A Leader's Journey to Independence | Chris Waine | The Unlikely Executive
From The Unlikely Executive by Glee Coaching Ltd
April 23, 2026 · 28 min · Season 2 · Episode 8
About this episode
Chris Waine shares his insights on the realities of senior leadership after transitioning from a corporate environment to co-owning an SME.
Why do successful corporate leaders walk away from it all? Chris Waine shares his story of leaving the corporate world to forge his own path — and the leadership lessons learned along the way. 🔑 In this episode, you'll learn: • What drives leaders to leave corporate careers • How to navigate the transition from employed to independent • The mindset shifts needed to thrive outside corporate structures • Lessons for anyone considering a bold career change 📌 About The Unlikely Executive: A podcast for leaders who've taken non-traditional routes to the top — hosted by Barbra Carlisle, executive coach and founder of Glee Coaching, specialising in leadership development for construction, housing, and engineering sectors. 🔗 Work with Barbra: https://www.gleecoaching.co.uk 📧 Contact: barbra@gleecoaching.com 💼 LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/barbra-carlisle-gleecoaching #LeavingCorporate #LeadershipJourney #CareerChange #ExecutiveCoaching #TheUnlikelyExecutive
People in this episode
Host: Barbra Carlisle
Guest: Chris Waine
Topics covered
- leadership
- corporate transition
- senior management
- responsibility in leadership
- compassion in decision making
- redundancy processes
Keywords
- leadership decisions
- senior leaders
- corporate environment
- SME growth
- compassionate leadership
- decision making
- redundancy
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Hive Projects
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