Marie Munro on Recognising Burnout, Finding Possibility and Making Time for Yourself

Joanna Johnson joined Asda on a six-month temporary contract. Twenty-seven years later, she left having helped shape the brands, products and creative work that millions of customers see in their shopping baskets.In this episode of Coach Class, I catch up with my former colleague to talk about the people who backed her, the roles that stretched her and the experience of stepping outside a business that has been such a big part of her life.Jo takes us back to her early days as an au pair in France, where a shy Yorkshire teenager began finding her confidence, before returning home and joining Asda in 1999. Working as Tony DeNunzio’s PA gave her a fascinating view of the business during the Walmart takeover, followed by opportunities in food innovation, customer marketing, own-brand strategy and creative leadership.We reminisce about travelling the world for food inspiration, learning from generous colleagues and finding the courage to take on jobs that initially felt frightening. Jo also shares her approach to leading creative teams: give people a clear direction, then trust them with the space to do their best work.Most movingly, she talks openly about her unexpected departure, the effect on her confidence and why she wants to take time to find something meaningful next. We also reflect on the Asda friendships that continue long after you hand back your pass—and the difference a coffee, a hug or a few encouraging words can make.In this episode:01:34 — Growing up, finding confidence in France and joining Asda.04:32 — Working with Tony DeNunzio and witnessing the Walmart takeover.07:04 — Building a varied career with people who encouraged her to try.11:28 — Food innovation, global inspiration and the perfect bacon sandwich.14:20 — Leading creative people with clarity, freedom and trust.20:35 — Leaving unexpectedly and rediscovering who you are outside work.24:11 — The former colleagues who wrap their arms around you.27:40 — Exploring brand building, coaching and what comes next.29:26 — Jo’s advice: be yourself, trust your instincts and keep smiling.A warm and honest conversation for anyone facing a career change, finding their feet as a leader or wondering what their next chapter might hold.Send us Fan Mail🎧 Please consider sharing Coach Class with someone who’d enjoy it — and leaving a review on your podcast platform. It genuinely helps more people find the show.

How much time do you spend planning a holiday compared with thinking about the life you want to lead?In this episode of Coach Class, I'm joined by fellow coach Marie Munro for a warm conversation about wellbeing, recognising burnout and the value of having somebody who will simply listen.Marie traces her coaching journey back to 2003, when she was settling her daughters into life in the UK after moving from South Africa. A newspaper advert sparked her interest, followed by a distance-learning course, a manual of more than 1,000 pages and the excitement of joining a telephone call with 20 people.Since then, she has coached leaders, teenagers and parents, alongside a career in HR. Having experienced burnout herself, Marie now helps others recognise when the pressure to keep going is taking its toll. She explains why leaders need to notice changes in their people, and how feeling overwhelmed, withdrawing from others and working longer hours can form part of a bigger picture.We also explore why coaching follows the client’s agenda, how reflection between sessions helps people move forward, and why coaches need their own confidential space for support and supervision.In this episode:Finding a vocation in coaching and helping people see possibilities beyond their own expectations.Recognising patterns that may signal burnout, particularly in capable people who are used to pushing through.Supporting someone whose next step might mean leaving their organisation.Turning reflection into action, with check-ins that help clients prepare for each session.Returning to a former employer to give a talk on gratitude, and the warmth of reconnecting with old colleagues.Coaching teenagers through happiness, confidence and relationships, building trust and giving them space to be heard.Giving your own wellbeing and future some of the attention you give to planning a holiday.A thought to take away“If people could spend as much time on themselves and planning their lives as they do planning a holiday, life could be so much better.” — Marie MunroAbout MarieMarie Munro is a success and wellbeing coach whose work focuses on helping high performers gain clarity, prioritise self-care and prevent or recover from burnout. Her experience spans coaching, training and HR, including working as an HR Business Partner at Sanofi.Send us Fan Mail🎧 Please consider sharing Coach Class with someone who’d enjoy it — and leaving a review on your podcast platform. It genuinely helps more people find the show.

Hazel Smith always knew she wanted to be an accountant. Numbers came naturally to her, but she soon discovered that a career in finance was about much more than spreadsheets. It placed her at the centre of a business, building relationships, connecting with people and helping teams understand the decisions being made.Hazel is now Group Finance Director at DFS, following senior roles at Hallmark Cards and an 18-year career at Asda. In this episode of Coach Class, we reflect on the distinctive culture we experienced at Asda: its shared language, Monday morning rhythms, deep relationships and values that became part of who we are.Hazel talks about the leaders who shaped her career, including Judith McKenna, Monica Turner and Ellie Doohan. She recalls Judith encouraging her to take a six-month career break in 2007, assuring her that she would return stronger and that there would be a job waiting for her.We also discuss flexible leadership. Hazel has worked flexibly since her son Adam was born in 2004, setting clear boundaries while recognising that flexibility needs to work both ways. She explains why leaders should “leave loudly”: by being open about leaving the office for family or other commitments, they give others permission to do the same.Hazel also speaks movingly about the sudden death of her partner, John, by suicide in 2021. She stepped away from her executive career for 14 months to support her children and rebuild a stable family life. When she was ready to return, former Asda colleague John Fallon helped create an opportunity at DFS that worked around her responsibilities as a single mum.This is a conversation about finance, friendship and leadership, but also about recognising that success doesn’t always mean continually moving upwards. Sometimes it means understanding what matters most at a particular point in your life.We discuss:Why great finance leadership is about taking the business with youThe culture and values Hazel carried with her from AsdaThe mentors who gave her confidence and backed her decisionsSetting boundaries and role-modelling flexible workingStepping away from work following bereavementReturning to her career on terms that worked for her familyThe relationships that sustain us through life’s unexpected turnsHazel’s ambition to make more room for volunteering and creativityContent note: This episode includes a discussion of suicide and bereavement.Send us Fan Mail🎧 Please consider sharing Coach Class with someone who’d enjoy it — and leaving a review on your podcast platform. It genuinely helps more people find the show.

What happens when the job title you've worn for years suddenly disappears?In this episode of Coach Class, I sit down with former Asda and Co-op leader Dahlia Stroud for an honest conversation about leadership, identity and what comes next when your career takes an unexpected turn.From choosing a Nestlé graduate scheme over a glamorous London marketing role, to leading major commercial teams in retail, Dahlia reflects on the people and experiences that shaped her career—and why every new role means proving yourself all over again.Together we explore:Why great leaders understand there is "no white horse – we are the cavalry."How managers create the micro-cultures that define people's experience at work.The emotional reality of redundancy, from losing routine and identity to rebuilding confidence.Why Dahlia launched the Stressed But Well Dressed podcast as a way of finding her own voice.The importance of matching organisational values with everyday behaviour, not just policies.Why stepping outside your comfort zone can unlock unexpected opportunities, including her father's advice to attend a conference where you're the only person who does what you do.Whether you're leading a team, navigating change, or wondering what comes after redundancy, this episode is packed with practical insights and thoughtful reflections on resilience, culture and career reinvention.Key takeaway:"Don't get trapped in the immediate need to do. Lift your head up, look up and out, and ask yourself not just what's my next job, but what's the next chapter I want to write?"Send us Fan Mail🎧 Please consider sharing Coach Class with someone who’d enjoy it — and leaving a review on your podcast platform. It genuinely helps more people find the show.

What does it really take to turn around a struggling business?In this episode of Coach Class, I sat down in person with former Dreams CEO Mike Logue for an honest conversation about leadership, resilience and the moments that shape a career.Mike reflects on his journey from a 17-year-old at Marks & Spencer to leading some of the UK's biggest retailers, sharing the lessons he learned through success, failure and some of the toughest decisions of his career.Rather than focusing on balance sheets and boardrooms, this conversation explores the human side of leadership, earning trust, building culture and why telling people the truth is one of the most important responsibilities of any leader.Key takeawaysThis episode is a masterclass in authentic leadership. Mike explains why respect always comes before performance, why difficult conversations should never be avoided, and why the best leaders create environments where people feel trusted, valued and heard.It's also a reminder that careers are rarely linear. Setbacks can become turning points, and sometimes the biggest lesson isn't how to build a successful busines, it's learning to breathe.Whether you lead a global organisation, manage a small team or simply want to become a better leader, this conversation offers practical wisdom grounded in decades of real-world experience.If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to Coach Class, leave a review, and share it with someone who believes that great leadership starts with great people.In this episode we discuss:Why walking into Asda felt like "going back to big school"The leadership lessons Mike learned from Andy Bond, Judith McKenna and the exceptional talent around himHow great leaders ask better questions rather than having all the answersWhat it feels like to walk into a business emerging from administrationWhy Mike spent his first month at Dreams travelling the country listening to colleagues instead of sitting in head officeHow one conversation in a Clydebank store shaped the culture of Dreams for the next eight yearsThe heartbreaking experience in Hong Kong that completely changed his approach to leadershipWhy honesty, even when the news is difficult, is the foundation of trustThe importance of creating workplaces where people are proud to say where they workWhy culture isn't built through slogans, but through everyday behavioursHow losing his job became the catalyst for the greatest chapter of his careerWhat success really means after more than 30 years in retail leadershipSend us Fan Mail🎧 Please consider sharing Coach Class with someone who’d enjoy it — and leaving a review on your podcast platform. It genuinely helps more people find the show.

This week on Coach Class, I caught up with former Asda colleague and now renowned Joy Coach, Ali Mortimer.When Ali and I worked together at Asda and Walmart, she was a high-performing technology leader on the kind of career trajectory many people aspire to: Accenture-trained, leading large teams, shaping the future of ecommerce, and helping build the digital infrastructure that would later enable millions of people to shop, work and connect during the Covid years.Today, her world looks very different.In a deeply personal and honest conversation, Ali shares the story behind her transformation from corporate executive to coach, speaker and advocate for what she calls "joy as a strategy for life."We explore the pressures of corporate success, the relentless pursuit of achievement, and the moment she found herself questioning whether the life she'd worked so hard to build was actually making her happy. Ali speaks candidly about burnout, identity, grief, loss, health challenges, depression, PTSD and the difficult questions that ultimately led her to rebuild her life from the ground up.A recurring theme throughout the episode is the importance of paying attention to patterns, listening to what your mind and body are trying to tell you, and finding the courage to explore alternative paths when life no longer feels aligned with who you are.We also spend time reflecting on the influence of our former colleague Emma Mead, whose recent passing was deeply felt by many of us who had the privilege of working alongside her. Ali shares moving memories of Emma's fierce intelligence, generosity, coaching style and unwavering belief in her people, and the profound impact she had on her own leadership journey.The conversation then turns to the idea of joy itself. Far from being a fluffy concept, Ali explains how a simple daily "joy list" helped her navigate one of the darkest periods of her life and ultimately inspired a new career helping others find light in difficult times. We discuss happiness, purpose, ambition, manifestation, emotional wellbeing and why success doesn't have to come at the expense of fulfilment.Ali also shares her evolving definition of success. Once measured by titles, promotions and visible achievements, success today is about loving her life, loving the people she shares it with, honouring herself and helping others do the same. With her content now reaching more than 14 million people, her mission is simple: to help people find joy, whether they're navigating darkness or simply looking to live more intentionally.It's a conversation about reinvention, resilience, friendship, grief, purpose and what happens when we stop asking what success should look like and start asking what truly brings us joy.Topics covered:Life at Asda, Walmart and AccentureBurnout and corporate successLeadership and coaching lessons from Emma MeadGrief, loss and personal reinventionJoy as a daily practiceHappiness versus achievementHealth, wellbeing and self-awarenessFinding purpose after adversityRedefining successBuilding a life that feels aligned with your valuesIf you've ever found yourself asking, "Is this really what it's all cracked up to be?", this episode is for you.Send us Fan Mail🎧 Please consider sharing Coach Class with someone who’d enjoy it — and leaving a review on your podcast platform. It genuinely helps more people find the show.

What happens when you spend years climbing the career ladder, only to stop and realise you're no longer sure where it's leading?In this episode of Coach Class, I sat down with Maria Laffón, executive coach, former Commercial Director at Massimo Dutti, and fellow Barefoot Coaching graduate. Together we explored the unique pressures of retail leadership, the hidden signs of burnout, and the courage it takes to step away from a successful career to build something new.Maria shares her journey from Spain to the UK, her rise through the fast-paced world of fashion retail, and the moment she realised that success and fulfilment aren't always the same thing.For years she thrived on the pace, pressure and unpredictability of retail. Long hours, constant travel and relentless targets became normal. Like many high performers, she didn't recognise the toll it was taking until she stepped away and discovered something she'd almost forgotten existed: time.The conversation explores why retail can be such an incredible training ground for future leaders, but also why it can leave people operating on autopilot, chasing the next promotion without ever stopping to ask what they really want.Maria reflects on the experience of joining Barefoot Coaching and having to unlearn years of problem-solving behaviour. As a commercial leader she was used to having answers. Coaching taught her the value of curiosity, listening, uncertainty and creating space for others to think.Together we discuss:Why retail leadership can become addictiveThe hidden warning signs of burnoutWhat happens when your values change in your 30s and 40sThe challenge of career transitions and starting againWhy many retail leaders are promoted before receiving leadership supportThe difference between managing performance and developing peopleLearning to listen rather than solveLetting go of ego and embracing curiosityWhy coaching is often about creating space rather than providing answersMaria also explains why she now specialises in supporting retail and commercial leaders. Having experienced the pressures of the industry herself, she understands the challenges many professionals face when stepping into larger roles, navigating change, or questioning what comes next.A recurring theme throughout the episode is that burnout rarely arrives overnight. It often begins much earlier through a loss of energy, a loss of appetite for life, and the feeling of operating on autopilot while continuing to perform at a high level.For anyone working in retail, leading teams, navigating a career crossroads, or wondering whether they're still climbing the right ladder, this conversation offers reassurance, perspective and practical wisdom.Stand Out Quote"You're never satisfied because you're always looking for the next step. One day I stopped and asked myself what my next career move would be, and realised it was actually what I didn't want." – Maria LaffónAbout MariaMaria Laffón is an Executive Coach specialising in leadership development, career transitions and personal growth for retail and commercial professionals. Drawing on her experience as a senior retail leader, she helps ambitious professionals create clarity, confidence and sustainable success while navigating change and growth.Listen NowIf you've ever felt stuck on autopilot, questioned what's next in your career, or wondered whether success should feel different than it does, this episode is for you.Send us Fan Mail🎧 Please consider sharing Coach Class with someone who’d enjoy it — and leaving a review on your podcast platform. It genuinely helps more people find the show.

What happens when you go from being a big fish in a small pond to a tiny minnow in one of the UK's biggest retailers? And what do you do when opportunity arrives disguised as discomfort?This week on Coach Class, I caught up with former Asda colleague Phil Wilkinson (or "Wilko" to those who shared the Asda House years). Phil's career journey has taken him from the trading floor at Asda to leading digital commerce and omnichannel experience across Europe for some of the world's biggest brands, but this conversation is less about job titles and more about the people and moments that shape us.Phil reflects on the leaders who left their mark, from Phil Briggs encouraging individuality and innovation, to Jane Franklin's unwavering support and Graham "Big G" Chadwick's ability to bring people together and create trust.The conversation explores:Going from a "small fish in a big pond" and learning to find your placeWhy leadership isn't always about being the technical expert in the roomThe power of credibility, trust and relationshipsThe uncomfortable reality of impostor syndromeMoving from Asda after 13 years to relocate to Ireland and join Kellogg'sThe emotional "change curve" — excitement, doubt and the inevitable "What have I done?" momentWhy embracing change often creates the biggest opportunities for growthAuthenticity, vulnerability and building trust as a leaderOne of the strongest messages from Phil is that we often wait until we feel fully qualified before stepping forward, when in reality growth usually starts before confidence arrives.As Phil puts it: "You don't need to be perfect. You need to be authentic. You need to be yourself."Listen now and subscribe to Coach Class for more conversations about leadership, careers and the moments that shape us.Send us Fan Mail🎧 Please consider sharing Coach Class with someone who’d enjoy it — and leaving a review on your podcast platform. It genuinely helps more people find the show.

In this episode of Coach Class, I sit down with Russell Craig, someone I’ve known for a long time and genuinely count as a friend.Russ has built his career right at the sharp end of reputation, from Manchester Airports Group to Asda and now AO.com.We talk about the journey behind that, from being a curious teenager inspired by House of Cards, hustling for experience in local newsrooms and radio stations, to being thrown into high-pressure roles early in his career, including fronting national media interviews at just 21.In this conversation, we explore:How early opportunities and mentors (like Andrew Coker and John Spooner) shaped his pathWhat it really takes to lead in a crisis, from airports to supermarketsWhy “escaping into the truth” is such a powerful principle in commsThe importance of relationships, curiosity, and backing yourselfAnd what motivates him today — working alongside John Roberts to create opportunities for young people and drive meaningful changeIt’s an honest, reflective conversation about leadership, judgement, and the moments, big and small, that define a career.Above all, it’s a reminder that success isn’t about ego or performance, it’s about being genuine, humble, and human.🔑 Key TakeawaysStart anywhere — experience beats perfectionCareers are shaped by people who back youIn a crisis, don’t spin — find the truth and start thereLeadership is about bringing people with you, not telling them what to doPurpose evolves — and can become your biggest driverSend us Fan Mail🎧 Please consider sharing Coach Class with someone who’d enjoy it — and leaving a review on your podcast platform. It genuinely helps more people find the show.

In this episode of Coach Class, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Sally Worts, a garden designer, yoga teacher in training, and quietly influential content creator, whose journey is a powerful story of reinvention, resilience, and saying yes to life.Sally and I first met on a yoga retreat in Goa, where a group of strangers quickly became a close-knit tribe. But behind Sally’s calm, grounded presence lies a much deeper story.Sally shares how she began her Instagram journey during breast cancer treatment, using creativity and community as a lifeline through one of the most challenging periods of her life. What started as a weekly post became a source of confidence, identity, and ultimately transformation.The conversation explores Sally’s evolving relationship with wellbeing, from giving up alcohol and discovering yoga, to embracing cold water swimming, garden design, and life coaching. Along the way, she reflects on rediscovering her sense of self after years of putting others first, and how she’s learned to prioritise what truly matters.Now, at 57, Sally is stepping into a new chapter, training as a yoga teacher, studying life coaching, and planning a solo return to India to deepen her practice.This is a conversation about:Finding strength through adversityBuilding confidence later in lifeThe power of community and shared experienceLearning to say yes, and knowing when to say noCreating a life rooted in wellbeing, purpose, and authenticityA thoughtful, honest and uplifting episode that will resonate with anyone navigating change, searching for direction, or wondering if it’s too late to start again.🔑 Key TakeawayIt’s never too late to rediscover who you are — and sometimes the smallest “yes” can change everything.Send us Fan Mail🎧 Please consider sharing Coach Class with someone who’d enjoy it — and leaving a review on your podcast platform. It genuinely helps more people find the show.