Jonathan Bowman-Perks: ON Leading Calmly Through Chaos
Wed Jan 07 2026
This week on The Merri-Cast, I’m kicking off 2026 with an inspiring and forward-looking conversation with Jonathan Bowman-Perks MBE – leadership coach, former British Army Officer, author and host of the Inspiring Leadership podcast.
Jonathan’s career spans 20 years in the British Army, senior roles at PwC, IBM and Penna, and decades working with CEOs and leadership teams at the very top of global organisations.
In this episode, we explore Jonathan’s journey – from early lessons in humility and resilience to commanding under pressure, navigating major career transitions and ultimately finding his purpose as a coach, author and podcaster.
In this thought-provoking episode, Jonathan shares:
⚡ Why leadership in 2026 will demand adaptability, emotional intelligence and the ability to let go.
🎖️ How his time in the British Army shaped his leadership philosophy
🧭 Why great leaders don’t pretend to have all the answers
🚪 How career setbacks, restructures and closed doors pushed him towards entrepreneurship
📚 The story behind “The CEO’s Compass” and how leaders can navigate teams through turbulent times
Jonathan also reflects on his MBE, the mentors who shaped him and why inspiring leadership has never been more important in an age of uncertainty, AI disruption and global change.
Jonathan Bowman-Perks MBE:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanperks/
Website: https://jonathanperks.com/
Inspiring Leadership podcast: https://jonathanperks.com/podcasts/
Trevor:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trevormerriden/
Merriborn: https://merriborn.co.uk/
Email: trevor.merriden@merribornmedia.co.uk
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This week on The Merri-Cast, I’m kicking off 2026 with an inspiring and forward-looking conversation with Jonathan Bowman-Perks MBE – leadership coach, former British Army Officer, author and host of the Inspiring Leadership podcast. Jonathan’s career spans 20 years in the British Army, senior roles at PwC, IBM and Penna, and decades working with CEOs and leadership teams at the very top of global organisations. In this episode, we explore Jonathan’s journey – from early lessons in humility and resilience to commanding under pressure, navigating major career transitions and ultimately finding his purpose as a coach, author and podcaster. In this thought-provoking episode, Jonathan shares: ⚡ Why leadership in 2026 will demand adaptability, emotional intelligence and the ability to let go. 🎖️ How his time in the British Army shaped his leadership philosophy 🧭 Why great leaders don’t pretend to have all the answers 🚪 How career setbacks, restructures and closed doors pushed him towards entrepreneurship 📚 The story behind “The CEO’s Compass” and how leaders can navigate teams through turbulent times Jonathan also reflects on his MBE, the mentors who shaped him and why inspiring leadership has never been more important in an age of uncertainty, AI disruption and global change. Jonathan Bowman-Perks MBE: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanperks/ Website: https://jonathanperks.com/ Inspiring Leadership podcast: https://jonathanperks.com/podcasts/ Trevor: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trevormerriden/ Merriborn: https://merriborn.co.uk/ Email: trevor.merriden@merribornmedia.co.uk