In this episode, host Jacqueline Frost talks to Paolo Beltrame, CEO Australia & New Zealand at EQUANS.

Paolo shares his passion for treating gender balance as a business transformation rather than merely an HR initiative. He believes injecting inclusion at field level is crucial, especially as a high percentage of employees hold technical roles, and many future leaders emerge from these positions. Without inclusion at the base, achieving balance at senior levels becomes nearly impossible.

Paolo's experience in Saudi Arabia, where only three of 800 employees were female, sparked his commitment to change. At his previous company, he achieved 50/50 gender balance in apprentice programmes within three years, with male technicians eventually bringing their daughters to recruitment events.

Concluding with a quote from Jerry Dunn, an endurance athlete, that inspires and drives him: “Don't limit your challenges, challenge your limits.”

To get in touch with Paolo, find him here:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/paolobeltrame12111971/

Stay tuned for future episodes of the Finding Your EPIC® podcast

Welcome to the Finding Your EPIC® podcast.

In this episode, host Jacqueline Frost talks to Pamela Thomson-Hall, Head of International and Executive Officer at WTW.

Pamela shares the incredible story of how at just 13 years old, she decided to become an international lawyer. Growing up as the only child of a single mother in difficult circumstances, she was driven by a desire for financial self-sufficiency. This clarity of purpose, combined with an innate wanderlust, shaped her early career choices.

After joining WTW as an in-house lawyer, Pamela falls in love with both the insurance industry and the company. She faces significant challenges, including working on the groundbreaking 9/11 insurance litigation, which transformed how the UK insurance market operates.

The conversation concludes with Pamela sharing Henry Kissinger's words: "The task of a leader is to get their people from where they are to where they have not been," - helping them not just survive or thrive but truly flourish.

To get in touch with Pamela, find her here:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/pamela-thomson-hall-28915321/

In this episode, host Jacqueline Frost talks to Doug Campbell Senior Director, Strategy, Transformation and Operational Excellence at Smith+Nephew.

Doug shares how he believes that the best ideas emerge from collaboration rather than lone geniuses, and how he distinguishes between strategic and tactical thinking through simple questions. Doug demonstrates approaches to enable creativity, and advocates for "going slow to go fast" - thorough upfront planning - preventing interruptions and reconsiderations later.

Doug views planning as both art and science - combining intuition with structured approaches and admits he's naturally better at starting projects than finishing them!

The conversation concludes with Doug sharing his favourite quote – “If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together” - emphasising his preference for collaborative journeys that accomplish more.

To get in touch with Doug, find him here:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/douglcampbell/

In this episode, host Jacqueline Frost talks to Dawn Constantin COO, Gas & Power Trading Americas at bp.

Dawn shares two pivotal experiences: receiving challenging early-career feedback that prompted her to demonstrate hidden strengths whilst remaining authentic. Later, facing a simple question about career aspirations that revealed she lacked direction. Through coaching and self-reflection, she gained clarity about her strengths and identified development gaps.

Both experiences underscored essential leadership lessons: the courage to accept constructive feedback, the importance of trusted advisors, and the value of dedicating time to strategic self-reflection.

The conversation concludes with Dawn sharing her favourite quote from Agatha Christie: "Instinct is a marvellous thing. It can neither be explained or ignored." This resonates with Dawn's approach of trusting her gut feelings throughout her career, recognising that instinct becomes sharper with experience and should guide curiosity and exploration.

To get in touch with Dawn, find her here:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dawn-constantin-6a07a228/

Stay tuned for future episodes of the Finding Your EPIC® podcast

In the final episode of the season, the tables are turned as Elevate Talent founder Jacqueline Frost takes the hot seat. She's interviewed by her good friend, coach, and co-presenter Kevin Hall.

With years of experience and countless stories, Jacqueline shares powerful insights on courage and leadership. One question, asked 14 years ago by the incredible @Eleanor Mills during a panel at the first women’s conference she hosted, left a lasting impact - and helped her further recognise how those lived experiences became a powerful foundation for helping women unlock their potential.

She shares that story here - with all the honesty and emotion that’s become her hallmark. Jacqueline recalls the sheer terror she felt over an entire weekend, knowing she had to stand up for what was right - not just for herself, but for her team.

It wasn’t a dramatic confrontation, but a quiet, internal storm. She wrestled with doubt, pressure, and the fear of rocking the boat. But by Monday morning, she chose courage. That decision, made in a moment of fear, became a defining point in her leadership journey - and it still shapes how she shows up today.

To get in touch with Jacqueline, find her here:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/frostjacqueline/

In this episode, host Jacqueline Frost talks to Emma Neave-Webb, Marine Scientist, Strandings Coordinator, International Whaling Commission.

Emma highlights an upcoming all-female expedition to Antarctica led by Sea Women Expeditions, showing how women can raise their voices by organising, collaborating, and setting new standards.

The team of 25 women from science, tech, engineering, and the arts will study warming oceans while also challenging the male-dominated history of polar research - proving that action and unity can speak louder than words.

Emma sums it up beautifully: "It doesn't matter whether it's challenging, there are ways around it. If you have courage, you persevere, you're organised, you are determined and you're willing to put that effort in, you will get results and you will get to do some amazing things. We're really trying to show that women have as much, if not more to give in these different STEM subjects."

At the heart of this expedition is the desire to 'pay it forward', to pave the way for other women to follow. There is such power in that, to not only be part of this amazing all women expedition but to also inspire others into roles they may have thought were beyond their reach. In Emma's own words: "I'd really love to hear of an early career scientist who at the time we're doing this expedition was at school and we've been able to influence them on that career path."

Find out more how Emma is Breaking Boundaries at the Bottom of the World here: https://gofund.me/5106d1a3

To get in touch with Emma, find her here:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-neave-webb-92131312/

Subscribe for future episodes of the Finding Your EPIC® podcast

In this episode, host Jacqueline Frost talks to Callie Lombard Global Head of Corporate Strategic Solutions, Barclays Investment Bank.

Callie Lombard recounts her journey of "epic risk," detailing the life-altering decision to leave her legal career in South Africa for a new role in banking on the unfamiliar continent of Europe. Spurred by a traumatic carjacking and a deep-seated desire for a safer future for her son, Callie embraces a move to Gibraltar, a place she had never visited, demonstrating immense courage and a willingness to step far outside her comfort zone.

The discussion concludes with Callie sharing a quote from the former South African president and Nobel Prize winner, Nelson Mandela. “I am what I am.........both as a result of people who respected me and helped me, and of those who did not respect me and treated me badly.'

To get in touch with Callie, find her here:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/callie-lombard-56230521/

In this episode, host Jacqueline Frost talks to Parul Patel, a lawyer and founder of the legal and sports business consultancy, Fuel+Move.

Parul explains that her problem-solving prowess stems from a combination of innate curiosity and extensive professional nurturing, particularly during her time at Nike, where there was a strong expectation to "find a way." She emphasises that this skill is not just about legal acumen but also involves understanding people, reading between the lines, and adapting solutions to diverse stakeholder needs. She learns by doing, analysing situations retrospectively, and even drawing inspiration from unrelated activities, a concept she terms "career yoga" – creating space to explore new experiences and skills without a rigid agenda.

The discussion concludes with Parul sharing a quote that deeply resonates with her from Dr Sunita Sah: “Defiance is acting in accordance with your true values when there is pressure to do otherwise.”

To get in touch with Parul, find her here:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/parul01/