A respected leader delivered expertise in building empowering workplace cultures at a special Lancaster University Management School event.

Dame Jackie Daniel, former Chief Executive of the National Health Service (NHS), was the keynote speaker at LUMS Careers Service’s Inspired Global Networks series.

Her talk, Leadership - Creating Hope and Inspiration in the Context of Constant Change and Uncertainty, saw Dame Jackie share her wealth of experience on how leaders can foster hope, innovation, and resilience in environments marked by change.

The talk was the first in the Inspired Global Networks series, which aims to provide insights and guidance from leaders who have navigated high-stakes environments, offering students and alumni an invaluable perspective on real-world leadership challenges and strategies.

Dame Jackie engaged an audience of employer partners, alumni, staff and students.

Noeleen Hammond Jones, Deputy Head of Careers in LUMS, said: “Dame Jackie highlighted that the ability to inspire through challenging times often hinges on clear vision, authenticity, and empathy, and underscored how effective leaders craft a compelling narrative that aligns immediate goals and long-term vision.

“She addressed the balance between short-term focus and strategic, long-term planning, and shared methods she used in her NHS career to inspire innovation at all organisational levels.

“One of the participants summed it up for me, saying how Dame Jackie’s approach to leadership is both inspiring and practical, and a true example of how leaders can create environments where people flourish even in the most challenging times.”

The event included a dynamic Q&A session, where Dame Jackie covered managing innovation, fostering an inclusive environment for idea generation, and balancing the pressures of immediate results with broader, systemic change. She explained her strategy of empowering teams with clear responsibilities, regular check-ins, and support to encourage innovation and flexibility within necessary structures.

Dame Jackie also reflected on her career, sharing how setting a culture of empowerment, by giving individuals ownership over projects and space to learn from setbacks, is essential for developing resilient, forward-thinking teams.

Noeleen added: “Our Leaders in Residence programme continues to attract distinguished leaders like Dame Jackie. They help us to bridge our leading academic insights with hands-on, impactful leadership knowledge, demonstrating our role as a hub for transformative professional growth.”

As one participant summarised, “Dame Jackie’s approach to leadership is both inspiring and practical, a true example of how leaders can create environments where people flourish even in the most challenging times.”

The event recording will be available in the LUMS partner newsletter, providing an opportunity for wider networks to benefit from Dame Jackie’s insights.

To receive the newsletter and be on the LUMS Careers Mailing List for updates on events, activities and opportunities to work with our students and industry experts, email Noeleen Hammond Jones, n.hammondjones@lancaster.ac.uk