Sharing my learning on Leadership, AI and more.

Maximising the value of LLM Chatbots in UK Defence

In a series of blog posts I'll be talking through my academic research into AI in large organisations - undertaken as part of my AI MSc, which I completed in 2025. In this first post I'll simply summarise my research and the main conclusions. Later, I&

Re-platformed, refocused

I've made some changes to this site over the past few days: * A new presence which is simpler to use, simpler to maintain, and more secure. The old self-hosted WordPress blog was becoming untenable. I might go into the reasons in a future post. I've chosen

Using NotebookLM to turn learning notes into a personal leadership coach

What it was Self-guided experimentation, on how I could use AI to augment my personal development, by turning my existing learning blog posts into a personal leadership coach. Originally (in late 2023) I used the OpenAI GPT3.5 API with embeddings, and a custom system prompt, to generate a '

Leading with self: Positive Thinking and Motivation

What it was: A session of positive thinking and planning, from a group exercise and a one-to-one co-coaching session, aimed at drawing up an action plan for achieving some of my professional aims. This was part of the Deputy Director Leadership Programme held in London on 28 January 2020. What

Leading with Self: Emotional Intelligence

What it was A one-day session on what it means to "lead self" in the context of a changing civil service, through being present and leading with emotional intelligence. Part of the Deputy Director Leadership Programme. Held in London on 28 January 2020. What I learned Emotional intelligence

Solving Kurosu

What it was This Christmas I encountered 'Kurosu' - a japanese grid-based logic puzzle in the same vein as Sudoku (albeit a lot simpler than Sudoku). As a Christmas puzzle - and to top-up my coding skills development over the holiday - I set myself the challenge of

Future Leaders Scheme - End-of-Scheme reflection and discussion

What it was A meeting to reflect on our collective learning with a cohort of people who had completed the Civil Service Future Leaders Scheme in 2017/18/19, chaired by Director-General at MOD and held in February 2019. In this blog post I have pasted the content of the

Deputy Director Leadership Programme - additional reflections

What it was: Some reflections on my overall learning, plus some miscellaneous learning from my notes, derived from the two days of the Deputy Director Leadership Programme held in London on 16 and 17 September 2019. What I learned: Focus on personal impact: * Focus on the key six or so

Leading with Self: The personal leadership statement

What it was: A talk, group and individual exercise led by Dionne Corradine. This was part of the Deputy Director Leadership Programme held in London on 16 and 17 September 2019. What I learned: A personal leadership statement can help crystallise your leadership style, your aspirations, and what you offer

Leading with self: Strengths and Shadows

What it was: A talk, self and group exercises on Strengths and Shadows. This was part of the Deputy Director Leadership Programme held in London on 16 and 17 September 2019. What I learned: A ‘strength’ is defined as a pre-existing capacity for a particular way of behaving, thinking or

Introducing the Strategic Framework: Leading with System - Tracey Waltho, Cabinet Office

What it was: A talk with discussion on the Strategic Framework. This was part of the Deputy Director Leadership Programme held in London on 16 and 17 September 2019. What I learned: The strategic framework is a way of organising thinking and effort across Government and for addressing the big

Leading through complexity and change

What it was: A crisis management case study (based on a real DFID example), talked through in respect of the actions and behaviours required of senior leaders, followed by some reflections on crisis experience from a leader, and a group exercise on our own responses to crises and change. This