Will Greenwood & Ben Fennell - World Class: Lead, learn and grow like a champion

By Workplace Evolution

02 Sep 2021

Business Psychologist Michael Costello meets Will Greenwood and Ben Fennell to discuss their life lessons and new book "World Class: Lead, Learn and Grow Like a Champion". Drawing on insights from elite athlete & coaches such as Dan Carter, Kate Richardson Walsh, Rio Ferdinand, Helen Glover & Sir Clive Woodward as well as Business Leaders from Tesco, Unilever, Virgin Media the conversation explores what businesses can learn from sport and what sport can learn from business.

This interview shares lessons learnt from

The communications in the England changing room 5 minutes before the Rugby World Cup Final (winning the battle for hearts & minds) The good the bad and ugly of coaching during his three, yes, three, tours with the Lions (ensuring brilliance can create magic & "riff") How the team grew stronger not just through a player strike days before a test match but also a little conflict injected by the Royal Marines (England's 'Code of Conduct' and what leaders do to support the 'Disagree and Commit' process) And lastly Sir Clive Woodward’s incredible response to Will’s news that his wife Caro had been taken to hospital in England during the World Cup campaign in Australia (the importance of well-being, kindness and leaders investing in their character)

Click here for the podcast

Podcast Notes:

The book is published by Ebury Edge and Penguin Random House and is available on the 2nd September 2021. To find out more about the book visit http://smarturl.it/worldclassbk or https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/144/1443223/world-class/9780753558775.html

Ben Fennell is a master in the field of advertising - developed from 16 years as the CEO of Bartle Bogle Hegarty in Singapore & London – today he works as the CEO of the Growth House working with global brands to develop their senior leaders. Find out more about Ben via the Growth House and via twitter @FennellB.

Will Greenwood was critical to ensuring England powered to Rugby World Cup victory in 2003, is a leading broadcaster and commentator of the game and journalist for the Telegraph for 16 years. Find out more via twitter @WillGreenwood

@OurlegendUK @Festivalsportuk & https://willgreenwood.co.uk/

To contact the podcast please email [email protected] or connect with Michael Costello via linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelcostellooccpsych1/

Latest news

1

Lumo launches West Coast rail service with 100 jobs in Preston Lumo train in London and staff

Lumo launches West Coast rail service with 100 jobs in Preston

22 May 2026

2

Lancashire brings £20bn of investment opportunity to UKREiiF UKREiiF

Lancashire brings £20bn of investment opportunity to UKREiiF

22 May 2026

3

Work begins on Blackpool’s Multiversity campus Multiversity in Blackpool

Work begins on Blackpool’s Multiversity campus

22 May 2026

4

New £8.7m Pleasure Beach ride opens to public Aviktas ride

New £8.7m Pleasure Beach ride opens to public

22 May 2026

5

Red Rose Awards winners gather to celebrate Lancashire business Red Rose Awards Winners Reception

Red Rose Awards winners gather to celebrate Lancashire business

21 May 2026

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
Funding Summit
Funding Logo Canva Mid
Summit
17 Jun 2026

Funding Summit

Village Hotel Blackpool

08:30 - 11:00

LBV129 July/August Magazine Networking Event
Nov/Dec Networking Event
Networking
16 Jul 2026

LBV129 July/August Magazine Networking Event

Brysdales, Britannia Buildings Drumhead Road, Chorley, PR6 7BX

16:00 - 18:00

LBV130 September/October Magazine Networking Event
Jan/Feb Networking Event - Entrance
Networking
17 Sep 2026

LBV130 September/October Magazine Networking Event

The Beehive Blackburn, Shadsworth Business Park, BB1 2Q

08:30 - 10:30

LBV131 November/December Magazine Networking Event
Jan/ Feb Networking Event - Talking
Networking
19 Nov 2026

LBV131 November/December Magazine Networking Event

Lancashire

08:30 - 10:30

Research and Knowledge Exchange Festival 2026
Spark 2026 newsletter v3-5 (1).png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
18 May 2026 - 22 May 2026

Research and Knowledge Exchange Festival 2026

University of Lancashire, Preston, PR1 2HE

10:00 - 20:00

Building a high-performance culture
business workshop.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
03 Jun 2026

Building a high-performance culture

Media Factory, University of Lancashire, Preston, PR1 2HE

09:30 - 11:30

Chamber Breakfast Networking – June
LBV Hub Networking
03 Jun 2026

Chamber Breakfast Networking – June

Pye Motors, Morecambe, LA3 3PE

08:00 - 10:00

Society1 Breakfast Social and Coworking Day
Breakfast Social June Facebook.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
04 Jun 2026

Society1 Breakfast Social and Coworking Day

Society1 Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

09:00 - 17:00

Yellow Day 2026
LBV Hub Fundraisers
07 Jun 2026

Yellow Day 2026

St Catherine's Hospice, Preston, pr55xu

11:00 - 16:00

Opening doors and opportunity for Tech in Preston
PTC Square June (900 x 900 px)-2.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
09 Jun 2026

Opening doors and opportunity for Tech in Preston

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 19:30

Clubhouse Business Network sponsored by Orca Finance - June 2026
Padel Network.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
11 Jun 2026

Clubhouse Business Network sponsored by Orca Finance - June 2026

Clubhouse , Blackburn, BB1 3NT

14:00 - 16:00

The Business Network Central and East Lancashire
LBV Header (33).png.png
LBV Hub Networking
18 Jun 2026

The Business Network Central and East Lancashire

Stanley House, Blackburn, BB2 7NP

11:30 - 14:15

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV124 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin