People very rarely come to us with the actual problem.

They come because they're overwhelmed. They're drowning in admin. They need to be more productive. They need more confidence. They need to get out of the weeds.

But when we start digging, there's nearly always something else going on underneath.

In this episode of the WildEdge Podcast, Ant and I talk about the problem behind the problem, and why sometimes the most valuable thing we can do for a client is not give them what they're asking for.

We share the story of a tech co-founder who came to me with crippling imposter syndrome after returning to work and stepping into the MD role of a highly technical business. She didn't believe she had the credibility to lead the people around her.

We ended up working together for more than five years. She went from MD to CEO, grew the business from 16 people to more than 60, and eventually exited for a life-changing sum of money.

And every single time she reached for a new level, the imposter syndrome popped up again.

New level, new devil.

We also talk about the founder who thought he had a productivity problem when actually he needed to get out of delivery and start directing the business, and the CEO in the middle of a merger who thought they needed help getting through the admin, when really they were absolutely bricking themselves about whether they could lead the much bigger business that was emerging.

Different presenting problems. Same thing underneath.

There was a gap between the leader the business needed them to be and how they currently saw themselves.

Who This Is For

Founders, CEOs and business leaders who keep trying to solve the same problem and wondering why it keeps coming back.

Especially if your business has grown and you're struggling to let go of the stuff that used to make you feel valuable.

Because there comes a point where your value to the business isn't in doing the do anymore.

It's in stepping away, thinking strategically and steering the ship.

And that can be both incredibly empowering and absolutely terrifying.

What We Cover

💎 Why the problem you think you've got often isn't the real problem

💎 The identity shift that happens as you move from founder to CEO

💎 Why so many founders cling onto delivery for far longer than they should

💎 What imposter syndrome looks like when your business reaches a new level

💎 Why being more productive isn't always the answer to overwhelm

💎 The difference between giving clients the value they ask for and the value they actually need

💎 Why sometimes half an hour thinking strategically can be more valuable than a whole week of delivery

💎 Why we believe our best work happens when we're able to go deeper

🏔️ Peak of the Week: Meugher

This week Ant is taking us away from the busy Yorkshire Dales honeypots to Meugher, a very unassuming little bump on the horizon in one of the most remote parts of England.

You start from How Stean Gorge and head out towards the watershed between Nidderdale and Wharfedale. It's properly remote, absolutely beautiful and there are, of course, a few waterfalls and dipping spots along the way.

🧭 Claire's Coaching Corner

A slight last-minute change this week because the woods decided to provide us with trains, alarms, dog walkers and pretty much every other distraction possible while we were recording.

So I take you through a short centering exercise to block out some of the noise and come back to what you know to be true.

What do you really want to do today?

What have you said yes to that really you don't want to?

What do you need to give yourself permission to do?

What do you need to give yourself permission to stop?

What are you really proud of?

Because all you have as a leader, founder or CEO is a choice about where to spend your energy.

And sometimes you don't need another quick fix.

You need somebody to help you see what's actually going on underneath.

What nearly failing my open water lifeguard qualification taught me about impostor syndrome, asking for help and the pressure we put on ourselves as business owners to prove we can do everything alone.

Founders are told to seize every opportunity. But what happens when the biggest opportunity comes at the expense of the people you love most?

In this episode of the WildEdge Podcast, Claire and Ant Ackers explore one of the hardest leadership decisions every business owner faces: choosing between business growth and being present for life's moments that matter. Through the story of turning down a high-profile speaking opportunity to be there for their daughter's prom, they unpack values-led leadership, decision making, founder burnout, work-life balance, and why building an aligned business means having the courage to say no.

If you're a founder, CEO, business owner or accidental CEO who wants to grow your business without losing yourself in the process, this episode will challenge how you think about success and remind you why you started in the first place.

What happens when you've built a successful business… but it no longer feels like yours?

In this episode of the WildEdge Podcast, Claire and Anthony Ackers explore what it means to become an accidental CEO, why so many founders lose themselves as their businesses grow, and the courage it takes to redefine success on your own terms. If you're a business owner questioning whether your company still reflects your values, this conversation offers an honest perspective on authentic leadership, aligned business growth and building a business you genuinely want to lead.

Summer is supposed to be a season of abundance.

A chance to enjoy the seeds you've spent the rest of the year sowing.

But for so many founders and business leaders, it becomes a season of survival. School holidays, childcare, holidays, juggling clients, trying to keep the business moving whilst desperately wanting to slow down.

WildEdge Worx CEO Claire Ackers shares a simple coaching framework to help you intentionally design your summer, so you can enjoy the next eight weeks without sleepwalking into September.

If you are running a business right now and it feels harder than it should, it is tempting to look for the next strategy to fix it. The truth is there is no magic bullet, and your next level comes from how you are leading yourself, not what is happening in the market.

A raw conversation about the messy middle of business, where founders feel stretched between work and family, stuck in delivery, and struggling to think clearly. This episode explores why energy, focus, and environment matter more than time when it comes to making better decisions and moving a business forward.

Let’s slow down to speed up

We recorded this episode walking by the River Aire on one of the first properly sunny days of the year.

After a long winter of just getting on with it, it felt like something was starting to shift.

And that is exactly what we are seeing with founders and leaders right now.

Not a lack of ideas. Not a lack of strategy.

But overload.

The pace of business is accelerating. AI is speeding everything up. Decisions are stacking up faster than most people can process them. And instead of creating ease, it is creating pressure.

This is why time and space to think is no longer a luxury. It is essential.

In this episode, we talk about what it really feels like to be leading in this environment. The mental load. The constant decision-making. The sense that your business might be starting to outpace you.

We also talk about the founders we work best with. The ones who did not set out to be CEOs, but find themselves leading something that matters. The ones who are values-led, purpose-driven, and quietly questioning whether they are showing up as the leader their business needs.

And we explain what we actually do at WildEdge Worx.

It is not about going for a nice walk.

It is about creating the conditions for clear thinking, honest conversation, and better decisions.

Because you do not need more input.

You need space to think.

6am in the woods recording a podcast.

If you’ve ever wondered what the Rewilding retreats are actually about, this episode is for you.

Over the past four years we’ve watched something incredible happen on these retreats.

Founders arrive carrying the weight of business.

The pressure.
The decisions.
The constant noise.

Then a few days walking, talking, swimming and thinking in wild places changes something.

Clarity returns.

In this episode we talk honestly about what we’ve seen on the retreats and why the time feels right to introduce something new.

The first WildEdge men’s Rewilding retreat, led by Ant.

If the retreats have ever sparked your curiosity, don’t miss this episode.

🎧 Live now.

In this episode, we share the real story behind WildEdge Worx and how it came to life.

This is not the polished origin story told from a safe distance. It is an honest account of building something new while standing firmly in the middle of it.

Recorded outdoors and in motion, this conversation traces the Lake District dream that has been shaping our decisions for more than a decade.