S4 E09 Ken Wright former Royal Mail COO: Lessons from leading 130,000 employees and a £5 billion budget

In our second conversation with Ken Wright, former Chief Operating Officer of Royal Mail, we explore the timeless leadership principles that shaped both his remarkable career and his walk with Christ.

In our first conversation, Ken shared how God led him from a teenage conversion to one of the most senior leadership roles in the UK, with responsiblity for 130,000 employees and a £5 billion budget. (You can watch that here)

In this episode, Ken reflects on the lessons he learned along the way—from leading through change and crisis to developing people, making difficult decisions, and discovering why “the greatest leaders are servants first”.

Drawing on memorable stories from his years at Royal Mail, Ken explains why “people support what they help create,” why leaders must communicate the “why” behind every decision, and why “facts are your friends—but intuition still has its place”. He also shares memorable stories about an executive parking space that became an award for the “Employee of the Month”, the postcard that kept hostage Terry Waite alive, and the difficult decision to dismiss an employee while still offering him hope for a better future.

Inspired by the words of Jesus and Martin Luther King Jr., this conversation challenges the world’s view of leadership. As Ken reminds us, “Everybody can be great because anybody can serve.” Whether you lead a business, a church, a charity, a team, or simply want to have a greater influence on those around you, this conversation is full of practical wisdom, profound insights, and leadership lessons forged over a lifetime.

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