The Business Leader Podcast

Chris Donnelly is the co-founder of Lottie, the care home comparison platform that has changed the sector forever. Previously the founder of VERB, a digital marketing agency for luxury and premium brands, Chris has been on the receiving end of numerous accolades, including being named in Forbes’ 30 under 30 in 2020.He hit the headlines across the country for giving staff the day off to go to the pub when the world opened up after a lockdown. But Chris Donnelly has a strong track record of cultivating a positive workplace culture. His employees get time off if they suffer a miscarriage or are going through IVF. Chris is one of the most reflective and open guests we've had on the podcast. This is our conversation with 'Britain's best boss'.Here's what we discussed:What was it like getting the title of 'Britain’s Best Boss'? (01:29)You let men and women alike take time off if they suffer a miscarriage, and you recognise IVF treatment and adoption as times employees can have time off too – why is it important to recognise these moments in the workplace? (02:20)Your business partner is your brother. How has the experience of running a business with a family been for you? (03:51)How do you vet care homes to ensure they aren't just paying lip service to residents? (08:07)Lottie is now valued at £45m and it was founded at the beginning of 2021. What is the secret to scaling so rapidly? (10:38)You recently acquired another company Found for £1.5m. Were there any challenges you faced during this experience? (13:40)Do you have any tips for people going through the process of an IPO? (16:24)You post a lot about workplace culture on LinkedIn. What kind of workplace culture do you try to cultivate and why is it essential for business leaders to consider culture as important? (20:49)Have you experienced backlash from your well-publicised incentives for your employees, such as having the day off after the lockdowns or letting people have time off for IVF treatment? (23:47)Where did you the motivation to start luxury marketing agency VERB? (25:59)You achieved funding for Lottie from some big names – (Angel and Zoopla exec David Wascha and former Airbnb and Facebook Director Caroline Hudack and Monzo founder Tom Blomfield to name a few) – how can listeners attract the attention of big-name investors? (30:11)What is the hardest thing about being a business founder? How have you overcome this challenge? (37:12)Answer the Internet: What do CEOs do all day? (40:08)What makes a great business leader? (41:30)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 you talk to Steve Oliver, the Founder and CEO of musicMagpie, you can see, hear and feel how the upbringing he received from his parents and the links they built between the business they ran and the community they serve, has influenced him. Operating with a sense of purpose and duty, we met with him at his office to talk about his business, his recent IPO and his views on a whole host of topics.Here's what we discussed:Could you tell us about your upbringing? (00:31)Your father owning a post office must have had an influence on you? (01:53)Do you feel time is repeating itself and you’re a community-driven businessman now? (03:15)Moving onto musicMagpie, the business had thirty shops initially, but you took the brave decision to close these and go fully online. Could you tell us about this? (04:32)How long did it take to make the decision? (06:14)Moving forward, can you tell us why you felt an IPO was the right thing for the business? (08:09)What is your advice to anybody considering an IPO? (11:27)Did you let your staff know that you were going through the process to IPO? (15:13)Has your leadership style changed since you've become a listed company? (16:55)You have spoken a lot about musicMagpie’s commitment to sustainability – where does this passion come from? (18:46)Do you feel the role you play is insignificant though - if Russia, China, the USA, Brazil and India don’t act, for example? (21:05)Should there be harsher punishments for companies that greenwash or don’t act now? (22:10)What is the next big challenge that you want to undertake? (22:58)Revenues have dipped recently – can you tell us why? (24:47)Are you able to attract the talent you need being based in Stockport? (28:04)What is your view on working in the office or remotely? (29:21)You mentioned leadership there - do you believe the command-and-control style of leadership is dying out? Will we see another Sir Alex Ferguson? (32:03)Could you tell us about your expansion into the US? And do you have aspirations of further global expansion? (34:18)Is your management style different in the UK and US? (36:20)Do you feel that Britain is becoming less great? (38:14)In your opinion is broken Britain fixable? (40:27)What do you do to relax and switch off? (41:55)What makes a great business leader? (43:37)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 an award-winning leadership coach, speaker, educator, and author of the book Real Wins, which draws on her experience coaching in sport, government, and education. She has had roles spanning across these sectors and has transformed the lives of professionals, young people, athletes, and the internal culture of many organisations. Her pioneering work and coaching and leadership programmes have transformed the lives of professionals, young people, athletes and the culture of many organisations.This is our conversation with Michelle Moore.Here's what we discussed:Can you tell me about your experience from school age to where you are now? (01:03)How can someone identify what their own individual values are? (13:43)Why do you think it's so important to "define success on your own terms"? (17:18)Within entrepreneurialism, many business leaders feel they need to be high functioning in every aspect of their life. Is this culture problematic? (23:08)What did your experience as an athlete teach you about life? (27:59)What are your top tips or techniques for dealing with adversity? (31:07)What lessons should you take away from a 'win'? (34:43)Answer the Internet: Where does self-worth come from in a person? (40:48)What makes a great business leader? (43:07)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.

The business world's attitude towards mental health has undergone a sizeable transformation in the past decade. But one young entrepreneur is refusing to accept the slow rate of change and "one-size-fits-all" approach.Our guest for this episode founded an app offering 1:1 therapy, counselling and career coaching sessions after suffering depression due to an undiagnosed health issue. MyndUp now services over 50,000 employees from global brands, including Savills, Dentons, CVC, The Prince’s Trust, and Avast.This is our conversation with MyndUp founder and CEO, Joel Gujral.Here's what we discussed:You’ve been open about your struggle with mental health and how this motivated you to start MyndUp – what was your experience like and how did it lead you to this point? (0:55)What was your own personal journey and story to founding the business? (04:34)How did failure in your early businesses affect your scaling of MyndUp? (06:25)Do you think society’s understanding of mental health is flawed? (09:38)Do you think there needs to be this double-edged approach to mental health - psychology and life coach? (11:15)What impact has the pandemic had on mental health? (12:38)Are large organisations just paying lip service providing mental health services or does it even matter because employees are benefitting? (14:03)Could offering good mental health support help a business? Such as improved productivity and team cohesion? (15:28)Have mental health issues risen or are we just more aware of them? (17:07)Is flexible working good or bad for mental health, or is it too soon to tell? (20:06)What can business leaders do to support their team members when it comes to mental health? (21:55)What are the strengths of being a young entrepreneur? (24:55)Do you have advice for young entrepreneurs who may experience imposter syndrome because of their age? (26:00)How did you secure funding? (27:27)How do you balance your own mental wellbeing whilst being the CEO of a company? (30:44)Answer the Internet: How much does it cost to create an app? (35:55)What makes a great business leader? (37:14)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.

The world of investment. The confusing old boys club - or at least that's the perception. Is that a fair characterisation? In this episode, we talk to a renowned chairman and non-executive director who's literally written the book about the world of investors.David Pattison cut his teeth in the world of advertising and has now become one of the UK's leading voices for young businesses. A graduate of Harvard Business School, David has been on all sides of the M&A process, including leading two exits with significant multiples, managing mergers, building international networks, working with private equity and venture capital, fundraising, acquiring businesses and running large multi-country P&Ls. His new book The Money Train explains everything founders need to know about investors and is a must-read for business leaders.Here's what we discussed:How did your time at Harvard Business School set you up to be an entrepreneur? (01:00)Is intuition a big part of what makes a successful entrepreneur? (06:02)What was the experience of scaling your own business like? (10:03)Should entrepreneurs think about their exit strategy when they are starting? (15:07)What is the most common or biggest mistake entrepreneurs make? (18:00)Say an entrepreneur has just set up a business – how can they know which type of investor to seek out? (21:50)What are the most common challenges businesses have in investment and how do they overcome it? (25:45)In your book, you distinguish between a rational and emotional investor – what differentiates these two types of investors? (29:59)Can a business that goes through the process of due diligence before an investment become a better business? (33:59)How can people effectively scale their business and achieve funding during a recession? (36:33)Answer the Internet: Why do people invest in making businesses when they would probably get a better return and far less hassle with even a conservative diversified stock portfolio? (41:10)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.

From being a Special Forces Lieutenant Colonel to founding an innovative cyber security and data analytics company, Oz Alashe MBE has solidified his place as one of the UK's leading voices in the tech sector.A man who's made a name for himself walking the walk, Oz has a passion for cyber security, impactful leadership and social equality. His background has given him a unique insight into the socio-technical realities and human aspect of cyber security.He also has a decorated track record of developing strategy, driving innovation and leading implementation in both the public and private sectors. Here's what we discussed:What inspired you to get into cyber security? (0:44)How has your military experience transcended the world of cyber security? (03:13)What are currently the most common cybersecurity threats? (05:36)What exposed you to the world of tech and led you to set up your company? (07:42)Why do you feel it's important to focus on human errors and the roles humans play in cyber threats? (10:51)What are the most common human-caused errors that open up a business to the threat of cyber attacks? (13:10)What can businesses do to reduce the risk of cyber attacks? (17:10)How has the pandemic and working from home impacted the threat of cyber attacks? (21:59)How will cyber threats change in the future? (24:37)You've recently raised £22.4m in a Series B funding round. Could you tell us what the process was like and do you have any tips for other founders going through that process? (29:56)How has your leadership style and technique changed as your business has grown? (34:56)Answer the Internet: Why aren't cyber attacks something worthy of a declaration of war? (39:35)What makes a great business leader? (41:37)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.

You're 26. You've just founded your own company. You've just met the love of your life. And then you find out you're going blind. Liz Jackson MBE is not your usual entrepreneur. Today is Co-Owner and Sales and Marketing Director and Co-Owner of global mergers and acquisitions company BCMS, but there is so much more to her story than that.This is her story in her words and an episode of The Business Leader Podcast you will not want to miss.Here's what we discussed:What has your journey been like from when you were at school to now? (01:01)Did you have any role models growing up who inspired you? (03:56)Can you explain how you went blind at the age of 26? (05:40)How did you overcome that challenge and maintain the confidence of your teams when this happened? (09:03)What is the most common mistake made by businesses during a merger or acquisition? (12:31)What risks should business leaders avoid that could affect an exit? (19:17)What are some of the unique challenges in acquiring a business overseas? (21:31)Could you tell us about Diamonds and Colours? (22:47)Is there something fundamentally unique and beneficial about being a female leader? (25:54)What would you say is the most significant realisation you’ve had about being a leader? (29:48)Why is it important for an entrepreneur to not treat their business like their baby? (35:23)What advice do you have for female leaders or entrepreneurs that are looking to get into executive roles but may lack confidence? (38:43)Answer the Internet: In a business merger, what happens to the executives in each of the companies? (41:55)What makes a great business leader? (42:56)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.

Vegan. A polarising word that has divided people for decades. No matter where you stand on the spectrum of feeling toward veganism, it's largely accepted that the cause has an image problem. Confrontational. Angry: these are just a few of the terms regularly associated with the movement. Earthling Ed, aka Ed Winters, is well aware of this and has become a beacon for the cause with his speech and debate style. His viral debates and stream of content have amassed millions of views online. Ed has spoken at over 1/3 of UK universities and has taught as a guest lecturer at Harvard University in both 2019 and 2020. He's also founded two restaurants and an animal sanctuary, housing over 100 animals rescued from slaughterhouses. In this episode, we talk to Ed about the power of persuasion, using empathy to connect with people in conversations and much more.Here's what we discussed:Can you tell us about your journey to becoming vegan? (01:08)Can you tell us about your journey to becoming known/famous? (02:55)You are known for your videos debating the public about their views on veganism. Has your debate style changed the longer you've done these? (06:14)Have you always had the type of personality to put yourself out there in front of people to seek a solution? (10:03)What skills do you need to be someone who can debate in a healthy way? (14:01)How can you ensure that you don't miss the point of what someone is trying to communicate by being offended? (17:43)Many of our listeners are business owners who need to utilise the power of persuasion to get people to believe in their idea and help them secure funding. How have you mastered the power of persuasion? (25:50)How did you develop your own personal brand into something that now makes you money and sustains you? (28:36)How can you really make sure that every aspect of your business's supply chain is living up to its claim to be ethical and sustainable? (33:51)What is an example of a brand that is saying that they are ethical and sustainable and actually living up to this? (38:16)Do entrepreneurs ever pitch to you for investment? (42:37)Have you looked for investors in your business ventures? (44:53)Answer the Internet: Can you explain the argument that consumers should be responsible for climate change when 100 companies are responsible for most of the emissions? (45:49)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 the man who helped orchestrate the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan teach you about improving your business? The answer is quite a lot. The guest on this episode is Chris Paton, who has had roles in the French Ministry of Defence, UK Ministry of Defence, and the Royal Marines before founding a consultancy that supports businesses to become more effective and improve their culture and performance.Here's what we discussed:Can you tell me a bit about your path to founding and now working as the MD of Quirk Solutions? (00:53)Is there a parallel between the types of people that go into the army and then the types of people that go into business? (04:09)What are the characteristics of a great leader? (06:48)How did you end up in the military and what was your experience like? (09:59)How can a business leader enable their team to work in an effective way without micromanaging? (13:00)You helped businesses adjust back to a post-pandemic world. So many companies and organisations would talk about how this was an opportunity to reset and reshape the way they operate for the better – have you witnessed this? (17:00)From your work, do you think there is a common mistake most or many businesses make? (20:07)Now businesses face a potential economic crisis and supply chain crisis caused by the pandemic, the war in Ukraine and lockdowns in China. What advice would you give to a business on how to navigate this? (28:46)Do you think gaming is something that businesses should do regardless of big 'norm-changing' events like the pandemic? (36:09)Answer the Internet: Am I a bad employee or I’m at the wrong place? (41:19)What makes a great business leader? (44:04)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.

Thursday. The company that’s stolen a day of the week and reinvented the way that dating apps work. Imagine creating a business model where your product only works one day a week. It’s not exactly the recommended strategy in any business manual but for the past few years, dating app Thursday has taken social media by storm with their viral stunts and unique personality. The company is happy not fitting in with the norm and founders George Rawlings and Matt McNeill Love have serious ambition. If you think you know Thursday and its story, think again. If you’ve never heard of them, it’s time to pay attention. This is an interview you won’t want to miss.In this exclusive interview, we sat down with the founders of Thursday to discuss their fast-growing brand, the funding landscape, their approach to marketing and much more.Here's what we discussed:Could you tell us about your background before setting up Thursday? (00:42)What led you to start a dating app? (03:28)For those who don't know what the app is, could you talk us through the user journey? (07:39)Are you worried that the idea for Thursday doesn't have the longevity you'd hope? (12:38)How have you funded the business to this point, and do you have any tips for people going through the process of raising? (14:53)Could you tell us about your approach to marketing and if it's got you into any hot water? (24:50)How do you generate your marketing ideas? (28:15)How do your personal brands fit into the overall brand identity of Thursday? (29:58)How does the wording and attitude towards marketing compare between the UK and US? (34:10)Everyone’s very quick to claim to be offended. Do people need to chill out more and can brands like yours help achieve this? (36:30)Being co-founders can be tricky. Do you two ever clash? (37:30)Do you worry that you'll lose the energy and vibe you have as the business continues to grow? (38:37)You're still only a year or so in but do you think about an exit or IPO? (39:21)Have you considered other verticals outside of dating, such as business networking? (40:27)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.