What does it take to lead when the pressure is on?

How do you inspire teams to stay aligned in the face of complexity, change, and uncertainty?

In this episode of A Class Act: Conversations in Data & Leadership, host Shannon McKechnie is joined by David Goodacre OBE, a Senior Executive, Board Member, and experienced leader with significant experience in strategy, transformation, and operational delivery across the military and corporate sectors.

David shares his real-world leadership lessons from high-pressure environments, from commanding teams in combat to leading complex transformation initiatives in global organisations.

What’s covered in this episode:

• The hard early lessons that taught David leadership isn’t about being in charge - it’s about looking after your people
• What leading in combat reveals about keeping teams aligned under pressure
• The real difference between change that sticks and change that stalls
• Why vision is the anchor that keeps teams going when things get tough
• How to build trust quickly across global, cross-functional teams
• The importance of servant leadership, vulnerability, and living your values
• Why leaders must resist the urge to ‘revert to type’ in a crisis and stay on the bridge

Whether you’re leading in data, or transformation teams, shaping strategy, or navigating complexity, this conversation is packed with actionable insights for high-performing leaders.

Connect with David Goodacre on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dgoodacre/

About Your Host: Shannon McKechnie is the Managing Director at MBN Solutions - the Data and AI talent experts, and a passionate advocate for building exceptional teams and authentic leadership. As co-host of A Class Act: Conversations in Data & Leadership, Shannon brings a grounded, people-first perspective to leadership ,exploring how trust, alignment, and shared success drive high-performing teams in today’s complex landscape.

Please note: The views expressed by David Goodacre in this episode are his own and do not reflect those of his current or former employers.

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