Human Wise

Host and expert coach Helen Wada is a strong believer in the commercial advantage of being human at work. With over 25 years commercial experience, Helen has seen an opportunity for businesses to do things differently – a sweet spot where a coaching approach and commercial focus can co-exist to build a more human working world. This podcast is for anyone in business who believes that a better way of working is out there: better for teams, for organisations and, ultimately, for society as a whole. We'll hear from senior leaders, founders, people on the ground and professionals from a variety of different disciplines, learning from their unique wisdom and experience. So, if you're ready to make the human advantage your commercial advantage, join Helen and guests every other week on all major podcast directories.

Human Wise is a business podcast hosted by Helen Wada, with 70 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Helen Wada hosts Human Wise, a business show with 70 episodes published.

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  Episode #69

  Ep69: Why Human-Centred Leadership Drives Business Growth with Finesse Blumenthal

  Sep 15, 202636 min

  Recommended Episodes Ep47: Cultivating Human-Centred Leadership – Why Listening Is Your Greatest Competitive Advantage with Jane Adshead Ep57: Curiosity as Competitive Advantage - How Leaders Stay Relevant in the Age of AI with David Feavearyear Ep62: Sustainable Success at Work Starts with Being Human with Dr. Emma Waddington Can you really put people first and still deliver ambitious commercial growth, or is that the wrong question entirely? In this episode of Human Wise, Helen Wada is joined by transformational Chief People Officer, entrepreneur and human capital growth strategist Finesse Blumenthal to explore why human-centred leadership and business performance belong together. Drawing on her experience working with high-growth organisations, executive teams and boards, Finesse challenges the idea that leaders must choose between caring about people and delivering results. Together, Helen and Finesse explore how listening, trust, accountability and meaningful development translate into commercial value. They discuss the role of human skills in an AI-enabled workplace, how people leaders can build stronger business cases for investment, and why leaders need to create a safety net that gives people the confidence to stretch themselves. Finesse also shares her unconventional journey into executive leadership and why she believes relationships, reinvention and the courage to step into the unknown can transform both careers and organisations. Topics Discussed Why people should never be treated simply as resources What should remain distinctly human as AI reshapes work Why human-centred leadership and commercial performance belong together Turning listening into action and measurable business value Making the business case for investing in people and human skills Why HR and people leaders need to speak the language of the business Finesse's unconventional journey into executive leadership Creating trust by giving people a safety net to experiment and grow Why stretching people requires both ambitious targets and strong coaching Preparing the next generation with relationship, communication and commercial skills View extended shownotes here Further links to follow: Read HUMAN-WISE: How to lead from within and sell with confidence Helen Wada: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/helen-wada The Human Advantage: https://www.thehumanadvantage.co.uk/

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  Episode #68

  Ep68: Why Knowing Yourself Is the Secret to Success with Helen Pamely

  Sep 1, 202637 min

  Recommended Episodes Ep47: Cultivating Human-Centred Leadership – Why Listening Is Your Greatest Competitive Advantage with Jane Adshead Ep62: Sustainable Success at Work Starts with Being Human with Dr. Emma Waddington Ep63: Leading Through Uncertainty Without Losing Yourself with Sally Henderson Success often looks impressive from the outside, but what happens when it no longer feels fulfilling on the inside? In this episode of Human Wise , Helen Wada is joined by executive coach, entrepreneur, and founder of Lawyer Unleashed , Helen Pamely, to explore why the greatest leadership transformation begins with knowing yourself. Drawing on her journey from City law firm partner to executive coach, Helen shares how stepping away from a successful legal career allowed her to reconnect with her values, rediscover her voice, and build a business centred on authenticity, purpose, and human connection. Together, Helen and Helen discuss why self-awareness, coaching, and meaningful conversations are becoming essential leadership skills in an increasingly complex and AI-driven world. This is an inspiring conversation for leaders, professionals, and anyone who wants to achieve success without losing sight of who they are. Topics Discussed Why self-awareness is the foundation of authentic leadership Reconnecting with your own humanity before leading others The journey from external success to internal fulfilment How coaching transforms leadership and commercial conversations Why creating space leads to better thinking and decision-making Personal responsibility versus a victim mindset The neuroscience behind changing habits and mindset Building human-centred cultures in the age of AI Why listening is one of the most valuable commercial skills Gratitude, reflection, and creating sustainable success View extended shownotes here Further links to follow: Read HUMAN-WISE: How to lead from within and sell with confidence Helen Wada: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/helen-wada The Human Advantage: https://www.thehumanadvantage.co.uk/

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  Episode #67

  Ep67: Why Great Leaders Learn Through Failure with Melisa Buie

  Aug 4, 202639 min

  Recommended Episodes Ep45: Human-Centred Leadership & Resilience – How to Build Sustainable High Performance with Lisa Boyd Ep57: Curiosity as Competitive Advantage – How Leaders Stay Relevant in the Age of AI with David Feavearyear Ep64: Leading Under Pressure Without Losing Your Humanity with Kate Adams Failure is something most of us try to avoid, yet it is often where our greatest learning begins. In this episode of Human Wise , Helen Wada is joined by engineer, researcher, leadership expert, and author Melisa Buie to explore why curiosity, experimentation, and reflection are becoming essential skills for modern leaders. Drawing on a career spanning engineering, operational excellence, leadership, and problem solving, Melisa shares why technical expertise alone is no longer enough. Together, Helen and Melisa discuss how leaders can build confidence by embracing uncertainty, learning from setbacks, and creating cultures where experimentation leads to innovation rather than fear. This is a thought-provoking conversation for leaders, technical professionals, and organisations looking to develop more curious, resilient, and human-centred teams. Topics Discussed Why failure is one of our greatest teachers The role of curiosity in leadership and innovation How technical experts become stronger leaders Creating psychologically safe environments for experimentation Reflection as a tool for continuous improvement Building confidence through action instead of perfection The relationship between operational excellence and human leadership Helping teams solve problems more effectively Why AI makes human judgement even more valuable Turning setbacks into opportunities for growth View extended shownotes here Further links to follow: Read HUMAN-WISE: How to lead from within and sell with confidence Helen Wada: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/helen-wada The Human Advantage: https://www.thehumanadvantage.co.uk/

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  Episode #66

  Ep66: Building Human Wise Organisations in the Age of AI with Perry Timms

  Jul 21, 202644 min

  Recommended Episodes Ep57: Curiosity as Competitive Advantage – How Leaders Stay Relevant in the Age of AI with David Feavearyear Ep59: We Cannot Leave Meaning to Machines with Kate O'Neill Ep62: Sustainable Success at Work Starts with Being Human with Dr. Emma Waddington What does it take to build organisations where people genuinely thrive while delivering sustainable business performance? In this episode of Human Wise , Helen Wada is joined by Perry Timms, internationally recognised HR thinker, organisational development expert, and author, to explore why the future of work depends on putting people, purpose, and humanity at the centre of business. Drawing on more than three decades of experience in business transformation and organisational development, Perry shares why organisations must rethink traditional models of leadership, performance, and work itself. Together, Helen and Perry discuss AI, organisational design, meaningful work, trust, and why the organisations that succeed tomorrow will be those that remain deeply human today. This is an inspiring conversation for leaders, HR professionals, founders, and anyone passionate about creating workplaces where both people and organisations flourish. Topics Discussed: Why human-centred organisations outperform in the long term The future of work in the age of AI Purpose as a driver of sustainable performance Organisational design for modern workplaces Trust, autonomy, and meaningful work Why profit should be an outcome, not the purpose Leadership that enables people to thrive Balancing technology with humanity The changing role of HR in business transformation Building organisations fit for the future View extended shownotes here Further links to follow: Read HUMAN-WISE: How to lead from within and sell with confidence Helen Wada: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/helen-wada The Human Advantage: https://www.thehumanadvantage.co.uk/

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  Episode #65

  Ep65: Leading with Relational Intelligence with Kate Heard

  Jul 7, 202644 min

  Recommended Episodes Ep61: What It Takes to Lead in the Boardroom Today with Shefaly Yogendra Ep63: Leading Through Uncertainty Without Losing Yourself with Sally Henderson Ep64: Leading Under Pressure Without Losing Your Humanity with Kate Adams Leadership has never been more complex. In a world shaped by uncertainty, rapid change, and increasing pressure, the ability to make sound judgements has become one of the defining capabilities of modern leadership. In this episode of Human Wise , Helen Wada is joined by Dr. Kate Heard, researcher, leadership adviser, and expert in human judgement, to explore why even capable, well-intentioned leaders can make decisions that unintentionally create harm. Drawing on an extraordinary career spanning broadcast journalism, maternal healthcare, humanitarian work, and leadership research, Kate shares why judgement is not simply about intelligence or experience. Together, Helen and Kate explore curiosity, cognitive bias, uncertainty, psychological safety, and how leaders can create environments where better thinking leads to better decisions. This is an insightful conversation for leaders, boards, and organisations seeking to strengthen judgement, improve decision-making, and lead with greater humanity in increasingly complex environments. Topics Discussed Why good leaders can still make poor decisions Human judgement in complex and uncertain environments The role of curiosity in effective leadership How cognitive bias influences decision-making Psychological safety and constructive challenge Why certainty can become a leadership risk Learning from failure without assigning blame Building cultures that support better judgement Balancing confidence with humility Practical ways to strengthen leadership thinking View extended shownotes here Further links to follow: Read HUMAN-WISE: How to lead from within and sell with confidence Helen Wada: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/helen-wada The Human Advantage: https://www.thehumanadvantage.co.uk/

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