Stratospheric Leaders

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In this episode of Stratospheric Leaders, Georgie welcomes back one of the show’s most popular guests, Lance Uggla, for a deep dive into the leadership lessons behind the book Raise The Bar. Together, Georgie and Lance explore what leadership looks like in practice, moving beyond theory into the habits, behaviours and decisions that separate good leaders from great ones.  
Drawing from decades of building and leading global businesses, Lance shares why work ethic, manners and awareness remain some of the most underrated advantages in modern leadership. He explains why being “above average” compounds over time, how strong relationships are built through genuine curiosity, and why awareness of the world around you remains a critical leadership skill even in the age of AI.  
Georgie and Lance also discuss bold goals, intelligent risk-taking, intuition and how to create a culture when people believe they are part of something bigger than themselves.  Throughout the conversation, Lance brings his high vibe energy, practicality and wisdom, offering lessons that apply whether you’re leading a global company, a growing team or simply trying to become a better leader yourself.  
This is a masterclass in leadership fundamentals, delivered by someone who has spent a lifetime putting them into practice.
In this episode:
• Why work ethic, manners and awareness are career accelerators
• How to become “above average” and stay there
• The leadership skill AI will never replace
• Creating and communicating a compelling vision
• Why leaders must repeat themselves more than they think
• Building alignment across leadership teams
• The power of wildly important goals and BHAGs
• Calculated risk-taking versus reckless gambling
• Why intuition matters in leadership
• Integrating cultures after acquisitions
• Communicating effectively with boards and shareholders
• How to adjust when outcomes are heading in the wrong direction
• The importance of preparation and discipline
• Lance’s favourite leadership book and why it still matters today
Show Links
Website - https://www.georgiedickins.com
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgiedickins
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@GeorgieDickins-q7x

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In this episode of Stratospheric Leaders, Georgie sits down with David Mercer, CEO of LMAX Group a global cross-asset marketplace, powering the fusion of traditional and digital finance through regulated market infrastructure and trusted technology.David is one of the most compelling voices at the intersection of institutional finance and digital assets. And his story is anything but standard. School leaver at 18, training accountant by day, doing paper rounds before school since he was 14, David has never once marked time. Every decision has been deliberate, every move purposeful. This episode is a masterclass in what it really takes to build, lead, and transform a business. David's wisdom is hard-won, and he shares it with a clarity and candour that is as rare as it is refreshing.Interesting areas covered:- The "Mercer Questions" the four questions David applies to every product, project and decision, and why they cut through almost everything in business- Why "busy is the new stupid" and how David keeps his diary deliberately, radically clear- How he spotted a Ferrari dressed as a Skoda, and turned LMAX from a struggling startup into a global force- The three things David wishes he had known before becoming a CEO loneliness, constantness and the truth about people- Why failing slowly is the only truly unforgivable outcome in business- Loyalty, people and why David believes it belongs to your family and your dogs- How to keep up with a world that is changing faster than ever and why practical learning beats theory every timeDavid's directness, self-awareness and refusal to waste a single moment make this a must-listen for anyone building something ambitious, leading a team through change, or simply asking themselves whether the decisions they are making today are the ones that will matter tomorrow.Enjoy.Find out more about Georgie Dickins:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgie-dickins-5083686a/Catch the show on audio in the car:Spotify – https://open.spotify.comApple Podcasts – https://podcasts.apple.com#StratosphericLeaders #Leadership #CEOInsights #DavidMercer #LMAXGroup #BusinessLeadership #FinancialLeadership #DigitalFinance #LeadershipPodcast #ExecutiveLeadership #FintechLeadership #DecisionMaking #BusinessGrowth #LeadershipMindset #InstitutionalFinanceFor more information on the following topics, give us a follow:David MercerLMAX Groupinstitutional financedigital finance leadershipCEO decision makingbusiness transformationleadership under pressurefintech strategyexecutive mindsettime management leadershipfinancial markets leadershipdigital assets strategyhigh performance leadershipCEO lonelinessbusiness pivot strategy
Show Links
Website - https://www.georgiedickins.com
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgiedickins
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@GeorgieDickins-q7x

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In this high-energy episode of Stratospheric Leaders, Georgie sits down with Jessica Jensen, CMO of LinkedIn - the world's largest professional network with over a billion members across more than 200 countries for a conversation that is as practical as it is inspiring.
We often think of LinkedIn as a platform. Jessica reminds us it is something far more powerful – it’s your living, breathing CV, your external brand, and the place where the world decides what it thinks of you before you have even walked into the room. And yet so many professionals particularly women hold back. The perfectionism. The fear of judgment. The sense that self-promotion is somehow not for them.
This episode dismantles all of that.
From building your network to showing up authentically in the age of AI, this episode is a masterclass in visibility, personal brand, and why the most powerful thing you can do in a noisy world is simply show up as yourself.
Interesting areas covered:
•Why LinkedIn is your most underutilised career asset and how to change that
•Why video is the number one currency of communication today and how to get started
•Why in the age of AI, being a real human has never been more valuable
•The LinkedIn algorithm demystified and the myths firmly debunked
•How to navigate visibility as a leader in a regulated or high-scrutiny industry
•How to measure success on LinkedIn and why likes are not the whole story
•Why consistency beats perfection every single time
Jessica's warmth, wit, and clarity make this a must-listen for anyone building their profile, lifting their visibility, or simply wondering whether the right people know they exist.
Enjoy.

Show Links
Website - https://www.georgiedickins.com
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgiedickins
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@GeorgieDickins-q7x

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In this powerful episode of Stratospheric Leaders, Georgie sits down with Sara Furber, CFO and Executive Committee member at Tradeweb - a company valued at close to $27 billion at the time of recording - for a conversation rich with wisdom, clarity, and the kind of career-defining insights we rarely talk about.
We often look at successful leaders and assume their path has been linear. We see the visible tip of the iceberg and miss the invisible layers underneath - the pivots, the doubts, the catalysts, and the moments that change everything. This episode goes beneath the surface. Sara is deeply real, and her advice is practical.
From early dreams of becoming a doctor to leading within one of the world’s most influential fintech companies, Sara’s journey is filled with lessons on ambition, self-belief, risk-taking, and the courage to dream bigger - even when you don’t quite believe in yourself yet.
Interesting areas covered:
• What did little Sara dream of becoming growing up?
• What do your first 30 minutes of the day look like?
• How do you decide what deserves your attention first when pressure lands in your office?
• What have difficult leaders taught you about becoming a good one?
• How do you stay curious when experience could easily make you rigid?
• What does self-doubt still sound like, even at the top?
• How do you prepare yourself before stepping into an important room?
• What would you tell your younger self now?

Her candour, humour and depth make this a must-listen for emerging leaders, seasoned executives, and anyone trying to understand what leadership really looks like when nobody is watching.
Enjoy! ✨
#StratosphericLeaders #Leadership #WomenInLeadership #ExecutiveLeadership #CareerGrowth #CFO #Tradeweb #LeadershipMindset #BusinessLeadership #Mentorship #Resilience #ExecutivePresence #DecisionMaking #LeadershipDevelopment #HighPerformance

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executive leadership lessons
women in finance leadership
how CFOs think
career ambition advice
leadership resilience
senior leadership communication
building trusted teams
executive decision making
leadership mindset for women
high performance leadership habits
career growth conversations
mentorship in leadership
balancing leadership and family
calm under pressure leadership
how leaders build influence

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
01:26 Sarah Furber’s childhood ambitions
02:06 Why medicine was not the right path
03:24 Ambition and what it really means
05:25 The conversation that changed everything
08:16 Why one mentor changed her career trajectory
10:50 Learning not to over-plan life
12:29 Why leaders are often wrong about the future
15:39 Building a trusted inner circle
18:38 Does leadership feel lonely?
22:23 Are leaders naturally more resilient?
26:06 Ruthless editing and family priorities
30:26 Learning to slow down
33:23 What children reveal about leadership
38:08 Sarah’s leadership style
44:30 Her biggest leadership weakness
47:43 Handling scrutiny in senior roles
51:49 What leadership should teach earlier
55:21 The advice she gives younger leaders
57:28 Sarah’s morning routine
01:04:38 What a better version of Sarah looks like

Show Links
Website - https://www.georgiedickins.com
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgiedickins
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@GeorgieDickins-q7x

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In this episode of Stratospheric Leaders, Georgie sits down with visionary trend anticipator, entrepreneur extraordinaire, masterful business builder, consistent culture carrier, intuitive deal doer, and the ultimate shareholder value maximiser – just a few of the words industry peers use to describe Lance Uggla.

Lance was Founder & CEO of Markit - a company that started with a handful of employees in a barn in St Albans and grew into a $44 billion global leader in critical information, analytics, and solutions and culminated in one of the largest M&A deals in history with S&P Global.

An incredible episode for those who want to tap into a visionary mindset:

Episode Takeaways:

Continuous improvement is non-negotiable for leaders.
Don’t be driven just by big transformations. Small consistent gains compound over time.
Innovation has no hierarchy. Good ideas can come from anywhere in the organisation
Excellence is a habit not episodic.
A bold vision requires relentless execution. A vision by itself is meaningless.
Measurement is critical for success and accountability.
Measure the pulse of your customers and people regularly. Happy people and happy customers equals a strong financial performance.
Being an entrepreneur requires extreme commitment, relentless focus and personal sacrifice. It's not for the faint hearted.

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Show Links
Website - https://www.georgiedickins.com
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgiedickins
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@GeorgieDickins-q7x