Winston Churchill: How to use dynamism to beat the odds

In the second episode of History's Greatest Leaders, entrepreneur and author Mike Soutar and historian and TV producer Taylor Downing discuss the leadership style of wartime PM Winston Churchill

Published: July 27, 2026 at 3:42 PM

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Britain's Second World War prime minister was an inspiring visionary who's often credited with saving western democracy through sheer force of will. Yet Churchill is also a man whose dogged determination, and uncompromising leadership style, could lead to tension and conflict.

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In this episode, historian, author and TV producer Taylor Downing – whose books include The Army that Never Was: D-Day and the Great Deception – tells Mike Soutar about the pros and cons of Churchill's high-intensity approach to management, and considers whether his leadership skills would stand up today's boardroom.

Watch below or listen to the full interview, ad-free:

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For more on the life and legacy of Winston Churchill, don’t miss our curated collection of articles, podcasts and videos

Authors

Mike SoutarEntrepreneur and author

Mike Soutar is an entrepreneur and author of Next Gen CEO, and advisor on BBC One’s The Apprentice

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