Louise Humpington on AI governance, ethical leadership, and building self-awareness

In this episode, Daniel Taylor speaks with Louise Humpington, a speaker and consultant on AI governance, ethics, and law, whose career spans commercial litigation, international development, and senior nonprofit leadership. They explore why leaders need digital literacy before adopting AI, how governance should act as a preventative guardrail, and why self-awareness is essential for managing people well.

In this episode:

• She explains how her career moved from commercial litigation into third sector leadership and then into AI governance, and why that crossover gives her a strong lens on risk and responsibility.
• She argues that AI should not be adopted because it is “the shiny new thing,” but only when leaders understand what it is for, how it will be used, and what problem it is meant to solve.
• We discuss why scepticism is useful in organizations, especially when people are uneasy about change but may be spotting real risks early.
• She recommends that leaders build governance mechanisms, compliance systems, and team-wide digital literacy before rolling out AI tools.
• How management changed when she stopped trying to lead in an overly authoritarian way and instead leaned into being people-focused, informal, and authentic.
• A major theme is psychological safety: Louise says managers should create space for people to be honest, vulnerable, and upfront without fear of criticism.
• She describes reflective practices like journaling, conversation, and noticing physical stress signals such as a knot in the gut or tension in the back.
• She outlines a strategic approach to career development, using a theory of change mindset to map backward from a desired role and fill the gaps intentionally.
• She talks about reframing rejection in job searches, emphasizing that not being the right fit in one context does not mean you lack value.

Timestamps:

01:19 - Introduction to Louise and her AI governance background
03:51 - Louise’s unconventional path from litigation to ethics and development
05:17 - Why AI must be governed responsibly, not imposed on people
06:40 - Three things leaders should do before adopting AI
09:37 - Trial, sandboxing, and testing before rollout
10:04 - What kind of manager Louise was early in her career
12:48 - Management as service, not dictatorship
14:03 - How self-awareness develops through reflection and repair
16:29 - Learning from cultural difference in Papua New Guinea
20:39 - Reframing rejection and job-search resilience
23:57 - Listening to the body as an early warning system
28:37 - How Louise keeps developing herself and others
29:50 - Using a theory of change to plan career moves
33:08 - Strategic volunteering to build field experience
36:35 - Learning to value your own skills as a manager
40:07 - “Tip toe if you must, but take the first step”
41:25 - Spotting behaviour change before jumping to performance management
46:16 - Advice for new managers: listen before you tell
51:24 - Favorite quote: changing ourselves before changing humanity
52:24 - Favorite interview question revisited
53:08 - Claude chooses a song that fits Louise
55:46 - Why “Once in a Lifetime” feels right
58:12 - Closing remarks

Her favourite book was Careless Whisper by Sarah Wynn Williams

The link to the Eileen Gu social media question is https://www.youtube.com/shorts/GRsX9d8XElU

Her LinkedIn recommendation is https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirsty-hulse/

Managing Potential with Daniel Taylor and Dana James-Edwards

Daniel Taylor speaks with Dana James-Edwards, Head of the Fairness, Inclusion and Respect program at the Supply Chain Sustainability School, about people-first management, building trust with teams, and how feedback can shape better leadership.

Dana also shares a hard-won lesson from supporting a team member through redundancy, plus the habits and influences that keep her growing as a manager.

In this episode:

Dana discusses what it means to be a people-first manager, including giving people time off when they need it, protecting work-life balance, and leading with honesty and transparency.

Timestamps

00:00 - Intro and podcast restart
00:46 - Welcome to Managing Potential and guest introduction
05:04 - What the Supply Chain Sustainability School does
06:22 - Why inclusion is central to sustainability
07:19 - The industry’s largest diversity data set
08:54 - The site-worker learning app and multilingual modules
10:59 - Dana describes her management style
11:48 - People-first leadership and wellbeing
13:16 - High standards with kindness
14:16 - Trust, ownership, and speaking up early
16:40 - How she asks for feedback regularly
19:43 - Developing people around their career goals
21:03 - Recognition, visibility, and opportunities
22:18 - Bringing team members into senior rooms
22:58 - How Dana develops herself by observing others
24:58 - Her biggest learning moment as a manager
27:29 - Protecting herself during redundancy work
30:22 - Advice for new managers: kindness and attention
33:22 - The leadership belief she changed her mind about
35:53 - Why direct feedback works better for her now
38:19 - Dana’s question for the next guest
40:14 - Book recommendation: The DIY Phoenix
41:45 - Best interview question: “Tell me about yourself”
42:43 - Song choice
44:06 - Closing thoughts

Show Links

Learn more about the FIR Programme - https://www.supplychainschool.co.uk/topics/fir/

Connect with Dana

Instagram / TikTok @diversitydana

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/diversitydana

The DIY Phoenix: How to drag yourself out of the ashes, mend your wings and start flying again by Lior Locher

https://www.amazon.co.uk/DIY-Phoenix-yourself-ashes-flying-ebook/dp/B094YPXRDN

Join Daniel Taylor as he explores leadership growth, supporting unpaid carers, and staying authentic with Nic Booth, founder of Daughterhood UK. In this episode, Nic shares her journey from social care professional to advocate, highlighting the importance of authentic leadership, embracing discomfort, and leveraging data to grow a meaningful social enterprise.

Key topics - 5-10 bullets:

• Nic's background in social care, achieving success despite limited formal academics
• How her personal experience as an unpaid carer drives her mission with Daughterhood UK
• The significance of authentic leadership and overcoming perceptions of being "too nice"
• Strategies for supporting unpaid carers in the workplace and advocating for policy change
• The power of coaching in developing leadership authenticity and tackling challenging conversations
• The importance of leaning into discomfort for personal and professional growth
• Using data and key performance indicators to drive business growth in social care
• The role of mindset and perspective in overcoming challenges and motivating others
• Practical advice for new managers: find your authentic self and surround yourself with belief
• Nic’s big hairy audacious goal for Daughterhood UK to expand across the entire UK

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction: Leadership, caring, and authenticity with Nic Booth
01:00 - Nic’s background: From social care to founding Daughterhood UK
02:26 - Personal journey as an unpaid carer and its influence on her mission
03:50 - The power of authentic leadership: overcoming being perceived as “too nice”
04:44 - Supporting unpaid carers in the workplace: challenges and solutions
06:55 - The importance of employer support and policy in retaining unpaid carers
08:50 - Developing leadership through coaching and authentic self-awareness
10:17 - Embracing discomfort for growth and challenging conversations
12:41 - Reflection, celebrating milestones, and managing imposter syndrome
13:34 - Power of coaching and mentorship in leadership development
15:13 - The impact of belief and mindset on achieving big goals
18:57 - Nic’s big audacious goal for Daughterhood UK expansion
19:42 - Key lessons learned: leaning into discomfort and authentic leadership
20:39 - Reflecting on achievements and the importance of taking stock
22:09 - Advice for new managers: find your authentic self and lead with conviction
23:18 - The role of data in driving social care and business success
25:48 - Intrinsic motivator: making a difference in others’ lives
26:39 - Question for future guests: how have your beliefs about leadership changed?
27:16 - Personal insight: leaning into challenging conversations for better outcomes
28:13 - Leaders must get comfortable being uncomfortable
30:39 - Book recommendation: "Traction" by Gina Wickman
30:25 - Follow on LinkedIn: Daniel Taylor and Daughterhood UK
30:39 - Inspirational quote: “You can do anything you put your mind to”
31:07 - What's your why? Reflecting on personal drivers and motivation
32:25 - Song that inspires resilience: “Lifeboat” by Ray

Links

Nic Booth MSc | LinkedIn

Jaqui Temperley | LinkedIn

(18) Daughterhood UK: Overview | LinkedIn

Daughterhood UK | Practical support for unpaid carers