Episode 48 - Leadership, Parkinson’s, and an Extraordinary Adventure with Colonel (Retd) Guy Deacon CBE

Episode notes

In this episode, our host Lt Colonel Dean Canham OBE speaks with retired Army Colonel Guy Deacon CBE, a leader with a remarkable military career spanning over three decades. Commissioned into the Queen’s Dragoon Guards in 1985, Guy held numerous regimental and staff appointments across the globe, including commanding the Army Foundation College and supporting efforts to build the Afghan National Army. He has been awarded both an OBE and CBE in recognition of his contributions to the British Army and the international community. Throughout the episode, Guy shares his reflections on leadership, emphasising the importance of observing and learning from others on one's own leadership journey. He stresses the power of leading by example and highlights that leadership is a lifelong endeavour of continuous development. Guy underscores the importance of leading people well to maximise organisational effectiveness, pointing to his personal experiences as a commanding officer and senior staff officer. In a personal turn, Guy opens up about his battle with Parkinson’s disease, which he was diagnosed with over a decade ago.