Recommended Episodes

• Ep61: What It Takes to Lead in the Boardroom Today with Shefaly Yogendra
• Ep62: Sustainable Success at Work Starts with Being Human with Dr. Emma Waddington
• Ep63: Leading Through Uncertainty Without Losing Yourself with Sally Henderson

What happens when leaders are expected to deliver commercial results while navigating increasing scrutiny, complexity, and competing expectations? In this episode of Human Wise, Helen Wada is joined by leadership advisor, coach, and author Kate Adams to explore how leaders can remain human when the pressure is relentless.

Drawing on two decades of experience across business, technology, innovation, and the social sector, Kate shares insights from her book Accountability Under Fire. Together, Helen and Kate discuss why leadership today is no longer about having all the answers. Instead, it requires curiosity, courage, and the ability to hold space for different perspectives while making difficult decisions.

This is a thoughtful conversation for leaders seeking to balance performance, accountability, and humanity in an increasingly complex world.

Topics Discussed

• What it means to be human at work under pressure
• Why leadership complexity is increasing
• The relationship between accountability and scrutiny
• How curiosity and listening improve decision-making
• Leading yourself before leading others
• Understanding stakeholders and systems thinking
• Balancing commercial performance with societal impact
• Why awareness creates better leadership
• The importance of holding different perspectives
• Creating space between stimulus and response

View extended shownotes here

Further links to follow:

Read HUMAN-WISE: How to lead from within and sell with confidence

Helen Wada: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/helen-wada

The Human Advantage: https://www.thehumanadvantage.co.uk/

Recommended Episodes

• Ep45: Human-Centred Leadership & Resilience – How to Build Sustainable High Performance with Lisa Boyd
• Ep61: What It Takes to Lead in the Boardroom Today with Shefaly Yogendra
• Ep62: Sustainable Success at Work Starts with Being Human with Dr. Emma Waddington

What happens when uncertainty becomes the norm rather than the exception? In this episode of Human Wise, Helen Wada is joined by high-stakes leadership mentor, speaker, and author Sally Henderson to explore what it takes to lead, perform, and thrive when pressure never seems to let up.

Drawing on 25 years of experience working with senior leaders and executive teams, Sally shares why many traditional leadership approaches have not kept pace with the realities of today's world. Together, Helen and Sally explore the importance of boundaries, identity, recovery, and self-awareness, and why sustainable performance starts with understanding not just how you lead, but how you live.

This is a thought-provoking conversation for leaders, founders, commercial professionals, and anyone navigating uncertainty while trying to stay true to themselves.

Topics Discussed

• Why uncertainty has become a permanent feature of leadership
• The relationship between personal identity and professional identity
• Why boundaries are essential for sustainable performance
• The difference between purpose and action
• How leaders can reframe high-stakes situations
• The role of emotional awareness and embodied leadership
• Using breath, reflection, and recovery to improve performance
• Why rhythm matters more than time management
• Balancing commercial success with personal wellbeing
• How trust, courage, and energy shape high-performance leadership

View extended shownotes here

Further links to follow:

Read HUMAN-WISE: How to lead from within and sell with confidence

Helen Wada: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/helen-wada

The Human Advantage: https://www.thehumanadvantage.co.uk/

Recommended Episodes

• Ep45: Human-Centred Leadership & Resilience – How to Build Sustainable High Performance with Lisa Boyd
• Ep59: We Cannot Leave Meaning to Machines with Kate O’Neill
• Ep61: What It Takes to Lead in the Boardroom Today with Shefaly Yogendra

What happens when high performance becomes unsustainable? In this episode of Human Wise, Helen Wada is joined by clinical psychologist and founder of Us Therapy, Dr. Emma Waddington, to explore the growing tension between commercial success and human wellbeing in today’s workplace.

Drawing on years of experience supporting leaders, teams, and high-performing professionals in Singapore, Emma shares why burnout, anxiety, and overwhelm are becoming increasingly common in modern organisations. Together, Helen and Emma unpack why human-centred leadership is no longer optional, how trust and psychological safety shape performance, and why rest, reflection, and connection are essential for sustainable success.

This is a powerful conversation for leaders, commercial teams, and organisations navigating pressure, change, and the growing complexity of modern work.

Topics Discussed

• Why burnout and overwhelm are increasing in modern workplaces
• The connection between high performance and psychological safety
• How leaders create cultures where people can speak up
• Balancing commercial success with human-centred leadership
• The importance of reset, reflection, and deliberate rest
• How trust shapes customer relationships and team performance
• Why listening is one of the most underrated business skills
• AI, relationships, and the future of human connection at work
• How identity, belonging, and purpose influence wellbeing
• Why sustainable success requires both performance and humanity

View extended shownotes here

Further links to follow:

Read HUMAN-WISE: How to lead from within and sell with confidence

Helen Wada: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/helen-wada

The Human Advantage: https://www.thehumanadvantage.co.uk/