Courage in leadership is often misunderstood. In food manufacturing and retail, it’s rarely about bold speeches or dramatic decisions — it shows up in everyday moments: speaking up in meetings, saying no to unrealistic demands, or addressing issues before they escalate.

In this conversation, Amy Wilkinson and Melissa Hague explore what courageous leadership really looks like in high-pressure food environments. Melissa shares why vulnerability isn’t a weakness but a prerequisite for trust, and how leaders often use “armour” — such as busyness, perfectionism or people-pleasing — to protect themselves at work.

They discuss the outdated expectation that leaders should “know it all”, and how this mindset can quietly undermine innovation, team confidence and problem-solving on factory floors, in technical teams and across commercial functions.

Amy reflects on how her own leadership shifted through working with Melissa — letting go of the need to fix everything, creating space for others to step up, and becoming more comfortable with imperfection.

The episode also offers practical guidance for handling difficult conversations: staying curious instead of defensive, managing emotional responses, and resisting the urge to take work back rather than developing others.

Ultimately, this is a grounded, human conversation about leading in a way that is sustainable — for you and your team — in an industry that asks a lot of its people.

Timestamps

0:00 Finding Courage with Melissa Haig
03:23 Why Leadership Starts with Self-Reflection
08:47 Everyday Courage and Vulnerability at Work
11:00 How Courage Fuels Innovation
16:16 Leading by Empowering Your Team
19:44 Why Leadership Isn’t People-Pleasing
24:51 Why Mindset Comes Before Feedback
27:08 Leading Through Challenge
31:21 Practical Advice for Personal Growth
32:48 Fearless Foodie: Choosing Courage

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Connect with Amy here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amywilkinsoncoach/

Connect with Melissa here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-hague/

Useful Links and Resources:

If this episode resonated — especially the parts about being yourself at work, navigating senior roles, and not having to pretend — Fearless Women: Empowered to Rise is designed for women in the food industry who want to lead with confidence and clarity, without burning themselves out: https://fearlessfoodies.co.uk/fearless-women-rise/

And join our FREE network at https://fearlessfoodies.co.uk/fearless-women-connect/ Website

Work with Amy and Melissa on leadership, culture & team development: https://fearlessfoodies.co.uk

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