Jason Leitch on Leadership, Public Trust & Fixing the Hoover

In this powerful and personal episode, Professor Jason Leitch – former National Clinical Director of the Scottish Government – joins Dr. Nish Manek for an honest, insightful conversation on what it truly means to lead through crisis.

From storytelling and the imposter syndrome to the pressure of daily COVID briefings, Jason reflects on his remarkable career and the lessons that still resonate today.

Whether you're a healthcare leader, or simply curious about the human side of leadership – this one’s for you.

04:30 – Growing up in a working-class household: family, faith & humble roots

08:00 – The early influences that shaped Jason’s values and work ethic

09:30 – Being headhunted into government – and why he left surgery

10:30 – The fellowship at Harvard & IHI that changed everything

13:45 – Systems thinking, safety, and why fixing one jaw wasn’t enough

17:00 – Creating the Scottish Patient Safety Programme – and saving lives

20:00 – “Where are the clever people?” – the moment Jason realised he was in the room

23:00 – What most people misunderstand about civil servants and politicians

27:30 – Imposter syndrome in senior roles — and how to work with it

30:00 – From dentist to national spokesperson: leading communication during COVID

32:00 – Behind the scenes of daily press briefings with Nicola Sturgeon

36:00 – The Grinch moment: “I cancelled Christmas in October”

38:00 – Social media abuse, threats — and how he stayed grounded

42:00 – Running, audiobooks, and the daily 5K: mental health strategies

46:00 – Why being wrong publicly was part of the job

48:00 – The monkey and the golf ball: Jason’s dad and the story that stuck

51:00 – Full circle: why “fixing the Hoover” might be all the leadership advice you need

53:00 – Biggest career mistake? Waiting too long to step beyond dentistry

54:00 – Final reflections: don’t over-design your career. Build relationships. Fix the Hoover.

• Catch up with Episode 25 with Don Berwick, Jason's role model and mentor
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