Quality Impact

Helen Hardy, CEO of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport UK, shares her journey into leadership, overcoming imposter syndrome, and modernising professional bodies. She explores skills shortages, supply chain disruption, and why governance, standards, and quality management act as stabilisers, helping organisations build resilience, close capability gaps, and future-proof logistics and transport in a rapidly changing world.

Compliance is no longer a lottery. As AI-powered enforcement tightens the net, silos, shortcuts and “we’ll fix it later” mindsets are becoming business-ending risks. Lee Bryan of ARCUS Compliance explains how founders can turn compliance into a strategic advantage, driving growth, protecting consumers, and staying on the shelves. This podcast is sponsored by Catalyst Consulting.

As AI becomes a digital teammate rather than a tool, quality professionals face a critical shift. Host Rashad Issa is joined by Susannah Clarke, Managing Partner at Process Management International (PMI), and Anthony Richardson, Senior Consultant at PMI, to explore how to work with AI without surrendering judgment, rigour, or accountability. From coaching AI like a colleague to managing bias, variation, and over-reliance, this episode reframes AI as a catalyst for quality professionals.This podcast is sponsored by Catalyst Consulting.

Vince Desmond, CEO of the CQI, explores the most significant shifts redefining quality in 2026 – from where AI is delivering real value to growing resilience expectations, global collaboration, and the seven critical gaps organisations must address. A sharp, forward-looking conversation for quality professionals reflecting on 2025 and preparing for what’s next. Key dates for 2026: World Quality Week takes place in the second week of November. September marks Quality Careers Week, while June brings Quality Live and the International Quality Awards.

Dr. Ken Hudson, an innovative thinker and author, applies brain science to enhance creativity in workplaces. He shares a fascinating two-minute trick to toggle between analytical and creative thinking, using metaphors like 'box vs ball' to illustrate his points. Learn how leaders can energize teams by shifting perspectives and fostering an environment of playfulness. Ken emphasizes the importance of rapid idea sprints and unexpected prompts to combat rigidity and spark innovation, making it easier for teams to break free from limiting thought patterns.

In this episode of Quality Impact, host Rashad Issa speaks with Graham Upton, Technology & Innovation Director and Chief Architect at Capgemini Engineering. Drawing on experience from aerospace to pharmaceuticals, Graham shares how quality must evolve to keep pace with Industry 4.0. From embedding quality in R&D to balancing bold innovation with rigorous standards, he discusses AI, agile, and future skills that will shape the profession. Discover why quality professionals need to think differently and act earlier to drive trust, resilience, and innovation across industries. This podcast is sponsored by Catalyst Consulting.

In this episode of Quality Impact, host Rashad Issa sits down with neuroscience expert Hilary Scarlett and Lean Six Sigma specialist Martin Brenig-Jones to explore how understanding the human brain can transform change management. From building trust and psychological safety to navigating uncertainty and embracing AI, they share practical insights for leaders and quality professionals. Discover how neuroscience-backed strategies and empathy-driven leadership can make improvement initiatives more engaging, effective, and sustainable.This podcast is sponsored by Catalyst Consulting.

Richard Corderoy, CEO of Oakland, a data and AI consultancy, works with some of the UK’s biggest organisations to turn data into a source of competitive advantage. He shares how companies can move beyond AI buzzwords to build processes that are ethical, efficient, and rooted in governance. This episode is a must-listen for quality professionals navigating digital transformation and looking to align innovation with impact.This podcast is sponsored by Catalyst Consulting.

In this episode of Quality Impact, host Rashad Issa speaks with Benedikt Sommerhoff, Head of QualityLab at the German Association for Quality (DGQ). Benedikt shares insights into how AI, digital transformation and paradigm shifts are disrupting the quality profession. From navigating change to building future-proof careers, this conversation dives deep into the tools, skills, and mindsets quality professionals need to thrive.This podcast is sponsored by Catalyst Consulting.

What does quality have to do with modern slavery? In this eye-opening episode, Rashad Issa speaks with Steve Gibbons, Director at Ergon Associates and expert in human rights due diligence. Steve unpacks how businesses – often unknowingly – contribute to exploitation across global supply chains. From certification blind spots to the real impact of climate-driven migration, this conversation reveals the risks hiding in plain sight, and the bold moves quality professionals can take to lead meaningful change. This podcast is sponsored by Catalyst Consulting.