

Anatomy of a Leader with Maria Hvorostovsky
Maria Hvorostovsky
Welcome to Anatomy of a Leader - a video podcast that shows you there are many faces of leadership, that perfection doesn’t and shouldn’t exist and that making mistakes (or taking detours) can often lead to deep insights about your superpowers.
My name is Maria Hvorostovsky. I’m a headhunter and Founder of HVO Search. I help ambitious leaders hire the most hard to find, high potential C-Suite talent.
Each week let me take you on a journey to discover what leadership really
🖋🕊
LinkedIn/ Insta: @mariahvo
WORK WITH ME: www.hirewithmaria.com
My name is Maria Hvorostovsky. I’m a headhunter and Founder of HVO Search. I help ambitious leaders hire the most hard to find, high potential C-Suite talent.
Each week let me take you on a journey to discover what leadership really
🖋🕊
LinkedIn/ Insta: @mariahvo
WORK WITH ME: www.hirewithmaria.com
Episodes
Mentioned books

Apr 22, 2022 • 56min
#28 Hybrid Working is the Worst of Both Worlds - Bruce Daisley, Author of The Joy of Work & Workplace Culture Expert
Campaign magazine dubbed him "One of the most talented people in media" and Evening Standard's rated him as the “Top 1000 Most Influential Londoners”.
Bruce Daisley is outspoken, direct and absolutely obsessed with workplace culture. So much so, he wrote a Sunday Times bestselling book - The Joy of Work.
He has a new book coming out soon called Fortitude - all about the glorification of resilience and its implications. And boy, I resonated with it so much.
In Episode 28 we discuss the 4 hour work week, toxic environments, what makes workplaces thrive, resilience and how hybrid working is the worst of both worlds.
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WE DISCUSS
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01:39 - Bruce’s first job & what characterises good workplace cultures - can you enjoy your work despite bad bosses
08:34 - How empires rise and fall
10:59 - What is the responsibility of the leader to set culture?
17:25 - Burnout, meetings and personal control
23:05 - 4 day week & optimising the workplace collaboration
27:53 - Hybrid working is the worst of both worlds
33:13 - Spontaneous meetings & relationships with our community
36:55 - Fortitude, resilience, toxic cultures
45:47 - What can companies do?
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BRUCE DAISLEY
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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brucedaisley/
Twitter: https://bit.ly/3k32DAs - @brucedaisley
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brucedaisley/ - @brucedaisley
Website: https://eatsleepworkrepeat.com/
Newsletter: https://makeworkbetter.substack.com/
Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/eat-sleep-work-repeat/id1190000968
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FOLLOW ME ON
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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariahvo/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariahvo/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/mhvorostovsky
HVO Search: www.hvosearch.com
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Need help HIRING - head over to - www.hirewithmaria.com
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LEAVE A REVIEW:
If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts make sure to Follow, Rate, and leave a REVIEW.

Apr 21, 2022 • 3min
TRAILER for #28 Hybrid Working is the Worst of Both Worlds - Bruce Daisley, Author of The Joy of Work & Workplace Culture Expert
Bruce Daisley is outspoken, direct and absolutely obsessed with workplace culture. So much so, he wrote a Sunday Times bestselling book - The Joy of Work.
Campaign magazine dubbed him "One of the most talented people in media" and Evening Standard's rated him as the “Top 1000 Most Influential Londoners”.
Bruce has a new book coming out soon called Fortitude - all about the glorification of resilience and its implications. And boy, I resonated with it so much.
In Episode 28 we discuss the 4 hour work week, toxic environments, what makes workplaces thrive, resilience and how hybrid working is the worst of both worlds.
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BRUCE DAISLEY
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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brucedaisley/
Twitter: https://bit.ly/3k32DAs - @brucedaisley
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brucedaisley/ - @brucedaisley
Website: https://eatsleepworkrepeat.com/
Newsletter: https://makeworkbetter.substack.com/
Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/eat-sleep-work-repeat/id1190000968
-------------------------------
FOLLOW ME ON
-------------------------------
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariahvo/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariahvo/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/mhvorostovsky
HVO Search: www.hvosearch.com
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Need help HIRING - head over to - www.hirewithmaria.com
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LEAVE A REVIEW:
If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts make sure to Follow, Rate, and leave a REVIEW.

Apr 14, 2022 • 3min
TRAILER for #27 Saying No To Investors Even When You Have No Money Isn’t Always A Mistake: Hasna Kourda, Founder SYW
With less than 2% of funding going to female founders, it is tough when you are faced with the decision to walk away from investors. It takes courage, self-awareness, and conviction in your idea to do that.
My latest guest Hasna Kourda the Founder of Save My Wardrobe did exactly that. She learnt that saying ‘no’ to investors even when you don’t have the cash is not always a mistake.
Hasna is considered, methodical and pragmatic. A recovering perfectionist.
She has been fighting the good fight about customer consumption and the importance of circularity way before it became fashionable.
She had to learn on the go how to pitch for her idea (in the early years even sending her husband in to ‘look’ like the lead) and assess investors on whether they are right for her business in the first place.
EPISODE #27:
You can listen to the full episode here OR
WATCH it on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCC-YIz5pEMM9vigbYOxK2Kw
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HASNA KOURDA
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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hasnakourda/
Twitter: @hasnakourda - https://twitter.com/hasnakourda
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SAVE YOUR WARDROBE
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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saveyourwardrobe/?hl=en
Website: https://www.saveyourwardrobe.com/
Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/saveyrwardrobe
Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/saveyourwardrobe/
Save Your Wardrobe has a new partnership with Zalando - https://zalandocareandrepair.saveyourwardrobe.com/
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FOLLOW ME ON
-------------------------------
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariahvo/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariahvo/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/mhvorostovsky
HVO Search: www.hvosearch.com
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Need help HIRING - head over to - www.hirewithmaria.com
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LEAVE A REVIEW:
If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts make sure to Follow, Rate, and leave a REVIEW.
The best review will get a mention in the next episode!
Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/cruen/in-the-nowLicense code: SDXCT4ELUCOHZOKN

Apr 14, 2022 • 49min
#27 Saying No To Investors Even When You Have No Money Isn’t Always A Mistake: Hasna Kourda, Founder SYW
Hasna Kourda, the Tunisian born Founder of Save Your Wardrobe, is considered, methodical and pragmatic. A recovering perfectionist.
She has been fighting the good fight about customer consumption and the importance of circularity way before it became fashionable.
With only 2% of funding going to female founders she had to learn on the go how to pitch for her idea (in the early years even sending her husband in to ‘look’ like the lead) and assess investors on whether they are right for her business in the first place.
She learnt that saying ‘no’ to investors even when you have no money isn’t always a mistake and that separating yourself from your business is important to keep your sanity.
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EPISODE #27:
-------------------------------
You can listen to the full episode here OR
WATCH it on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCC-YIz5pEMM9vigbYOxK2Kw
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WE DISCUSS
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02:35 - Your first job and early years
05:56 - Starting Saving My Wardrobe
10:04 - Surprises about skills
12:09 - Working with few resources / parallel with sustainability
13:37 - Raising funds
16:57 - Creating a balance when your husband is also your business partner
24:08 - Hiring the best people
28:26- How are you different now from when you started?
29:53 - What do you wish you learnt sooner?
33:31 - Mistakes that shape you
36:49 - What does leadership mean to you?
42:09 - Any misconceptions about you?
43:59 - Impossible question
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HASNA KOURDA
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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hasnakourda/
Twitter: @hasnakourda - https://twitter.com/hasnakourda
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SAVE YOUR WARDROBE
-----------------------------------------
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saveyourwardrobe/?hl=en
Website: https://www.saveyourwardrobe.com/
Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/saveyrwardrobe
Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/saveyourwardrobe/
Save Your Wardrobe has a new partnership with Zalando - https://zalandocareandrepair.saveyourwardrobe.com/
-------------------------------
FOLLOW ME ON
-------------------------------
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariahvo/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariahvo/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/mhvorostovsky
HVO Search: www.hvosearch.com
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Need help HIRING - head over to - www.hirewithmaria.com
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LEAVE A REVIEW:
If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts make sure to Follow, Rate, and leave a REVIEW.
The best review will get a mention in the next episode!
Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/cruen/in-the-nowLicense code: SDXCT4ELUCOHZOKN

Dec 23, 2021 • 53min
#26 Being CEO to a Creative Founder - Sarah Crook, ex-CEO Christopher Kane, Dundas & Stella McCartney
Sarah Crook is a brand builder through and through having worked with Club 21 (Prada, Armani, Donna Karan), Stella McCartney, Christopher Kane and Peter Dundas.
In Episode 26 which concludes Season2, Sarah and I talk about what first time CEOs should be thinking about when working with creatives especially if they are the founders, building trust and honing that gut instinct.
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EPISODE #26:
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You can listen to the full episode here OR
WATCH it on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCC-YIz5pEMM9vigbYOxK2Kw
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WE DISCUSS:
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01:22 - Sarah’s favourite brand she worked with
04:25 - What’s the most important part to building a brand?
09:08 - Biggest lesson from Club 21
13:12 - Working with Stella McCartney
18:15 - First CEO role
20:21 - Toughest decision as a CEO
31:31 - Creating a great relationship with a Creative Founder
38:00 /37:39 - Failure
41:25 - How to build a great team
44:57 - What is leadership in 3 words
46:47 - Advice to younger self
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SARAH CROOK
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LinkedIn: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-crook-2211b47/
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FOLLOW ME ON:
-------------------------------
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariahvo/
Instagram: @MariaHvo - https://www.instagram.com/mariahvo/
Twitter: @MHvorostovsky - https://twitter.com/mhvorostovsky
Clubhouse: @MariaHvo - https://www.clubhouse.com/@mariahvo
HVO Search: www.hvosearch.com
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Get in touch if you need help HIRING your senior leadership team
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LEAVE A REVIEW:
If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts make sure to Subscribe, Rate, and leave a REVIEW.
The best review will get a mention in the next episode!

Dec 22, 2021 • 2min
TRAILER for #26 Being CEO to a Creative Founder - Sarah Crook, ex-CEO Christopher Kane, Dundas & Stella McCartney
Sarah Crook is a brand builder through and through having worked with Club 21 (Prada, Armani, Donna Karan), Stella McCartney, Christopher Kane and Peter Dundas.
In this Episode we talk about what first time CEOs should be thinking about when working with creatives especially if they are the founders, building trust and honing that gut instinct.
-------------------------------
EPISODE #26:
-------------------------------
You can listen to the full episode here OR
WATCH it on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCC-YIz5pEMM9vigbYOxK2Kw
-------------------------------
WE DISCUSS:
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-----------------------------------------
SARAH CROOK
-----------------------------------------
LinkedIn: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-crook-2211b47/
-------------------------------
FOLLOW ME ON:
-------------------------------
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariahvo/
Instagram: @MariaHvo - https://www.instagram.com/mariahvo/
Twitter: @MHvorostovsky - https://twitter.com/mhvorostovsky
Clubhouse: @MariaHvo - https://www.clubhouse.com/@mariahvo
HVO Search: www.hvosearch.com
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Get in touch if you need help HIRING your senior leadership team
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LEAVE A REVIEW:
If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts make sure to Subscribe, Rate, and leave a REVIEW.
The best review will get a mention in the next episode!

Dec 9, 2021 • 42min
#25 Improve Your Memory with Mnemonic Techniques from 8x Memory Champion - Boris Nikolai Konrad
Boris Nikolai Konrad is a memory expert, neuroscientist, author, award winning international keynote speaker, 8x world memory champion and is listed in the Guinness Book of Records four times.
When he was at school he discovered his ‘gift’ for memorising. Through consistent practice he entered many memory competitions as an amateur and eventually beat several world records, one of which is memorising 215 names to the corresponding faces within 15 minutes.
He credits him excelling at university, completing his PHD, becoming a neuroscientist in the field of memory and speaking many languages to having started his memory training early in life.
I sat down with Boris to talk about how his brain is different to regular people like me, what memory is and how you can harness the power of memory in your everyday life.
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EPISODE #25:
-------------------------------
You can listen to the full episode here OR
WATCH it on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCC-YIz5pEMM9vigbYOxK2Kw
-------------------------------
WE DISCUSS:
-------------------------------
01:45 - Intro
03:16 - What is memory?
04:07 - Where is memory located?
05:07 - Why do we need memory?
06:00 - What’s the point of improving memory?
08:05 - How can we improve our memory?
12:16 - Can everyone learn mnemonics?
15:02 - Why train memory when we have access to all information online?
19:44 - Why did Boris get into mnemonics?
24:27 - What did Boris do differently?
28:04 - The education system
31:41 - Advice to leaders
34:34 - Advice to younger self
35:43 - What is the number 1 thing that holds people back?
39:26 - The Impossible Question
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BORIS NIKOLAI KONRAD
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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bokonrad/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/borisnikolaikonrad/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/borisnkonrad
Website: boriskonrad.com
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RESOURCES
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How to use memory techniques to improve education https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qIBe0h0-Ig
"Method of Loci" Memory Training https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jF1BR_CDrxU
-------------------------------
FOLLOW ME ON:
-------------------------------
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariahvo/
Instagram: @MariaHvo - https://www.instagram.com/mariahvo/
Twitter: @MHvorostovsky - https://twitter.com/mhvorostovsky
Clubhouse: @MariaHvo - https://www.clubhouse.com/@mariahvo
HVO Search: www.hvosearch.com
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Get in touch if you need help HIRING your senior leadership team
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LEAVE A REVIEW:
If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts make sure to Subscribe, Rate, and leave a REVIEW.
The best review will get a mention in the next episode!

Dec 8, 2021 • 2min
TRAILER for #25 Improve Your Memory with Mnemonic Techniques from 8x Memory Champion - Boris Nikolai Konrad
Boris Nikolai Konrad is a memory expert, neuroscientist, author, award winning international keynote speaker, 8x world memory champion and is listed in the Guinness Book of Records four times.
When he was at school he discovered his ‘gift’ for memorising. Through consistent practice he entered many memory competitions as an amateur and eventually beat several world records, one of which is memorising 215 names to the corresponding faces within 15 minutes.
He credits him excelling at university, completing his PHD, becoming a neuroscientist in the field of memory and speaking many languages to having started his memory training early in life.
I sat down with Boris to talk about how his brain is different to regular people like me, what memory is and how you can harness the power of memory in your everyday life.
EPISODE #25:
You can listen to the full episode here OR
WATCH it on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCC-YIz5pEMM9vigbYOxK2Kw
-----------------------------------------
BORIS NIKOLAI KONRAD
-----------------------------------------
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bokonrad/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/borisnikolaikonrad/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/borisnkonrad
Website: boriskonrad.com
-------------------------------
RESOURCES
-------------------------------
How to use memory techniques to improve education https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qIBe0h0-Ig
"Method of Loci" Memory Training https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jF1BR_CDrxU
-------------------------------
FOLLOW ME ON
-------------------------------
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariahvo/
Instagram: @MariaHvo - https://www.instagram.com/mariahvo/
Twitter: @MHvorostovsky - https://twitter.com/mhvorostovsky
Clubhouse: @MariaHvo - https://www.clubhouse.com/@mariahvo
HVO Search: www.hvosearch.com
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Get in touch if you need help HIRING your senior leadership team
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LEAVE A REVIEW:
If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts make sure to Subscribe, Rate, and leave a REVIEW.
The best review will get a mention in the next episode!

Nov 25, 2021 • 1h 8min
#24 Your Customer Service Sucks: The Lost Art of Selling in Retail, Customer Centricity & Metaverse Shopping w/ Martin Newman
Martin Newman is The Customer Champion, working tirelessly to make sure your customer service doesn’t suck. He is a keynote speaker, author, and founder Practicology - a leading e-commerce and multichannel consultancy business.
In Episode #24 we spoke about what companies do wrong when it comes to customer service (I learnt that it all starts from within), what consumer centricity is and how using tech isn’t always the best strategy. Oh, and we touch on the Metaverse and how that will shape the shopping experience.
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EPISODE #24:
-------------------------------
You can listen to the full episode here OR
WATCH it on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCC-YIz5pEMM9vigbYOxK2Kw
-------------------------------
WE DISCUSS:
-------------------------------
02:27 - Martin’s first job
08:40 - What Martin learnt from his father
12:40 - What is customer centricity?
23:53 - What should flailing retailers be doing now?
31:10 - Mistakes when using tech in customer service
35:34 - Why shop in a store now?
40:14 - How will the Metaverse shape the shopping environment?
44:19 - How leaders can ‘sell’ better
54:10 - What’s keeping Martin awake at night
01:01:04 - How CEOs should be remunerated now
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MARTIN NEWMAN
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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martindnewman/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MNConsumerChampion
Twitter: https://twitter.com/martinnewman
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/consumerchampion/
Email: martin@martinnewman.co.uk
-------------------------------
FOLLOW ME ON:
-------------------------------
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariahvo/
Instagram: @MariaHvo - https://www.instagram.com/mariahvo/
Twitter: @MHvorostovsky - https://twitter.com/mhvorostovsky
Clubhouse: @MariaHvo - https://www.clubhouse.com/@mariahvo
HVO Search: www.hvosearch.com
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Get in touch if you need help HIRING your senior leadership team
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LEAVE A REVIEW:
If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts make sure to Subscribe, Rate, and leave a REVIEW.
The best review will get a mention in the next episode!

Nov 24, 2021 • 2min
TRAILER for #24 Your Customer Service Sucks: The Lost Art of Selling in Retail w/ Martin Newman, The Customer Champion
Martin Newman is The Customer Champion, working tirelessly to make sure your customer service doesn’t suck. He is a keynote speaker, author, and founder Practicology - a leading e-commerce and multichannel consultancy business.
In Episode #24 we spoke about what companies do wrong when it comes to customer service (I learnt that it all starts from within), what consumer centricity is and how using tech isn’t always the best strategy. Oh, and we touch on the Metaverse and how it will shape the shopping experience.
-------------------------------
EPISODE #24:
-------------------------------
You can listen to the full episode here OR
WATCH it on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCC-YIz5pEMM9vigbYOxK2Kw
-------------------------------
MARTIN NEWMAN
-------------------------------
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martindnewman/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MNConsumerChampion
Twitter: https://twitter.com/martinnewman
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/consumerchampion/
Email: martin@martinnewman.co.uk
-------------------------------
FOLLOW ME ON
-------------------------------
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariahvo/
Instagram: @MariaHvo - https://www.instagram.com/mariahvo/
Twitter: @MHvorostovsky - https://twitter.com/mhvorostovsky
Clubhouse: @MariaHvo - https://www.clubhouse.com/@mariahvo
HVO Search: www.hvosearch.com
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Get in touch if you need help HIRING your senior leadership team
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LEAVE A REVIEW:
If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts make sure to Subscribe, Rate, and leave a REVIEW.
The best review will get a mention in the next episode!


