FRP’s Off the Record: What leaders learn when things don’t go to plan

Decision making under pressure

At FRP’s first Off the Record – What Leaders Learn When Things Don’t Go to Plan event hosted by Restructuring Partner Phil Reynolds, we brought together clients and contacts for an evening of candid discussion on the realities of leadership beyond the success stories. The event created space for open reflection on the moments that test judgement, resilience and decision-making most sharply.

While business narratives often focus on growth, exits and milestones, the discussion deliberately examined what happens when plans falter or assumptions prove misplaced. Our guests heard from three entrepreneurs whose experiences highlighted the complexity of leadership under pressure, and the lessons that emerge when outcomes are uncertain or unfavourable.

Opening the conversation, serial food entrepreneur, John Stapleton shared insights from a career that includes building and exiting New Covent Garden Soup Co and Little Dish. Rather than revisiting well-documented successes, John focused on the attempted expansion of fresh soup into the US market – an experience that ultimately failed. He spoke openly about the emotional impact of that chapter, particularly the responsibility leaders feel towards investors, employees and partners when results do not materialise.

Lessons from failure

John reflected on how success can breed over-confidence, and the danger of assuming that a winning formula will translate seamlessly into new markets or contexts. Failure, he suggested, often forces leaders to scrutinise their own judgement more rigorously, encouraging greater discipline, humility and realism in subsequent decisions. His reflections resonated with many in the room who had experienced similar pressures in moments when optimism collides with operational reality.

Resilience through disruption

Yevheniia Lukash’s story brought a very different, but equally powerful perspective. Having founded Evgakids with just £200 and grown it into a business employing more than 200 people, she spoke about building a direct-to-consumer brand through social media, transparency and trust. However, her business journey was abruptly disrupted in 2022, when the Russian invasion of Ukraine resulted in the loss of both her company and her home.

Relocating to the UK as a refugee, Yevheniia discussed the challenge of starting again under extreme uncertainty. Her reflections centred on adaptability and the importance of making clear, decisive choices when circumstances allow little room for hesitation. She emphasised that leadership capability does not disappear when a business is lost, and that experience, resilience and judgement are transferable assets. Her talk highlighted the human dimension of leadership, and the reality that not all disruption is strategic or foreseeable.

Forces beyond control

Bringing the discussion to a close, Iain Sanderson reflected on his experience rescuing a niche British car manufacturer and leading the development of the Lightning GT, a pioneering all-electric grand tourer. The project attracted significant international attention and media interest but ultimately struggled to secure the funding and market support required to scale. Iain spoke candidly about being ahead of the market, the challenge of building credibility at pace, and the difficulty of sustaining ambitious ventures in environments not yet ready to support them.

His reflections highlighted the role of timing and external conditions in determining outcomes, even where vision and execution are strong. The discussion served as a reminder that leadership decisions

are often shaped by factors beyond an individual’s control, and that sound judgement does not always guarantee success.

The decisions that shape leaders

Across all three perspectives, a consistent theme emerged: leadership is not defined solely by outcomes, but by how decisions are made when certainty is limited and stakes are high. The evening reinforced the value of experience earned through adversity, and the importance of realism, reflection and perspective in navigating complexity.

For those in attendance, Off the Record offered a rare opportunity to step back from polished narratives and engage with the realities that shape leaders behind the scenes. By focusing on moments that do not go to plan, the discussion highlighted how setbacks play a critical role in developing judgement, resilience and long-term effectiveness – qualities that remain central to leadership in an increasingly uncertain business environment.