From Accidental CEO to Empowering Leader with Doug Field
Wed Nov 26 2025
In this podcast episode, host Rob Lawrence interviews Doug Field, former CEO of the East of England Co-op, about leadership and business growth.
Doug shares his accidental journey to becoming CEO, the importance of self-awareness, and strategies for developing leadership skills.
With an emphasis on long-term thinking and embracing diverse perspectives, we talk about building supportive teams and fostering a strong company culture as the foundations to creating a successful and sustainable, and growing business.
Doug offers practical advice for small business founders, including the value of feedback, effective delegation, and focusing on core business fundamentals like cash flow.
Wrapping up this series, we are reminded of the continuous, adaptive nature of leadership and the importance of growing both yourself and your team.
In this episode, you'll learn:
Introduction and Doug’s Background (00:02:10) Doug introduces himself, shares his leadership mission, and outlines his career path to becoming CEO.
Accidental CEO and Early Career Lessons (00:04:31) Doug discusses his accidental rise to CEO, early career moves, and lessons learned from interviews and transitions.
Leadership Development for Small Business Owners (00:06:17) Rob and Doug explore the evolution from founder to leader, and practical first steps for developing leadership skills.
Sharpening the Saw & Long-Term Thinking (00:07:14) Doug emphasises the importance of stepping back, thinking long-term, and investing time in strategic reflection.
Market Changes and Planning for the Future (00:08:48) Discussion on adapting to market changes, planning for the future, and focusing on what stays the same.
Adapting to Change and Core Business Principles (00:10:30) Doug explains the value of focusing on unchanging customer needs and adapting business models accordingly.
Transitioning into Leadership & Mindset Shifts (00:12:09) Challenges of becoming an accidental CEO, the importance of saying yes, and broadening leadership perspective.
Seeking Support and Embracing Diversity of Thought (00:14:04) Doug shares how he sought support, learned from others, and the impact of cognitive diversity on leadership.
Managing Overwhelm and Delegation Strategies (00:17:22) Advice for overwhelmed CEOs: self-awareness, strategic delegation, and building a supportive team.
Knowing Yourself and the Power of Feedback (00:20:32) Doug discusses the importance of feedback, identifying blind spots, and building psychological safety for growth.
Building and Leveraging a Professional Network (00:23:22) The value of cultivating a trusted network, finding mentors, and being strategic about professional relationships.
Transferable Skills from Outside Business (00:27:15) Doug reflects on leadership lessons from coaching youth sports and the transferability of skills.
Creating a Thriving Business Environment (00:29:13) Key conditions for a thriving business: culture, clarity of purpose, and the leader’s influence on environment.
Vision, Values, and Culture by Design (00:32:08) Guidance on intentionally shaping company culture, making the right hires, and balancing perfectionism.
Confidence, Self-Belief, and the Iceberg Analogy (00:34:39) Doug addresses imposter syndrome, the...
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In this podcast episode, host Rob Lawrence interviews Doug Field, former CEO of the East of England Co-op, about leadership and business growth. Doug shares his accidental journey to becoming CEO, the importance of self-awareness, and strategies for developing leadership skills. With an emphasis on long-term thinking and embracing diverse perspectives, we talk about building supportive teams and fostering a strong company culture as the foundations to creating a successful and sustainable, and growing business. Doug offers practical advice for small business founders, including the value of feedback, effective delegation, and focusing on core business fundamentals like cash flow. Wrapping up this series, we are reminded of the continuous, adaptive nature of leadership and the importance of growing both yourself and your team. In this episode, you'll learn: Introduction and Doug’s Background (00:02:10) Doug introduces himself, shares his leadership mission, and outlines his career path to becoming CEO. Accidental CEO and Early Career Lessons (00:04:31) Doug discusses his accidental rise to CEO, early career moves, and lessons learned from interviews and transitions. Leadership Development for Small Business Owners (00:06:17) Rob and Doug explore the evolution from founder to leader, and practical first steps for developing leadership skills. Sharpening the Saw & Long-Term Thinking (00:07:14) Doug emphasises the importance of stepping back, thinking long-term, and investing time in strategic reflection. Market Changes and Planning for the Future (00:08:48) Discussion on adapting to market changes, planning for the future, and focusing on what stays the same. Adapting to Change and Core Business Principles (00:10:30) Doug explains the value of focusing on unchanging customer needs and adapting business models accordingly. Transitioning into Leadership & Mindset Shifts (00:12:09) Challenges of becoming an accidental CEO, the importance of saying yes, and broadening leadership perspective. Seeking Support and Embracing Diversity of Thought (00:14:04) Doug shares how he sought support, learned from others, and the impact of cognitive diversity on leadership. Managing Overwhelm and Delegation Strategies (00:17:22) Advice for overwhelmed CEOs: self-awareness, strategic delegation, and building a supportive team. Knowing Yourself and the Power of Feedback (00:20:32) Doug discusses the importance of feedback, identifying blind spots, and building psychological safety for growth. Building and Leveraging a Professional Network (00:23:22) The value of cultivating a trusted network, finding mentors, and being strategic about professional relationships. Transferable Skills from Outside Business (00:27:15) Doug reflects on leadership lessons from coaching youth sports and the transferability of skills. Creating a Thriving Business Environment (00:29:13) Key conditions for a thriving business: culture, clarity of purpose, and the leader’s influence on environment. Vision, Values, and Culture by Design (00:32:08) Guidance on intentionally shaping company culture, making the right hires, and balancing perfectionism. Confidence, Self-Belief, and the Iceberg Analogy (00:34:39) Doug addresses imposter syndrome, the...