340: Conscious Leadership in Action

What does it take to lead with both empathy and impact in today’s fast-moving retail environment? In this episode, we’re joined by Tracey Clements—an experienced and values-driven leader who has held senior roles at Tesco, One Stop, Boots, and BP, and who also wrote the foreword to Oliver’s book, Driving Retail Transformation. Listen as Tracey explores the concept of conscious leadership – what it means, why it matters, and how to bring it to life under real-world pressure. From balancing personal values with corporate culture, to developing “empathy with edge,” Tracey shares a thoughtful, practical perspective on leadership that’s grounded in both self-awareness and commercial acumen.

Listen to this episode to discover:

• What it means to lead consciously – and how to stay true to your values in high-pressure environments.
• Why empathy is a critical transformation skill and how to apply it to communication, conflict, and change.
• The concept of “empathy with edge” – how to balance compassion with clarity and challenge.
• How to evolve your leadership style over time through reflection, feedback, and influence.

Introducing Tracey Clements

Tracey Clements is a seasoned retail executive whose track record blends operational excellence with values-driven leadership. Over nearly two decades at Tesco, she rose to become Managing Director for Tesco Express and CEO for One Stop Stores, significantly boosting convenience market share and customer experience. She then served as Chief Operating Officer at Boots UK & Ireland, leading the business through the pandemic, and most recently as Senior Vice President / CEO of BP’s mobility and convenience operations. It was recently announced that she’ll be taking on the role of Chief Retail, Logistics and Supply Chain Officer at Sainsbury’s.

Known for her deep empathy, laser focus on empowering people, and commitment to ethical leadership, Tracey is also an ambassador for the Retail Trust and an active advocate for neurodiversity, serving on the committee of the National Autistic Society. Her blend of strategic acumen, care for people, and clarity under pressure makes her a standout example of conscious leadership in action.

Find Tracey Clements on LinkedIn.

Key takeaways from the episode

In this conversation with Tracey Clements, we explore what it means to lead with both empathy and edge. From the role of self-awareness in conscious leadership to the power of purpose, Tracey shares practical lessons and personal reflections from her career leading at Tesco, Boots, and BP. Here are some of the key highlights from our discussion.

Conscious leadership requires self-awareness

Conscious leadership starts with looking inward. Tracey explained how staying attuned to your own behaviours, strengths, and blind spots helps leaders show up authentically and create trust with their teams.

“Conscious leadership for me is possible if you’re really self-aware.”

Empathy with edge – balancing care and challenge

Empathy isn’t about being ‘soft.’ Tracey highlighted how empathy with edge allows leaders to connect with people while also challenging them to grow, ensuring performance and care go hand-in-hand.

“To truly use empathy with edge in a leadership context, you’re trying to help people develop their skillset.”

Feedback works best when it’s constructive and timely

Delivering feedback in the moment, with honesty and clarity, creates the greatest opportunities for learning. Tracey contrasted this with traditional approaches that often left people with only frustration rather than insight.

“If you just create disappointment, people rarely go away and think about what they could have done differently.”

Managing your ‘mind talk’ unlocks stronger leadership

Internal dialogue can undermine leaders if left unchecked. Mind talk was a concept adopted by Tracey and Oliver during their time working at Tesco.  Tracey shared how she challenges her own inner narratives, using simple techniques like asking whether a worry is true, false, or unknown, to stay calm and effective.

“What’s the worst that can happen? It’s one of my slogans.”

Purpose anchors authentic leadership

Leadership is more than financial results—it’s about responsibility, accountability, and building your own leadership brand. Tracey reflected on how having a strong sense of purpose provides a foundation for sustainable, values-driven leadership.

“A big part of conscious leadership is responsibility and accountability.”