James Reed: all about business

In this discussion, John Spiers, an entrepreneur and philanthropist, shares insights on building purpose-led businesses with client-first cultures. He reveals how EQ Investors, founded on a unique structure, achieved top B Corp status. John emphasizes the importance of measurable charity impact and provides guidance on identifying effective organizations, including pitfalls like declining income and stagnant boards. He also introduces his platform, Giving Is Great, which helps match donors with high-impact charities, advocating for smarter philanthropic strategies.

What is the secret to building an iconic brand that resonates with millions of customers on a global scale?In this episode of All About Business, we're joined by Johnnie Boden, founder and creative director of the iconic British clothing brand, Boden. Johnnie shares his unconventional journey from an unfulfilling career in the city, to founding a fashion brand that now generates over £350 million in annual revenue. He talks about how to discover your true passion, and the importance of self-awareness and being honest about what you are good at. He also explains the three-part "magical Venn diagram" from Jim Collins' book, Good to Great, and the impact it had on him.Johnnie also shares the story of the difficult but necessary decision to pivot the business from menswear to the more profitable women's wear, and the importance of listening to your customers. This is a great episode for aspiring entrepreneurs looking to find their true calling, build a brand with clear values, and learn how to make the tough decisions that drive long-term success. Timecodes:02:33 Johnny's early career struggles04:20 The birth of Boden07:56 The importance of passion and self-awareness15:17 The evolution of Boden's Brand25:23 Managing and growing a business30:34 The tough decisions in business36:31 The importance of having a coach41:38 Expanding business in America57:59 The role of AI in fashion59:43 Advice for aspiring entrepreneursCheck out Boden’s website: Follow Boden on LinkedIn: Start your free trial at Reed.ai NOW!Follow James Reed onLinkedInAll About Business is brought to you by Reed Global. Learn more at Reed.com This podcast was co-produced by Reed Global and Flamingo Media. If you’d like to create a chart-topping podcast to elevate your brand, visit Flamingo-media.co.uk 

How do you balance innovation with ethical responsibility? This week on All About Business, we’re joined by Felix Henderson, Co-founder and COO of Ohchat, a generative AI business that builds "digital twins" of real-world content creators. In this episode, Felix shares his journey of building a business from the ground up, and provides insight into the AI future of adult entertainment and how an early venture in student housing, and a strategic pivot during the pandemic, led to a service-based business which became a launchpad for his current AI-powered tech venture. Is this the new OnlyFans?Felix explains how they are building a generative AI business in the sensitive "spicy content" industry. He addresses the critical and controversial challenges of building a company in this space, discussing how they approach user safety and ethical considerations, and why transparency and accountability as founders are key to their mission.Check out Ohchat’s website: Follow Ohchat on LinkedIn: Follow James Reed on LinkedInStart your free trial at Reed.ai NOW!All About Business is brought to you by Reed Global. Learn more at Reed.com This podcast was co-produced by Reed Global and Flamingo Media. If you’d like to create a chart-topping podcast to elevate your brand, visit Flamingo-media.co.uk 

How do you build a resilient brand and lasting reputation and control chaos when a PR crisis hits?This week on All About Business, we’re joined by Sarah Woodhouse, co-owner and director at Ambitious PR. With over 25 years of experience in strategic communications, Sarah helps high-growth businesses manage their public image and tell their story with transparency.In this episode, Sarah offers practical lessons on how to communicate with purpose, prepare for unexpected crises, and tailor your message to connect with the audiences that matter most. She discusses the critical differences between marketing and strategic communications, the importance of a founder's personal brand, and how to avoid the "bear traps" of controversy.Sarah also provides insight into crisis management, drawing on real-world examples to demonstrate how to take back control of the narrative. She also explores the impact of AI on how businesses are found and evaluated online, and what entrepreneurs can do to adapt.Links:Check out Ambitious PR’s websiteFollow Ambitious PR on LinkedInStart your free trial at Reed.ai NOW!Follow James Reed on LinkedInAll About Business is brought to you by Reed GlobalThis podcast was co-produced by Reed Global and Flamingo Media. If you’d like to create a chart-topping podcast to elevate your brand, visit Flamingo Media

Dame Irene Hays built Hays Travel with her husband John, growing it from a small counter at the back of a babywear shop into the UK’s largest independent travel agency with 512 branches nationwide. Along the way, she navigated major industry shifts, acquired the legendary Thomas Cook brand, founded the Hays Travel Foundation, and built a leading apprenticeship programme that now employs hundreds of apprentices. But this isn't come without massive hurdles, heartbreak and sheer determination to turn crisis into a success. In this week’s episode of All About Business, Irene shares the leadership principles and bold decisions behind her success. She reveals how she scaled without outside investors, why she risked everything to save thousands of jobs at Thomas Cook, and how she rebuilt stronger than ever after COVID-19 brought global travel to a standstill.Irene also explores the “soft infrastructure” behind Hays Travel’s five star customer experience and why apprenticeships and investing in young talent are central to her long term vision.Check out Hays Travel’s websiteFollow Hays Travel on LinkedIn: Start your free trial at Reed.ai NOW!Follow James Reed on LinkedInAll About Business is brought to you by Reed Global. Learn more at Reed.com This podcast was co-produced by Reed Global and Flamingo Media. If you’d like to create a chart-topping podcast to elevate your brand, visit Flamingo-media.co.uk 

Reed's Report: Employer Attitudes to Hiring People with Criminal ConvictionsResettling into society after prison is a huge challenge — especially when employers are reluctant to hire people with a criminal record. Too often, talented individuals are overlooked, leaving skills and potential untapped, and making them far more likely to reoffend. In this episode, we dive into the findings of the latest REED report; "Employer attitudes to employing people with criminal convictions.”, and its findings. The report reveals a concerning trend where one in five employers would not consider a candidate with a conviction at all, and the willingness to hire individuals with criminal records has dropped sharply across various offenses.We’re joined by Alex Head, the owner and founder of Social Pantry, a leading independent catering company known for its work with prison leavers.Alex shares her journey from starting a sandwich delivery service as a teenager, to building Social Pantry into a leading employer of prison leavers in the hospitality industry. She provides practical insight into the successes and challenges of this great work, demonstrating how giving people a second chance can lead to a compelling and persuasive workforce.This is an essential listen for any business leader looking to build a resilient and socially conscious company and challenge the stigma of employing ex-offenders.Timecodes:04:18 Social Pantry's business model and success06:14 Challenges and support for hiring prison leavers13:09 The role of charities and probation services23:39 Employment boards and training opportunities29:58 Empathy and communication in the workplace34:45 Challenges and benefits of hiring prison leavers38:31 Addressing employer hesitations44:06 Success Stories and Future PlansIf you are interested in supporting prison leavers back into employment and joining Social Pantry's working group, please email alex.head@socialpantry.co.ukFollow James Reed on LinkedInFollow Alex Head on LinkedinCheck out Social Pantry’s website  Check out Key4Life’s websiteStart your free trial at Reed.ai NOW!All About Business is brought to you by Reed Global. Learn more at Reed.com This podcast was co-produced by Reed Global and Flamingo Media. If you’d like to create a chart-topping podcast to elevate your brand, visit Flamingo-media.co.uk 

Education is changing fast, and the old ways of running learning institutes are no longer working. Philippa De’Ath set out to solve this when she co-founded Arbor Education, a platform designed to shift the focus of teachers away from admin work and back to what matters most: the students.In this week’s episode of All About Business, Philippa shares how she and her co-founder built a mission-driven company that is both profitable and has a significant social impact. She reveals the secrets to scaling in a complex, highly regulated industry, from automating routine tasks with AI, to empowering educators with real-time data and insights.Philippa breaks down what it takes to turn a passion for impact into a sustainable enterprise. She unpacks the challenges of scaling, the importance of listening to end users, and how to keep your purpose at the core while building a business that delivers both explosive growth and positive change.Whether you're starting a company or looking for a mission-driven strategy that actually works, Philippa's journey is packed with practical insights you can borrow and scale.01:03 The Mission and Impact of Arbor Education02:14 Understanding Arbor's Management Information System03:03 The Growth and Success of Arbor Education06:07 The Role of AI and Cloud in Modern Education13:23 Encouraging Entrepreneurship in Schools20:40 Philippa's Journey: From IBM to Founding Schools25:06 Reflecting on the Journey25:32 Building a School from Scratch26:15 Opening the Schools26:43 Challenges and Growth27:59 Founding Arbor Education31:44 Expanding Arbor's Reach34:38 Improving School Efficiency39:55 Future Ambitions and ReflectionsCheck out Arbor Education’s website: Follow Arbor Education on LinkedIn: Follow James Reed on LinkedInStart your free trial at Reed.ai NOW! All About Business is brought to you by Reed Global. Learn more at Reed.com This podcast was co-produced by Reed Global and Flamingo Media. If you’d like to create a chart-topping podcast to elevate your brand, visit Flamingo-media.co.uk 

Fresh from the holidays? Here are 5 top summer takeaways to get you inspired and ready for September. In this special bonus episode of All about Business, we’ve handpicked some of the most valuable insights from our incredible podcast guests. Since launching last October, we’ve had the privilege of hearing the powerful journeys, lessons, and strategies from some of the most successful entrepreneurs out there. We talk about:Redefining self and creativity with an ADHD diagnosisStaying true to your business venture with no turnover in the first yearsThe future of customer serviceTesting ideas to build a brand carefullyThe link between marketing and cashflow Timecodes: 00:00 - Intro00:27 - Takeaway 6 Alex Partridge05:23 - Takeaway 7 Byron Dixon09:16 - Takeaway 8 Todd Unger12:10 - Takeaway 9 Kiki McDonough15:37 - Takeaway 10 David MitchellLinks:Follow James Reed on LinkedInAll About Business is brought to you by Reed Global. Learn more at: Reed.comStart your 28 day free trial at Reed.ai NOW! This podcast was co-produced by Reed Global and Flamingo Media. If you’d like to create a chart-topping podcast to elevate your brand, visit Flamingo Media

Fresh from the holidays? Here are 5 top summer takeaways to get you inspired and ready for September. In this special bonus episode of All about Business, we’ve handpicked some of the most valuable insights from our incredible podcast guests. Since launching last October, we’ve had the privilege of hearing the powerful journeys, lessons, and strategies from some of the most successful entrepreneurs out there. Timecodes:00:00 - Intro00:27 - Takeaway 1 Rob Moore03:20 - Takeaway 2 Neil Clifford08:05 - Takeaway 3 Michelle Kennedy11:18 - Takeaway 4 Nicola Reed14:02 - Takeaway 5 Reggie HeyworthLinks:Follow James Reed on LinkedInAll About Business is brought to you by Reed Global. Learn more at: Reed.comStart your 28 day free trial at Reed.ai NOW! This podcast was co-produced by Reed Global and Flamingo Media. If you’d like to create a chart-topping podcast to elevate your brand, visit Flamingo Media

Great business ideas don’t have to be original, they just have to work. Some of the most successful startups are built by borrowing proven concepts, improving them, and executing better. That’s exactly how Toby Burns, founder and CEO of The Silent Disco Company, built a scalable business from a simple idea. In this week’s episode of All About Business, Toby shares how he turned a simple idea into a nationwide brand, built on clever systems, high-volume logistics, and relentless execution that started with a few headphones to now powering thousands of events across the UK.Toby breaks down what it takes to spot scalable business ideas, dominate a niche market, and build a company that runs without you, and also unpacks how to hire smart, stay lean, and keep innovation at the core of sustainable growth.Whether it’s starting a company, or looking for startup strategies that actually work, Toby’s journey is packed with practical insights you can borrow and scale.Links:Check out The Silent Disco Company’s website: Follow The Silent Disco Company on LinkedIn: Follow James Reed on LinkedInStart your free trial at Reed.ai NOW! All About Business is brought to you by Reed Global. Learn more at Reed.com This podcast was co-produced by Reed Global and Flamingo Media. If you’d like to create a chart-topping podcast to elevate your brand, visit Flamingo-media.co.uk