Leading when trust is breaking down 📰 Lexie Kirkconnell-Kawana

Lexie Kirkconnell-Kawana works in a part of the world where pressure reveals what people really stand for. With a background in law and leadership, and now as CEO of Impress, the UK’s independent press regulator, she sits close to some of the hardest questions in media, trust, accountability, and organisational culture.

In this episode, we get into what ethical leadership looks like when decisions are messy, how values hold up when the environment keeps shifting, and why leading well now takes more than polished language or good intentions.

What we cover

1️⃣ Leadership that still holds up under pressure

Lexie talks about the difference between saying the right things and leading in a way that stays credible when the stakes rise.

2️⃣ Adapting without losing your centre

Hybrid work, cultural change, and constant uncertainty have made leadership harder. This part gets into listening, adjusting, and staying grounded while things move.

3️⃣ Inclusion that goes beyond surface signals

Real diversity takes more than good intentions. Lexie explains why stronger networks, better recruitment habits, and deliberate effort matter.

4️⃣ The pressure AI is putting on media and regulation

This part looks at misinformation, platform responsibility, and why generative AI is forcing harder questions about trust and governance.

5️⃣ Staying effective in demanding roles

The episode also gets into balance, resilience, and the personal discipline needed to lead well over time.

Chapters

00:00 Intro to Lexie Kirkconnell-Kawana

04:00 Her path from law to press regulation

05:55 Adapting to UK leadership culture

11:12 What leadership training taught her

14:09 From expert to executive: redefining leadership

19:17 Learning through mentors and networks

22:18 The new era of leadership tribes

24:57 Hybrid work as a leadership challenge

29:45 Building inclusion beyond checkboxes

33:53 The resilience every CEO needs

37:54 Gender dynamics in leadership

41:58 CEO wellbeing and inner balance

45:47 Managing pressure with purpose

49:11 What she gave up to lead

52:33 Media regulation in an AI age

58:14 The role of platforms in disinformation

01:01:17 How to regulate AI responsibly

01:05:33 Where the UK stands in global tech governance

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