The Wellbeing Rebellion

Leadership, Culture and Responsibility in Further Education with Hayley Ross

Further education sits under constant pressure, balancing funding constraints, public scrutiny, safeguarding responsibilities, and rising learner need. This conversation explores what leadership really looks like inside that reality, not in theory, but in day-to-day decisions that shape culture.I’m joined by Hayley Ross, Head of HR and Organisational Development at Salford City College Group, to talk about the emotional load leaders carry in vocational systems, where people care deeply about outcomes and responsibility doesn’t end at the job description.Our discussion looks at culture as the result of small, consistent choices. From onboarding and workload management to accountability, values, and difficult conversations, Hayley shares how leadership teams can protect wellbeing while still delivering under sustained pressure.This episode is for anyone leading in complex systems, especially where the stakes are human and the margin for error is small.Highlights:(01:00) Why leadership decisions shape culture in further education(05:10) The emotional weight carried by leaders in mission-driven systems(09:30) How small operational choices influence wellbeing(14:00) Accountability, values, and difficult conversations(31:00) Pride, belonging, and what makes people stayTake the Aurora 360 Quiz: How Effective Is Your Company's Wellbeing Strategy? Click HereConnect with us here:Website: aurorawellnessgroup.co.ukLinkedIn: NgoziLinkedIn: ObehiAurora Company Profile 2025Book a Call here

Born of Two Worlds: Leadership, Identity & The Future of Neonatal Care with Dr Ngozi Edi-Osagie

This conversation felt deeply personal. Not just because Dr Ngozi Edi-Osagie and I share a name, but because her story touches on identity, leadership, resilience, and what it really means to navigate systems that were never designed with you in mind.We talk about growing up between the UK and Nigeria, the impact of family belief, and the early messages she received about what was and wasn’t possible. Dr Edi-Osagie reflects honestly on being told not to come to the UK because success would be unlikely, and the quiet determination it took to keep going anyway.The conversation moves into leadership, fairness, and the reality of working in systems like the NHS where bias is often subtle, embedded, and backed by data. We explore what good leadership looks like under pressure, why visibility matters, and how integrity, optimism, and calm can shape outcomes in the most high-stakes environments.This episode is about more than career success. It’s about belief, responsibility, and what we pass on to the next generation when we choose to keep showing up.Highlights:03:00) Identity, names, and belonging in professional spaces(10:30) Growing up between the UK and Nigeria(15:40) Being told not to come to the UK and choosing to try anyway(23:15) Bias, meritocracy, and what the data actually shows(31:00) What good leadership looks like under pressureTake the Aurora 360 Quiz: How Effective Is Your Company's Wellbeing Strategy? Click HereConnect with us here:Website: aurorawellnessgroup.co.ukLinkedIn: NgoziLinkedIn: ObehiAurora Company Profile 2025Book a Call here

Winding Down for Christmas Without Burning Out

As Christmas approaches, it’s easy to keep pushing even when you’re already exhausted. This episode is about slowing down when your energy is already low, not forcing yourself to power through just because it’s the end of the year.I talk about why rest doesn’t need to be earned, how boundaries can help before the break begins, and what it might actually be helpful to stop doing over the holidays.There’s also space here for neurodivergent people and parents of neurodivergent children, because this season can feel especially intense. I share ways to reduce overload, keep some structure, and be clearer about what you need from others.Leadership comes into the conversation too, particularly the signals we send about availability, rest, and burnout at this time of year. This episode is an invitation to approach Christmas with less pressure and more care for yourself.Highlights:(01:30) You don’t need to earn rest(04:30) Setting boundaries before Christmas(08:30) Reducing sensory overload and protecting routines(13:10) Managing emotional noise during the holidays(19:45) What leaders unintentionally signal about rest and burnout Take the Aurora 360 Quiz: How Effective Is Your Company's Wellbeing Strategy? Click HereConnect with us here:Website: aurorawellnessgroup.co.ukLinkedIn: NgoziLinkedIn: ObehiAurora Company Profile 2025Book a Call here

Money, Mindset & Missed Opportunities: What’s Really Holding UK Entrepreneurs Back? with Clive Black

Money shapes the way we dream, plan and build our lives, yet it is also one of the hardest topics to approach with honesty. In this conversation with Clive Black, a Director at Shore Capital, we explore why so many UK entrepreneurs struggle to scale their businesses, and why racially underrepresented founders face even higher barriers when it comes to investment, visibility and confidence.Clive brings a thoughtful and surprisingly hopeful perspective. He talks about the cultural narratives that hold people back, the role of ambition in building something truly transformative, and the uncomfortable truth that systems are only as fair as the people operating within them. We dig into why access to capital is uneven, why so many great ideas never reach their full potential, and how communities can create their own networks of support.This is a conversation about money, yes, but it is also a conversation about belief, ambition, community and opportunity. If you have ever wondered why some businesses thrive while others never move beyond survival mode, this episode will give you a lot to reflect on.Highlights:(04:41) Why capital markets miss entire communities(09:12) The role of confidence and ambition in scaling a business(14:45) Why the UK struggles with billion pound thinking(22:00) How systemic barriers affect early stage funding(31:00) Why solving real problems is the greatest business opportunityTake the Aurora 360 Quiz: How Effective Is Your Company's Wellbeing Strategy? Click HereConnect with us here:Website: aurorawellnessgroup.co.ukLinkedIn: NgoziLinkedIn: ObehiAurora Company Profile 2025Book a Call here

Leading Well in the GenAI Era: Ethics, Creativity & Human Performance with Professor Andy Miah

Artificial intelligence promises efficiency, creativity, and innovation, but what happens when the speed of progress outpaces our humanity?In this episode, I’m joined by Professor Andy Miah, Chair in Science Communication and Future Media at the University of Salford. Andy has spent more than two decades exploring where art, science, and technology meet and what that means for how we live and work.We talk about what it really means to lead in the Gen AI era, how to embrace new technology without losing our sense of humanity, and why reflection matters just as much as innovation. From the unseen human cost of progress to the emotional impact on workplaces and education, this is a conversation about doing better, not just faster.Highlights:(03:18) The human cost behind rapid AI innovation(07:50) Generation AI and how it’s reshaping learning and identity(14:21) Why businesses must create space for AI experimentation(18:45) Encouraging transparency and psychological safety in the workplace(24:57) How to stay human while embracing AITake the Aurora 360 Quiz: How Effective Is Your Company's Wellbeing Strategy? Click HereConnect with us here:Website: aurorawellnessgroup.co.ukLinkedIn: NgoziLinkedIn: ObehiAurora Company Profile 2025Book a Call here