careers, businesses, and ...

In this episode, Mark McBride-Wright sits down with Greg Turner-Smart, a mechanical engineer turned inclusion and culture leader, to explore how authenticity can transform not only personal confidence, but professional success. Greg shares what it was like growing up in Ashington, a former mining town in Northumberland, where community, hardship, and identity shaped the values he still carries today. From navigating a tough environ...

In this minisode marking the end of the year and episode #50, Mark pauses to reflect on 2025 as a season of transition rather than transformation. Drawing on the idea of wintering he explores what it means to slow down sit with uncertainty and lead honestly through the in between moments where growth is quiet and clarity is still forming. This episode is an invitation to rethink productivity resilience and psychological saf...

In this episode, Mark McBride-Wright sits down with James Eder, a seasoned entrepreneur, author, and speaker, whose journey has been shaped by the power of human connection and resilience. From co-founding Student Beans to launching multiple ventures, James has always been driven by a single question: how can we connect more deeply in a digital world? In this conversation, he shares personal stories of growth, transformation, and u...

In this episode of The SAFE Leader Podcast, Mark McBride-Wright sits down with Kevin Wayne Johnson, founder and CEO of the Johnson Leadership Group, to explore the inner journey behind becoming a confident and resilient leader. Kevin shares how early mentors helped him uncover his hidden potential, why fear of judgment holds so many people back, and how true leadership begins with deep self awareness. Drawing on more than 34 ...