About the Show
Leadership Wisdom from the World's Longest-Reigning Monarch
Twenty years ago, my grandmother - a homemaker from Sri Lanka who had never set foot in the United Kingdom - told me: "Don't worry. The Queen will take care of you." Those six words sent me 5,000 miles across the world, and began a lifelong fascination with what made Queen Elizabeth II one of the most remarkable leaders in history.
In this podcast, we explore the leadership lessons hidden in plain sight across Her Majesty's 70-year reign. A woman who worked 40-hour weeks at 96. Who served under 15 Prime Ministers. Who was the most famous person on earth, yet kept her thoughts almost entirely to herself.
Each episode draws on the principles from my book The Job Well Done - bringing you practical, timeless leadership insights for today's world. Whether you lead a team, a business, or simply your own life, this podcast is your invitation to elevate your leadership, the Queen's way.
Episodes
All Episodes
Intro
Introduction - Why This Book Needed to Be Written
Why would a leadership expert from Sri Lanka, living in Switzerland, write an entire book about the most famous woman in the world? In this introduction, I share how it started - my grandmother's words, my journey to the United Kingdom, and why Queen Elizabeth II became the greatest leadership study of my life. This is not just a book about the Queen. It is a book about what is possible when you truly commit to doing the job well.
01
How It All Began
Before there was a Queen, there was a little girl who folded her clothes perfectly every night and kept detailed records of every Christmas gift - just so she could write the right thank-you note. We go back to the early 1930s, a world on the edge of uncertainty, and a princess nobody expected would ever wear the crown. How character is built long before the spotlight arrives, and what it means to show up even when it is hard.
02
Staying on Course - Navigating Life's Distractions to Focus on What Matters Most
The Queen signed her Platinum Jubilee message to the world as "Your Servant, Elizabeth R." Not your Queen. Your servant. In this episode, we explore the power of humility as a leadership strategy, what it truly means to lead with a sense of duty, and how she remained unwavering across seven decades of change, crisis, and challenge. Drawing inspiration from Mother Teresa, Roger Federer, and Bill Gates.
03
Relentless Work Ethic - The Power of Relentless Perseverance in Achieving Your Goals
At 89, she carried out 341 engagements. At 96, she was reading her government red boxes by 8am every morning. Four days after losing Prince Philip, she returned to her duties. We explore what a truly relentless work ethic looks like - sustained, purposeful, values-driven - and what we can learn from Michael Jordan, Elon Musk, and Anthony Robbins.
04
Take a Break - Recharge Your Mind and Body
How do you sustain a relentless work ethic without burning out? The Queen ring-fenced time for her horses, her dogs, her garden, and her family - not as an afterthought, but as a non-negotiable. She described Prince Philip as "my strength and stay all these years." Rest is not a reward for hard work. It is the foundation of it. We also explore Warren Buffett's remarkable approach to balance and simplicity.
05
Pursuit of Perfection - Set High Standards for Excellence
Weeks before her coronation, the Queen rehearsed every step with weighted sheets tied to her shoulders to simulate her robes of state. She wanted to know, in her body, exactly what was coming. We explore her extraordinary attention to detail, her love of genuine curiosity, and her quiet game of "catching out the Prime Minister." Alongside Steve Jobs and Cristiano Ronaldo, we ask: what would change if you raised your standard every single day?
06
From Adversity to Strength - Stay Calm and Carry On
In 1981, a seventeen-year-old fired six shots at the Queen on the Mall. Her horse startled. She steadied him - and rode on. She did not flinch. She did not retreat. She carried on. From the annus horribilis of 1992, to Princess Diana's death, to family betrayals - the Queen's response was always the same: composure, perspective, and an ability to get calmer as things got harder. Inspired by Nelson Mandela and Stephen Hawking.
07
Embracing Change - Balancing Tradition and Innovation
In 1953, the Queen chose to televise her coronation - letting cameras into one of the most sacred ceremonies in British history. She was the first head of state to send an email. She tweeted. She left a message on the moon. And yet she wore the same style of coat for decades and once told a Prime Minister: "I am the last bastion of standards." Tradition was not a cage. It was an anchor. What in your leadership needs to change - and what must you never let go of?
08
The Power of Compassion - Embracing Empathy, Dignity, Respect and Presence
When former British Ambassador Tom Fletcher mentioned his grandfather had met the Queen in Nigeria in 1956, her eyes lit up. She listened to every word as if he were the most fascinating person in the room. "When you are talking to her, you are the only person who exists." Compassion was not something the Queen performed - it was something she lived. Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi's philosophy of the welfare of all.
09
Mastering Life's Delicate Dance - Humour, Diplomacy, and Grace in Life's Symphony
When President Bush accidentally implied the Queen was over 200 years old, she opened her toast the next day with: "I wondered whether I should start by saying, 'When I was here in 1776…'" We explore the art of humour as a leadership tool, the Queen's extraordinary diplomatic touch - including her historic visit to Ireland - and the power of personal gestures that make people feel truly valued. Inspired by Steven Bartlett.
10
Building a Strong and Inclusive Community - Empower Your People
When the Queen was 25, she walked into a room with Churchill, Stalin, and Eisenhower. Within months, Churchill was captivated by her. She turned down the "Oldie of the Year" award with the perfect response: "Her Majesty believes you are as old as you feel." She never criticised a single person in her entire life. The true measure of a leader is not what they achieve for themselves, but what they make possible for others. Inspired by Sir Richard Branson and the All Blacks.
♛
The Life and Legacy of Our Queen
On the 6th of February 1952, a young woman sat in a treetop in Kenya when an eagle soared above her head. She did not yet know she had become Queen. Seventy years later, as the world said goodbye, double rainbows appeared over both of her London palaces. This final episode is not a summary - it is a tribute, and an invitation. Whatever role you hold, the title means very little. What matters is how you choose to fill it. This is your invitation to do the job well. To do it like a Queen.
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