Leading Questions
By Global Government Forum
Leading Questions is a podcast about public sector leadership, published by Global Government Forum.
Every episode we interview a former senior civil servant and ask them to reflect on key challenges they have faced in their career and what they learned from them.
Packed with interesting insights into government, inspiring stories and handy advice, this is leadership in practice.
Every episode we interview a former senior civil servant and ask them to reflect on key challenges they have faced in their career and what they learned from them.
Packed with interesting insights into government, inspiring stories and handy advice, this is leadership in practice.
Latest episode
-
UK general election: how to get ready for the next government - BONUS EPISODE
Welcome to this special edition of Leading Questions in which we look at the key issues in the UK general election and how civil servants will be working to get ready for the next government. The general election will be held on 4 July, with parties… -
Flipping the script with former Bank of England chief economist – Andy Haldane
In this, the last episode of Leading Questions series 3, talks about thriving on leading through crisis and the challenges and opportunities “when the old is broken and the new is yet to be forged”. Having spent 32 years at the Bank of England,... -
From COVID-19 to Russia's invasion of Ukraine: Estonia’s top public servant Taimar Peterkop's tips for dealing with crises
Estonia’s most senior civil servant, secretary of state Taimar Peterkop, shares his insights into leading through crises. From dealing with a vulnerability in the country’s digital ID system – which involved updating thousands of... -
‘I always knew that my anchor was health’ – Dame Una O’Brien
In this episode of Leading Questions Dame Una O’Brien, who was permanent secretary of the UK Department of Health between 2010 and 2016, joins podcast host Siobhan Benita for a chat about her unconventional route into the civil service, and what she.… -
‘Find your references, your mirrors and your mentors’ – Israel Pastor Sainz-Pardo
Podcast host Siobhan Benita speaks know-how and knock-backs with the deputy director of learning at Spain’s National Institute of Public Administration. Israel Pastor has more than 20 years’ experience as a senior manager in the... -
‘Empowering people with a sense of possibility’ – Iain Rennie
Iain Rennie spent 30 years in the New Zealand Public Service culminating in eight years in the top job – that of state services commissioner. In this episode, Iain tells podcast host Siobhan Benita about talent management reform, his realisations... -
What makes for a responsive government? BONUS EPISODE
This special episode of Leading Questions shares the results from the 2023 Responsive Government Survey. Report author Richard Johnstone shares the headlines from the research, while contributors to the report - Grete Kvernland-Berg, the managing... -
‘Serve your country – you will never regret it’ – Noreen Hecmanczuk
In the first of our Leading Questions podcasts to feature an American federal government leader, Noreen Hecmanczuk reflects on a long and diverse career which has seen her serve in the White House twice. She took her first job in... -
‘Unless you fight for it, it’s not worth it once you get there’ – Phindile Baleni
Phindile Baleni was appointed secretary to South Africa’s cabinet and director general of the presidency – the first woman in the country’s history to hold these roles – amid the pandemic in April 2021. It’s a good thing she likes a... -
Pursuing gender parity in the public sector - BONUS EPISODE
To mark International Women’s Day, we bring you a special edition podcast in which two top civil servants discuss their experiences as women in government, their public service’s journey towards gender parity in the highest ranks, and what more...
