S3-E17 EPIC Challenge with Oya Cakmak

Welcome to the Finding Your EPIC® podcast.In this episode, Jacqueline Frost talks to Oya Cakmak, Global Talent, L&D Director Eurasia at Diversey, about how challenges can help us discover strengths and possibilities we might otherwise never recognise.When an opportunity takes us beyond what we know, it can be tempting to wait until we feel fully prepared. Oya offers a different perspective: being willing to begin can be the very thing that helps us develop the confidence and capability we are waiting for.Their conversation explores what becomes possible when curiosity guides our response to change. Rather than focusing only on what is unfamiliar or uncertain, how can we recognise what there is to learn and where we could make a difference?They also discuss the choices that shape a fulfilling career. Looking beyond titles and conventional progression, Oya reflects on the value of work that stretches us, keeps us interested and allows us to contribute.Trust is another thread throughout the conversation -  both the trust others place in us and our willingness to act on it. From a leadership perspective, they explore why giving people space to try, make mistakes and learn can help them see more possibility in themselves.To get in touch with Oya, find her here:https://www.linkedin.com/in/oya-çakmak-b46b1311/  Stay tuned for future episodes of the Finding Your EPIC® podcast.

Welcome to the Finding Your EPIC® podcast.In this episode, Jacqueline Frost talks to Vanessa Gentile, Head of Marketing Switzerland at Salesforce, about mindset - the lens through which we interpret our experiences and the choices we believe are available to us.Their conversation explores the difference between facts and the stories we tell ourselves, and why awareness can create the space to respond differently.They also look at mindset from the organisational side. Careers are rarely completely linear, yet traditional hiring and promotion processes can still favour the most familiar route. Vanessa challenges that thinking and asks whether organisations are overlooking valuable experience simply because it does not fit the conventional career path.They discuss the importance of helping people retain, return and rise, the role men can play in creating greater access and opportunity, and why resilience without a clear sense of direction can sometimes simply make us better at tolerating circumstances we actually want to change.Perhaps the most powerful message is that mindset does not mean pretending barriers do not exist. It means recognising what we can influence, questioning the story we are telling ourselves and deciding what the next step forward might be.To get in touch with Vanessa, find him here:https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanessagentile/Stay tuned for future episodes of the Finding Your EPIC® podcast.

Welcome to the Finding Your EPIC® podcast.In this episode, host Jacqueline Frost talks to Gavin Scott, customer experience expert, facilitator and leadership coach.Having spent years working in customer service and leadership development, Gavin explains how listening became far more than simply hearing words. Through coaching customer conversations and developing leaders, he learned to recognise patterns, emotional cues and the moments that often go unnoticed.The conversation explores why people frequently listen to respond rather than listen to understand, and how small shifts in language can dramatically change how someone feels. From acknowledging emotion before moving to solutions, to recognising the “gold dust” hidden inside conversations, Gavin shares practical insights that apply far beyond customer service.At the heart of the episode is a powerful idea: epic listening is not about hearing more - it is about hearing differently.To get in touch with Gavin, find him here:uk.linkedin.com/in/gavinscottltdStay tuned for future episodes of the Finding Your EPIC® podcast.

Welcome to the Finding Your EPIC® podcast.In this episode, host Jacqueline Frost talks to Mona Husemöller, Head of Affluent Proposition at NatWest.Mona shares how a reflective mindset has shaped both her career and her view of the world. Originally from Germany and having lived and worked across multiple countries, she explains how global experiences taught her adaptability, resilience and the value of diverse perspectives.The conversation explores Mona’s early ambition to “make the world a better place” through international politics and the United Nations, and how she later realised that impact and purpose can take many forms. From consulting and retail to senior leadership in banking, she reflects on aligning her strengths, energy and working style with the environments where she could contribute most effectively.At the heart of the episode is the idea of “epic thinking” - not overthinking, but thinking deeply enough to question assumptions, embrace change and take intentional action.To get in touch with Mona, find her here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/monahusemoller/

Welcome to the Finding Your EPIC® podcast.In this episode, host Jacqueline Frost talks to Emma Barrett, Global Strategic Marketing Director, Innovation at Solenis.Emma explores how bringing calm into leadership can influence not just how teams perform, but how they feel at work. She shares how creating the right environment enables people to speak up, challenge ideas and contribute more openly.She also reflects on the impact leaders have on energy within a team and why being deliberate in how you show up - especially in difficult moments - can make a meaningful difference. With a focus on clarity, empathy and measured responses, Emma highlights how calm leadership helps teams stay aligned and move forward together.The conversation closes with the importance of creating space in the moment, and how this enables a more considered and effective response.To get in touch with Emma, find her here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-barrett-6691b926/

Welcome to the Finding Your EPIC® podcast.In this episode, host Jacqueline Frost talks to Dr Colin Williams, Customer Field CISO at Computacenter.Colin shares how his early experiences shaped a strong sense of self and accountability, and how this continues to influence the way he leads today. He explores the importance of resilience, self-awareness and learning to embrace who you are, rather than trying to fit into predefined expectations.He also reflects on the role of intention in leadership, from how we show up in conversations to how we create value for others. With a strong belief in win-win thinking and continuous development, Colin highlights the importance of investing in yourself in order to bring the best version of you to those around you.The episode closes with a powerful reflection on intention and self-respect, and why showing up as yourself is key to creating impact for both you and those around you.To get in touch with Colin, find him here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-colin-williams-aa2a95/

Welcome to the Finding Your EPIC® podcast.In this episode, host Jacqueline Frost talks to Ryan Davies, Business Development Manager at NatWest.Ryan shares how a change in environment shifted his experience from surviving to thriving. He explores the role of psychological safety, the impact of agile ways of working, and why trust and flexibility are critical to high-performing teams.He also reflects on his work in allyship, his experience taking partner leave, and the broader lessons this brought to his understanding of inclusion and leadership.Ryan introduces a powerful analogy about value and environment, reminding us that sometimes it’s not about changing who you are, but where you are.The episode closes with a powerful reflection on value and environment, and why sometimes the biggest shift comes not from changing who you are, but where you are.To get in touch with Ryan, find him here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryandavieskent/

Welcome to the Finding Your EPIC® podcast.In this episode, host Jacqueline Frost talks to Mary Taylor (de Sausmarez), Managing Director at Renaissance Global.Mary shares how a moment of unexpected self-awareness led her to reflect on the unspoken realities women can experience in senior leadership. She explains why naming difficult feelings can create greater understanding within teams and why humour often plays an important role in leadership resilience.Mary also discusses how a conversation with a colleague during the global response to George Floyd’s death challenged her thinking about diversity and inclusion, prompting a deeper personal journey of reflection and learning.The episode closes with a powerful reminder that leadership is an ongoing process of growth, honesty and self-awareness. To get in touch with Mary, find her here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-de-sausmarez/

Welcome to the Finding Your EPIC® podcast.In this episode, host Jacqueline Frost talks to Emma Chatwin, Vice President Marketing Europe at Fujitsu.Emma reflects on what consistency has meant across 25 years in one organisation. For her, consistency is not rigidity, but showing up with the same intent - creating stability, trust and psychological safety for others, especially during challenging moments.She explains why retention is a business-critical leadership choice, particularly when leading a geographically dispersed team in a complex tech environment. Longevity, she argues, is not a lack of ambition, but an opportunity and a choice to evolve alongside an organisation and build real momentum over time.Emma also shares the story of launching a women’s network in tech in 2013, how it evolved as the industry changed, and why knowing when to adapt - or stop - is part of responsible leadership.The episode closes with a quote from Aristotle: “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” A powerful summary of a career built on sustained, intentional leadership.To get in touch with Emma, find her here:    https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-chatwin-fcim-55062037/Stay tuned for future episodes of the Finding Your EPIC® podcast

Welcome to the Finding Your EPIC® podcast.In this episode, host Jacqueline Frost talks to Donna Herdsman, Senior Client Partner and Head of DE&I Advisory (EMEA) at Korn Ferry.Donna shares an early career lesson about sponsorship, and how she learned theimportance of understanding decision-makers and their motivations, eventually coining the term "empowering sponsorship". She recounts a pivotal moment where she summoned the courage to approach a senior leader she found intimidating, only to receive an unexpected reply.The conversation moves to Donna's career reinventions, from auditing to consulting and international development. She explains that her adaptability is driven by a strong sense of purpose, whether improving public services or supporting post-conflict reconstruction in Mozambique.Donna also reflects on fear and privilege. She describes a frightening encounter with police  in Mozambique that shifted her perspective, making her realise that career setbacks pale in comparison to personal safety and family.The episode concludes with Donna sharing her favourite quote by Dr. Maya Angelou: "Nothing can dim the light that shines from within".To get in touch with Donna, find her here:https://www.linkedin.com/in/donna-herdsman-3449095/Stay tuned for future episodes of the Finding Your EPIC® podcast