Listen Now

Built and sold a company, struggled with alcohol and mental health and launched an investment firm – and he’s still under 30. Dominic McGregor co-founded the award-winning marketing agency behemoth Social Chain, boasting clients such as Apple, McDonald's, BBC, and Boohoo. Social Chain grew to a business worth over £300m with 700 staff, alongside Dragons' Den star Steven Bartlett. After exiting the business at the age of 27 and having gone through struggles of his own at the start, McGregor was certain that he could assist founders in their business ventures by imparting his knowledge and experiences gained from working at Social Chain. He co-founded Fearless Adventures, a venture capital firm that provides funding and support to founder-led businesses. We spoke to Dominic about developing his leadership style at a young age, tips to raise funding in a turbulent market, his sobriety and much more. Here's what we discussed: What would a younger you say about your career path to this point? (02:53) Could you give us an overview of your career? (04:19) How did you develop your leadership style? (09:09) Do you believe that being young worked in your favour when setting up The Social Chain? (12:20) After selling Social Chain, did you have any reservations about not having a business partner by your side in your next venture? ( 14:06) Could you tell us about Fearless Adventures? (16:19) You set up Fearless Academy, which is a fully funded course to make education free for anyone who doesn't have the means to be able to afford it. Why was this such an important part of the business that you wanted to start? (18:21) Why did you go back to university to study History after you sold Social Chain? (20:32) You've been open about having a problem with delegation previously, what advice would you have for people who are going through the same experience? (21:51) An early venture you started didn't work out, how did you handle that failure? (23:33) What was the most significant challenge you faced?(25:21) How do you personally deal with stress? (27:53) Social Chain came around at the perfect time in history. Do you think that you would have been successful at a different time in life? (30:22) How did you find your experience working with Government on its social media strategy? (32:44) What tips do you have for entrepreneurs going through the fundraising process?(33:34) The Good News Postcard: What was the defining moment for your company?(37:43) What makes a great business leader? (39:24) Thanks to Kiaran from the Jill Dando News for bringing us The Good News Postcard this week. Get your dose of positive news by visiting The Good News Post, a website collated by hundreds of young people aged 8 to 18 in the UK. They've written real-life “news that’s good for you”, covering people, animals, stories to cheer people up, and tips to make lives better. Be sure to subscribe to the podcast and the Business Leader YouTube channel for more interviews with some of the world’s leading business figures. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Marmite: beloved by some, and loathed by others. Over the past few years, Matt Gubba has solidified himself as social media Marmite. What began as outspoken talk about the Government’s handling of the Covid-19 lockdowns developed into a rallying cry about the potential for Governments around the globe to limit personal freedom. But there is much more to this business leader than many social trolls are willing to find out. In this conversation with Matt Gubba, Founder and CEO of BizBritain, we cover the changing funding landscape, failure, creating the International Liberty Forum, and much more. Here's what we discussed: Could you tell us a little bit about your early entrepreneurial journey? (00:37) Could you tell us about what BizBritain does and what led you to set it up? (05:55) Where did your drive to support SMEs come from? (08:42) How has the funding landscape changed since you first set up the business in 2012? (10:33) How did you find taking the reins as CEO of BizBritain? (15:16) You’ve been a CEO for over 10 years now. Many leaders say the role can be quite isolated. How do you handle this? (17:26) Do you experience moments of self-doubt, and if so, how do you overcome them? (21:34) Do you believe the general view of failure has changed in recent years? (23:24) Do you feel that having entrepreneurialism in the family helped get you to where you are today? (26:29) Could you tell us about the International Liberty Forum? (29:00) With being very vocal during the Covid lockdowns and setting up the International Liberty Forum, you've been very vocal on behalf of the 'little guy'. Where do you think this mentality has come from? (32:40) Would you say you are a happy person? (36:14) The Good News Postcard: Who is your inspiration in business? (39:07) What makes a great business leader? (41:22) Thanks to Maria from the Jill Dando News for bringing us The Good News Postcard this week. Get your dose of positive news by visiting The Good News Post, a website collated by hundreds of young people aged 8 to 18 in the UK. They've written real-life “news that’s good for you”, covering people, animals, stories to cheer people up, and tips to make lives better. Be sure to subscribe to the podcast and the Business Leader YouTube channel for more interviews with some of the world’s leading business figures. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s safe to say that firing yourself is a rather unique experience in business. But this is an entrepreneur that has made a career of challenging the norm and thinking differently. Whether it’s taking on the male-dominated insurance industry or questioning the culture of high company valuations (AKA “Ponzi schemes”), she’s not afraid to blaze her own trail. With refreshing honesty and unwithering self-reflection, in this conversation with Sam White, Founder of Freedom Services Group & Stella Insurance, we cover being “unemployable”, leading teams across the globe, raising funding as a woman, and much more. Here's what we discussed: If we listed your achievements to date to a younger Sam White, what would her reaction be? (00:23) Were you an entrepreneurial person from a young age? (01:03) Could you give us an overview of your career to this point? (02:17) You describe yourself as “unemployable”, is that something you notice in your peers too? (05:28) You started a psychology degree at university, you have a podcast called “Human Business”, where does your fascination with the mind and what makes people tick come from? (07:20) You’ve fired yourself as CEO – could you tell us about that story? (10:16) You’ve always been a disruptor with your businesses, but as this disruptive native always been within you and how did it manifest itself? (13:43) Did you find that leading teams in the US and Australia were different to ones in the UK, and if so, how did you adapt your leadership style? (15:21) What has your funding journey been like? (19:25) You touch on female funding in your own podcast, have you been shocked at the stories you’ve heard on the podcast and in the female entrepreneurs you come across? (23:10) Have you noticed an improvement since you first started fundraising to now? (25:41) Do we need to change the relationship and view of failure, and did you notice a difference in the attitudes towards failure between the US and elsewhere? (31:47) What are your thoughts on the trend of companies raising a lot of money, with wild valuations, before even turning a profit? (37:48) The Good News Postcard: What is the hardest challenge you've ever faced as a business? (42:06) What makes a great business leader? (43:28) Thanks to Oscar from the Jill Dando News for bringing us The Good News Postcard this week. Get your dose of positive news by visiting The Good News Post, a website collated by hundreds of young people aged 8 to 18 in the UK. They've written real-life “news that’s good for you”, covering people, animals, stories to cheer people up, and tips to make lives better. Be sure to subscribe to the podcast and the Business Leader YouTube channel for more interviews with some of the world’s leading business figures. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week’s guest on The Business Leader Podcast rose to fame on Dragon’s Den having founded the male cosmetics brand War Paint. Danny Gray's most recent venture is JAAQ, an interactive mental health platform that gives users access to knowledge from experts and known figures with lived experience. We talk to Danny about building a brand in the face of hate, revolutionising an entire industry, and helping people manage their mental health. Here's what we discussed: What was your motivation for starting War Paint? (0:46) You got offers from all of the Dragons after your appearance on Dragons' Den. What was the post-show experience like? (02:41) What were you doing prior to founding War Paint? (04:34) The types of products you have in the War Paint range, like bronzer, foundation, primer, and concealer, are all things that have been a part of the make-up routines of many women for decades. Why do you think these products haven’t typically been adopted by men historically? (07:31) This industry is interesting because make-up branded for men is not saturated at all and you can look to the women’s cosmetic industry to see specific trends and issues. I think one issue that comes up in women’s cosmetics is make-up as a way to achieve perfectionism. How can you be an empowering cosmetics brand instead of perpetuating the issue you were trying to resolve? (13:08) How did you manage to deal with the initial hate you received on social media towards your brand from a business sense? (15:34) Is there such a thing as bad press? (19:29) Could you tell us about your new venture JAAQ? (22:17) Because mental health is sensitive and giving advice on health is serious. How do you ensure the platform is giving sound advice and abides by any ethical rules? (25:23) What is your strategy for scaling your businesses? (28:04) Founding a business, you inadvertently become a leader whether you like it or not. Are you a natural leader? (29:44) How do you manage your own mental health, along with the stress that comes from being an entrepreneur? (32:02) The Good News Postcard: What was the highest and lowest point in your career and how did you get through it? (37:05) What makes a great business leader? (39:08) Thanks to Heneh from the Jill Dando News for bringing us The Good News Postcard this week. Get your dose of positive news by visiting The Good News Post, a website collated by hundreds of young people aged 8 to 18 in the UK. They've written real-life “news that’s good for you”, covering people, animals, stories to cheer people up, and tips to make lives better. Be sure to subscribe to the podcast and the Business Leader YouTube channel for more interviews with some of the world’s leading business figures. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week's guest on The Business Leader Podcast is Ezechi Britton MBE, a tech founder, early-stage investor and a seasoned NED. In addition to roles as chairman of Uome and Strategic Board Advisor for Venture Studio from Crisis, he is also a founding member at VC firm Impact X Capital and Code Untapped, which aims to help coding and tech professionals from minority and ethnic backgrounds access roles in financial services. Here's what we discussed: Could you tell us about your journey to this point? (01:45) What is it that motivates you to get involved in a business? (08:21) In a climate of uncertainty we're in currently, do you have a piece of advice that you give to the companies that you work with that could be relevant to our listeners? (12:33) Would you encourage business founders to remain confident through this period of uncertainty? (14:36) Can founders be optimistic about raising investment? (17:38) How could you get people from minority backgrounds to get investment in a way that's more sustainable? (21:09) What trends are you noticing in the tech space when it comes to diversity? (23:47) Do you feel the pandemic has deepened inequality in the tech sector? (28:55) Do you think the UK tech scene has the potential to match Silicon Valley? (31:23) The Good News Postcard: If you weren't a business leader, what would you be and why? (35:28) What makes a great business leader? (36:49) Thanks to Aleyna from the Jill Dando News for bringing us The Good News Postcard this week. Get your dose of positive news by visiting The Good News Post, a website collated by hundreds of young people aged 8 to 18 in the UK. They've written real-life “news that’s good for you”, covering people, animals, stories to cheer people up, and tips to make lives better. Be sure to subscribe to the podcast and the Business Leader YouTube channel for more interviews with some of the world’s leading business figures. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week's guest on The Business Leader Podcast is Or Lenchner, the CEO of public data collection platform Bright Data. He is also the founder of the Israel-based digital media agency Dmarketing, and was a part of the founding team and head of customer relations for Trophit, a patent-pending technology company. We speak to Or about Bright Data's lawsuit against Meta, the differences between the Israeli and American tech scenes, the importance of public data for businesses, and much more. Here's what we discussed: Can you tell us a bit about your journey to where you are now? (00:38) Did you always want to be a CEO? (03:12) How does the CEO role differ to other C-Suite positions? (05:49) How important is it for businesses to utilise data to inform business decisions? (07:22) There has been a societal awareness about the use of data and controversy around data being unknowingly collected, or data breaches where information is leaked. How do you ensure that Bright Data technology is ethical and safe? (12:00) At the beginning of this year, Bright Data filed a lawsuit against Meta to protect access to public data that the tech company - formally Facebook - has tried to close access to. Why did you think this was important? (14:12) What’s the secret to scaling a business successfully and what characteristics are important to have in your core leadership team? (18:39) Did you come across any challenges working in a company that had been acquired? (21:25) Could you tell us about your journey to founding your own company before working at Bright Data? (23:21) How has your military experience helped your career in business? (25:50) As CEO, you have an important role in influencing and cultivating a company culture – what values do you think are important in this culture? (28:14) How does the tech scene differ in markets across the globe - for example Israel and the US? (30:16) The Good News Postcard: If you could choose to be any fictional character, which would it be and why? (32:56) What makes a great business leader? (33:45) Thanks to Tasmin from the Jill Dando News for bringing us The Good News Postcard this week. Get your dose of positive news by visiting The Good News Post, a website collated by hundreds of young people aged 8 to 18 in the UK. They've written real-life “news that’s good for you”, covering people, animals, stories to cheer people up, and tips to make lives better. Be sure to subscribe to the podcast and the Business Leader YouTube channel for more interviews with some of the world’s leading business figures. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week's guest on The Business Leader Podcast is Manny Medina, the co-founder and CEO of Outreach, a Seattle-based sales tech company that reached unicorn status in 2018 and is valued at $5bn. He has previously held positions as CEO at the hiring platform GroupTalent and Director of Business Development for Microsoft. We talk to Manny about the secrets to facing adversity as a CEO, how he scaled a billion-dollar company, and the importance of product-market fit to success. Here's what we discussed: Can you tell us a bit about your journey to where you are now? (00:48) Do you believe your background being different to the normal story of a tech CEO has made you a better leader? (03:01) What attracts you to the idea of being a CEO of a company? (05:37) What do you think is the most important thing in leading a company as a CEO? (07:31) What is the secret to scaling a business to unicorn status? (10:51) When thinking about business development, what is the most important aspect of it? (14:13) How is the economic climate impacting your company and your users? How are you preparing the business for external strain? (17:21) What is the most challenging thing about being a CEO? (20:27) What does it take to be a great CEO and do you ever have moments of self-doubt? (25:49) How did you find the process of restructuring your business and transforming company culture? (29:08) Do you think diversity has been an integral part of Outreach’s success? (33:36) The Good News Postcard: What is the best and worst thing about your job? (35:39) What makes a great business leader? (37:14) Thanks to India from the Jill Dando News for bringing us The Good News Postcard this week. Get your dose of positive news by visiting The Good News Post, a website collated by hundreds of young people aged 8 to 18 in the UK. They've written real-life “news that’s good for you”, covering people, animals, stories to cheer people up, and tips to make lives better. Be sure to subscribe to the podcast and the Business Leader YouTube channel for more interviews with some of the world’s leading business figures. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week’s guest on The Business Leader Podcast is Sian Gabbidon, the Founder of Sian Marie, a UK-based premium loungewear company. She is a media personality with over 100K followers on Instagram and was the winner of the hit BBC show The Apprentice in 2018. Sian has grown her business from a small swimwear brand she founded in her bedroom, to a known loungewear brand with over 60K followers on Instagram. We talk to Sian about the secrets to creating a unique fashion brand, her experience on The Apprentice, and the role her personal brand has in the success of her business. Here's what we discussed: Could you tell us about your business journey up to this point? (00:45) What was it like becoming an overnight star from your appearance on The Apprentice and how did it affect your business? (05:34) Do you feel that the exposure from being on The Apprentice was more valuable to you then the investment? (07:39) You recently ended your partnership with Lord Sugar. What was the reason for this and was it an amicable split? (09:19) We're in a cost-of-living crisis and a recession is looming - how have you prepared your business for this? (10:52) Do you have any tips on how fashion brands can stand out in a saturated market? (13:48) You have 114,000 followers on Instagram – how important is it for your business for you as a person to cultivate your own personal brand? (16:33) Do you ever just want to turn off the public-facing part of your life because it must require a lot of upkeep? (21:32) Do you feel you received positive support from other business leaders after your win on The Apprentice? (24:40) You’ve expressed your opposition to fast-fashion brands and how unethical they are – how do you make sure your supply chain and the production of your clothing is ethical? (27:53) Does there need to be a collective psychological shift in the way consumers purchase clothing because of the impact its having on people and the planet? Will this change in our lifetime? (31:28) How did you develop your leadership style? (33:09) What qualities are lacking among today’s leaders? (36:14) The Good News Postcard: If you could live in any decade, other than this one, what would it be and why? (38:30) What makes a great business leader? (40:08) Thanks to India from the Jill Dando News for bringing us The Good News Postcard this week. Get your dose of positive news by visiting The Good News Post, a website collated by hundreds of young people aged 8 to 18 in the UK. They've written real-life “news that’s good for you”, covering people, animals, stories to cheer people up, and tips to make lives better. Be sure to subscribe to the podcast and the Business Leader YouTube channel for more interviews with some of the world’s leading business figures. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Embracing YouTube before most people had even heard of it, through perseverance and grit, Caspar Lee rose to become one of the biggest content creators on the planet. From his bedroom as a teenager in South Africa, he built his channel amassing a seismic following and leading him to collaborate with many of the world’s biggest stars including Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, Anna Kendrick, Ed Sheeran and Kevin Hart. Caspar leveraged his success and co-founded a global influencer marketing business. The company operates globally with 100+ employees and boasts many of the world’s leading brands as clients, including Coca-Cola and Google. He also co-founded Creator Ventures, a $20m VC fund investing in start-ups alongside a syndicate of top creators, musicians, athletes and actors. Here's what we discussed with Caspar Lee Could you explain your background for our viewers? (00:47) When did people start to accept your career as a YouTuber? (02:56) When it comes to becoming a YouTuber, what would you say are the secrets to success? (04:17) What would you say to businesspeople who said they couldn't monetise YouTube? (05:36) How have you found the transition from YouTuber to entrepreneur? (07:32) How have you learnt your leadership skills? (09:31) Running a business of 100+ people is difficult, but especially at the moment. How are you finding this? (10:58) Are there any other markets you'd see yourself going into? (12:44) What do you look for in the businesses you invest in? (14:17) When investing, are you looking for a yield and exit at a certain time or do you have a long-term view of it? (16:23) There was a trend of companies celebrating fundraising instead of focusing on making money. Do you think this is starting to change? (18:04) What are your tips for people looking to raise investment? (19:56) Why do you do what you do? (21:51) Do you find yourself learning from other cultures a lot? (23:14) Do you feel that failure can be a good thing? (24:43) What makes a great business leader? (26:19) Would you like to go into TV? Dragons' Den for example? (27:12) Some people see money as the by-product of doing well - do you agree with that? (28:05) Answer the Internet: What does it mean to build a personal brand? (29:14) Be sure to subscribe to the podcast and the Business Leader YouTube channel for more interviews with some of the world’s leading business figures. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our guest is the founder and CEO of JBM, an executive search firm working with fast-growing tech start-ups and scale-ups. He is also the host of his own podcast, 40 Minute Mentor, which is one of the top careers podcasts in the UK. We talk to James Mitra about pivoting a business, the executive search market and much more. Here's what we discussed: Can you tell us a bit about your journey up until this point? (00:50) What has been a significant challenge you’ve faced in growing your business and how did you overcome this? (06:18) How did you know it was the right time to pivot your business? (14:54) What is a common challenge those in executive roles are facing right now? (18:44) It’s well-reported and known that we are experiencing a skills shortage in the UK. Why would say are we experiencing this? (25:37) Some experts have said that businesses that focus on talent acquisition will be one of the lucky businesses to succeed this year. Is there any way you are preparing your business to capitalise on this? (30:16) Is success based on hard work or luck? (35:09) Good News Postcard: If you could change one thing about your life, what would it be and why? (38:54) What makes a great business leader? (40:41) Thanks to India from the Jill Dando News for bringing us The Good News Postcard this week. Get your dose of positive news by visiting The Good News Post, a website collated by hundreds of young people aged 8 to 18 in the UK. They've written real-life “news that’s good for you”, covering people, animals, stories to cheer people up, and tips to make lives better. Be sure to subscribe to the podcast and the Business Leader YouTube channel for more interviews with some of the world’s leading business figures. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As we say farewell to 2022 and welcome in a new year, what is the state of the UK M&A market? To find out, we've spoken to the CEO of specialist M&A advisor BCMS, Jonathan Dunn. With over three decades of industry experience, Jonathan talks all things M&A in 2023, as well as trends to look out for and comparisons to the Great Recession. Here's what we discussed: What were some of the key M&A trends that we saw in 2022? (00:56) How did Trussonomics and the short-lived Liz Truss government impact the M&A market? (03:23) Did the post-pandemic M&A boost continue in 2022? (05:36) What M&A trends might we see continue from 2022 to 2023? (07:56) How would you compare this financial time against other times of turbulence, such as the Great Recession in 2008? (09:48) How important is the role of confidence as opposed to cautiousness in boosting M&A? (12:55) Which industries do you think will experience an M&A boom in 2023? (15:50) Which industries might suffer in 2023? (17:34) Are we likely to see a change in buying and investment in the UK from overseas? (18:39) Is overseas confidence in UK business changing in any way? (20:18) Are there other M&A trends you think we'll see in 2023? (21:31) What advice would you give to a seller going into the new year? (22:48) The Good News Postcard: Would you rather only be able to travel to the past or only be able to travel to the future and why? (25:42) Thanks to Mia from the Jill Dando News for bringing us The Good News Postcard this week. Get your dose of positive news by visiting The Good News Post, a website collated by hundreds of young people aged 8 to 18 in the UK. They've written real-life “news that’s good for you”, covering people, animals, stories to cheer people up, and tips to make lives better. Be sure to subscribe to the podcast and the Business Leader YouTube channel for more interviews with some of the world’s leading business figures. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our guest is a partner at Local Globe and Latitude and a board member at Innovate Finance. Yvonne Bajela is a founding member and VP at Impact X Capital, a venture capital firm investing in companies led by underrepresented founders at the Seed and Series A stages. Previously a Senior Investment Manager at Mitsui & Co, she led over $200m in investments in companies including TransferWise, and has played a pivotal role in leading a wide range of investments in companies including Predina and Marshmallow while at Impact X. Here's what we discussed: How did you get into investment? (01:05) Did you have role models growing up that were in the sector you work in now? (03:06) You were a Senior Investment Manager at Mitsui & Co. and were the youngest investment manager across 90,000 global employees within the group. Have you ever been intimidated being in these positions or have you felt largely comfortable being in the roles you’ve been in? (05:05) What do you look for in a business when deciding to invest in it? (06:34) For companies you look to invest in, would you say the team is more important than the product or service itself? (07:47) What is the difference between a business that makes it and a business that doesn’t? (08:23) Do you see luck as a factor in the success of a business? (09:09) What questions should a business owner ask an investor to make sure that they are the right investor for them? (10:23) How can business owners grab the attention of investors? (11:35) Do you think being an extroverted business leader helps when it comes to gaining investment? (13:06) From your work with businesses, would you say there is a common flaw you might see come up time and again? (13:46) How do you think the investment space will change as a result of the global economic crisis? (14:57) How can businesses continue to achieve funding despite the economic conditions? (17:02) Why did you feel there was a need for a venture capital firm like Impact X Capital? (18:09) What implications does it have to not have more diverse people in investment? What does it mean for the business landscape of the future? (18:51) It's important for there to be investors from more diverse backgrounds. How can entrepreneurs or those from a finance background break into investment? (19:59) How have you dealt with failure? (20:59) Is there any particular factor that comes into play when a business fails? (22:16) From working with various business owners, what would you say is the most effective way to lead? (24:25) What kind of challenges can arise in a relationship between a business owner and an investor? (25:31) What is the benefit of having a company board? (27:39) What is the power of having a NED on your board? (29:27) Answer the Internet: Why do business owners need investors if they have a steady stream of revenue? (30:40) What makes a great business leader? (31:52) Be sure to subscribe to the podcast and the Business Leader YouTube channel for more interviews with some of the world’s leading business figures. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dubbed a child prodigy, Dr Anne-Marie Imafidon MBE was the youngest girl to pass A-level computing at 11 years old. She then went on to receive a Master’s in Mathematics and Computer Science from the University of Oxford at the tender age of 20. Having held positions at Goldman Sachs, Hewlett-Packard and Deutsche Bank, Imafidon is no stranger to having a seat at the table. However, she soon realised the table was far from diverse. In between stints on Channel 4’s Countdown and running her own project, Stemettes - a social enterprise that aims to empower and enable young women in the STEM sector. This very special interview is brought to you by Queen Ethelburga's Collegiate. Here's what we discussed: You had quite an unusual school experience. Would you describe what growing up was like for you? (01:09) Did you have any role models growing up? (02:04) What was the driving factor in you applying yourself at school? (05:45) What keeps you motivated now? Especially in your work with Stemettes? (09:23) Why have women and girls traditionally been excluded from STEM subjects and industries? (13:58) What motivated you to start Stemettes and use your experience and knowledge to enable and help other girls and women? Why is this an important issue? (23:34) It’s known that female business owners face more barriers in starting a business and achieving funding. Is there anything specific you did to achieve initial funding? (29:58) How do keep motivated? (32:41) What would you say is the biggest technological threat of the future? (35:36) Do you ever doubt yourself or have negative self-talk? (42:01) How do you view failure and adversity in your professional and personal life? (44:40) Questions from Queen Ethelburga's students (48:47) Be sure to subscribe to the podcast and the Business Leader YouTube channel for more interviews with some of the world’s leading business figures. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our guest is the founder of Enter the Arena, a business coaching company that aims to empower female business owners in investment. She is a serial entrepreneur and an expert in raising investment and scaling businesses, she is also the recent author of the book RAISE: The Female Founder’s Guide To Securing Investment. Here's what we discussed: Can you tell us a bit about your journey up until this point? (00:56) Did you have any role models in your early business life? (03:30) Was there anything in particular that drew you into helping other businesses grow? (05:11) Why do you feel investment into female funded businesses in an area that needs particular attention? (07:00) Only 15% of venture funding goes to female founders and only 6% of scale-up companies are led by women. Why are there so few female business owners? What are the barriers women face in getting into business? (09:40) Because the business world is male-dominated, the space may understandably seem intimidating for women, how can women who are at the start of their journey or thinking about going into business approach going into business if they do feel intimidated? (13:31) Which sectors do female business owners receive the most amount of funding? (17:04) Can there be opportunities during this period of time? And what can a business owner do to scale their business even in a global recession? (19:22) Is there a common doubt or issue that you see across all of the female founders you work with? (22:22) Businesses are part of the fabric of society, so when there aren’t many female business owners what implications does this have on society? (27:23) How can our listeners tackle raising investment in the wake of a global economic crisis when investors are likely holding onto cash during this period? (30:56) Answer the Internet: What are investors in a start-up allowed to do? (33:42) What makes a great business leader? (35:32) If a female founder reads your book and realises that they don't want to raise funding, what would be your advice to them? (37:23) Be sure to subscribe to the podcast and the Business Leader YouTube channel for more interviews with some of the world’s leading business figures. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our guest is the co-founder and CEO of Daaci, an AI music composition platform. Rachel Lyske is a vocal coach at the BRIT School of Performing Arts, having worked with artists signed to record labels including Dirty Hit, Atlantic, Infectious and Square Leg Records and is a music consultant for the music exam body ABRSM. Here's what we discussed: Can you tell us a bit about your journey and how you went into the music industry? (00:58) Did you always know you wanted to be a CEO and founder? (08:05) Are there any characteristics that you've taken from your time as a composer in the tech world? (11:22) Does this type of technology get its information and data from popular music that already exists? Are you having to be aware of the potential ethical consequences of a technology like this – for example, copyright? (14:17) Have you had much backlash about the Daaci offering (from the music industry for example)? (18:33) Do you see AI becoming an integral part of other creative industries outside of music? For example, in film? (22:15) There are fears about the likelihood of AI taking jobs once performed by humans. Where does this kind of technology leave the job of composition done by humans? (25:20) In 2022, you secured £4m in seed funding. What was your process in achieving this funding and do you have any advice for our listeners on how they can achieve funding? (28:54) Reports say that only 3% of VC funding goes to female-founded businesses – have you experienced any challenges as a female founder? (32:09) Answer the Internet: How do people get AI to do what they want? (34:49) What makes a great business leader? (36:09) Be sure to subscribe to the podcast and the Business Leader YouTube channel for more interviews with some of the world’s leading business figures. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our guest is the CEO of Babbel, a language learning platform and ecosystem that has sold more than 10 million subscriptions and over 60,000 courses for 14 different languages. Arne Schepker joined the company as CMO in 2015 before taking the role of CEO in 2019 and scaling the business from a start-up to a household brand, increasing its headcount from 250 to over 750. Here's what we discussed: Can you tell me a bit about what your life was like growing up and how this has led you to the point you’re at now? (0:57) You helped scale Zalando before you joined Babbel. What is the secret to effectively scaling a business? (05:14) Did you always want to be a CEO? (08:05) What can leaders do to make their team work to the best of their ability? (12:39) How do you as a CEO cultivate healthy conflict in your organisation? (14:55) How did you utilise the pandemic to your benefit? (17:22) What has been your biggest challenge either as a company or you as a CEO personally? (22:01) Has learning changed due to shorter attention spans/social media/convenience culture? (27:25) You've experimented with holocracy and self-management at Babbel – can you explain what this is and why you find this interesting? (31:56) Answer the Internet: How do people become CEOs? (37:25) What makes a great business leader? (38:15) Be sure to subscribe to the podcast and the Business Leader YouTube channel for more interviews with some of the world’s leading business figures. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our guest on this episode is a former UK Special Forces operative, best known for appearing on the hit Channel 4 TV show SAS: Who Dares Wins. He is also the Founder and Managing Director at BreakPoint, a training company that utilises special forces techniques to deliver courses and workshops for corporate teams and leaders. This is our conversation with Ollie Ollerton. Here's what we discussed: You definitely need to have a particular personality type to join the special forces – so what was your life like growing up and what motivated you to join the special forces? (0:55) Do you believe that people who have experienced a great deal of adversity, pain and trauma are the ones who are more likely to have better discipline, willpower, resilience and motivation? (14:01) When going through those points of discomfort, how can you motivate yourself to continue striving for that end goal? (18:57) How do you deal with self-doubt? (24:34) With the work that you do with managers and leaders, what would you say is the most common limiting belief these people have? (28:09) As a business leader, how can you cultivate camaraderie and cohesiveness? (31:57) How do you think business owners can deal with adversity involved with navigating uncertainty? (37:22) What did being faced with the possibility of death so frequently teach you about life? (41:05) Answer the Internet: How am I supposed to find motivation in life? (46:29) What makes a great business leader? (49:00) Be sure to subscribe to the podcast and the Business Leader YouTube channel for more interviews with some of the world’s leading business figures. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When some people talk in the business world, you can't help but sit up and listen. Whether he's tackling tough subjects or helping leaders through his speaking and facilitating skills, our guest on this episode is a self-proclaimed compassionate provocateur that you need to take note of. David McQueen is the co-founder of the professional coaching company Q Squared and Black Founders Hub, a network for black-owned high-growth businesses. He is a Non-Exec Director for Forbes Family Group and Our Game Football, a public speaker and coach to executive-level leaders and the host of The Brave Leader Podcast. Here's what we discussed: You have an interesting story because you were an accountant and then you went into IT and now you are a business founder and a speaker and coach. Can you tell us a bit about your journey to where you are now? (01:01) You being a charismatic and funny person lends itself to your own public speaking style, and people really relate to your authenticity. Do you think being authentic is important in being a good leader and speaker? (04:40) On your LinkedIn, you post a lot about being your authentic self and being - do you think people should be the same version of themselves at work and out of work? (06:45) What role does self-esteem have in an executive’s ability to lead well? (09:46) How can business leaders recognise their strengths and weaknesses? (12:34) When it comes to resilience, how important is it to have a team that is honest and will give honest feedback? (14:33) How can business leaders navigate the personalities of their team members and manage conflict? (17:10) How important is having the personality type where you don’t take things personally in being a great leader? (20:52) What is the importance of defining a company narrative and values? How can business leaders do this? (25:11) How can business founders ensure they are considering diversity in every business decision and not just paying lip service/tick-box exercise? (28:34) Do we need to speak about race more in a professional setting and how can we speak about these topics? (36:50) Answer the Internet: How is company culture formed? (47:17) What makes a great business leader? (48:45) Be sure to subscribe to the podcast and the Business Leader YouTube channel for more interviews with some of the world’s leading business figures. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Confused by AI? The metaverse? AR? How will it affect your business? Do you even need to take any of this seriously? This episode's guest is Bernard Marr, a best-selling author, influencer, futurist and strategic business and technology advisor to governments and businesses. His books, which explore data, performance indicators, business management and business trends have been translated into over 20 languages and won multiple awards. One of his most recent books Business Trends In Practice focuses on the future events and circumstances shaping the way businesses operate. Here's what we discussed: Can you tell us a little bit about your experience growing up, your journey and what lead you into business? (01:04) A lot of your work focuses on the intersection of business and technology. What made you interested in this merger? (03:43) Do all businesses from any sector need to keep up with developments in AI and the utilisation of data? (06:01) How will AI impact jobs that are currently done by humans? (15:15) One thing you pick up on is the pace at which technology is advancing – you say it’s advancing exponentially at a rate never seen before in history – what are the benefits of this but what are the potential risks? (21:23) You talk in your book about the shifts in global power trend very interesting – that countries like China and India will become more powerful than the US. You also speak about the rise in political and cultural polarisation and use things like Brexit and the Trump presidency as examples of this increasing polarisation. How do these factors impact businesses? (25:01) Is the metaverse a threat to business or a positive development? (30:52) Answer the Internet: Why is Blockchain Technology (and cryptocurrencies) promoted as something "big", "revolutionary", and "never seen before", if it's just a technique to account for transactions? What is so revolutionary about using blockchain to make transactions? (43:13) What makes a great business leader? (47:18) Be sure to subscribe to the podcast and the Business Leader YouTube channel for more interviews with some of the world’s leading business figures. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What can business leaders learn from comedians? Dealing with failure? Speaking to crowds? Relating to an audience? What about using the lessons learnt from a breakup to make yourself a better leader? Our guest on this episode is an award-winning stand-up comedian, best-selling author and host of ‘The Breakup Monologues’ podcast, Rosie Wilby. Rosie's latest book, The Breakup Monologues: The Unexpected Joy of Heartbreak, explores what skills someone can learn from breakups and why they can actually be beneficial. She's also the founder of a boutique music PR agency and a patron of the LGBTQ charity Switchboard. We talk to Rosie about building resilience, failure and much more. Here's what we discussed: Could you tell us about what growing up was like for you and how you got into comedy? (00:59) What role has your sexuality had in either excelling your career or holding you back? (07:58) There's a belief that many comedians have faced adversity or had some problems that made them turn to comedy. Do you think this is true? (13:23) A big part of stand-up is failure. How have you learnt from those negative experiences? (16:34) Confidence in yourself and being able to speak in front of lots of people is an essential part of their job. Do you have any advice for our listeners on how to develop this skill and ultimately not care so much about what others think of them? (18:42) Resilience is a big part of being a comedian because you persistently face rejection. How do you build resilience? (21:44) What challenges have you seen people have with professional relationships in the workplace? (25:23) Why are breakups so important in teaching us life lessons? (28:37) Answer the Internet: How do you get over a fear of public speaking? (34:07) What makes a great business leader? (36:51) Be sure to subscribe to the podcast and the Business Leader YouTube channel for more interviews with some of the world’s leading business figures. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.