In this episode of Resource Revolution, the focus is on leadership through change – and what it takes to keep people pulling in the same direction when the path ahead is uncertain.
Host Christine Robinson is joined by Russ Girling, Head of Resourcing at S&W. Drawing on experience across both Big Four and mid-sized firms, as well as a background in the military, Russ shares a thoughtful perspective on what it takes to lead people through transformation, develop future leaders, and build teams that can adapt and thrive.
From embracing the reality that change is rarely linear to creating opportunities for growth beyond people's comfort zones, Russ's insights are practical, honest, and grounded in real-world experience. For anyone leading teams, navigating change, or looking to grow their impact as a leader, this conversation offers valuable lessons on pursuing excellence while keeping people moving in the same direction.
Tune in to the full conversation below or continue reading for Russ's leadership lessons.
“Growth happens outside your comfort zone.”
Change is a constant in professional services.
Few people have experienced it from as many angles as Russ Girling.
At a time when firms are navigating significant change, from AI and workforce transformation to private equity investment and evolving client expectations, Russ's perspective feels particularly relevant.
Before leading resourcing at S&W, he spent 16 years in the military, launched his own recruitment business, worked across both PwC and EY, and spent time in EY's Resource Centre of Excellence focusing on innovation and transformation.
Across each of those experiences, one lesson stands out: growth rarely comes from staying comfortable.
“Look at every opportunity as one to grow and develop. Put yourself outside your comfort zone because that's where you'll do your real deep learning.” - Russ Girling
Russ's own career reflects that philosophy. From the military to entrepreneurship, Big Four firms, and transformation leadership, many of his biggest opportunities came from stepping into unfamiliar territory.
Sometimes the most valuable opportunities are the ones you never expected to take.
“Change is never linear.”
Leading change has been a recurring theme throughout Russ's career.
From the military to Big Four firms, transformation roles, and now helping shape resource management at S&W, he has seen firsthand that change rarely unfolds the way leaders expect.
“Change is never linear. It's more like a heartbeat.” - Russ Girling
It's a simple analogy, but one that captures the reality many leaders experience. There are moments where progress feels rapid and momentum builds naturally. Then come the setbacks, resistance, competing priorities, and unexpected challenges that can make progress feel frustratingly slow.
For Russ, those moments aren't signs of failure. They're part of the process. In fact, he believes some of the biggest lessons come from those setbacks.
“Failure is often where we get our biggest growth. We learn what works and what doesn't work." - Russ Girling
Rather than waiting for perfect conditions or trying to eliminate every risk, Russ encourages leaders to learn, adapt, and keep momentum.
As Russ puts it:
“It's a marathon, not a sprint." - Russ Girling
“Leadership isn't about shouting louder.”
Russ's military background naturally leads to a discussion about leadership. And one of the most interesting moments comes when he challenges a common misconception.
He shares that leadership is less about demanding authority and more about demonstrating authenticity.
“Everybody seems to have this misconception about people leaving the military, that we're all autocratic, all we do is shout at people all day. That is absolutely not the case.” - Russ Girling
During the episode, Russ emphasizes the importance of adapting your communication style to different stakeholders, whether you're influencing senior leaders or supporting team members. You need to understand what drives people and tailor your approach:
Some leaders want data.
Others want context.
Some want a direct answer.
Others need a conversation.
For Russ, effective leadership means understanding the difference. It also means being willing to have difficult conversations when necessary.
“Build your leaders before you need them.”
Towards the end of the episode, Russ shifts the conversation to the future.
While many conversations about the future focus on technology, Russ believes firms should be paying equal attention to something else: developing the next generation of leaders.
“You need to think about building your leaders for tomorrow.” - Russ Girling
For Russ, leadership development shouldn't start when someone gets promoted.
It should start much earlier. By creating opportunities for people to grow. By helping them understand their own leadership style. And by encouraging them to step beyond what feels comfortable today.
It's a fitting conclusion to a conversation centered on growth, resilience, and leadership.
Because if there's one lesson that runs through Russ's story, it's that progress rarely follows a straight line.
The challenge isn't avoiding uncertainty or getting every decision right. It's having the resilience to keep moving forward, the courage to step outside your comfort zone, and the leadership to bring others along with you.
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