Gavin McQuillan joined the Royal Bank of Scotland at 16. Today he leads learning for 60,000 colleagues at NatWest. In this episode he joins Mindflick co-founders Sir Andrew Strauss and Dr. Pete Lindsay to talk about leading people through transformation that never stops.

In this episode:

• Why most leaders know the theory, and why it falls apart under pressure
• "You know everybody, but you know nobody": the connection paradox at work
• Moving a village-sized learning team from a federated model to one bank-wide team
• Why a crisis sometimes builds connection faster than a normal day
• Challenge and support: why getting the balance wrong either way is equally damaging
• Disagreeing without disconnecting, and why it's easier to stand against something than for something
• AI in the workplace
• The one thing Gav would tell every leader to pay attention to

Hosted by Sir Andrew Strauss and Dr. Pete Lindsay, co-founders of Mindflick, the first performance psychometric. Find out more at mindflick.co.uk.

In this episode, Dr Mark Bawden, Dr Pete Lindsay and Sir Andrew Strauss explore the evolution of psychometrics, from traditional personality profiling to a new approach: performance psychometrics.

They unpack why most psychometric tools stop at self-awareness, and why that falls short in today’s fast-moving, AI-driven world.

Instead, they introduce a more practical approach focused on turning insight into action by embedding better teamwork, communication and decision-making into everyday work.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why self-awareness alone doesn’t drive performance
• What a “performance psychometric” actually is
• Why teams are the real unit of performance

Listen to the latest episode of the Mindflick podcast now.

In this episode, we’re joined by Manoj Badale, co-founder of Blenheim Chalcot, one of Europe’s most successful venture builders, and lead owner of Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Rajasthan Royals.

From building and scaling high-growth technology businesses to disrupting cricket with a data-driven approach in the IPL, Manoj has worked at the intersection of business, sport and high performance for over two decades.

This deeply personal conversation explores the turning points that shaped his life, from growing up between cultures after moving to the UK as a child, to realising decades later how those early experiences forged his drive to adapt, fit in and continuously evolve.

The best traders aren't the biggest risk-takers - they're the most disciplined.

In this episode of the Performance Mindset podcast, Sir Andrew Strauss and Dr. Pete Lindsay sit down with Angelie Moledina, who spent 30 years trading financial markets at banks and a hedge fund before taking on a very different challenge as Chief Impact and Operations Officer at the Sustainable Markets Initiative, King Charles's private-sector sustainability organisation.

Angelie shares what three decades in the markets taught her about performing under pressure: why cutting your losses early matters more than any single big win, how to stay humble on a hot streak and resilient through a slump, and why performance is a long game played through process, not ego.

Iain Mackay — former Principal Dancer of the Birmingham Royal Ballet and now Artistic Director of the Royal Ballet School — joins Sir Andrew Strauss and Dr Pete Lindsay to explore what performance, pressure, and purpose look like in one of the world’s most demanding art forms.

From growing up in Glasgow and hiding his ballet lessons to leading one of the most prestigious schools in the world, Iain’s story is one of courage, authenticity, and constant reinvention.

In this conversation, Iain shares the turning points that shaped his career — the lessons from a life on stage, the psychology behind elite performance, and what it takes to build the next generation of artists and leaders.

You’ll learn:

• How an unlikely start in Glasgow led him to the world stage
• Why mindset and resilience matter as much in the arts as in sport
• What his grandfather taught him about confidence and perspective
• How elite ballet mirrors elite sport in discipline, feedback, and teamwork
• Why self-belief and authenticity are key to long-term success
• How he managed imposter syndrome after becoming a Principal Dancer
• What stepping off stage taught him about identity, purpose, and leadership
• Why he believes the next generation of dancers must balance tradition with innovation

Iain’s journey is a rare glimpse behind the curtain of world-class performance — where art meets athleticism, and mindset defines mastery.

About Iain Mackay Iain Mackay is Artistic Director of the Royal Ballet School and a former Principal Dancer with the Birmingham Royal Ballet. Over a 20-year international career, he performed leading roles in some of ballet’s most iconic productions, before dedicating his focus to developing the next generation of performers.

About Mindflick At Mindflick, we help leaders, teams, and athletes unlock performance through mindset. Our performance psychometric and platform have supported Olympic champions, world-class teams, and Fortune 500 companies to think differently, adapt faster, and perform when it matters most.

Learn more: www.mindflick.co.uk Follow us on LinkedIn

Hosts: Sir Andrew Strauss & Dr Pete Lindsay Guest: Iain Mackay, Artistic Director, The Royal Ballet School Producer: Mindflick Ltd

If you found this episode valuable, hit subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who leads, coaches, or performs under pressure.

Joe Root — one of England’s greatest ever cricketers and former Test captain — joins Sir Andrew Strauss and Dr Pete Lindsay to reflect on the mindset, lessons, and leadership behind a remarkable sporting journey.

From early setbacks in the Yorkshire academy to becoming England’s all-time leading run-scorer in Tests, Joe’s story is one of adaptability, calm under pressure, and staying true to yourself through change.

In this conversation, Joe opens up about the moments that shaped him — the failures that built resilience, the mentors who guided him, and the mindset that’s kept him grounded through the highs and lows of elite sport.

You’ll learn:

• How a teenage growth spurt forced him to rebuild his technique — and taught him to become his own coach
• Why failure early in his career became a gift for perspective and patience
• How to stay composed under scrutiny — and separate confidence from results
• The leadership lessons from captaining England through transformation and pressure
• Why authenticity, empathy, and connection matter more than authority in team culture
• How family and fatherhood reshaped his sense of success and what truly matters
• Why stepping down from captaincy reignited his love for the game — and his hunger to evolve

Joe’s reflections are a masterclass in mindset — a reminder that growth comes not from perfection, but from curiosity, humility, and the courage to keep adapting.

About Joe Root Joe Root is one of England’s most accomplished cricketers, with over 11,000 Test runs and a legacy as one of the most consistent and respected leaders in the modern game. Known for his calm composure and commitment to team culture, Root continues to inspire through both his performances and his perspective on leadership and life.

About Mindflick At Mindflick, we help leaders, teams, and athletes unlock performance through mindset. Our performance psychometric and platform have supported Olympic champions, world-class teams, and Fortune 500 companies to think differently, adapt faster, and perform when it matters most.

Learn more: www.mindflick.co.uk

Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mindflick3

Hosts: Sir Andrew Strauss & Dr Pete Lindsay Guest: Joe Root, England Cricketer & Former Test Captain Producer: Mindflick Ltd

If you found this episode valuable, hit subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who leads, coaches, or performs under pressure.

Phil Jansen — former CEO of BT and current Chair of WPP — joins Sir Andrew Strauss and Dr Pete Lindsay to explore the mindset, moments, and lessons that shaped one of Britain’s most respected business leaders.

From his early days at Procter & Gamble to leading global companies through transformation and pressure, Phil’s story reveals how leadership evolves — and how perspective keeps it grounded.

In this conversation, Phil shares the turning points that defined his career — the mentors who shaped him, the challenges that tested him, and the mindset that’s guided every big call.

You’ll learn:

• Why Procter & Gamble taught him to lead with focus and integrity — and how those lessons stayed for life
• How competition inside teams can be healthy — if led with purpose
• Why ambition must be collective, not individual — and how to build belief around big goals
• How personal loss and family grounding reshaped his approach to leadership and success
• Why his mentor’s advice to “smell the flowers” became a mantra for balance and perspective
• How leading BT through transformation required calm under pressure, courage in decision-making, and belief in long-term purpose

Phil’s story is one of energy, ambition, and reflection — reminding us that leadership isn’t just about driving performance. It’s about clarity, courage, and connection — in work and in life.

About Phil Jansen. Phil Jansen is one of the UK’s most experienced business leaders, with senior leadership roles across BT, Worldpay, and WPP. Known for his clarity under pressure and commitment to people, Phil has led companies through transformation, crisis, and growth — building cultures that balance ambition with humanity.

About Mindflick At Mindflick, we help leaders, teams, and athletes unlock performance through mindset. Our performance psychometric and platform have supported Olympic champions, world-class teams, and Fortune 500 companies to think differently, adapt faster, and perform when it matters most.

Learn more: www.mindflick.co.uk

Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mindflick3

Hosts: Sir Andrew Strauss & Dr Pete Lindsay

Guest: Phil Jansen, Chair of WPP & former CEO of BT.

Producer: Mindflick Ltd

If you found this episode valuable, hit subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who leads, coaches, or performs under pressure.

Gilad Tiefenbrun, CEO of Linn Products, joins Sir Andrew Strauss and Dr Pete Lindsay to share the turning points that shaped his leadership - from Symbian and the smartphone shift to rebuilding culture and product at Linn.

Welcome to The Mindflick Podcast - where we explore the psychology of high performance and the turning points that shape how people think, lead, and grow.

Our guest is Gilad Tiefenbrun - CEO of Linn Products, the Scottish audio company founded in 1973 by Ivor Tiefenbrun, creators of the iconic Sondek LP12 turntable and industry-leading network music streamers.

Although Andrew and Pete have known the brand for years, this conversation goes deeper - unpacking culture, process, and the choices that kept Linn focused on craft and customers.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

· Why “integration early and often” beats siloed delivery - and how Gilad applied lessons from Symbian to cross-functional hardware, electronics, and software teams.

· How to steady a team in crisis - moving from blame to ownership, and rebuilding trust through clear roles and cadenced integration.

· Culture you can feel - why process must live within teams (not a separate “quality” function), and how “playing captains” out-perform top-down managers.

· Long-term thinking, customer-first - from the LP12’s modular, upgradable design to software-updatable streamers launched in 2007.

· On market leadership and humility - how Nokia’s slow embrace of full-touch smartphones became a cautionary tale about complacency at the top.

About Linn Products Founded in 1973, Linn is known for engineering that lasts - most famously the Sondek LP12, which can be upgraded from any era to current specification. Today Linn builds reference-level audio systems and network music players trusted by enthusiasts worldwide.

About the guest. Gilad Tiefenbrun is CEO of Linn Products. He spent his early career in UK tech at Symbian before joining Linn in 2003, where he has led the evolution from legendary turntables to software-driven, upgradeable streaming systems — while rebuilding culture around ownership, process, and long-term craft.

About Mindflick At Mindflick, we help leaders, teams, and athletes unlock performance through mindset. Our performance psychometric and platform have supported Olympic champions, world-class teams, and Fortune 500 companies to think differently, adapt faster, and perform when it matters most.

Learn more: www.mindflick.co.uk Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mindflick3

Hosts: Sir Andrew Strauss & Dr Pete Lindsay Guest: Gilad Tiefenbrun, CEO, Linn Products Producer: Mindflick Ltd. All enquiries: Dr Sam Porter - sam@mindflick.co.uk

If you found this episode useful, hit subscribe, leave a review, and pay it forward to someone who leads, coaches, or performs under pressure.