Podcast · Season 1
The Transformation Mandate
Conversations with the leaders who have to make change real – what they were asked to deliver, what got in the way, and what they’d do differently next time.
Hosted by David Higgins & Ben Dickie
The mandate nobody wrote down
David and Ben with Priya, Chief Transformation Officer, regulated water utility · Wednesday, 14 October 2026
Most transformation leaders inherit a mandate that lives in a board paper and three people's heads. Priya on writing it down, getting it signed, and what changed when everyone could see what they'd agreed to.
Audio for this episode isn’t available yet.
All episodes
8 episodes
The mandate nobody wrote down
David and Ben with Priya, Chief Transformation Officer, regulated water utility
Pilots, production and the CFO
David and Ben with Marcus, Chief Data & AI Officer, specialist insurer
Switching things off
David and Ben with Elena, Chief Information Officer, FTSE 250 manufacturer
Managers are the change
David and Ben with Tom, People Director, gas distribution network
When the programme is red
David and Ben with Sarah, Programme Director, central government department
Agents at work
David and Ben with Dev, Chief Operating Officer, health insurer
Value you can evidence
David and Ben with Hannah, Finance Director, housing association
One roadmap
David and Ben with James, Chief Product Officer, broadcaster
The Mandate community
For the people who carry the change.
A private community for mandate owners and leaders running high-stakes change. Peers who’ve been in the chair, and the working tools behind every episode.
Guides, assessments and takeaways from every episode
Small-group roundtables with guests and hosts
A peer network of leaders holding transformation mandates
Free to join. Membership is reviewed so the room stays senior and peer-to-peer – no vendors, no sales pitches.
Members-only resources from the episodes
Guide
Writing your transformation mandate
A one-page template and the 7 questions to settle with your board before you start.
From episode 8
Assessment
Is your AI portfolio ready to scale?
A 15-minute self-assessment across ownership, data, governance and value.
From episode 7
Takeaways
Recovering a red programme: the first 30 days
The checklist Sarah used, and what she’d stop on day 1.
From episode 4
Toolkit
Monthly value review pack
Baseline, tracking and board-reporting templates finance will actually use.
From episode 2