The Business Leader Podcast

We sat down for a chat with Martin Chilcott. Martin has founded the largest sustainable business community in the world. He’s devoted much of his career to helping businesses develop efficient and sustainable practices. He is now the founder and CEO of his own carbon reduction platform, Manufacture 2030.Here's what we discussed during our discussion:Clearly sustainability is a big part of your life, is that a drive that came from your younger years and what was life like for you growing up? (01:02)What was it like in your early years in business when sustainability wasn't the topic it is now? Was it intimidating being in the industry? (06:04)What was the point at which you realised 2Degrees could be a success? (09:24)Can you tell us what Manufacture 2030 does and why it’s important? (14:24)Do you feel that despite many businesses wanting to become more sustainable there is a lack of education about how to do this? (19:41)Which companies are demonstrating note-worthy sustainability best practices? (25:21)What does net-zero really mean and what can any business do to make an effort towards being net-zero? (28:15)Are governments doing enough to put pressure on businesses to become more sustainable? (33:03)What impact does the pandemic and the war in Ukraine have on sustainable manufacturing and efficient supply chains? (34:53)Is it possible to tax companies for the amount of greenhouse gasses they produce? (37:19)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.

We sat down for a chat with Alice Stephenson: founder and CEO of Stephenson Law. Alice has shaken up the legal sector by creating a law firm that breaks down stereotypes, challenges the perception of who a lawyer is, and removed the stuffiness involved in the legal environment. She aims to empower lawyers to challenge tradition and encourage innovation in the legal sector.Here's what we discussed during our discussion:What made you interested in becoming a lawyer? (01:19)What was your journey to where you are now as the founder of Stephenson Law? (02:03)What about being in law put you off and what struggles did you face in the sector before founding your own firm? (04:08)What can be done to make the law sector diverse? (07:08)You made the decision to switch to remote working during the pandemic. Would you go back to an office or have you been sold on the upsides of remote working? (09:05)Social media has become a big part of your brand and you have become so integral to the brand of Stephenson Law as a result. Is being a brand ambassador a good or bad thing? (10:48)How has the legal sector responded to you being unconventional/fitting outside of what we usually perceive as a lawyer? (12:35)Do you still do legal work or are you managing the business? (14:45)Why is going against the grain of the corporate legal sector important? (17:19)How have you, as a remote working business, been able to encourage employees to have a good work/life balance? (20:19)Do you think there is toxicity around gender roles and stereotypes in the law sector and what can be done to change this? (23:19)What's the one thing that gets you out of bed every morning? (26:43)How can people follow your journey? (27:18)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.

We sat down with Olympic mental performance coach Charlie Unwin. Unwin was an athlete and platoon commander in Iraq before becoming a mental performance coach for various GB Olympic teams. He is also a speaker and has recently released a book ‘Inside-Out: Train Your Mind and Nerve Like A Champion’, where he shares how anyone can program their mind to achieve their full potential.Here's what we discussed during our discussion:Your new book Inside Out: Train Your Mind and Nerve Like A Champion has recently been released. Would you be able to explain to our listeners what an Inside Out mindset is and what an Outside In mindset is? (0:48)How does the Inside Out mindset differ from an Outside In mindset? (03:24)One of the themes that is integral to this concept is that the quality of practice is more important than the quantity of practice and the goal. How does the Inside Out mindset align with these ideas? (08:47)Is social media stopping us from having an Inside Out mindset? (16:08)Why is our relationships with ourselves important? And how can people make their self-talk better? (21:34)Is the way we are understanding the capacity of our minds is changing? (26:00)Is Virtual Reality a visualisation crutch or tool? (32:11)You speak about approaching adversity with a challenge response as opposed to a fight or flight response. Can you explain what this means? (35:01)Is there a particular story or person that you’ve worked with that are memorable to you? (38:39)Answer the Internet: How can people turn negative things into motivation? (42:14)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.

We paid a visit to Matt Hancock MP to get his views on all things business. Best known for his role as Health Secretary, Matt also says he is looking to come back to his roots in business – having previously worked at the Bank of England and seeing first-hand his parents’ experience of the ups and downs of running a company. In the interview, Matt talks about the work he is doing around dyslexia, FinTech and cryptocurrency; and the headwinds hitting the UK economy.Here’s what we covered in our chat with Matt Hancock MP- Who is Matt Hancock? (0:28)-  You're dyslexic and you have been doing a lot of work around this. Could you tell us about this?  (1:13)- Many successful business leaders didn’t do well at school, but state education has been criticised for not focusing enough on business-focused skills and helping those that are different. Does more need to be done? (3:28)- Do you think the education system is too rigid because the set curriculum doesn’t work for everybody as we’ve discussed?  (5:03)- You mentioned your background at the Bank of England. What is your prognosis for the UK economy? (6:43)-  Can more be done to help with the issues businesses have around finding the talent they need? (9:56)- Do you think people will look back on how the events of 2020  and think that the government actually handled it well? (11:54)- What do you see as the biggest challenges for business leaders going forward? (14:34)- You have been talking a lot lately about crypto – why have you been doing that? (15:50)- Do you think that crypto might democratise investing? (18:25)- How do you compare the UK to the likes of the EU, USA and Singapore in terms of innovation? (20:05)- What is your message to investors who will be looking at the UK? (20:47)- There are unprecedented amounts of capital available to businesses but could this result in a consequence of companies not achieving product-market fit and raising for raising’s sake? (22:00)- What is your message to business leaders who have become disengaged with politics? (23:25)- Are there any business leaders that you admire? (24:35)- What is one fact about you that we can't find online? (25:25)Be sure to subscribe to 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.

Imagine sitting one desk over from Amazon founder, Jeff Bezos. What about being the former Executive Business Partner to Google CEO, Eric Schmidt. Or touring the world with high ranking Google executive and business icon Marissa Mayer? Ann Hiatt has worked with all of these legends of business, and her latest book catalogues the lessons she learnt from them.Ann Hiatt’s very first job was at 16 when she worked at a startup in Redmond, Washington called MusicWare – back when no one knew what a startup was. Growing up in Seattle during the original dot-com boom, surrounded by companies like Microsoft, Amazon and Starbucks was a master class in innovation and it changed the course of her life.Ann is a sought-after international speaker, angel investor and sits on several boards in the UK. Ann has recently relocated from Silicon Valley to Europe and brings with her a unique perspective on what it takes to succeed in business today.Order your copy of Ann’s book Bet on Yourself: Recognize, Own, and Implement Breakthrough Opportunities now.Here’s what we covered in our chat with Ann Hiatt- Why did you decide to write Bet on Yourself? (0:52) - The book starts with a frank admission that you nearly killed Jeff Bezos – you clearly didn’t but can you tell us about what it was like to work for Jeff and other leaders. What did you learn? How are they different?  (2:00) - Can you talk to us about what you see as a formula for success that we can take from these leaders?  (4:50) - Can you also tell us about how you were hired by Jeff Bezos – what was this process like? (7:13) - Can you give us any insight into how the top CEOs structured their day and was there anything in their routine that stood out? (10:23) - Building the right leadership team is one of the key ways to scale a company. Did you learn any lessons from Jeff Bezos, Marissa Mayer or Eric Schmidt about building a reliable and quality leadership team? (15:52) - You worked at Google & Amazon before they became the dominant forces they are today. Disruption of the norm is at the heart of both companies. What makes a disruptor in your mind? (18:00) - Resilience is a big topic in your book. How can people become more resilient? (20:13) - You worked in the US but now live in Spain. Do you notice a difference in the attitudes towards failure and do you think it should be less of a taboo topic in Europe? (23:47) - You mentioned that you met Shimon Peres and it had a profound impact on you. Could you tell us about this?  (28:34) Be sure to subscribe to 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.

Not many business leaders can say they’ve had bullets sent to them through the post, been poisoned by their nanny and arrested on multiple occasions.In this edition of Business Leader Insight, we talk with Jacqueline Gold CBE, Executive Chair of Ann Summers, at her Surrey home to talk business, legacy, resilience and much more.Daughter of West Ham United chairman David Gold, Jacqueline has blazed a trail of her own in her business career. She took Ann Summers from a small, seedy sex shop with four stores in the 1970s, to one of the UK’s iconic retail brands. Not only is she the face behind Ann Summers, which celebrates its 50th birthday this year, Jacqueline Gold is also widely-recognised as one of the UK’s leading businesswomen.Overcoming adversity and life-changing moments along the way, including losing her son at eight months old and fighting breast cancer, Jacqueline is a fierce champion for female empowerment in the bedroom and boardroom.Jacqueline is the driving force around #WOW (Women on Wednesday). #WOW offers a place for women to network and celebrate each other’s successes, whilst gaining support and advice to grow their businesses. Every week female entrepreneurs and small business owners can join in through Jacqueline’s Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn by tagging themselves or someone they know, telling them a bit about business, and using #WOW. Winners stand a chance to win a mentoring lunch with Jacqueline and a learning day at Ann Summers Head Office.Here's what we covered during the discussion:- What is keeping you busy at the moment? (0:39)- When did you first realise your father wasn’t somebody ordinary and your future would lie in business? (1:23)- What was the environment like when you first started at Ann Summers? (2:47)- Can you tell us about the Ann Summers party plan and the impact this had? (3:32)- You eventually became CEO and transformed the business – but did you ever find you had to battle against the notion you were given the business and the opportunity? (4:42)- The last few years has seen the rise to prominence of Onlyfans, with the top content creators making high 6-figures per month. Reflecting on the societal attitudes towards sex since you took over Ann Summers, how much do you believe they’ve changed? (6:57)- You have faced a lot of adversity in your life. Do you feel your resilience has been key to your success? (9:22)- How have you found networking throughout your business career? (12:53)- As a leader in retail and someone who's been in business for many years, take us back to the moment the Prime Minister announced that all retail stores had to close. What went through your mind? (14:10)- If you were 18 and had to start a business again today, what would you follow the same path you have or would you do things differently? (16:39)- Have you had to change Ann Summers to address the ESG agenda? (17:33)- What will Ann Summers look like in 30 years’ time and what would you like its legacy to be? (19:43)- You’ve blazed your own trail as a female business leader. Who has inspired you, whether in business or not? (22:10)- Do you have any business advice for our viewers? (24:13)- What is one fact about you that we can’t find online? (25:50)Be sure to subscribe to 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 making vegetable wreaths and running local Christmas fairs to revolutionising the landscape of e-commerce and encouraging thousands of small businesses to thrive, Holly Tucker MBE is not your average entrepreneur.In this edition of Business Leader Insight, we sit down for a one-on-one interview with the founder of notonthehighstreet and Holly & Co.Holly’s obsession with changing corporate landscape and its outdated business ‘rules’ led her to create Holly & Co, a small business advice and inspiration platform that has developed a supportive community of like-minded founders and entrepreneurs.Holly is also the author of a Sunday Times bestselling book called Do What You Love, Love What You Do, which helps demystify the grey world of business and helps anyone build a business doing what they love.Here's what we covered during our chat:- You spent some time abroad growing up. Could you tell us about this experience, and do you feel that it helped shape you into the person you are today? (0:56)- Notonthehighstreet came about at a time when e-commerce was still in its infancy. How did you find the experience of shaping a whole industry and where did that drive come from? (2:58)- Many leaders struggle to correctly identify when to give up or pivot correctly. How did you know to keep going with your idea? (6:04)- Could you tell us about your experience of raising money for notonthehighstreet? (8:20)- How did you find the transition of being in control of a company and bringing in others to help in leadership positions? (11:25)- Do you have any tips for leaders looking to build their personal brand? (14:58)- If someone is at home and has a great idea but no clue where to start, and you could only give them one piece of advice or area to focus on, what would that be? (18:47)- One of your key focuses with Holly & Co is to ‘bring colour to grey’. Where did this obsession stem from and why is it so important to you? (20:50)- As a business leader, what is your view on working from home vs. working in an office? (23:25)- You’re a very happy person. What makes you frustrated and upset? (25:03)- What direction is social media, and other marketing channels, heading in your opinion? (26:27)- What is one fact about you that people can’t find online? (28:18)Be sure to subscribe to 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.

Having founded brokerage house Stratton Oakmont in the late 80s, Belfort quickly grew the company to become the largest of its kind in the United States. Under Belfort’s leadership, the firm was known as one of the most dynamic and successful sales organisations in Wall Street history. It also grew to an almost unprecedented level, employing over 1,000 stockbrokers and raising over $1.5 bn.These dizzying heights were followed by a spectacular and well-publicised fall from grace. But today, Jordan Belfort’s legacy represents the ultimate redemption story. Not only was he portrayed by Leonard Dicaprio in The Wolf of Wall Street but he’s become one of the world’s leading motivational speakers, running sales training sessions that extend far beyond asking you to sell him a pen.Having recently joined the lucrative business of NFT’s, Belfort has completed a $440k purchase of a CryptoPunk and is quickly becoming known as a thought-leader in this space. In this exclusive Business Leader Insight interview, we talk to Jordan about leadership, NFT’s, cryptocurrency and much more.Here’s what we covered:In the movie, The Wolf of Wall Street, you were depicted as being a leader that people fiercely rallied around. What would be your advice for leaders looking to galvanise their business and take it to the next level? (0:40)Would you prefer people working from the office over people working from home? (3:13)What would be your motivational advice to salespeople that are going through a bit of a slump? (4:46)Do you think you need failure to be successful? (7:01)How different would your life have been if social media had been available earlier in your career? (8:04)Does the online hate you receive bug you at all? (8:59)The pandemic has seen an increase in people starting their own businesses. Do you believe the 9-5, Monday-Friday job will start to disappear? (10:26)You recently joined the lucrative business of NFT’s with a $440k purchase of a CryptoPunk – can you tell us about this? (12:54)What do you see NFT’s as and why should you invest in them? (14:35)If you gave us a crystal-ball look into the future, how long until NFTs are completely mainstream and blockchain used in other industries? (18:18)What would you say are the risks and downsides to NFT’s and the ‘Metaverse’? (20:42)What would you say are the differences and similarities between Wall Street and NFT’s? (24:34)If you could invest in anything, what would it be? (27:42)Who are the notable business leaders that you admire now? (29:25)What’s next for Jordan Belfort? (31:11)Any final words for our listeners Jordan? (32:22)Be sure to subscribe to 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 youngest ever Dragon, the number one business podcast in Europe, author of a Sunday Times Bestseller. Not bad for a university dropout.In this edition of Business Leader Insight, we went to London to talk to the newest addition to the cast of the BBC show Dragons’ Den.Steven Bartlett has been in the public eye for a number of years; founding, running, floating and then selling Social Chain, one of the UK’s fasting growing companies. Having amassed a social media following of over 2 million, Bartlett is also the host of ‘The Diary Of A CEO‘ podcast.Here’s what we covered:Could you tell us about your life growing up and before launching into the business world? (0:28)Where did you get the drive and mentality to launch The Social Chain at such a young age? (1:15)Can you have success without sacrifice and 80-hour weeks? (3:28)How have you managed to keep focused on your business endeavours and in a growth mindset? (5:04)How have you managed to shift your mindset from growing a business to growing a personal brand and do you have any tips for this? (7:00)What is happiness for you? (10:13)What would you say are the common characteristics in successful people? (12:56)What kind of investments are you looking to make on Dragons’ Den? (14:49)Have any guests really stood out to you on ‘The Diary Of A CEO’ podcast? (18:56)What would be your advice for businesspeople going through a difficult period? (20:40)Be sure to subscribe to 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.

Serial founder, presenter, connector, host… These are a handful of the hats worn by Oli Barrett MBE. He is a humble man, who’s curiosity has sparked an impressive career as a host and presenter. Oli has hosted large events such as London Tech Week, Silicon Valley Comes to the UK and rubbed shoulders with an array of leaders from around the world. However, the most impressive element of his networking is Oli’s skill of connecting people from very different organisations to solve big problems. He prides himself on ‘trying to make life-changing introductions’, even setting up ventures to help companies do this.Oli's latest venture, Turn On The Subtitles (TOTS), was a campaign set up to improve children’s literacy. It has an array of celebrity supporters such as Stephen Fry, Sandi Toksvig and Sir Lenny Henry but most impressively has made large companies such as Netflix, Sky and YouTube stand up and take notice.Here’s a breakdown of what we discussed in the interview:I mentioned in the introduction that you were called ‘the most connected man in Britain’. I have to ask, how many contacts do you have on your phone at the moment? (1:12)When someone mentions this, do you go “here we go again” or is this a title you wear as a badge of honour? (2:00)I just want to rewind back to your childhood. What was life like growing up and did you ever feel yourself being interested to the business world or was that not even a consideration back then? (2:48)And then it was on to university, what was your university experience like? (3:50)That’s such an interesting point, because if I said today on Business Leader Conversations I’ll be speaking to someone who dropped out of not one but 2 universities by the age of 23, many in the general public would label that a failure and that word has massively negative connotations. Whereas many in the business world see failure as the ultimate badge of honour. In the people you’ve come across, how important is failure and do you think attitudes about it be changed? (5:52)Hopping back to the schooling system in general, there’s been chatter for years about how it’s not preparing youngsters in the right way, whether that’s teaching them about taxes or that running a business is even an option for many of them. Do you think it’s time for an overhaul of the schooling system to better prepare children for the real world? (7:38)In doing the research at you, it’s glaringly obvious that there’s more to you then just being a connector. A lot of the businesses and causes you’ve been involved with have been set up to make other people’s lives better. Why is that so important to you and is that always something you’ve wanted to do? (9:42)I want to talk about Turn on the Subtitles now. This is a campaign that you set up with Henry Warren and has been a source of major change so far. Could you tell us about the campaign and its success to date? (11:52)You’ve spent a lot of time networking in other countries including the U.S. Are there any differences in the way things are done in business in the U.S that you believe should be brought over to the UK, whether that be a practice, a way of thinking or otherwise? (14:28)BUSINESS LEADERS ANSWER THE INTERNET’S QUESTIONS – Why are business people so mean? (16:55)What is the best advice you’ve ever received? (20:00)Who is the most famous businessperson in your phonebook? (21:18)Be sure to subscribe to 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.