The Business Leader Podcast

David McQueen: The compassionate provocateur shaping today's leaders

The Business Leader Podcast

Show Notes

When some people talk in the business world, you can't help but sit up and listen. Whether he's tackling tough subjects or helping leaders through his speaking and facilitating skills, our guest on this episode is a self-proclaimed compassionate provocateur that you need to take note of.

David McQueen is the co-founder of the professional coaching company Q Squared and Black Founders Hub, a network for black-owned high-growth businesses. He is a Non-Exec Director for Forbes Family Group and Our Game Football, a public speaker and coach to executive-level leaders and the host of The Brave Leader Podcast.

Here's what we discussed:

You have an interesting story because you were an accountant and then you went into IT and now you are a business founder and a speaker and coach. Can you tell us a bit about your journey to where you are now? (01:01) You being a charismatic and funny person lends itself to your own public speaking style, and people really relate to your authenticity. Do you think being authentic is important in being a good leader and speaker? (04:40) On your LinkedIn, you post a lot about being your authentic self and being - do you think people should be the same version of themselves at work and out of work? (06:45) What role does self-esteem have in an executive’s ability to lead well? (09:46) How can business leaders recognise their strengths and weaknesses? (12:34) When it comes to resilience, how important is it to have a team that is honest and will give honest feedback? (14:33) How can business leaders navigate the personalities of their team members and manage conflict? (17:10) How important is having the personality type where you don’t take things personally in being a great leader? (20:52) What is the importance of defining a company narrative and values? How can business leaders do this? (25:11) How can business founders ensure they are considering diversity in every business decision and not just paying lip service/tick-box exercise? (28:34) Do we need to speak about race more in a professional setting and how can we speak about these topics? (36:50) Answer the Internet: How is company culture formed? (47:17) What makes a great business leader? (48:45)

Be sure to subscribe to the podcast and the Business Leader YouTube channel for more interviews with some of the world’s leading business figures. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

More from The Business Leader Podcast

Nov 8, 2023

High performance. The buzz term du jour on LinkedIn and in the business community. The man who literally has a podcast on the topic has his doubts about whether people actually know its true meaning.

Nov 1, 2023

“Rebel with a cause” is the term often associated with the president of Seat and Cupra. A quick glance at his LinkedIn reveals that Wayne Griffiths is not your usual business leader. He’s a vehement fan of David Bowie, despises suits and ties and is almost always seen sporting jeans and a leather jacket.

Oct 25, 2023

30 minutes a day on personal training and development methods, according to research from the Centre for Management & Organisation Effectiveness. Inspiration can come from books, Ted Talks, podcasts and many more sources. But what about improv comedy?

Oct 18, 2023

If you haven’t heard of disruptive men’s health brand Numan, it’s time to start taking notice. Since its launch in 2018, the company has helped 430,000 men maximise their health.

Oct 11, 2023

“I wasn’t taught money management at school.” This is a long-held frustration by almost everyone who’s attended formal education. But one company has taken matters into its own hands, with the mission to “make every kid smart with money” and become a household name in the process.

See all episodes →