With over two decades of leadership experience, Adrian blends strategic growth expertise with a deep passion for developing people. He’s a certified executive coach, Mental Health First Aider, musician, and dedicated family man—and he brings all of that depth and heart to this conversation.
In this special collaborative episode of Leadership at the Edge, host Rebecca Martin, our Director of Events & Engagement, sits down with Adrian Goddard, Commercial Director at the Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals (CIPP) and a standout voice in modern leadership.
Bringing together two powerhouse communities - The Institute of Leadership and the CIPP network - this episode explores how leadership is evolving across the payroll, pensions, and reward sectors. From global team building to mental health advocacy, Adrian shares hard-won lessons, practical tools, and the personal values that guide his leadership journey.
🎧 In this episode, you’ll discover:
- What shaped Adrian’s rise to leadership in the payroll profession
- The most vital leadership traits for today’s evolving workforce
- How coaching, mental health awareness, and well-being are reshaping leadership
- Strategies for empowering teams and navigating high-performance environments
- A behind-the-scenes look at Payroll Live (CIPP’s flagship July event)
Plus, don’t miss Adrian’s rapid-fire round - encompassing his favourite leadership reads to the one principle he never leads without.
Adrian Goddard
Commercial Director
Rebecca Martin
Commercial Director
Rebecca is passionate about leadership because she's seen the difference it makes - both good and bad. Most of us have experienced poor leadership at some point, and we know how deeply that can affect confidence, culture and performance. It’s often said that people don’t leave organisations, they leave poor leaders - and that belief has stayed with her throughout her career.
As Commercial Director at The Institute of Leadership, Rebecca works in partnership with organisations to help them build strong, healthy leadership cultures. She focuses on providing leadership support that makes a genuine difference - to individuals, to teams and ultimately to organisational results.
For Rebecca, it’s about helping people be the best leaders they can be, with confidence, clarity and purpose. Because we are a charity, the work she does also ensures our charitable objectives can continue to flourish - extending our reach, advancing the science and practice of leadership, and enabling more leaders and organisations to thrive.
Adrian Goddard
Commercial Director
With over two decades of leadership experience, Adrian blends strategic growth expertise with a deep passion for developing people. He’s a certified executive coach, Mental Health First Aider, musician, and dedicated family man—and he brings all of that depth and heart to this conversation.
Rebecca Martin
Commercial Director
Rebecca is passionate about leadership because she's seen the difference it makes - both good and bad. Most of us have experienced poor leadership at some point, and we know how deeply that can affect confidence, culture and performance. It’s often said that people don’t leave organisations, they leave poor leaders - and that belief has stayed with her throughout her career.
As Commercial Director at The Institute of Leadership, Rebecca works in partnership with organisations to help them build strong, healthy leadership cultures. She focuses on providing leadership support that makes a genuine difference - to individuals, to teams and ultimately to organisational results.
For Rebecca, it’s about helping people be the best leaders they can be, with confidence, clarity and purpose. Because we are a charity, the work she does also ensures our charitable objectives can continue to flourish - extending our reach, advancing the science and practice of leadership, and enabling more leaders and organisations to thrive.