The Fearless Foodie Podcast

For many people working in food manufacturing and retail, the word "selling" feels uncomfortable. Technical specialists, product developers and operational teams often see it as something other people do.

But as Karen Green explains in this episode, we're all selling something. Whether it's a new product idea, a business case, a promotion or ourselves in an interview, our ability to communicate value has a huge impact on the opportunities we create.

I'm joined by Karen, former retail buyer, sales leader and author of Buyerology, to explore how we can become more confident communicators without feeling inauthentic.

One of the biggest themes throughout our conversation is that successful self-promotion isn't about becoming louder or more confident than everyone else. It's about understanding the person you're speaking to and helping them understand the value you bring.

Karen introduces her Buyerology 3 × 3 Matrix, a simple framework that encourages us to think about three things before any important conversation:

• The organisation.
• The individual.
• Their role within the business.

Taking time to understand each of these helps us prepare better conversations, stronger presentations and more meaningful relationships.

Some of the practical takeaways from the episode include:

• Self-promotion works best when it feels authentic.
• Preparation builds confidence before difficult conversations.
• Understanding your audience is just as important as understanding your own message.
• Adapting your communication style helps build stronger relationships without compromising your values.

We also talk about career progression and why opportunities don't always come from waiting to be noticed. Sometimes they come from learning how to communicate your strengths clearly and confidently.

This episode is a reminder that influence isn't about being the loudest person in the room. It's about building trust, understanding people and making it easier for others to see the value you bring.
Timestamps
00:00 – Why selling yourself feels uncomfortable

01:45 – Karen Green's career and the story behind Buyerology

04:04 – Why everyone is selling something

06:43 – Practical advice for self-promotion and interviews

09:26 – Understanding people, not just businesses

12:01 – Applying the Buyerology framework

16:36 – Authenticity and confidence

22:42 – Adapting your communication style

26:47 – Cultural and generational differences

30:13 – Karen's advice for building confidence

30:38 – How to connect with Karen and Buyerology
Connect with The Fearless Foodies
The Fearless Foodie Newsletter straight to your inbox. No fluff, no spam.
https://foodies.fearlessfoodies.co.uk/podcast

Connect with me here:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/amywilkinsoncoach/
Useful Links & Support
If this episode resonated, especially around communication, influence and career development, here are a few places to continue the conversation.

Connect with Karen Green
Follow Karen for insights on retail buying, communication, influence and career development.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/thekarengreen/

Buyerology
Learn more about Karen's Buyerology framework, her book and additional resources.
https://buyerology.co.uk/

Work with Fearless Foodies
Leadership development and team support tailored to food manufacturing and retail environments.
https://fearlessfoodies.co.uk

A Big Thank You to Our Sponsors

IFP Labs
Specialist laboratory services supporting food businesses with fast, reliable testing and technical expertise.
https://www.ifp-labs.com/

Accountability comes up everywhere in food manufacturing and retail. Projects are overdue, the same actions keep appearing in meetings and, when everyone is busy, it’s easy for blame, excuses and “wait and hope” to creep in.
In this episode, I introduce the Accountability Ladder, a simple tool for recognising what accountability actually sounds like in ourselves and the people around us.
Below the line, you’ll hear phrases like “no one told me”, “it’s not my fault” or “maybe if I wait, this will sort itself out”. They’re all signs that responsibility is sitting somewhere else.
Things start to change when we move above the line. Instead of focusing on what somebody else should have done, we start asking what we can do next, what part of the problem we can own and what action we can take.
I share an example from my own career involving a product recall, where I had to work my way through those different stages myself. It’s a useful reminder that accountability isn’t about pretending everything is your fault. Even if only a small percentage of a situation is within your control, you can still decide what you’re going to do with it.
We also look at how you can use the ladder with other people without simply accusing them of being “below the line”. Asking questions such as “What can we do next?” can help move a conversation away from blame and towards action.
The next time you’re in a meeting, listen to the language being used. When the conversation starts shifting from “they should” and “someone needs to” towards “here’s what I’ll do”, that’s when things start moving.
Timestamps
00:00 – The impact of below-the-line thinking
01:00 – Why accountability slips and what blame sounds like
02:00 – Introducing the Accountability Ladder
04:00 – Common excuses and avoidance in food teams
07:30 – Moving above the line and taking ownership
10:30 – A product recall and my own experience of accountability
16:30 – Helping other people move up the ladder
19:20 – What to listen for in your next meeting
Connect with The Fearless Foodies
The Fearless Foodie Newsletter straight to your inbox. No fluff, no spam.
https://foodies.fearlessfoodies.co.uk/podcast
Connect with me here:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/amywilkinsoncoach/
Useful Links & Support
Fearless Strategic Leadership Programme
Practical leadership development for people working across food manufacturing and retail.
https://fearlessfoodies.co.uk
Work with Fearless Foodie
Leadership development and team support tailored to food manufacturing and retail environments.
https://fearlessfoodies.co.uk
A Big Thank You to Our Sponsors
IFP Labs
Specialist laboratory services supporting food businesses with fast, reliable testing and technical expertise.
https://www.ifp-labs.com/

So many businesses in food manufacturing and retail want to be shopper-led, but when the pressure is on, products, numbers and monthly targets can quickly take over.
In this episode, I’m joined by Sue Tiller, Co-Founder of The Growth Factors, to explore how category management can keep the shopper at the heart of decision-making and why the role is about far more than data.
We talk about how category has evolved, the balance between commercial priorities and bringing an objective perspective, and why the strongest category professionals combine analytical thinking with storytelling and influence.
Sue shares why understanding your stakeholders is so important, how to turn data into insight people can actually use, and why asking “so what?” should be part of every category conversation.
We also explore the growing role of AI. While it can help process information and save time, it can’t replace critical thinking, interpretation or the human understanding needed to turn information into meaningful insight.
Above all, this episode is a reminder of category’s unique role as the voice of the shopper, helping businesses make better decisions by keeping real people at the centre.

Difficult people are part of working life, but in food manufacturing and retail, poor behaviour can sometimes be tolerated for far too long, particularly when the person involved is seen as commercially valuable.
In this episode, I explore what happens when businesses quietly weigh up someone's results against the disruption they cause. Meetings get worked around them, colleagues learn to stay quiet and eventually good people can decide they've had enough.
When you're the person on the receiving end, it's also incredibly easy to start questioning yourself. If nobody else is challenging the behaviour, you might wonder whether you're being too sensitive or making too much of it.
I share some practical ways to approach these situations without trying to find the perfect comeback. Preparation matters. Think about your boundaries before the conversation, stay focused on the facts and use simple questions to understand what's actually driving the disagreement rather than getting pulled into an emotional exchange.
We also look at why you don't have to win every difficult conversation. Sometimes pausing, stepping away or deciding something isn't worth pursuing in that moment is the more useful response.
Importantly, there's a difference between somebody being difficult and somebody crossing a professional line. Shouting, belittling or inappropriate personal comments can become a conduct issue. When that happens, documenting what's taking place and knowing where you can go for support becomes important.
Ultimately, you might not be able to change the person or the culture around them. But you can decide what you're prepared to accept, how you respond and where your own line sits.
This episode isn't about learning how to win against difficult people. It's about protecting your confidence, staying grounded and finding a way to keep doing good work without absorbing somebody else's behaviour.
Timestamps
00:00 – Why disruptive behaviour gets tolerated in food businesses
02:15 – When commercial value outweighs behaviour
07:12 – Why so many people experience conflict but stay silent
08:36 – Preparing yourself before a difficult conversation
10:41 – Separating the problem from the pressure
11:54 – Staying with the facts and asking better questions
14:26 – Deciding your boundaries before the conversation
18:31 – Why you don't need to win every interaction
20:00 – When difficult behaviour becomes a conduct issue
22:45 – Calling out behaviour and documenting incidents
24:24 – What you can control and where you draw the line
Connect with The Fearless Foodies
The Fearless Foodie Newsletter straight to your inbox. No fluff, no spam.
https://foodies.fearlessfoodies.co.uk/podcast
Connect with me here:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/amywilkinsoncoach/
Useful Links & Support
Fearless Relationships Programme
Support for technical, product development and supply teams to prepare for difficult conversations, communicate with confidence and hold their ground.
https://fearlessfoodies.co.uk
ACAS Guidance
Advice and support around workplace bullying and conduct issues.
https://www.acas.org.uk/
Work with Fearless Foodie
Leadership development and team support tailored to food manufacturing and retail environments.
https://fearlessfoodies.co.uk
A Big Thank You to Our Sponsors
IFP Labs
Specialist laboratory services supporting food businesses with fast, reliable testing and technical expertise.
https://www.ifp-labs.com/

Redundancy, restructuring and uncertainty have become familiar conversations across food manufacturing and retail. Behind every organisational change are real people trying to navigate what comes next, often while questioning their confidence, identity and sense of purpose.

In this episode, I'm joined by Dahlia Stroud, commercial consultant and host of the Stressed But Well Dressed podcast, to explore what happens when work changes and how we can find stability during uncertain times.

One of the strongest themes throughout our conversation is identity. Many of us spend years building careers, relationships and routines around work, so when that suddenly changes, it can feel like we've lost more than just a job.

Dahlia shares why getting dressed became an important daily ritual during periods of uncertainty. It's not about fashion or appearances. It's about taking a few minutes to reconnect with yourself and create a sense of control when everything else feels unpredictable.

We also explore how different clothes often represent different versions of ourselves. Our work wardrobe, our home clothes and what we choose to wear during periods of transition can all influence how we feel and how we show up each day.

Another important part of the conversation is the BANI framework, which describes today's world as Brittle, Anxious, Non-linear and Incomprehensible. It's a useful reminder that many of the challenges we're facing aren't personal failings. They're a reflection of the complexity of the environments we're working in.

Throughout the episode we discuss practical ways to rebuild confidence during career transitions, including creating small daily routines, letting go of clothes or habits that no longer serve you, remembering that purpose doesn't have to come from work alone, giving yourself permission to pause and make decisions at your own pace, and building confidence through networking and new experiences.

This conversation is a reminder that confidence isn't something you either have or you don't. It's something we build through small, consistent actions, especially during the moments when life feels most uncertain.

Timestamps

00:00 – Why confidence and identity matter during uncertain times

01:00 – Meeting Dahlia Stroud and her commercial career

02:24 – The meaning behind Stressed But Well Dressed

05:35 – Redundancy and the loss of professional identity

07:18 – How clothing influences confidence and mindset

09:05 – Understanding the BANI framework

11:57 – Small daily habits that help during difficult times

15:03 – Workplace expectations and confidence

16:41 – Creating a wardrobe that works for you

20:25 – Rebuilding confidence after redundancy

24:06 – Finding purpose during career transition

30:46 – Practical advice when facing redundancy

33:54 – Consultancy, networking and what's next

Connect with The Fearless Foodies

The Fearless Foodie Newsletter straight to your inbox. No fluff, no spam.

https://foodies.fearlessfoodies.co.uk/podcast

Connect with me here:

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

Useful Links & Support

If this episode resonated, especially around confidence, resilience and navigating career change, here are a few places to continue the conversation.

Connect with Dahlia Stroud

LinkedIn:

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

Stressed But Well Dressed Podcast

https://dahliastroud.com/podcast/

Work with Fearless Foodies

Leadership development and team support tailored to food manufacturing and retail environments.

https://fearlessfoodies.co.uk

A Big Thank You to Our Sponsors

IFP Labs

Specialist laboratory services supporting food businesses with fast, reliable testing and technical expertise.

https://www.ifp-labs.com/