Sometimes It's Just About Being Happy - Leslie Hughes

In this episode, we sit down with Leslie Hughes to explore the deeply personal story behind Renegade, a mindset and personal development programme created to help people overcome adversity, unlock potential and build their own version of success. Leslie speaks openly about her own journey, including a fractured family background, abuse and the difficult decisions she faced as a young mother. At one point, she considered adoption for her son because of the circumstances around the other parent, but ultimately chose to raise him herself. That decision became a defining moment in her life, giving her the determination to break the cycle she had experienced and create a better future for both herself and her child. Now, with her son aged 21 and their relationship stronger than ever, Leslie reflects on the choices, resilience and mindset that helped shape their lives. Her story is not only about survival, but about growth, responsibility and the power of deciding that your past does not have to define your future. The conversation then moves into the philosophy behind Renegade. Leslie explains that success looks different for everyone. For some people, it might mean building a business. For others, it might mean feeling happier at home, finding confidence at work, improving relationships or simply becoming more comfortable in their own skin. At the heart of the programme is the belief that lasting change begins in the mind. Renegade offers support through one to one conversations, social media engagement, 90 minute sessions and ongoing development for both individuals and businesses. Rather than delivering a single motivational talk and walking away, Leslie focuses on continued support, tailored guidance and helping people understand what actually works for them. We also discuss the importance of mental health and wellbeing inside the workplace. Leslie challenges the idea that giving employees a phone number to call is enough. True support, she argues, comes from engagement, conversation, leadership and creating environments where people feel seen, heard and understood. A key part of the episode focuses on communication, relationships and leadership. Drawing on ideas such as Elias Porter’s theory around motivation and conflict, Leslie explains how understanding the way people communicate can prevent misunderstandings, improve team relationships and create healthier workplaces. She also talks about why teams respond so strongly to authenticity, honesty and leaders who are willing to be real with the people around them. This is a powerful episode for anyone interested in mindset, resilience, personal development, workplace wellbeing, leadership, communication, team culture, overcoming adversity or building confidence after difficult life experiences. Chapters 00:00 Leslie’s personal journey and the decision that changed her life 02:40 Breaking the cycle after a difficult upbringing 09:07 Leslie’s relationship with her son and the life they built 11:14 Why success looks different for every person 13:29 The purpose behind the Renegade programme 14:20 Supporting individuals and businesses through mindset development 19:52 Creating real change for people at work and at home 20:39 Why workplace wellbeing needs more than a phone number 23:29 Communication, motivation and understanding conflict 28:13 Why authenticity matters in leadership 28:37 Tailored support, client goals and ongoing progress 30:00 Helping people become more invested inside their own businesses Check out our website and apply to be a guest speaker: https://business-growth-show.com Audio Only - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast... Thank you for watching. Please like, comment and subscribe for more conversations with founders, leaders and people using their personal stories to create meaningful change for others. #LeslieHughes #RenegadeProgramme #MindsetDevelopment #PersonalDevelopment #WorkplaceWellbeing #Leadership #OvercomingAdversity #MentalHealthAtWork #BusinessPodcast #Resilience #TeamCulture #AuthenticLeadership #PersonalGrowth