Bradley Jones has been Executive Director of the Joint Secretariat of the UAE – UK Business Council since it was launched in September 2020. The Joint Secretariat serves the interests of both UAE and UK members and stakeholders, under the Chairmanship of HE Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh, Minister of State for the UAE Government, and Lord Udny-Lister.

Bradley a Former British Diplomat, who served in the Foreign Office as Director of Trade and Investment at the British Embassies in Bangkok and Seoul, has asserted that transformation is not about rigid plans; it’s about adapting, learning, and iterating as new information emerges for an organisation to succeed.

Bradley Jones, who spoke in an interview session on the website of TEXEM UK, announced that he would be a faculty member at the TEXEM live virtual session on “Resilience in a Volatile World: Inspiring Transformation Successfully” from 8th to 22nd February 2025.

Jones also elaborated more on excerpts that would lead to lively discussions and peer to peer learning during the coming programme.

“Here are highlights on some of the topics I will be exploring in TEXEM’s upcoming programme”.

What are the key elements of empowering teams to drive successful organisational transformation?

Empowerment is more than delegation—it’s about providing clarity, building trust, and ensuring alignment with organisational goals. Successful leaders set a clear vision while giving their teams the autonomy to determine cost-effective and innovative ways to achieve it.

A prime example is a Nigerian fintech company that faced a severe talent exodus due to the “Japa” wave. Instead of tightening control, the CEO empowered mid-level managers with decision-making authority, introduced performance-based incentives, and fostered internal career growth. The result? Improved retention, increased innovation, and accelerated execution.

At TEXEM, we equip leaders with the tools to nurture high-performing teams, even in uncertain environments, ensuring that empowerment leads to transformation—not chaos.

How can leaders balance empowerment with maintaining control and oversight?

While employees appreciate autonomy, they also respect leaders who make informed, decisive choices. The key is to create a structured system of autonomy, where teams have the freedom to act but remain aligned with the organisation’s objectives.

A great example is GTBank’s digital transformation. Leadership trusted teams to innovate but maintained oversight through regular strategic reviews, ensuring alignment with the company’s broader goals. This model fosters accountability without stifling creativity.

At TEXEM, we train leaders to find the right balance between delegation and control, ensuring that empowerment does not lead to fragmentation but to increased efficiency and innovation.

What role does trust play in empowering teams, and how can it be cultivated?

Trust is the foundation of empowerment. Without it, employees hesitate to take initiative, fearing blame or failure. Companies that succeed in uncertain times are those that invest in their teams, communicate transparently, and foster a culture of innovation and accountability.

Safaricom’s development of M-Pesa, Africa’s most successful mobile money solution, is a case in point. Leadership cultivated a culture where employees were given the freedom to experiment, take risks, and learn from failure. This created a highly motivated workforce that revolutionised financial inclusion across Africa.

At TEXEM, we help leaders build cultures where trust and high performance go hand in hand, ensuring that employees feel confident, competent, and committed to organisational success.

Overcoming Common Leadership Pitfalls

What are the common pitfalls leaders face when trying to inspire transformation, and how can they be avoided?

Transformation efforts often fail due to inauthenticity, lack of clarity, or resistance to change. Employees quickly see through leaders who do not fully believe in their own vision. Poor communication makes things worse—if a transformation programme is about cost-cutting, it’s best to be transparent rather than hiding behind vague corporate jargon.

The downfall of Nokia was not due to a lack of technology but a failure in leadership to embrace change. On the other hand, Netflix pivoted from DVDs to streaming because leadership anticipated market shifts and moved before they were forced to.

TEXEM’s methodology ensures that leaders develop not just the vision but the execution discipline to drive transformation successfully, avoiding the common pitfalls that derail even the most promising initiatives.

What advice would you give to leaders who are just starting their journey in transforming their organisations?

The most successful leaders start by listening—to employees, market trends, and industry peers. Transformation is not about rigid plans; it’s about adapting, learning, and iterating as new information emerges.

The best organisations, like Amazon, continuously test and refine their strategies before making large-scale changes. Leaders who engage stakeholders early—employees, clients, investors—build credibility and secure long-term buy-in.

At TEXEM, we equip leaders with the mindset and tools to lead transformation with confidence, agility, and measurable impact.

Why should participants attend the forthcoming TEXEM programme?

TEXEM’s executive development programme is not just another leadership course—it is a transformational experience designed for leaders who want to thrive in volatile environments.

With expert faculty drawn from industry, academia, and policy-making, participants gain practical insights from diverse global and African perspectives. Our interactive learning approach—including real-world case studies, simulations, and peer discussions—ensures that every leader leaves with tangible strategies to navigate uncertainty, retain top talent, and drive sustainable growth.

In today’s fast-changing world, investing in leadership development is not just an option—it is a necessity. TEXEM’s programmes provide the strategic tools, networks, and confidence to lead with vision and impact. Those who attend don’t just learn—they leave with a clear action plan for accelerating their leadership success.

Join us and take your leadership journey to the next level. Because in uncertain times, the leaders who invest in themselves are the ones who shape the future.

For more information, please contact TEXEM at +447983128450 or email [email protected] or register at https://texem.co.uk/resilience-in-a-volatile-world-inspiring-transformation-successfully/

Ambassador Charles Crawford and Dr. T. B. (Mac) McClelland, Jr., a global advisor and former US Marine are two other faculties that would help deliver the live sessions of the programme. The programme would entail one hour of flexible self-paced study daily, complemented by immersive four-hour live virtual sessions every Saturday for three weeks