Lessons in Leadership: Sir David Bell - a podcast by The RSA

Special series: Lessons in Leadership

The pandemic has brought home to all of us the importance of the public services we sometimes take for granted. Not just the NHS but schools, local councils, the police and the prison service have all faced huge challenges keeping the show on the road. Clear leadership has been crucial to this task. Now more than ever our public services need great head teachers, chief constables, great prison governors and hospital directors. But what makes for great leadership in the public sector? How do you make sure organisations are delivering for the public and not squandering hard earned taxes? How do you handle a crisis or navigate the complex relationship with an ever-changing government?

Justin Russell is Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Probation. He’s spent his life working and learning from inspirational leaders who have done all of these things and more. In this special series for Bridges to the Future, he’ll be speaking to just some of those who have survived and thrived at the top to find out how they did it and what they can teach you.

Justin's first guest is someone who has been a leader his whole life: Sir David Bell.  He’s held every senior leadership position in education from primary school headteacher to his current role as Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of the University of Sunderland. He’s worked with government ministers of all political parties; led local councils and schools inspectorates and has been knighted for his services to education. Who better to start this series on “Lessons in Leadership” than Sir David Bell. 

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