Public Sector I HEART You

In this episode of the Public Sector I Heart You podcast, Matthew Hotten, Senior Consultant at West Midlands Employers, is joined by Andrew Pain, WME Associate, speaker and coach with a passion for helping people embrace change.

They explore how personal challenges, from food box choices to skydiving, help build the kind of emotional resilience needed in public sector leadership. Andrew shares insights on why change is rarely linear, the impact of the Stockdale Paradox, and the importance of leading with compassion when supporting teams through uncertainty.

In this episode of the Public Sector I ♥️ You Podcast, Matthew Hotten, Senior Consultant at West Midlands Employers, is joined by members of the winning team from Worcester City Council following the 2025 Tri-Sector Challenge.

Thalia, Allotment Officer, Craig, Building Services Engineer, and Ben, Communications Officer, share their experience of stepping into a high, pressure leadership simulation designed to mirror the realities of senior management in local government.

They reflect on strategic decision making, managing competing priorities, handling media scrutiny, and the value of cross, departmental collaboration. The conversation also explores how experiential learning can deepen understanding of leadership pressures and strengthen organisational culture.

This episode offers practical insight into building strategic capability and fostering stronger, more connected teams.

In this episode of the Public Sector I Heart You podcast, Rebecca Davis, Chief Executive of West Midlands Employers, is joined by Julie Towers, Director at Penna. 

Julie shares insights from her career in local government and executive recruitment, exploring networking, employer brand, senior leadership readiness, reorganisation, and why values, place and diversity matter for the future of public sector leadership.

In this episode of the Public Sector I Heart You podcast, Manny Sandhu, Director of Leadership & OD at West Midlands Employers, is joined by Shakil Butt, experienced HR Director, author of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Explained, and lecturer in Strategic HRM at Birmingham City University.

They explore the realities of equity, diversity and inclusion in public sector organisations, including where EDI sits, why many approaches fall short, and how to embed inclusion into the fabric of leadership, policy and decision-making.

With honesty, practical advice and a strong call for accountability, Shak shares why performative gestures don’t deliver change, and what truly inclusive organisations must do differently.

Ideal for public sector leaders, HR professionals, and anyone passionate about creating equitable workplaces.

In this episode of the PS I ❤️ You podcast, Matthew and Michelle take a deep dive into the often-overlooked discipline of strategic workforce planning. They explore why it’s crucial for councils facing demographic change, AI disruption, and hybrid work challenges.

From intergenerational knowledge sharing to the risks of shadow AI, they explore how public sector organisations can plan 3–5 years ahead, and why workforce planning must be a shared, continuous conversation, not a one-off project.Podcast, Matthew and Michelle take a deep dive into the often-overlooked discipline of strategic workforce planning. They explore why it’s crucial for councils facing demographic change, AI disruption, and hybrid work challenges.

From intergenerational knowledge sharing to the risks of shadow AI, they explore how public sector organisations can plan 3–5 years ahead, and why workforce planning must be a shared, continuous conversation, not a one-off project.