Scaling Huel and Mental Health in Leadership: A Candid Conversation with James Collier, Co-Founder of Huel

The Leader's Kitbag

In part two of our conversation, we shift gears from nutrition to the leadership journey behind Huel’s explosive growth — and the personal toll that comes with building something big.

As someone who coaches leaders through the challenges of scale, I’ve long believed that mental fitness is as critical as strategy.

James’ openness about his own struggles, recovery, and mindset shifts is a powerful reminder that leadership isn’t just about driving performance… it’s also about sustaining yourself.

In this episode, we explore:

• How Huel scaled with pace, purpose and resilience
• James’ personal mental health journey — and how he supports others at Huel
• The fine balance between stoicism and vulnerability in leadership
• Practical ways to protect your team’s well-being during intense growth
• What authentic, modern leadership really looks like — beyond the buzzwords

This one goes beneath the surface.

It’s a raw, reflective conversation for any leader who’s ever felt the emotional weight of the role — and wondered how to carry it well.

Key Takeaways for Leaders:

• Scaling a business demands more than commercial strategy — it requires emotional stamina
• Great leadership teams aren’t just skilled — they’re self-aware, values-led and resilient
• Sharing personal struggles, when done thoughtfully, builds psychological safety in teams
• Mental health support shouldn’t be a nice-to-have — it’s a cultural foundation for high performance
• True leadership is balancing vulnerability with strength, and honesty with hope

Free Resource for Listeners

Scaling a business takes more than ambition — it takes leadership.

But how strong is your leadership team, really?

Take the free Leadership Capability Scorecard to discover how your leaders perform across nine key areas — and where the hidden risks lie.

Complete your scorecard now and gain instant clarity.

About the Book – Well Fed

James is also the author of Well Fed: How modern diets are failing us (and what we can do about it) — a must-read for anyone looking to understand the complex relationship between food, health, mental performance, the environment, and animal welfare.

It’s not a preachy nutrition guide — it’s a smart, balanced, science-backed exploration of what really drives our food choices, and how we can do better… individually and collectively.

Buy it on Amazon.