As part of his Leadership in Focus series, leadership expert Freddie Guilmard speaks with Kerry Lewis-Stevenson about leading change, culture, and courage in a fast-evolving media landscape.
Kerry has spent the last 18 months steering one of the region’s most established publishing houses through a bold digital transformation — shifting from print to a fully digital-first model while keeping community, connection, and trust at its heart.
“This isn’t just a media transformation,” she says. “It’s a leadership one.”
The single biggest leadership challenge right now
Leading through transition — not just changing what we do, but how we think. Moving from print to digital meant reshaping workflows, retraining skills, and redefining value for advertisers, readers, and event partners. The hardest part has been giving the team confidence amid relentless change. My role has been to provide clarity and reassurance while keeping our collaborative spirit alive.
How external shifts have reshaped how I lead
Economic uncertainty and the rapid rise of AI have made me a more transparent and experimental leader. I’ve had to encourage curiosity and adaptability — qualities that now feel essential. AI, in particular, is both a challenge and an opportunity. I even completed formal AI-for-marketing training so we can use it to enhance creativity, not replace it. At the same time, leaders are expected to show not just results but responsibility — empathy, communication and ethics are now non-negotiable.
Something I’ve had to unlearn
That being busy doesn’t equals to being effective. In publishing and events, pace is constant, but I’ve realised that real progress comes from creating thinking space — for myself and the team. I measure success less by volume and more by impact. I’ve also had to unlearn the instinct to do everything myself. True leadership is about trust and collaboration, not control.
Balancing performance with wellbeing
We treat wellbeing as part of performance, not a separate topic. I encourage the team to get out, meet clients, and reconnect with our communities. Those real-world interactions boost morale and creativity. Hybrid work can blur boundaries, so I try to model balance — switching off properly and being open when I’m taking time out. People perform best when they feel trusted, not monitored.
Conversations I’m having more of now
Purpose, adaptability, and data. The question is no longer “How do we fill pages?” but “How do we create measurable engagement and community impact?” I’m also talking more with other leaders about collaboration over competition. When credible local organisations work together, the entire business ecosystem benefits.
The kind of leader Pulse Group Media will need next
Our future leadership will be about building ecosystems, not empires — connecting people, platforms, and opportunities. We’ll need leaders who are agile, data-literate, and people-first, able to balance commercial growth with community purpose. I’m focused on developing that next generation now and surrounding myself with people who challenge my thinking.
Quick Fire with Kerry
A leadership quote: “Culture eats strategy for breakfast.” – Peter Drucker. It reminds me that how we work together determines everything.
A mistake that taught me something: Waiting too long to make a change because it felt uncomfortable. Clarity and courage beat comfort every time.
Advice for new leaders: Lead with curiosity, not certainty. The world’s changing too fast for anyone to have all the answers — but people will follow you if they trust your intent.
Share this post: