Inspiring Leadership with Jonathan Bowman-Perks MBE

🎙️ Inspiring Leadership Podcast: Chris Barton – The Visionary Behind Shazam

How do you turn an "impossible" idea into a global phenomenon? Chris Barton, the founder of Shazam, did just that—creating a groundbreaking music recognition app long before iTunes, the iPhone, or the App Store even existed. Despite skepticism and major technical hurdles, his relentless innovation and creative persistence turned Shazam into a household name, with over 2 billion downloads and a $400 million acquisition by Apple.

But Barton's journey didn’t stop there. From shaping Google’s Android Partnerships to driving growth at Dropbox, he has continually redefined what’s possible. Now, he’s tackling AI-powered drowning detection with his latest startup, Guard.

In this episode of Inspiring Leadership, Chris shares his "Start from Zero" mindset, how he navigated setbacks, and what it takes to push boundaries in tech and entrepreneurship. 🚀

Tune in for an eye-opening conversation on resilience, innovation, and leadership. 🎧🔥 #InspiringLeadership #ChrisBarton #Shazam

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Liz McConaghy’s story is one of resilience, courage, and transformation. Originally from Northern Ireland, she joined the RAF on her 19th birthday, becoming the longest-serving female crewman on the Chinook Fleet. She was the youngest aircrew deployed to Iraq at just 21 and the only woman in her role for four years. Over a 17-year career, she completed multiple combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, witnessing war from the skies.

But after leaving the military in 2019, Liz faced her toughest battle yet—PTSD, trauma, and a fight for her own life. Her powerful memoir, Chinook Crew Chick, became an Amazon bestseller, offering an unfiltered look at the highs and lows of her service and recovery. Now an award-winning speaker and mental health ambassador, Liz is proving that PTSD doesn’t have to define you—it can be a chapter that fuels growth.

Join us as we dive into her extraordinary journey, from flying combat missions to rebuilding her life and inspiring thousands. This is a conversation about war, healing, and the unbreakable human spirit.

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Zara Lachlan set three World Records rowing solo, unsupported and non-stop from mainland Europe to mainland South America from October 2024 to February 2025. 

Lachlan at only 21 years old, was the first female ever and youngest person to complete this route, and the youngest female to row from any mainland to mainland. On this 97-day expedition Zara faced stormy weather leading to a capsize, a large bite from a suspected barracuda, and regular hallucinations from extreme exhaustion.

This crossing pushed her physically as she rowed 16-21 hours a day but found the mental struggle from being in pure isolation during testing conditions for the first forty days, where the weather was against her for thirty-five of them, a significantly larger challenge.

Throughout the process Zara was raising money for two charities important to her, Team Forces and Women in Sport. 

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In this episode, we sit down with Nandu Govindankutty, the visionary behind CSuite Retro, an immersive leadership program helping C-suite executives identify and overcome blind spots as a team. With a career spanning fintech, cybersecurity, and digital innovation, Nandu has worked with global giants like Amazon, Microsoft, Barclays, and Qatar Airways, driving strategic transformation and innovation.

He’s also the founder of Balanced.Social, one of the world’s first AI-powered news platforms designed to combat bias through multi-perspective reporting. His passion for making an impact extends to leadership development, inclusive design, and social change—whether leading Barclays' 7,500-strong leadership program, launching fintech innovations, or supporting over 100 charities through Making A Difference Through Analytics.

Join us as we explore his journey, insights on tackling blind spots, and how technology, frugality, and purpose-driven leadership are shaping the future.

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With 28 years as a U.S. Navy SEAL Officer, Bill Wilson has seen it all—leading elite teams in combat, capturing war criminals, and shaping the future of Naval Special Warfare. From the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan to the cutting-edge world of software innovation, his leadership journey is nothing short of extraordinary.

In this episode, Bill takes us behind the scenes of his time at SEAL Team ONE, JSOC, and Special Operations Command Africa, sharing insights on high-stakes decision-making, teamwork, and adapting to change. We’ll also dive into his transition from military service to the tech industry, where he co-founded Alchemy and now works at Ridgeline Apps.

Join us for a compelling conversation about leadership, resilience, and the mindset needed to excel in both special operations and business.

Tune in now! 🎧

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