As co-host of the hugely popular High Performance podcast Professor Damian Hughes questions global leaders every day.

Students from St Monica’s RC High in Prestwich, Greater Manchester, turned the tables on the bestselling author and change psychology expert when they interviewed him in front of an audience of their peers at a StateTalking event last month.

Damian later shared on LinkedIn “This week, I had the privilege of working with the brilliant team from StateTalking to speak with students about careers, possibilities, and the many paths life can take.

“We talked about ambition. About fear. About setbacks, reinventions, and how – despite social media’s attempts to persuade you otherwise – success is rarely a straight line.

“But most of all, we talked about belief and the importance of seeing someone who’s walked a path that might once have felt out of reach.

“Sometimes, all it takes is a conversation to open a door, a story to spark an idea and a visit to plant a seed.”

Timothy Myerson, a history teacher and head of year at the school attended the talk. He said: “It was a real pleasure.

“I’m in no doubt that the students took on board everything he said, especially the quote from Phil Neville. We hope to see Damian again soon.”

Would you like to find out about hosting free inspirational talks from relatable role models at your Greater Manchester school or college? Contact us at info@statetalking.org