S1 EP2: Leadership, Confidence & Coaching – A Business Growth Conversation with Mark Schmull
Release Date: 05/27/2025
S3 E7- Bonus Episode with Dr Tatiana Rowson- Who are you now? Identity, midlife and career change
The Lighting Fires Podcast
Host: Julie Williams MSc, Executive Coach & Founder of Lighting Fires Guest: Dr Tatiana Rowson, Associate Professor at Henley Business School Welcome to a special bonus episode of supported by . In this episode, Julie is joined by Dr Tatiana Rowson, Associate Professor at Henley Business School, for a fascinating conversation about identity, career transitions and what happens when the life or career we’ve built no longer quite fits. Drawing on her background in clinical psychology, coaching and academia, Tatiana shares her research into midlife transitions and explores how closely our...
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S3 E6- Becoming the leader only you can be, with Sophie Greenaway
The Lighting Fires Podcast
Host: Julie Williams MSc- Executive Coach & Founder of Lighting Fires Guest: Sophie Greenaway- Headteacher In this episode of supported by , Julie is joined by Sophie Greenaway, Headteacher at Thameside Primary School, Reading, who shares her journey from teacher to headteacher, the challenges of following in the footsteps of a highly respected predecessor, and how coaching helped her overcome imposter syndrome and develop confidence in her own leadership style. Together, they explore the power of coaching, why great leaders don't need to have all the answers, and how creating a...
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S3 EP5- From Lumberjack to Conductor: Paul Whitby’s Leadership Story.
The Lighting Fires Podcast
Host: Julie Williams MSc – Executive Coach & Founder of Lighting Fires Guest: Paul Whitby – Founder and Managing Directory of The Ecology Co-op In this episode of supported by , Julie is joined by ecologist, entrepreneur and nature enthusiast Paul Whitby for a fascinating conversation about leadership, business growth, coaching and finding a more sustainable way to work. Paul shares how a childhood fascination with wildlife led him to build The Ecology Co-op, growing it from a one-person consultancy into a thriving business employing a team of specialist ecologists. He reflects on...
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S3 EP4: The Power of Not Taking It Personally, with Amanda Lennon
The Lighting Fires Podcast
Host: Julie Williams MSc - Executive Coach & Founder of Lighting Fires Guest: Amanda Lennon - HR Consultant, Employment Lawyer and Founder of Astralis HR In this episode of supported by , Julie is joined by Amanda Lennon for an honest conversation about courage, resilience, confidence and navigating a successful career on your own terms. Amanda shares her journey from employment law into senior HR leadership, becoming the only woman on a board at just 29 years old. After a successful corporate career, she went on to launch her own consultancy business, Astralis HR. Along the way, she has...
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S3 EP3: Han Solo or Princess Leia- Leadership, AI and Adaptability with Rory McLaren.
The Lighting Fires Podcast
Host: Julie Williams MSc - Executive Coach & Founder of Lighting Fires Guest: Rory McLaren - Technology and Product Leader In this episode of supported by , Julie is joined by Rory McLaren for a thoughtful and wide-ranging conversation about leadership, adaptability, confidence and learning how to navigate change. Rory shares his journey from growing up in a remote ex-mining village in Scotland to becoming a Chief Technology Officer and co-founder of a successful startup, before transitioning into leadership within a much larger global corporate environment following an acquisition. ...
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S3 EP2: Career change, confidence and knowing when It’s time to leave - with Kate Gräfe
The Lighting Fires Podcast
Host: Julie Williams MSc - Executive Coach & Founder of Lighting Fires Guest: Kate Gräfe - Social Value Director and former procurement and supply chain leader In this episode of supported by , Julie is joined by Kate Gräfe for an honest and reflective conversation about career change, confidence, self-awareness and creating a working life that genuinely fits. After nearly two decades working in procurement and supply chain leadership within local government, Kate reached a crossroads. Following the pandemic, she began questioning whether the career path she had followed for years...
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S3 EP1: Accidental Manager to Confident Leader with Steve Jones
The Lighting Fires Podcast
Host: Julie Williams MSc – Executive Coach & Founder of Lighting Fires Guest: Steve Jones –Head of Education & Application Support (EMEA) at d&b audiotechnik In the opening episode of Series 3 of supported by , Julie is joined by Steve Jones for an honest and insightful conversation about leadership, confidence, self-awareness and the power of coaching. Steve shares the experiences that shaped his resilient outlook on life, from a challenging childhood to building a successful international career in the fast-paced live events industry. He reflects on stepping into leadership...
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Confidence and Identity: What Coaching Can Do For You
The Lighting Fires Podcast
Host: Julie Williams MSc- Executive Coach & Founder of Lighting Fires Guest: Katie Denyer- Executive Coach, Supervisor and Tutor at Henley Business School In this bonus episode of supported by , Julie is joined by Katie Denyer. Katie is also an executive coach, a supervisor, and a tutor on the Professional Certificate in Executive Coaching at Henley Business School. Together, they explore what coaching really looks like in practice, unpacking some of the most common themes that have come up across the series so far. From identity and confidence to limiting beliefs and career change, this...
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S2 EP6: Finding Calm in the Chaos: Confidence, Leadership and Late ADHD Diagnosis
The Lighting Fires Podcast
Host: Julie Williams MSc- Executive Coach & Founder of Lighting Fires Guest: Rachael Burns- Head of Sales Operations, Capgemini In this episode of , supported by , Julie is joined by Rachael Burns to reflect on the coaching they did together when Rachael stepped into her first senior leadership role. Rachael shares her unconventional route into finance, leaving school at 16, starting out as a hairdresser, and building a successful career without going to university, before talking candidly about the challenges she faced when she took on a large, experienced team during a period of...
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S2 EP5: Building, Ending and Beginning Again
The Lighting Fires Podcast
Host: Julie Williams MSc – Executive Coach & Founder of Lighting Fires Guest: Greg Owen – Lead Product Designer, The LEGO Group In this episode of , supported by , Julie is joined by Greg Owen, Lead Product Designer at the LEGO Group, for a thoughtful and honest conversation about transitions, endings, and what it really takes to thrive at work. Greg reflects on his journey from professional ice hockey into design, entrepreneurship and leadership, and a significant chapter in his career: co-founding the digital design studio Daughter, growing it over seven years, and ultimately...
info_outlineIn this episode of The Lighting Fires Podcast, supported by Henley Business School, Executive Coach Julie Williams talks with Mark Schmull, Managing Director of Arrow Planning, about his coaching journey through the Ignite Your Business programme and how it transformed his approach to leadership, team-building, and business growth.
Mark shares how executive coaching helped him build greater self-awareness, tackle imposter syndrome, and grow a team culture based on trust, communication, and purpose. He opens up about the realities of running a business, the power of mentorship, and learning to lead with calm, confidence, and intention.
Whether you’re an entrepreneur, team leader, or business owner, this conversation offers honest insight into what it really takes to lead a growing company.
Topics We Cover:
- Developing leadership confidence through executive coaching
- Building a purpose-driven business from the ground up
- How to handle imposter syndrome as a business leader
- Leading with calm and clarity under pressure
- Creating a supportive and adaptive team culture
- The role of mentorship and building a strong support network
Julie’s Coaching Tips:
- Getting the right mentors – Who challenges and inspires you?
- Map your personal boardroom – Who and what fuels your growth? (People, books, podcasts, routines...)
Book Recommendation:
Who Is in Your Personal Boardroom? by Amanda Scott – A practical tool to help you identify the key people who can support your leadership journey.
Useful Links:
- Julie Williams, Executive Coach: www.lightingfires.co.uk
- Mark Schmull & Arrow Planning: https://www.arrowplanning.co.uk
- Connect with Julie on LinkedIn: Julie Williams MSc
- Email Julie: julie@lightingfires.co.uk
- Interested in a free taster 'Ignite your Business' session with Julie? Check out the next available session here: https://www.
eventbrite.co.uk/o/lighting- fires-julie-williams- 14355302598
Interested in a career in coaching? Find out about the Professional
Certificate in Executive Coaching at Henley Business School here.
Be sure to mention the Lighting Fires Podcast if you do contact Henley Business School.
If this episode resonated with you, please leave a 5* rating or share it with a colleague. Your support helps more leaders discover these inspiring coaching stories.
Artwork by Ian Guppy
Music by Penguin Music via Pixabay
Produced by Perri Hurley