What if unlocking human potential didn’t start in a boardroom… but in a salon chair?

In this deeply human and refreshingly honest episode of Unlocking Human Potential, Andy Hosgood is joined by David Thomas — award-winning salon founder, educator, mentor, and a man who has spent over 55 years mastering the psychology of people, not just the craft of hairdressing.

David’s journey began in 1976, not with a grand vision of leadership, but with curiosity, creativity, and a refusal to settle for “how things have always been done.” Over four decades of building salons, developing teams, training thousands of professionals, and standing on stages around the world, David has learned one simple truth:

Performance is emotional before it is technical.

In this conversation, David shares:

· Why skills beat talent every time

· How confidence is built through safety, not pressure

· The hidden cost of growth when leaders lose presence

· Why customer experience is 80% how you deliver, not what you deliver

· And the leadership lesson most people learn far too late: your team comes first — always

From international stages and global academies to quiet coffees in the salon, this episode is packed with practical wisdom, humility, humour, and heart.

If you care about culture, leadership, emotional intelligence, and creating environments where people genuinely thrive — this conversation will stay with you long after the scissors stop cutting.

About David

David proves that unlocking human potential doesn’t always start in a boardroom sometimes it starts in a salon chair, with a great conversation and a pair of scissors.

David Thomas is the founder of David Thomas Hairdressing, an award-winning salon brand built on far more than technical excellence.

Yes, the hair is exceptional, but what really sets David apart is his belief that people are the real craft.

David is a salon owner, leader, mentor, and educator who has spent years building a culture where creativity, confidence, and human connection come first.

He understands that performance whether in business, leadership, or life is deeply psychological and emotional, not just technical.

Through his work, David has helped teams grow not only in skill, but in self-belief, ownership, and pride in what they do.

He leads with warmth, clarity, and high standards proving that you don’t have to choose between being kind and being commercially successful.

What I love about David is this: he gets that leadership isn’t about titles or ego. It’s about how you make people feel, how safe they feel to grow, and how well you help them become more of who they already are.

Today we’ll explore how David optimises himself, how he unlocks potential in others, and the practical lessons he’s learned from leading humans in a high-pressure, high-performance industry.

If you care about culture, emotional intelligence, and leading like a human you’re going to love this conversation.

Let’s get into it.

Fundraising Link: https://ig.me/35cGFl6pUMilIN5

@davidthomashair

https://davidthomashair.com

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In this inspiring episode of Unlocking Human Potential, Andy sits down with Simon Beesley a culture and leadership consultant, former NHS leader, and founder of Growth Consulting, for a deep, authentic exploration of what it truly means to lead.

Simon challenges the outdated notions of leadership as a position and instead invites us to see it as a daily behaviour, a choice to show up for others with purpose, clarity, and compassion.

Drawing from his extensive leadership career in the NHS, Unilever, and consulting, Simon shares rich stories and practical tools that have helped transform teams, cultures, and the leaders within them.

Whether you’re managing a team, raising a family, or navigating your own personal growth, this conversation is packed with wisdom:

• How to build psychological contracts that actually stick
• Why identity and purpose matter more than KPIs
• How to move from ‘fixing’ to truly hearing others
• The importance of asking: “What do you need from me right now?”
• A practical 3-step approach to creating more intentional days

Simon’s warm, thoughtful energy shines through as he encourages leaders to slow down, connect more deeply, and act with intent. You’ll walk away not only with insights but with actions you can take today.

Final Challenge from Simon:
Before bed tonight, write down one person you want to show up better for tomorrow. And then do it.

This is one of those episodes that will stay with you.

🔗 Follow Simon and learn more at www.growthconsulting.uk

About Simon

Simon Beesley is the founder of Growth Consulting, a culture and leadership consultancy helping organisations create workplaces where people can do their best work without burning out, disengaging, or quietly counting down to Friday.

Simon works across the NHS, healthcare, and SMEs, supporting leaders who are navigating complexity, high demand, and constant change. He designs and delivers leadership development, management training, culture change, and team development the kind that actually changes how people show up at work, not just what’s written on the wall.

He’s also a certified resilience coach, helping individuals and teams build the capacity to perform well in demanding roles not by “toughening up,” but by learning how to recover, adapt, and stay human under pressure.

What I like about Simon is this: he’s thoughtful, grounded, and refreshingly real. No leadership theatre. No quick fixes. Just a deep belief that better cultures start with better self-awareness and better conversations.

Today we’ll explore how Simon optimises himself, how he unlocks potential in others, and the practical advice leaders can use right now.

If you care about leading like a human this one’s for you.

Let’s dive in.

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In this eye-opening episode of Unlocking Human Potential, Andy Hosgood is joined by Andrew Stirrup an executive coach, leadership consultant, and unapologetic truth-teller for a conversation that doesn’t shy away from the messy, human side of leadership.

From emotional intelligence to behavioural psychology and the raw truth about self-sabotage, Andrew offers practical tools and soul-stirring wisdom. Together, they explore:

• Why self-awareness without honesty is useless
• The psychology behind "moving toward vs. moving away from" goals
• The GAPS principle: Goals, Actions, Persistence, and Self-reflection
• How to spot the lies you tell yourself — and what to do next
• What it really means to dare to be curious as a leader

Whether you lead teams, a business, or simply want to lead yourself more effectively, this episode will challenge your thinking — and give you grounded strategies to grow.

Andrew’s challenge to every listener:

"Stand in the mirror, look yourself in the eyes, and tell the truth."

This one will stick with you long after the episode ends.

🎧 Listen now and unlock the leader within.

#UnlockingHumanPotential

About Andrew

Andrew Stirrup is a leadership consultant, behavioural specialist, and one of those rare humans who can talk psychology, emotional intelligence, and performance without making it sound like a TED Talk gone wrong.

Andrew is the founder of AJ Stirrup, his own practice focused on helping leaders build self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and behavioural clarity because it turns out leading humans is easier when you understand how humans work.

Andrew works with leaders and organisations who want more than surface-level engagement they want cultures where people actually think, feel, and perform better.
He calls it The Culture Factor, it’s about developing the right behaviours, mindsets and values for your business to succeed.

Andrew is a certified practitioner and trainer in DISC Flow, using behavioural insight not to label people, but to help them communicate better and lead smarter.,

He doesn’t just work with leadership teams, boards and business owners to help them shape their workplace cultures to drive performance – he also works with other coaches and consultants to help them grow their businesses.

What I love about Andrew is this: he’s practical, grounded, and deeply human. No buzzwords for the sake of it. No leadership theatre. Just smart thinking, real experience, and a genuine curiosity about what helps people thrive at work and beyond.

Today we’ll explore how Andrew optimises himself, how he unlocks potential in others, and the advice he believes every leader needs right now.

If you care about emotional intelligence as much as strategy and leading like a human, not a job title this one’s for you.

Let’s dive in

Website: https://www.ajstirrup.com

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