About this podcast

Welcome to another episode of The Knowing Self Knowing Others Podcast, where we dive into self-aware leadership with inspiring thinkers from around the world.

In today’s conversation, hosts Nia Thomas and sits down with Dr. Craig Dearden Phillips MBE—social entrepreneur, author, and leadership expert celebrated for his commitment to purpose-driven leadership and empowering others.

Craig shares his journey from working as a care worker to founding impactful organisations and chairing major boards. He opens up about the powerful lessons learned in those early days, the role of self-awareness and situational awareness in effective leadership, and the importance of showing up authentically in challenging times. Together, they explore the nuances of boardroom dynamics, giving and receiving feedback, and navigating change in the nonprofit sector.

You’ll also hear Craig’s honest take on the differences between political and organizational leadership, why openness and candor are essential during times of uncertainty, and his rallying call for leaders: don’t hide, especially when things get tough. Whether you’re leading a charity, social enterprise, or any organization facing change, this episode is stacked with practical wisdom for modern leadership.

Ready to explore the real impact of knowing yourself and others in today’s leadership landscape? Let’s get started.
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Meet the Host

Nia is an expert leader who talks the talk and walks the walk.

She is an academically awarded thought leader in self-aware leadership and practices self-aware leadership every single day in her role as a Director in a Children’s Charity.

Nia is a frequent blogger, a passionate podcaster of The Knowing Self Knowing Others Podcast and the author of The Self-Awareness Superhighway.

Nia is on a mission to develop self-aware leaders to create kinder, more respectful and creative working relationships through reflection, recognition and regulation.

Nia has spent 25 years working in the public sector across local government, the NHS, civil service, and in the last few years, charitable sector in Wales and England.  Her role as a charity director is ‘what’ she does and ‘self-aware leadership’ is ‘how’ she does it.

To find out more about Nia, visit her website:

Dr Nia D Thomas

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