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What We Don't Know with Matt Brittin & Hayaatun Sillem

Boxlight Creative Studio
Leadership
Time Management
United Kingdom
Stemettes
The Washing Machine Project
Technology
John Lewis Partnership
WPP
Return To Office
Sleep
House Of Commons
Ubuntu
Truth and Reconciliation Commission
Ofcom
Skills Gap
Education Reform
Nesta
Women In Tech
Personal Growth
Biochemistry

In a crazy world, how do we get better leaders? This is the boardroom, unplugged. — Whether starting out, or a seasoned leader, you face a world we’ve never seen before - the future of work, politics, technology and society is harder to predict than ever. So how do we survive the uncertainty and thrive in complexity? The successful leaders of the future will need a different set of skills and com... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes17Founded4 months ago
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ManagementBusinessEducationSelf-Improvement

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Artwork for What We Don't Know

Latest Episodes

This week, a special crossover episode: Jimmy's Jobs of the Future meets What We Don't Know.

Hayaatun Sillem spent eight years as CEO of the Royal Academy of Engineering - the first woman, and the first person in over two decades, to hold the role. ... more

What Washing Machines Teach Us About Leadership | Navjot Sooni & The Washing Machine Project

This time Hayaatun is joined by Navjot Sawhney, founder of The Washing Machine Project, about how engineering and leadership intersect through a mission to ... more

Joe Garner (Ex-CEO Nationwide) on Leading Through Crisis, Values-Driven Culture & Sustainable Performance

Hayaatun interviews Joe Garner, former CEO of Nationwide Building Society (and previously at HSBC and Openreach), now an advisor to CEOs across... more

Women in tech, AI bias, gender inequality, and the future of work

Dr Anne-Marie Imafidon pulls no punches. Child prodigy, STEMettes founder, Countdown arithmetician, and government adviser on women in technology.

She built STEMettes from £300 to £1... more

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Recent Guests

Hayaatun Sillem
CEO of the Royal Academy of Engineering
Royal Academy of Engineering
Episode: From Boots the Chemist to Lewis Hamilton's Boardroom - Dr. Hayaatun Sillem & Jimmy McLoughlin OBE
Navjot Sooni
Founder of the Washing Machine Project and advocate for frugal, impact-focused engineering
The Washing Machine Project
Episode: From Leaving Dyson to The Washing Machine Project | Navjot Sawhney
Joe Garner
Former CEO of Nationwide Building Society
Nationwide Building Society
Episode: Why Coachability Beats Talent (And It Costs Your Promotions) | Nationwide former CEO Joe Garner
Anne-Marie Imafidon
Founder of STEMettes; advocate for women in tech; Chancellor at Glasgow Caledonian University
STEMettes; Glasgow Caledonian University
Episode: The Tech Industry Forgot That Women Exist | Dr Anne-Marie Imafidon
Ravi Gurumurthy
CEO of Nesta, leader in behavioral insights and innovation
Nesta
Episode: What David Miliband & The Nudge Unit Taught Me About Leadership | Ravi Gurumurthy, Nesta CEO
Hetti Barkworth-Nanton
CEO of Ploughshare, Chair of Refuge, campaigner for domestic abuse awareness
Ploughshare; Refuge
Episode: Why The Best Leaders Don't Need To Prove Themselves | Hetti Barkworth-Nanton
Andy Haldane
Chancellor of the University of Sheffield, President of the British Chambers of Commerce
British Chambers of Commerce; University of Sheffield
Episode: Andy Haldane: The Jobs Crisis & How to Rebuild UK Skills | What We Don't Know
John Browne
Lord Browne of Manningley, former CEO of BP
BP (former) / The Courtauld Institute / Francis Crick Institute
Episode: What Negotiating With Putin & Gaddafi Taught Me About Leadership | Lord John Browne
Sharon White
Baroness Sharon White, former chair of the John Lewis Partnership and former chief executive of Ofcom
John Lewis Partnership; Ofcom
Episode: Ex John Lewis Boss: Why The Best Leaders Are Impossible to Read | Sharon White

Hosts

Matt Brittin
Host; senior leader with experience across technology, business and policy.
Hayaatun Sillem
Co-host; leader and engineer with policy and governance experience.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 15 ratings
  • Terrific

    Loved the discussion, the glimpses of what shaped Matt, the focus on people and the acknowledgement that truly listening and willingness to learn from everything is the default setting for leadership not to be used as a reset from time to time.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    cmrs24
    United Kingdom4 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Clear, insightful leadership lessons grounded in real-world experience.
Excellent mix of personal stories and practical advice for leading through uncertainty.
High-caliber guests and thoughtful, nuanced conversations.

Chart Rankings

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

From Boots the Chemist to Lewis Hamilton's Boardroom - Dr. Hayaatun Sillem & Jimmy McLoughlin OBE
Q: What's the most underrated leadership skill?
Empathy, especially in understanding diverse backgrounds and needs, which enhances culture, negotiation, and policy inputs.
From Boots the Chemist to Lewis Hamilton's Boardroom - Dr. Hayaatun Sillem & Jimmy McLoughlin OBE
Q: What was the hardest leadership transition you faced at the Royal Academy of Engineering?
The hardest part was reframing her self-identity as a leader, shifting from being seen as a support to being the leader herself, and navigating being the first woman and first person from a minority background in that role.
From Boots the Chemist to Lewis Hamilton's Boardroom - Dr. Hayaatun Sillem & Jimmy McLoughlin OBE
Q: What was your first job?
Her first paid job was at Boots the Chemist at age 14, where she worked on tills and learned the ropes of retail leadership, revealing early experiences with responsibility and customer-facing leadership.
Why Coachability Beats Talent (And It Costs Your Promotions) | Nationwide former CEO Joe Garner
Q: Is everyone coachable, and why is coaching different from feedback?
Coaching focuses on developing future skills and capabilities, while feedback assesses current performance; both are important but serve different purposes for growth.
Why The Best Leaders Don't Need To Prove Themselves | Hetti Barkworth-Nanton
Q: How did your experiences with trauma influence your leadership approach and purpose?
Trauma and later cancer reshaped her, pushing toward authentic leadership, systemic impact, and campaigns that balance organizational roles with social advocacy.

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Frequently Asked Questions About What We Don't Know

What is What We Don't Know about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A leadership-focused interview series featuring top executives, policymakers, and pioneering technologists who share real-world stories about navigating uncertainty, driving organizational change, and building resilient institutions. Episodes commonly explore leadership philosophy, culture, mentorship, and the practical trade-offs behind big decisions, often weaving in personal origin stories, cross-sector collaboration, and risk-taking in high-stakes environments. A standout thread is the emphasis on humility, empathy, and continuous learning as core leadership skills, rather than spotlighting polished corporate narratives. Listeners who want actionable guidance on managing teams, shaping strategy, and aligning values with impact will like... more

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Which podcasts are similar to What We Don't Know?

These podcasts share a similar audience with What We Don't Know:

1. The Rest Is Politics
2. The News Agents
3. The News Agents - USA
4. The Rest Is Entertainment
5. Political Currency

How many episodes of What We Don't Know are there?

What We Don't Know launched 4 months ago and published 17 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on What We Don't Know?

Recent guests on What We Don't Know include:

1. Hayaatun Sillem
2. Navjot Sooni
3. Joe Garner
4. Anne-Marie Imafidon
5. Ravi Gurumurthy
6. Hetti Barkworth-Nanton
7. Andy Haldane
8. John Browne

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