Event: Panel Discussion – Leadership – How to Lead Effectively Remotely

Work is what we do, not where we go. Whether we are or have individuals working from home, in different places and possibly working at different times, we all have similar needs from our leaders; confidence, communication, connection and collaboration.

From early March many businesses began the process of moving their teams to remote working due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This not only meant an unexpected change to how businesses operate, but also to their clients.

Join our panel discussion to see how four leading businesses have taken on the challenges which Covid-19 has presented and how they have adapted so they can still lead effectively remotely. This event is hosted by Huw Sayer, Business Writers and Norfolk Chambers board members, he will be posing questions to the panel, and taking questions from attendees. 

Panellists

• Rachel Cowdry, CEO, Break
• John Gostling, Managing Director, Breakwater IT
• Lisa Collen, Director of People & Workplaces, Flagship Group
• James Groves, Managing Director, Indigo Swan

Book your free place on this exciting panel discussion. 

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About the Panellists

Rachel Cowdry, CEO, Break

Rachel has been in social care all her career and for the last 12 years as a leader in the voluntary sector. A social worker by profession, she has a passion for ensuring that the beneficiaries of the charity are at the heart of its work. She has experience of management in social care settings, but also (more recently) in organisational development and strategy. With Rachel’s history with Break she has been hands on in all elements of what Break does from retail, fundraising, training, social care, marketing, communications, strategy setting, innovation, finance bid writing. All of which has contributed to Break being in the successful position it is today. She leads with a business head and a charity heart. She has been the CEO at Break for about a year.

Break is an innovative charity, based in East Anglia, that provides hope and support for vulnerable children and young people. Their services include fostering, children’s homes, and a unique system of life-long support called Staying Close, Staying Connected. Whatever a child’s start in life, they believe that with the right support there is no limit to what they can achieve. Their experience of over 50 years has enabled Break to identify where there are gaps in the conventional provision of care to vulnerable children, and to develop the expertise to fill them. Whenever the help they need is missing, Break make sure that they are there to provide it. Being a charity gives them the flexibility to provide life-enhancing extras, like mentoring and apprenticeships, that can make all the difference to their futures.

John Gostling, Managing Director, Breakwater IT

John has a genuine passion for supporting businesses using effective IT systems. In his role as Managing Director, John has worked to create a knowledge-driven environment. His team of Technicians, Account Managers and Administrators are encouraged to undertake continual training to best support their clients. John believes that investing in staff and culture are key to performance. Outside of work John is known for taking part in sporting events including marathons and 100-mile cycle rides.

Breakwater IT provide IT support and services to businesses of all industries and sizes. Their team consists of highly trained Engineers, dedicated Account Managers and administrative support, based on the outskirts of Norwich. Breakwater celebrates its fifteenth year in business in 2020, continuing to deliver proactive and innovative IT support and services.

Lisa Collen, Director of People & Workplaces, Flagship Group Creating a great place to work and enabling great people to do great things has a positive impact on business, team and individual performance. Lisa believes the key to sustainable business success is through Great Leadership and Great People. Lisa joined the Flagship Group in 2013 and has recently been leading the Group’s approach to the Coronavirus situation. Her day to day directorate covers HR, Learning & Development, Equality, Diversity & Inclusion and Workplace Facilities.

Flagship is a not for profit Housing Association, providing over 31,000 homes for affordable and market rent and for sale across the East of England. Flagship maintain their own housing stock and support the communities they’re part of. They do this through their housing arms Flagship Homes, Victory Housing Trust, Suffolk Housing, their repairs and maintenance specialists, RFT Services, and their gas and boiler specialists, Gasway. Flagship Group employees are highly engaged and committed – they know this because they have told them and the Flagship Group was awarded Platinum Accreditation as a Best Employer, Eastern Region.

James Groves, Managing Director, Indigo Swan

James has been at Indigo Swan for 10 years and is an original member of the team. From sales to new business and now Managing Director, James has played a key role in the growth of the business, the creation of the vision, values and culture and was proud to be a finalist for Director of the Year at the EDP Norfolk Business Awards in 2019. James always looks to care for the Swans on a personal level whilst looking to challenge them, to be the very best versions of themselves. James lives the happiness first value of Indigo Swan and gave a TEDx Talk in 2019 about how James and Indigo Swan have an unflinching commitment to finding a better way, by learning from their mistakes and living and breathing their culture daily (at home or in the office!). James is passionate about good business and wants to continue to help shine a light on business in Norfolk, through the Energy Sector and beyond.

Indigo Swan are an award-winning, independent energy consultancy based in the heart of Norwich who place integrity over profit. Their tailored service fuses relentless efficiencies with a colourful personality, and an unflinching commitment to finding a better way. They help businesses make quick, easy and well-informed decisions about their energy. From finding the right supplier, to checking and negotiating contracts they can help businesses make better decisions about their energy.