What would you do if you only had ONE chance to get a negotiation right?

No second meeting. No follow-up. No room for error.

In this episode of the ‘Portfolio Executive’ Gareth Wax and Valerie Merrill are joined by global strategist Rhonda L. Bowen to unpack the art of one-chance negotiations—the kind that can make or break deals, especially when working with governments and regulatory bodies.

Rhonda shares powerful, real-world insights on how to prepare for high-stakes conversations where the pressure is high and the margin for error is zero. From mindset and human behaviour to strategic influence and shared interests, this episode is packed with practical tools you can apply immediately.

You’ll discover:

•What a one-chance negotiation really is—and why it matters

•How mindset and human factors influence outcomes

•How to use the Pin Triangle to uncover true interests and needs

•Strategies for preparing for high-stakes negotiations

•How to handle third-party influences (like regulators or pressure groups)

•Why asking the right questions is your most powerful tool

TimeStamps

00:00 Understanding One-Chance Negotiation

07:17 Preparing for High-Stakes Negotiations

12:29 Common Mistakes in Negotiation

17:30 The Human Element in Negotiation

19:49 Skills for Portfolio Executives

24:05 Additional Insights

24:16 Closing Thoughts

Guest & Host Links:

Rhonda L. Bowen: https://portfolioexecutive.biz/executive/rhonda-l-bowen/

Valerie Merrill: https://portfolioexecutive.biz/executive/valerie-merrill/

Gareth Wax: https://portfolioexecutive.biz/executive/gareth-wax/

Explore the Portfolio Executive community, learn how to step into fractional leadership, and stay tuned for more insights in upcoming episodes.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are you accidentally holding your own business back as it grows?

What if the very skills that made your business successful are now the thing preventing it from scaling?

In this episode of the ‘Portfolio Executive’ Gareth Wax, Valerie Merrill, and guest David Parry unpack the growth paradox—why being great at what you do isn’t always enough to take your business to the next level.

They explore the limits of founder intuition, the critical role of systems and processes, and how to build a business that can grow beyond you. If you’re feeling the strain of scaling or noticing cracks as your business expands, this conversation is packed with practical insight.

You’ll discover:

• When founder intuition becomes a limitation

• Why systems and processes drive sustainable growth

• How to create alignment through shared purpose

• Practical ways to overcome resistance to structure

• How to balance passion with process

TimeStamps

00:00 Introduction to Growing Pains and the Portfolio Executive

01:12 What is Growing Pains and Why It Matters

02:17 When Does Founder Intuition Stop Being Enough?

03:38 Supporting the Founder as Business Grows

04:40 Recognising the Signs of Scaling Challenges

05:41 The Importance of Documented Processes

06:56 Creating a Shared Vision and Growth Plan

08:30 The Role of Systems and Processes in Scaling

10:11 Overcoming Resistance to Process Implementation

12:30 Case Study: Scaling a Distribution Network

14:14 Balancing Passion and Systematisation

14:57 The Impact of Team Alignment and Culture

18:48 Bridging the Gap Between Purpose and Growth

20:00 Advice for Founders on Scaling Strategies

Guest & Host Links:

David Parry: https://portfolioexecutive.biz/executive/david-parry/

Valerie Merrill: https://portfolioexecutive.biz/executive/valerie-merrill/

Gareth Wax: https://portfolioexecutive.biz/executive/gareth-wax/

Explore the Portfolio Executive community, learn how to step into fractional leadership, and stay tuned for more insights in upcoming episodes.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if chaos isn’t something to survive—but something you can lead through and win?

In this episode of the ‘Portfolio Executive’ hosts Gareth Wax and Valerie Merrill chat with Tom O’Kelly and Andrew Stickland diving into the art of leading when everything feels uncertain. From navigating fast-moving challenges to making clear, confident decisions under pressure, our experts unpack what it really takes to stay steady in turbulent times.

You’ll discover:

•Why staying calm and focusing on what doesn’t change is your biggest advantage

•How small, decisive steps can cut through uncertainty

•The importance of creating a safe space for honest, transparent conversations

•When to limit change to avoid overwhelm and decision paralysis

•How to reframe chaos as a catalyst for growth and innovation

TimeStamps

00:00 – Introduction: What Does It Mean to Lead Through Chaos?

01:56 – Understanding Chaos: When and Why It Happens

03:48 – Clarity in Crisis: The Power of Small Steps

05:23 – Fail Fast, Learn Faster: Adapting on the Go

07:29 – Building Trust: Creating Space for Honest Dialogue

09:08 – Governance Matters: Tracking Decisions Effectively

11:20 – Avoiding Common Pitfalls: Overwhelm & Overthinking

13:02 – Visual Tools for Simplifying Complexity

15:14 – Balancing Risk and Growth in Uncertain Markets

15:58 – Spotting Opportunity in the Midst of Chaos

Guest & Host Links:

Tom O’Kelly: https://portfolioexecutive.biz/executive/tom-okelly/

Andrew Stickland: https://portfolioexecutive.biz/executive/andrew-stickland/

Valerie Merrill: https://portfolioexecutive.biz/executive/valerie-merrill/

Gareth Wax: https://portfolioexecutive.biz/executive/gareth-wax/

Explore the Portfolio Executive community, learn how to step into fractional leadership, and stay tuned for more insights in upcoming episodes.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if the biggest risk of AI isn’t what it can do—but how confidently it can be wrong?

In this episode of the ‘Portfolio Executive’ hosts Gareth Wax and Valerie Merrill chat with Andrew Stickland and Robin Davis exploring how artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming the workplace, from boosting efficiency to introducing new risks that professionals can’t afford to ignore. They break down the realities of working with AI today—covering prompt engineering, accuracy challenges, ethical concerns, and the evolving role of creativity in an AI-driven world.

You’ll discover:

•Why prompt engineering is quickly becoming a critical career skill

•How and why AI “hallucinates”—and what that means for your work

•Practical ways to validate and verify AI-generated outputs

•The hidden risks of using AI without proper governance or guardrails

•How deepfakes and AI-generated content are reshaping trust

•The balance between AI automation and human creativity

•How professionals can leverage AI to enhance—not replace—their work

TimeStamps

00:00 – Introduction to AI and the Panel

01:09 – How Experts Use AI in Their Work

01:52 – The Art & Science of Prompt Engineering

02:59 – AI Challenges: Inconsistency & Cognitive Drift

03:58 – AI Hallucinations and Accuracy Risks

05:07 – Why Validation Matters

06:05 – Legal and Ethical Concerns

07:17 – Should AI Be Regulated?

08:10 – Training Users to Think Critically

08:56 – Governance and Ethical Guardrails

10:02 – Shadow AI and Lack of Oversight

11:10 – Deepfakes and AI Misinformation

11:41 – AI’s Impact on Art and Creativity

12:42 – AI as a Creative Tool

13:27 – Enhancing Creativity with AI

15:00 – The Rise of Prompt Engineering Careers

Guest & Host Links:

Robin Davis: https://portfolioexecutive.biz/executive/robin-davis/

Andrew Stickland: https://portfolioexecutive.biz/executive/andrew-stickland/

Valerie Merrill: https://portfolioexecutive.biz/executive/valerie-merrill/

Gareth Wax: https://portfolioexecutive.biz/executive/gareth-wax/

Explore the portfolio executive community, learn how to step into fractional leadership, and stay tuned for more insights in upcoming episodes.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is the introduction to the Portfolio Executive podcast.

Featuring Gareth Wax, Valerie Merrill and Charles McLachlan.

You can find more information here:

https://portfolioexecutive.biz/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.