187: Making the Difference: The True North Conversations | Oonagh Simms, The Marshmallowist

In this episode of Change Makers, Bradley Akubuiro sits down with Caitlin Hayden, Group Communications Director at BAE Systems and a member of the company's executive committee.From advising on national security communications in the Obama White House to leading global communications for one of the world's largest defence organisations, Caitlin has spent her career operating where business, geopolitics and public trust collide.Together, they explore leadership under pressure, communicating through uncertainty, building trust when the stakes are high, and navigating geopolitical risk in an increasingly complex world. These are also key themes from Bradley's new book, 'Faster. Messier. Tougher.: Crisis Communications Strategies in an Era of Populism, AI, and Distrust' which examines how leaders can thrive when certainty is in short supply.For leaders facing constant change, heightened scrutiny and growing complexity, this conversation offers valuable insights from someone who has worked at the highest levels of government, national security and global business.Learn more about Faster. Messier. Tougher. at https://bradleyakubuiro.com/

In this episode of Change Makers, Michael Hayman sits down with Jo-ann Robertson, the newly appointed President for Europe and Transatlantic Growth at BPI Group.Self-described as "positivity personified" and fuelled by Glaswegian grit, Jo-ann explores what it takes to lead at a moment of intense global change.From her roots in student politics to leading some of the world’s largest agency networks, Jo-ann has built a career on being a disruptor who values straight-talking above over-intellectualising. In this conversation, she discusses why this is a "bully pulpit" moment for modern leaders and why big ideas require brave communication to drive real progress.As businesses navigate the current landscape, Jo-ann shares her insights on building resilient corporations, the importance of authentic purpose over performative action, and why a "North Star" vision is essential for stability. It's a look at why a bit of "grit in the oyster" is often the necessary catalyst for growth and why the best advisors are those who remain eternally curious.

In the latest episode of Change Makers, Michael Hayman sits down with one of Britain's most battle-hardened communications experts and BPI Senior Advisor, Guto Harri CBE, to explore what great leadership really looks like under pressure.Guto has spent decades on the frontline of change at home and around the world – from covering the fall of the Berlin Wall to sitting in the heart of Downing Street.In this conversation, Guto draws on a career spanning media, politics and business to share what every leader needs to know: why reputation must be built long before a crisis hits, why all business is now political, and why the strategic communications adviser is moving closer to the top table than ever before.The question for every leader is whether they're ‘match fit’ for a changing world.

Michael Hayman sits down with Robert White, CEO of Brabners and co-chair of True North, to explore how purpose-led, independent businesses are driving a new era of northern ambition. Robert reflects on the power of collaboration, devolution and long-term thinking to unlock the North’s full potential, and shares why the region's entrepreneurial energy continues to inspire him.

In this special series of Change Makers, host Michael Hayman meets the business owners delivering positive impact for their people, their communities and the northern economy: leaders driving growth in unexpected places and sectors, nurturing skills for the future, leveraging innovation strategies, investing in nature, and fostering inclusive social change.A&E doctor-turned-entrepreneur Ed Lynch explains how years on the NHS frontline pushed him to create a longevity platform to prevent chronic disease. He discusses navigating family scepticism, an accidental breakthrough with CBRE, and his ambition to take Northern-led preventative healthcare global.

In this special series of Change Makers, host Michael Hayman meets the business owners delivering positive impact for their people, their communities and the northern economy: leaders driving growth in unexpected places and sectors, nurturing skills for the future, leveraging innovation strategies, investing in nature, and fostering inclusive social change.Michelle Laithwaite built FuelHub with her husband James to solve a problem in their own home: clean, high-protein meals without the prep. She talks about launching while eight months pregnant, the huge COVID-driven surge, earning trust from elite athletes and fans nationwide, and why authenticity, provenance and Northern identity are central to the brand’s success.

In this special series of Change Makers, host Michael Hayman meets the business owners delivering positive impact for their people, their communities and the northern economy: leaders driving growth in unexpected places and sectors, nurturing skills for the future, leveraging innovation strategies, investing in nature, and fostering inclusive social change.In this episode, Entrepreneur and early-years specialist Anita Frost shares how her under-fives character Green Bean is helping children learn, play and switch off from screens. She reflects on building an IP brand from Manchester during the pandemic, the power of dyslexia in her entrepreneurial journey, and winning KPMG’s Black Entrepreneurs Award.

In this special series of Change Makers, host Michael Hayman meets the business owners delivering positive impact for their people, their communities and the northern economy: leaders driving growth in unexpected places and sectors, nurturing skills for the future, leveraging innovation strategies, investing in nature, and fostering inclusive social change.In this episode, Oonagh Simms, Founder of the Marshmallowist, shares how her story began training as a chocolatier in Paris. From a Portobello market stall to Harvey Nichols, Vogue and a move back to Leeds, she explains the craft and chemistry behind luxury marshmallows, working with her sister, and why flavour layering is redefining modern confectionery.

In this special series of Change Makers, host Michael Hayman meets the business owners delivering positive impact for their people, their communities and the northern economy: leaders driving growth in unexpected places and sectors, nurturing skills for the future, leveraging innovation strategies, investing in nature, and fostering inclusive social change.In this episode, he speaks to Rachael Baker, Managing Director at JJ Smith & Co Ltd. A fourth-generation leader, Rachael reveals how she pivoted from a PhD in veterinary parasitology to running a century-old family firm. She shares what it means to lead a Merseyside manufacturer with employees who’ve stayed for nearly 50 years, how offsite construction can cut waste, and why inspiring the next generation is key to building the homes of the future.

In this episode of Change Makers, Michael Hayman is joined by designer and author Anya Hindmarch. A defining voice in British fashion, Anya brings a lifelong love of music to her creative life. Recorded at Cadogan Hall in collaboration with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Anya reflects on starting her business at 19, the craftsmanship and curiosity that drive her, and why self-doubt can be a surprising source of strength.