{"podcast":{"title":"The Whole Truth: Leadership Stories with Sarah Perugia","slug":"the-whole-truth-leadership-stories-with-sarah-perugia-7098484","podcast_index_feed_id":7098484,"rss_url":"https://feeds.captivate.fm/leadership-stories-sarah-perugia/","website_url":"https://www.sarahperugia.com/","image_url":"https://artwork.captivate.fm/9d32afd0-1fc2-44b0-a34f-64ab15188d14/PqFTcvGnq9VNYCsHEy-C91BJ.png","author":"Sarah Perugia","episode_count":20,"summary":"Welcome to Leadership Stories with Sarah Perugia, where each week, the show dives into unscripted, candid conversations with female leaders who share their stories, learnings, and wisdom to empower and inspire others on their leadership journeys. This first series, Women on a Mission, highlights women in leadership who are dedicated to creating change within their organisations and beyond. Through the power of storytelling, this podcast reminds us of the strength we gain from hearing the real-life experiences of others – leaving you feeling energised and reassured you are not alone in the challenges you face. Hosted by Sarah Perugia, an expert women-in-leadership coach, whole-person leadership transformation specialist, and captivating speaker, this podcast will help you build confidence, empower you to take action and discover joy in your leadership journey. If you’re looking for inspiration, practical advice, and stories that resonate, this podcast is for you. www.sarahperugia.com","last_synced_at":null,"page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-whole-truth-leadership-stories-with-sarah-perugia-7098484"},"episode":{"title":"#13 - Cassie Hugill: Breaking barriers and trusting your gut in leadership","slug":"13-cassie-hugill-breaking-barriers-and-trusting-your-gut-in-leadership","published_at":"2026-04-07T08:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-whole-truth-leadership-stories-with-sarah-perugia-7098484/13-cassie-hugill-breaking-barriers-and-trusting-your-gut-in-leadership","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-whole-truth-leadership-stories-with-sarah-perugia-7098484","url":"https://www.sarahperugia.com/","audio_url":"https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/e1c87a7e-1418-48a6-90c9-820630eadb78.mp3","summary":"Cassie Hugill is the CEO of the Martingale Foundation, an organisation dedicated to breaking down barriers to postgraduate study for talented students, no matter their background. With a career she describes as “squiggly,” Cassie’s journey has taken her from a small country town in Australia to a senior leadership role at UCL, and now to leading a foundation making a real difference in the UK research sector. In this episode, Cassie shares her insights on navigating leadership as a relatively young female CEO, the delicate balance between ambition and perception, and why trusting your gut is often the best guide. She also unpacks the concept of the “hidden curriculum” in education, offers her philosophy on failing forward, and reflects on how unconventional career paths can lead to extraordinary impact. In this episode, we talk about: 00:00 – Introduction to Cassie and the Martingale Foundation 00:46 – Becoming a young CEO on a non-linear path 02:28 – Stepping into leadership and finding her voice 04:50 – Purpose, background, and a love of research 08:10 – Creating Into Research and the path to Martingale 12:29 – Martingale’s impact and future growth 14:52 – Comparing the UK and Australian education systems 18:38 – Embracing a squiggly career path 21:40 – Saying yes and learning from unusual roles 25:55 – Redefining failure and leading with confidence 26:31 – Bias, being “too much,” and owning the CEO role 29:33 – Advice to her younger self: ambition without burnout Cassie’s story is a brilliant reminder that leadership doesn’t have to follow a straight path. If you’ve ever felt like you don't fit the traditional mould, or want to embrace your own unique journey, this conversation is full of practical wisdom, inspiration, and encouragement to lead with confidence and a…","meta_description":"Cassie Hugill is the CEO of the Martingale Foundation, an organisation dedicated to breaking down barriers to postgraduate study for talented students, no…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":2129,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-whole-truth-leadership-stories-with-sarah-perugia-7098484/episodes/13-cassie-hugill-breaking-barriers-and-trusting-your-gut-in-leadership/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-whole-truth-leadership-stories-with-sarah-perugia-7098484/13-cassie-hugill-breaking-barriers-and-trusting-your-gut-in-leadership.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}