Igniting Change From The Top

Joanne Lockwood is joined by Mark Bateman, CEO of WeQual and author of Disruptive Leadership, to explore how meaningful workplace change is led from the top. They discuss what leadership looks like in practice, how leaders shape culture, and why inclusive leadership requires deliberate decisions about who gets opportunities and who is heard.

The conversation focuses on gender equality in male-dominated environments, drawing on Mark’s experience coaching senior women in global organisations. Together they examine the double standards women face as they progress, including being shut down in meetings, judged more harshly, and pressured to adapt their style to fit existing expectations. They also discuss how confidence, imposter feelings, and the ability to be authentic at work can be affected by these dynamics.

Mark and Joanne dig into the organisational mechanics that sustain inequality, including biased definitions of “what success looks like,” investor expectations, and recruitment practices. They explore practical interventions such as sponsorship (advocacy when someone is not in the room), mentorship, clearer promotion pathways, and approaches like anonymised hiring to reduce bias.

They close by widening the lens to purpose and sustainability: aligning personal purpose with organisational purpose, building diverse teams for better decision-making, and creating cultures where success does not require personal sacrifice. The episode ends as a call for leaders and individuals alike to take responsibility for the change they want to see.