The Fearless Foodie Podcast

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
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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/

Welcome to Season 4 of The Fearless Foodie.

I wanted to start this season with a topic that comes up time and time again when I'm working with leaders across food manufacturing and retail.

"Be more strategic."

It's one of the most common pieces of feedback people receive as they progress in their careers, yet it's rarely explained in a way that's practical or useful.

In this episode, I explore what strategic leadership actually means and why so many people find the transition difficult. Across food manufacturing and retail, I see talented managers promoted because they're brilliant at delivering results, only to discover that leading strategically requires a completely different set of skills.

With businesses asking teams to do more with less, it's easy to become trapped in firefighting mode. The constant pressure to solve today's problems leaves little space to think about tomorrow's opportunities, making it difficult to step back and see the bigger picture.

I introduce the four pillars of Fearless Strategic Leadership, a framework I've developed alongside Donna Ward-Higgs to help leaders build practical strategic capability.

See Wider

Understand the wider system you operate in, not just your own area of responsibility. Look beyond immediate problems to recognise patterns, relationships and opportunities.

Think Deeper

Create space to make sense of complexity, ask better questions, and focus on what really matters rather than reacting to every urgent request.

Stand Firmer

Have the confidence to back your judgement, communicate priorities clearly, and hold your ground when difficult decisions need to be made.

Bring People on Board

Create clarity, build trust, and help others understand where you're heading so they can make decisions without relying on you for every answer.

Throughout the episode, I also explore why self-awareness sits at the centre of strategic leadership. Understanding your own habits, behaviours, and reactions under pressure makes it much easier to recognise when you've slipped back into firefighting mode and when it's time to step back.

Rather than trying to change everything at once, I encourage you to think about which of the four pillars feels strongest today and which one could benefit from a little more attention.

Strategic leadership is not about having all the answers. It's about creating enough space to think clearly, make better decisions, and help others do the same.

Timestamps

00:00 – Why "be more strategic" is such frustrating feedback

02:26 – Why so many leaders get stuck in the weeds

03:47 – The difference between busyness and strategic thinking

06:15 – The four pillars of Fearless Strategic Leadership

10:47 – Moving from doing the work to leading the work

11:19 – Practical questions to strengthen each pillar

13:41 – Why self-awareness underpins strategic leadership

15:07 – Finding your next area for development

16:04 – A preview of what's coming in Season 4

Connect with The Fearless Foodies

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

Subscribe at:

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 leadership development and building strategic capability, here are a few places to continue the conversation.

Fearless Strategic Leadership

Learn more about the Fearless Strategic Leadership framework and how it helps leaders develop practical strategic thinking. 

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/

Welcome to Bethan’s Bite-Sized Bulletin - your quick-fire briefing on what’s happening across the food and drink industry. In under five minutes, journalist and Food Manufacture editor Bethan Grylls shares the latest headlines, trends and developments to keep you in the know.

Explore more industry news at foodmanufacture.co.uk

Links and Resources:

Website Link: https://fearlessfoodies.co.uk

FB Link: https://www.facebook.com/thefearlessfoodiepod

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thefearlessfoodiepod

You can follow us here on Instagram: @thefearlessfoodiepod

Find Amy on Instagram or LinkedIn for further support with industry coaching and facilitation.

IFP Labs sponsors the Fearless Foodie Podcast https://www.ifp-labs.com/en/index.php