S3 EP1: Accidental Manager to Confident Leader with Steve Jones

Host: Julie Williams MSc – Executive Coach & Founder of Lighting Fires

Guest: Steve Jones –Head of Education & Application Support (EMEA) at d&b audiotechnik

In the opening episode of Series 3 of The Lighting Fires Podcast, supported by Henley Business School, Julie is joined by Steve Jones for an honest and insightful conversation about leadership, confidence, self-awareness and the power of coaching.

Steve shares the experiences that shaped his resilient outlook on life, from a challenging childhood to building a successful international career in the fast-paced live events industry. He reflects on stepping into leadership without a traditional management pathway, navigating team conflict during the pandemic, and the self-doubt that can come with increased responsibility.

Together, Julie and Steve explore how coaching helped Steve better understand himself, recognise his strengths, and grow into a more confident and authentic leader.

Julie and Steve discuss:

How difficult life experiences can shape resilience and mindset

Moving from technical expert to people leader

Why many managers feel unprepared for leadership roles

Understanding interpersonal differences through personality profiles

Overcoming imposter syndrome and building executive presence

The value of self-awareness in leadership