The Courageous Leaders Podcast
The Courageous Leaders Podcast aims to inspire leaders to step into their courageous zone, be the leader they know they can be and discover the mindset skills and behaviours to take their leadership to the next level.
So listen in, get inspired on how you can grow your leadership impact. Leave a legacy you can be proud of, and build an environment for future leaders to thrive.
Who is Joanna Howes?
Joanna Howes is an award-winning international coach, behavioural expert, specialising in leadership and performance coaching and No 1 best selling international co-author.
Her focus is to help individuals and teams activate their full potential, so they can step into their courageous zone to maximise their influence, build their resilience and take the action needed to become high performers and future-ready leaders.
Joanna is a unique phenomenon within her industry, with over 20 years’ experience working internationally with some of the world's most awarded advertising agencies and leading them to operational and leadership success. Her blend of both innovative operational and transformative change solutions empowers organisations to create environments that are supportive and fearless for their employees.
Website: https://thechangecreators.com/
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The Courageous Leaders Podcast
Why Inclusive Marketing Outperforms AI (and Boosts Sales)
The ROI of Inclusion – Why Diverse Voices Drive Better Business
In this episode of the Courageous Leaders Podcast, I speak with Ali Hanan, Founder and Executive Director of Creative Equals, an award-winning organisation helping brands like PepsiCo, Mars, and McDonald’s put inclusion at the heart of marketing.
We dig into why inclusive advertising isn’t just a social good but also one of the smartest business investments you can make. Ali shares how bias still shapes the work we see on screen, the data behind why diversity drives growth, and the small, intentional steps leaders can take every day to create lasting change.
We Cover:
00:00 – Introduction
01:30 – What it takes to start and scale a business as a creative
05:21 – Why operations are the hidden engine of growth
07:51 – Collecting data to prove the need for change
11:40 – Winning funding to launch programmes
13:57 – Supporting disabled creatives and removing barriers to entry
15:26 – Why female creative directors are still underrepresented
17:44 – Bias in redundancy processes and hybrid working
19:27 – How brands influence diversity across supply chains
20:10 – The way adverts still stereotype women and men in 2025
24:02 – Racism, homophobia, and harmful portrayals in advertising
25:37 – Why inclusive marketing outperforms AI hype
31:20 – Keeping a team motivated through tough times
32:49 – Where leaders need more courage in tackling bias
37:38 – The freedom of caring less about judgment as you get older
40:08 – How expanding your network can shift your perspective
Don’t miss out on this powerful episode.
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Website: https://www.thechangecreators.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannahowes/
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🚀 Elevate Your Leadership:
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Website: https://thechangecreators.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannahowes/
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