Battling with Business

Episode 150 - Influencer #7 Re-Release - Charles De Gaulle: Loyal Only to France - Part 1

In this Part 1 of 2, re-release of an earlier Influencers series of Battling with Business, Gareth Tennant and Chris Kitchener explore the leadership and influence of Charles de Gaulle, a figure often overlooked in British narratives of the Second World War. Through the lens of military history and modern management thinking, they examine how conviction, strategic foresight, and personal ego combine to shape leaders in moments of national crisis.
What does it take to declare yourself the voice of a nation when no one has elected you, few are listening, and defeat seems inevitable? Charles de Gaulle did exactly that, and in doing so reshaped France and Europe.
In this episode we'll learn that leadership is not always granted. Sometimes it is asserted. We'll also hear how sometimes strategic thinking often emerges from adversity, reflection, and exposure to different perspectives and that rigid doctrine can be comforting, but adaptability wins in complex and changing environments. We learn more about De Gaulle's personal conviction and how ego can both enable and endanger effective leadership. Influence often precedes authority, not the other way around.
Join us in this first episode and reflect on how de Gaulle’s journey from overlooked officer to self-declared leader mirrors modern challenges in business and organisational leadership. This episode challenges assumptions about legitimacy, strategy, and what it really means to lead when the stakes are highest.

Episode 149 - War in the Smartphone Age : Why Leaders Must Rethink Everything They Think They Know

This episode explores how leaders can navigate unprecedented change by understanding the hidden forces reshaping conflict, technology, and decision making. In this conversation with Dr Matthew Ford, we unpack how the smartphone has quietly transformed modern warfare and why leaders in every sector must rethink how they interpret information, manage uncertainty, and respond to rapid shifts.
We start to look at how the smartphone has blurred the line between civilian and combatant, reshaping risk and responsibility and how modern conflict is now inseparable from a participatory media environment where everyone contributes, knowingly or not. We discuss how organisations struggle when they assume they understand the environment and how leaders must cultivate curiosity, humility, and systems thinking.
It's clear that AI is not the beginning of radical change but the acceleration of trends already reshaping society and leaders must protect core expertise while adapting to technological change.

Episode 148 - Iterate or Lose : Innovation Lessons from NATO’s Front Line

This episode  of Battling with Business dives deep into modern leadership and management through the lens of defence innovation. Gareth Tennant and Chris Kitchener are joined by John Ridge, Chief Adoption Officer at the NATO Innovation Fund, to explore how technology, agility and organisational culture shape today’s capabilities.
Leaders often talk about innovation, speed and agility, but how do those ideas work when the stakes are measured in national security rather than quarterly targets? This episode reveals what real innovation looks like when it must be fast, iterative and mission‑critical.
You'll hear how and why NATO created a multinational deep‑tech venture fund and how modern defence challenges mirror classic product management problems. You'll learn why iteration, modularity and open architectures matter more than ever and how leaders can create cultures that embrace experimentation while managing risk. We also talk about the critical role of passion, mission alignment and end‑user closeness.
Listen to hear a powerful conversation that blends defence, technology and leadership lessons relevant for every leader, in or out of uniform.

Episode 147 - Inside The War Game : Red Teaming A Crisis

In this episode Battling with Business explores leadership and decision making under pressure through a deep dive into “The War Game,” a five‑part immersive geopolitical simulation from Sky.
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-wargame/id1547225334
Gareth and Chris unpack how realistic war gaming exposes blind spots, stress‑tests assumptions, and reveals how people truly behave when everything happens at once.
Leadership is easy when nothing is at stake. The real test is how you think, act, and adapt when the world tilts under your feet.
We hear why immersive simulations reveal more than theoretical discussions, how pressure changes decisions that seem obvious in hindsight, what war gaming teaches us about communication, clarity, roles, and information flow, how leaders can use structured stress‑testing in business just as effectively as governments use it in crisis planning and why confronting unlikely but high‑impact risks is essential for modern leaders.
Listen to hear how a fictional crisis uncovers real lessons for leaders in any environment.

Episode 146 - Influencer #26 - The Nelson Touch : Leadership, Myth, and Mastery

"Thank God I have done my duty."
This episode explores leadership through the life and legacy of Admiral Horatio Nelson. Gareth and Chris unpack the myth, the reality, and the enduring lessons behind one of Britain’s most iconic naval commanders.
What makes someone a great leader when history elevates them to near‑mythical status? And what happens when we discover the real person beneath the legend?
Nelson’s success came from clear communication, trust, preparation, and personal courage. His “Nelson touch” showed how leaders build unity and belief through simple, human behaviours. While mythmaking distorts history, core leadership principles endure across eras and great leadership is not about perfection but about consistent, purposeful action.
This episode encourages listeners to reflect on what truly builds trust and followership, and why understanding leaders of the past helps us lead better today.

Episode 145 - Re-Release of Episode 126, Leading with Pride – LGBT+ Inclusion in the Armed Forces with Commander Roly Woods RN

In this the week of remembrance in the UK, we commemorate those who have served and died in conflicts.
In a worthy re-release of a previous episode we sat down with Commander Roly Woods, a retired Royal Navy officer with over 46 years of service, to explore the personal and institutional journey of LGBTQ+ inclusion in the British Armed Forces.
This week's re-release is particularly relevant as only this week at the National Memorial Arboretum the Fighting with Pride team were invited to attend the Armistice Day service, in the presence of HRH The Princess of Wales, at which the Bishop of Lichfield talked of HM The King’s Dedication of the LGBT Armed Forces Community Memorial.
Roly Woods, laid a wreath at the LGBT Armed Forces Community Memorial. The wreath was affixed with a card which read:
“For those members of the LGBT community we have lost, many of whose names we will never know. Lest We Forget.”
As the LGBT Armed Forces Community Memorial Officer for the charity Fighting with Pride, Roly reflected on his early motivations to join the Navy, leadership experiences, and the dramatic transformation of military culture since the lifting of the ban on LGBT personnel in 2000.
Together, we delved into the challenges LGBTQ+ service members faced under institutional discrimination, from living in secrecy, to emotional isolation, to dishonourable discharges and loss of medals. Roly shared deeply moving personal stories and historic insights into how courageous individuals and strong leadership drove systemic change across the Royal Navy, leading to today’s more inclusive and emotionally intelligent environment.
We also discussed the ongoing efforts of Fighting with Pride, including:
Raising awareness of the Veterans’ Financial Recognition Scheme
Supporting LGBTQ+ veterans in restoring medals and service records
Building community through initiatives like the Snowdonia retreat
Leading the creation of the LGBT Armed Forces Memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum
Whether you’re interested in military leadership, organizational change, or the evolving rights of LGBTQ+ veterans, this episode provides an essential perspective on how empathy, courage, and advocacy can reshape even the most traditional institutions.
Listen now to hear about the untold stories behind the UK military’s transformation, and how leaders like Commander Woods continue to inspire change today.

Episode 144 - The Leader’s Equation : Data vs Intuition

Leadership is not just about having data. It’s about knowing when the data matters, and how to apply your experience. In a world obsessed with dashboards and algorithms, are you still cultivating your leader’s instinct?
In this episode of Battling with Business, Gareth and Chris  dive into one of the most pressing questions for modern leaders: how do you balance data with intuition? From battlefield intelligence to product strategy, they explore when leaders should trust the numbers and when human judgment, instinct, and experience must take the lead.
Data is powerful, but insufficient without human interpretation and strategic context. Intuition is informed by experience, not guesswork. The best leaders fuse insight from multiple data sources rather than rely on one. AI amplifies decision‑making but doesn't replace judgment, creativity, or innovation. Knowing what question to ask is often more important than knowing the answer.

Episode 143 - Shifting Ground: Finding Purpose and Leadership in Times of Change

Change is inevitable, but how leaders handle transitions, both their own and their team’s, defines long-term success. In this reflective episode, Chris  and Gareth explore the many faces of transition: from promotions and career shifts to redundancy, retirement, and identity change.
Drawing on Chris’s recent personal experience of redundancy, they unpack how leaders can guide themselves and others through the uncertainty of change with honesty, empathy, and resilience. The discussion ranges from the emotional impact of transitions to practical advice on handovers, adaptability, and reframing identity.
They explore how leadership is tested most during times of transition, how managing emotional as well as operational aspects of change is critical. They also discuss how every transition, personal or professional, is an opportunity to grow. Leaders must support both those leaving and those staying behind and change, handled well, strengthens resilience and adaptability.
If you’ve ever faced a major shift in work or life, or led others through one, this episode offers grounded wisdom, humour, and perspective. Tune in to reflect, reset, and rethink how you handle transition.

Episode 142 - Rerelease of Episode 8 - Adaptive teams and Pirates

In this high-stakes episode, a release of one of our very first episodes, Gareth Tennant shares a gripping real-world account of how a small, well-trained team of Royal Marine Commandos outsmarted a group of Somali pirates, and what it reveals about building truly adaptive teams.
Discover how elite military units use repetition, rehearsals, mission command, and common operating procedures to stay agile under pressure. From battlefield coordination to business boardrooms, this episode breaks down the core principles behind high-performance teamwork in unpredictable environments.
Whether you're leading in crisis or just want to level up your team's adaptability, this story-driven episode is packed with actionable insights on resilience, trust, and executing flawlessly when it matters most.
Perfect for leaders, entrepreneurs, and teams who want to thrive under pressure.
Tune in now to learn how to build agile, high-functioning teams that can outpace the unexpected.

Episode 141 - Influencers #25 - Richard Branson - The Cult of Cool and How He Made Business Fun

In this episode of Battling with Business, hosts Gareth Tennant and Chris Kitchener explore the life and leadership lessons of Sir Richard Branson the entrepreneur, adventurer, and founder of the Virgin Group. Branson’s story is one of audacious vision, relentless optimism, and authentic leadership that continues to inspire generations of business leaders.
What does it take to build a global empire while staying true to yourself, and still have fun along the way? Leadership isn’t about control, it’s about curiosity and courage. Failure isn’t fatal; it’s feedback for the next attempt. Passion and fun can drive exceptional performance. Authenticity builds loyalty faster than authority ever can. Vision, optimism, and risk-taking create lasting impact.
From selling records and surviving a near-drowning in the Atlantic to building airlines and space ventures, Branson’s journey reveals how courage, curiosity, and compassion can coexist with commercial success. Gareth and Chris unpack his philosophy, from hiring to your weaknesses and putting people first to embracing failure as a path to learning.
Tune in to hear how Branson’s life of adventure mirrors the principles of great leadership, and why “Dr. Yes” might just be the ultimate example of leading with positivity.