Paul Dawson on Little Moves, Big Careers: Lessons in Leadership and Growth

Agena Group CEO, Paul Dawson, recently joined Caroline Esterson on the Little Moves, Big Careers podcast, where he shared a candid and inspiring account of his career journey. Across two episodes, Paul explored the experiences that shaped his path – from modest beginnings to leading national programmes and now steering Agena Group’s growth and vision.

Early Lessons and Career Foundations

Paul spoke openly about his early years, including the challenges of school, and how an unexpected opportunity to pursue an engineering apprenticeship became a turning point. These formative experiences instilled in him the value of self-awareness, curiosity, and perseverance – qualities that would go on to define his leadership style.

He highlighted key lessons such as:

• The importance of recognising and overcoming prejudice and self-doubt

• Why personal boundaries are essential for wellbeing

• The impact of mentoring and the power of curiosity in shaping a career

As Paul reflected:

“The greatest privilege of every role I’ve ever had is helping other people realise their potential.”

Navigating Setbacks and Leading at Scale

In the second part of the series, Paul discussed his transition into telecoms and his role in leading major national programmes. He was open about the reality of navigating setbacks and redundancy, and how those challenges ultimately built resilience and perspective.

Key insights from this stage of his career included:

• Learning from high-profile public sector contracts

• Understanding why culture and people matter most in leadership

• The value of stepping outside your comfort zone to achieve growth

Shaping the Future of Agena Group

Paul’s story offers a unique window into the mindset behind Agena Group’s leadership. His reflections on resilience, culture, and potential mirror the values that continue to drive our business forward.

Both episodes of Little Moves, Big Careers provide not only a personal account of Paul’s journey, but also valuable lessons for anyone seeking to grow, adapt, and lead in today’s fast-changing world.

👉 Listen to Part One of Paul Dawson on Little Moves, Big Careers here.

👉 Listen to Part Two of Paul Dawson on Little Moves, Big Careers here.