In this episode of Leading Lights, Abi Mellor is joined by Deborah Alsina MBE, CEO of Arthritis UK, for a deeply honest conversation about mission-driven leadership and the personal cost of leading purpose-led organisations.

Drawing on decades of leadership across the health and charity sector, Deborah reflects on why arthritis remains widely misunderstood, and is often dismissed as part of ageing rather than recognised as a serious, life-limiting condition for millions of people. She shares her own experiences of advocating for others, caring for loved ones with serious illness, and leading organisations through moments of profound change.

This conversation goes beyond strategy, exploring why belief in the mission is what sustains leaders through challenge and sacrifice. Deborah also reflects on her husband’s sudden cancer diagnosis, the years of uncertainty that followed, and why choosing work you truly care about matters more than ever.

To quote Deborah: “Charities deserve people who give a damn about the mission.” This conversation makes it clear that she is exactly that kind of leader.

Arthritis UK is the leading arthritis charity, changing lives through research, campaigning and support.

Learn about Arthritis UK’s ‘Arthur Tut’ campaign on TikTok:

https://www.tiktok.com/@arthritisuk/video/7575131588199992598

Find out more about the charity:

https://www.arthritis-uk.org/

Follow Arthritis UK on social media

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arthritisukLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/arthritisuk

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VersusArthritis/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@arthritisuk

Enjoyed this conversation?

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Are you a Head of Brand, Marketing, Fundraising or Comms at a charity?

Come along to the MOREVER Meetup, a welcoming space to connect with other women working creatively in the charity sector.

Leading Lights is brought to you by MOREVER, an independent creative agency for charities and changemakers.www.morever.co.uk

Trigger Warning

This episode contains discussion of rape, sexual violence, child sexual abuse, misogyny, racism, online abuse, and trauma. Please take care while listening, and reach out to a trusted person or support service if you need to.

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In this powerful conversation, Abi speaks with Red Godfrey-Sagoo, Chief Executive of Rape Crisis South London, about leading at the frontline of sexual-violence support.

Red shares her journey from a global childhood and a career in the creative industries to becoming, in her words, an “accidental humanitarian.”

She discusses the two-year waiting list facing survivors, the rise of online misogyny and AI-enabled abuse, and what leading as a woman of colour means during a time of political and social tension.

With honesty, hope and deep compassion, Red reflects on feminist leadership, equality, and why “not having hope is not an option.”

Links

Find out more about Rape Crisis South London

https://www.rapecrisissouthlondon.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rapecrisis.southlondon

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/90697003/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rape.and.abuse.support.centre

Enjoyed this conversation?

Subscribe to Leading Lights to catch future episodes, and please consider rating and reviewing to help others find the podcast.

Are you a Head of Brand, Marketing, Fundraising or Comms at a charity?

Come along to the MOREVER Meetup, a welcoming space to connect with other women working creatively in the charity sector. Leading Lights is brought to you by MOREVER, an independent creative agency for charities and changemakers.

www.morever.co.uk

In this inspiring episode of Leading Lights, Raakhi Shah, CEO of The Circle, shares how small acts of solidarity can create global waves of change. Drawing on her experience leading the feminist organisation founded by Annie Lennox, Raakhi talks about the power of women supporting women and her vision of truly global feminism.

From her early career in international development to her leadership today, Raakhi reflects on what it takes to stay hopeful, lead fairly, and keep “the circle growing” in a world that can often feel divided. She reminds us that true progress happens when we bridge the gap between those who have power and those whose voices aren’t yet heard.

“When you support one woman, the circle grows bigger - that’s how change ripples out.”

It’s a conversation about courage, connection, and collective impact - a call to rethink what leadership looks like when empathy leads the way.

Links:

• Follow Raakhi on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/raakhi-shah-8628b24a/

• Find out more about The Circle:

• • Instagram - @thecirclengo

  • LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-circle-of-women

  • Or at www.thecircle.ngo/

• Learn more about bell hooks: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell_hooks

• Misan Harriman, Purpose of Light Exhibition

About Raakhi Shah

Raakhi has over 20 years of experience in international development having previously worked at UNICEF UK and Oxfam NGO covering fundraising, communications, advocacy and campaign initiatives. She has worked with high-level supporters to lobby for change at the G8, G20, Downing Street and African Union, and has led over 30 field visits including to Bangladesh, Lebanon, Jordan, Philippines, Pakistan, India, Malawi and more, bringing the voices of those with lived experience to the forefront. Raakhi was, until recently, a trustee for Reclaim, a youth leadership organisation supporting working class young people in the UK.

About The Circle

The Circle is a global feminist organisation, co-founded by Annie Lennox and other leading women. The organisation stands in solidarity and action with marginalised women and girls confronting gender-based violence and economic inequality across the world.

The growing backlash to gender equality alongside global funding cuts are having a devastating impact on millions of women and girls. To challenge this, The Circle funds, advocates for and amplifies women-led organisations around the world. Their grassroots partners deliver vital services that combat violence against women, promote economic justice, and uphold women’s rights.

Enjoyed this conversation?

Subscribe to Leading Lights to catch the next episode, and please consider rating and reviewing to help others find the podcast.

Are you a Head of Brand, Marketing, Fundraising or Comms at a charity? Come along to the MOREVER Meetup – an informal space to share ideas and connect with other women doing creative work in the charity sector.

Leading Lights is brought to you by MOREVER – an independent creative agency for charities and changemakers.www.morever.co.uk

Karen Dobres never liked football - until she realised it could change the world.

When she went along with her husband to watch a game at Lewes FC, the local club, Karen discovered that women had been banned from football for 50 years (from 1921-1971) and were still paid 10 times less than male players. No wonder football was thought of as “a man’s game”.

This revelation transformed her into an unlikely activist. She set about to change things, and bring women into the game at Lewes FC. First as a volunteer, then by becoming a director of the club. She was part of the team that made Lewes FC the world's first pro/semi-pro club to equally resource men and women, attracting owners from over 40 countries.

By making female friendly adaptations to the match day experience, bringing in women’s chanting workshops, suffragette-style flash mobs, and launching the "Call Him Out" campaign, she proved football could combat toxic masculinity and empower women.

"I saw these young women playing football... they were strong, taking up space, using their voice. This is the antidote to all this sexism," Karen explains in the episode and in her book Pitch Invasion, which offers a practical blueprint for challenging gender inequality in male-dominated spaces.

If you’re interested in understanding the steps it takes to build a community, change attitudes and bring about change for a fairer world, this is the episode for you.

Just a heads up: this episode contains occasional strong language.

Links:

• Connect with Karen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-dobres-07a54b176/

• Follow Karen on Instagram: @karendobres

• Read her book

• Find out more about Lewes FC: www.lewesfc.com

  
  

Enjoyed this conversation?

Subscribe to Leading Lights to catch the next episode, and please consider rating and reviewing to help others find the podcast.

Are you a Head of Brand, Marketing, Fundraising or Comms at a charity? Come along to the MOREVER Meetup – an informal space to share ideas and connect with other women doing creative work in the charity sector.

Leading Lights is brought to you by MOREVER – an independent creative agency for charities and changemakers.www.morever.co.uk

From the shyest girl in school to a voice for seriously ill children: Louise Griew’s story is one of quiet resilience and unexpected turns.

In this episode of Leading Lights, we meet Louise Griew, Chief Executive of Roald Dahl’s Marvellous Children’s Charity - a role she never imagined for herself growing up in Pinner, North London.

Once described as the shyest girl in her class, Louise now leads a national charity supporting the families of over 40,000 seriously ill children through a network of more than 200 specialist nurses.

Her path to leadership has been anything but linear. Louise shares how her previous roles, including agency side working with clients such as Coca-Cola and McDonald’s, a formative stint as Fundraising and Marketing Director at the Mayor’s Fund for London during Boris Johnson’s tenure, and time leading an RAF charity have all shaped the leader she is today: values-driven, quietly confident, and rooted in the belief that “kindness is free.”

This is a conversation about forging strength through experience, navigating personal challenges, and staying grounded when life doesn’t go to plan. Louise opens up about the setbacks that taught her the most, and what it really takes to lead with heart in a high-stakes world.

About Roald Dahl’s Marvellous Children’s Charity

Roald Dahl’s Marvellous Children’s Charity provides specialist nurses and support for seriously ill children across the UK. There are currently over 200 Road Dahl Nurses caring for more than 40,000 seriously ill children, but there are many more children who do not receive this vital specialist care. The dedication and expertise of our nurses reduces A&E visits, hospital admissions and consultant appointments. They’re also a vital lifeline to the whole family, coordinating care and providing access to emotional support. That’s why we believe every seriously ill child deserves a Roald Dahl Nurse.

Find out more about the charity:

https://www.roalddahlcharity.org/

Or on Facebook or Instagram: @roalddahlcharity

Enjoyed this conversation?

Subscribe to Leading Lights to catch the next episode, and please consider rating and reviewing to help others find the podcast.

Are you a Head of Brand, Marketing or Creative at a charity? Join the MOREVER Meetup – an informal space to share ideas and connect with other women doing creative work in the charity sector.

Leading Lights is brought to you by MOREVER – an independent creative agency for charities and changemakers.www.morever.co.uk