40 Minute Mentor

“Never underestimate the power of a rant, if you’re going to do something about it.”In today’s bite-sized 40 Minute Mentor episode, we’re joined by fellow podcaster and good friend of JBM, Amardeep Parmar, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of BAE HQ. Amardeep has been on an incredible journey - from being a Tech consultant in 2020, to setting a New Year’s resolution which made him the second fastest writer to gain 50,000 followers on Medium.com. Now, he’s inspiring, connecting and guiding British Asian Entrepreneurs with BAE HQ. Today, Amardeep shared more about his journey and the crucial lessons he has learned along the way, including: ➡️ His traditional journey and accidental entrepreneurship [00:55] ➡️ Questioning your identity as a Founder [04:51] ➡️ A New Year’s resolution turned career [06:26] ➡️ Advice for aspiring writers [08:32] ➡️ How a rant with a friend paved the foundations for BAE HQ [10:05] ➡️ Scaling a not-for-profit and navigating the corporate landscape [12:34] ➡️ Connecting people for mutual success [15:26] ➡️ The secret sauce of community building [16:28] ➡️ A selection of stand out stories from BAE HQ [22:51] ⛳ Helpful links:➡️ Connect with Amardeep: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amardeepsparmar/➡️ Find out more about BAE HQ: https://www.thebaehq.com/ ➡️ Listen to the BAE HQ podcast: https://www.thebaehq.com/podcasts➡️ James Mitra on BAE HQ: https://www.thebaehq.com/podcasts/episode-51-james⭐Enjoyed this episode?⭐️Keep up to date with all our latest episodes, by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review on https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"You can have the best idea in the world with a bad team and you get nowhere, and you can have a really good team with a bad idea and you’ll probably make it into a good idea.” Doctor to Startup Founder... That’s not something we get to say a lot, so buckle in for today's episode! This week’s 40 Minute Mentor is Dr Sonia Szamocki, Founder and CEO of 32Co, the HealthTech revolutionising access to specialised healthcare services, by connecting general clinicians with a network of specialists. Sonia's very impressive journey has taken her from Oxford to a career as a clinician to jumping into the Founder seat, building the future of collaborative healthcare. She has grown 32Co 5x since April last year, and has recently secured £2.36 million in seed funding, led by Balderton Capital.Tune in to today's chat, to find out: ➡️ Podcast recommendation: Black Women Working [00:13] ➡️ Why being a Founder isn’t all that glamorous [05:02]➡️ Growing up in the Netherlands and becoming a Doctor [06:02]➡️ 32Co’s origin story [13:10]➡️ From an idea during Covid to growing a marketplace [22:50]➡️ Navigating false starts & the importance of a great team [26:18]➡️ Hiring advice & recruiting your first exec [29:00]➡️ The importance of getting Co-Founder matching right [36:45]➡️ Bootstrapping vs VC funding [38:05]➡️ Healthcare & AI [41:00]➡️ Audience Question: Why there shouldn’t be more Doctors moving into Founder seats [44:32] ⛳ Helpful links:➡️ Connect with Sonia: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-sonia-szamocki-a01790a9/➡️ Find out more about 32Co: https://www.32co.com  ⭐Enjoyed this episode?⭐️Keep up to date with all our latest episodes, by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review on https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"When you’re aligned on vision, values and strategic direction, you can achieve anything…”In this week’s bite-sized startup mentorship episode, we’re joined by Charlene Chen, JBM Board Advisor, COO of AZA Finance and Co-Founder of Operations Nation. Charlene is not only a brilliant COO, but also happens to be our very first 40 Minute Mentor guest, back when we started the podcast in 2019. In today’s episode, you’ll learn more about: ➡️ Charlene’s squiggly career to COO [01:06] ➡️ A full overview of the COO role [03:27] ➡️ The evolution and expansion of the COO role [07:05] ➡️ The essential skills any COO needs [09:26] ➡️ Making the leap from Head of Ops to COO [14:04] ➡️ Common challenges COOs face [16:16] ➡️ Building effective relationships across the C-Suite [22:13] ➡️ Resources any aspiring COO should check out [26:20]  ⛳ Helpful links:➡️ Connect with Charlene: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlenechen/➡️ Find out more about Operations Nation: https://operationsnation.com/➡️ Check out this year’s Ops Fest: https://operationsnation.com/events/international-ops-fest ➡️ Secure your seat at the annual cONference: https://lu.ma/cONference2023  ⭐Enjoyed this episode?⭐️Keep up to date with all our latest episodes, by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review on https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"There's some horrible sacrifices in the first few years to get it to a place where it's got to survive..."Today's 40 Minute Mentor epitomises what it means to be Tech for Good. We’re joined by Sanjay Lobo MBE, the Founder & CEO of OnHand - the all-in-one tool to engage your team in volunteering and environmental action. Dubbed the ‘Uber of volunteering’, OnHand lets employees learn and take action on the issues that matter. You may even recognise Sanjay from his recent appearance on BBC's Dragons’ Den, where he successfully secured investment from FOUR dragons. Here’s what we talk about in today’s episode:➡️ Finding his path to entrepreneurship [04:02]➡️ Moving from law into tech [06:58]➡️ How Parkinson's disease became Chapter 1 of the OnHand story [11:05]➡️ Engaging employees in volunteering and environmental action [13:45]➡️ The significance of a great team in a scaling business [15:08]➡️ Managing stress and pressures as a Founder [16:38]➡️ Business benefits of company-wide volunteering opportunities [22:08]➡️ Advert: More about JBM [25:36] ➡️ A Behind the Scenes look at Dragons’ Den [27:10]➡️ Working with the Dragons after the show [29:31]➡️ Advice for other Founders looking to get on Dragons’ Den [31:13] ➡️ Dealing with increased media attention [32:29] ➡️ Applying to OnHand [35:10] ➡️ Audience Question: Advice for anyone starting their volunteering journey [38:51]⛳ Helpful links:➡️ Connect with Sanjay: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sanjaylobo/➡️ Find out more about OnHand: https://www.beonhand.co.uk/ ⭐Enjoyed this episode?⭐️Keep up to date with all our latest episodes, by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review on https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

⚠️ Content Warning: This episode contains topics of mental health and suicide attempts, that may be harmful or traumatising to some audiences. If you’re affected by any of the topics discussed, please make sure you reach out to the helplines listed below. ⚠️ Suicide is a major public health problem, with far-reaching social, emotional and economic consequences. According to the World Health Organisation, there are currently more than 700,000 suicides per year worldwide. Following yesterday’s World Suicide Prevention Day and to play our part in breaking the perceived taboo of speaking about suicide, we’re releasing this special episode with clips from our conversation with Clarke Carlisle. Clarke is a former professional footballer, mental health advocate and ambassador for the mental health charity Mind. He has had an illustrious football career, having played for a number of top clubs, including Leeds United, Watford and Burnley, and winning three caps for England under 21s. Alongside all of this success, however, Clarke also had to deal with plenty of hardship, including serious injuries, his battle with depression and attempted suicide.  In today’s episode, Clarke shares more about his own experience with depression and suicide and his advice for anyone struggling with their mental health.  ⛳ Helpful links:➡️ Tune into the full episode with Clarke here: https://jbmc.co.uk/insights/40-minute-mentor/from-the-premier-league-to-mental-health-advocate-with-clarke-carlisle/➡️ More about the work Clarke and Carrie are doing: https://www.clarkeandcarrie.com/ ⭐Enjoyed this episode?⭐️Keep up to date with all our latest episodes, by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review on https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Everything I have done has centred around teams and individuals, and how do you get the most out of them…” Today’s 40 Minute Mentor is the brilliant Catherine Lenson, Angel Investor, Founder, Venture Partner at LocalGlobe and CEO of Andante Advisory. Catherine has had a hugely successful career, having spent her formative years at UBS and becoming the first female Managing Partner at SoftBank. Today, Catherine is the Founder and CEO of Andante Advisory, a boutique consultancy firm which operates as a trusted partner to senior executives and leading organisations on Culture, People and Purpose. She is also a Venture Partner at LocalGlobe, an angel investor in early-stage tech companies across the UK, US and Israel, and is the UK’s first Fair Play facilitator. Tune in to today’s episode to discover: ➡️ Reliving her days when a rogue trader almost brought down UBS [03:32] ➡️ The privilege of entrepreneurship [05:29] ➡️ From her love for music to Cambridge and ending up in London [06:39] ➡️ Scaling from 20 to 500 people in four years [10:04] ➡️ Becoming the first female Managing Partner at SoftBank [13:34] ➡️ Building a portfolio career [16:49] ➡️ Angel Investing and joining LocalGlobe [24:39] ➡️ Common culture mistakes [32:32] ➡️ Fair Play and creating more equality in the household [36:47]  ⛳ Helpful links:➡️ Connect with Catherine: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherine-lenson/➡️ Find out more about her work: https://www.catherinelenson.com/➡️ Find out more about LocalGlobe: https://localglobe.vc/ ⭐Enjoyed this episode?⭐️Keep up to date with all our latest episodes, by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review on https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“The most impactful piece of advice I got early on in my career was - You need to grow where you're planted.” In today’s bite-sized 40 Minute Mentor episode, we take a deep dive into a core component of any successful startup - the Go-To-Market (GTM) Strategy.To guide us through the essential components of building and executing a GTM strategy, we’re joined by Tarun Gidoomal. Tarun has led some of Europe’s most notable tech Scaleups, including Next Jump, where he led its international expansion to reach £3bn GMV, and more recently, at Ankorstore, where as UK GM he established its footprint in the UK as it became one of Europe’s fastest growing tech unicorns.  Today, Tarun shares more about: ➡️ His upbringing and career to date [01:30] ➡️ The fundamentals of a GTM Strategy [03:40] ➡️ Examples of successful GTM Strategies and mistakes made [06:38] ➡️ Getting buy-in across the team [10:31] ➡️ Questions to ask to assess your team culture [12:53] ➡️ The most impactful career advice he’s received [14:37] ➡️ Startup life and dealing with burnout [17:11]  ⛳ Helpful links:➡️ Connect with Tarun: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tarungidoomal/   🤫 P.S - It’s your FINAL chance to vote for us in this year’s Great British Podcast People’s Choice Awards. 🏆1. Click here: https://www.britishpodcastawards.com/voting 2. Type in '40 Minute Mentor' 3. Job done ✅ Your nomination would mean the world to us, so thank you in advance! 💙 ENTRIES CLOSE 5th SEPTEMBER ⭐Enjoyed this episode?⭐️Keep up to date with all our latest episodes, by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review on https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Founders are made to look like superheroes. They get up at 4am, meditate, take ice baths, work 100 hours a week… I think it's a super unhealthy culture."Today's 40 Minute Mentor shines a light on the realities of Founder life, and his passion for reframing how the world sees and perceives credit. We are excited to welcome Tim Chong, Co-Founder and CEO of Yonder, to the podcast. Yonder is on a mission to build a credit experience that empowers young people to live their best lives and build responsible spending habits, at the same time. Tune in to today’s episode to discover: ➡️ The unhealthy culture surrounding Founder life [03:53] ➡️ Growing up around computers and the influence on his tech journey [05:25] ➡️ Exploring the world and creating high impact as a consultant [07:33] ➡️ Pivoting from consultant to Founder [10:17] ➡️ How a revolutionised economy in Kenya started the story of Yonder [15:02] ➡️ How Yonder is supporting young people and their social lives via credit spend [21:35] ➡️ Tuning in to Founder interviews to scope out early stage challenges [26:50] ➡️ How to keep going during an economic downturn [29:57] ➡️ Selling the long-term thesis to win over investors [35:40] ➡️ The significant impact of early hires and Yonder’s culture [39:58] ⛳ Helpful links:➡️ Connect with Tim: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-chong/➡️ Find out more about Yonder: https://www.yondercard.com/ 🤫 P.S Has our podcast ever made you feel something? Like properly made you stop and FEEL the feels... Maybe it has opened your eyes to a new industry? Maybe it has inspired you to start your own venture? Or maybe it has you nodding along as you relate to so many of the challenges that our Founders have faced.... 🤝 Connecting, human to human, with our audience is absolutely paramount to our work behind the scenes at 40 Minute Mentor, which is why we would (shamelessly) love to have your vote in this year's Great British Podcast People's Choice awards. 🏆 1. Click here: https://www.britishpodcastawards.com/voting2. Type in '40 Minute Mentor' 3. Job done ✅ Your nomination would mean the world to us, so thank you in advance! 💙(VOTES CLOSE 5th SEPT) ⭐Enjoyed this episode?⭐️Keep up to date with all our latest episodes, by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review on https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“The traditional definition (of a Generalist) has been a ‘Jack of all trades’, which often comes with a negative connotation.”In today’s bite-sized 40 Minute Mentor episode, we’re joined by Milly Tamati to explore the rise of the Generalist. Milly is not only a Generalist, but a Community builder and Founder of Generalist World. Before leaning into all things Generalist, Milly built businesses all over the world, including co-owning a hostel in Thailand, a wine tour in Australia and an illustration agency in the UK. Today, we explore: ➡️ The making of her Generalist skill set  [01:33] ➡️ Defining what a Generalist really is [03:53] ➡️ Specialists vs Generalists [05:34] ➡️ Ending the “Jack of all trades” narrative [08:15] ➡️ Framing your Generalist career to employers [09:47] ➡️ The Generalist World community [13:05] ➡️ Quality over quantity in community building [15:43]  ⛳ Helpful links:➡️ Connect with Milly: https://www.linkedin.com/in/milly-tamati/➡️ Check out Generalist World: https://www.generalist.world/ 🤫 P.S Has our podcast ever made you feel something? Like properly made you stop and FEEL the feels... Maybe it has opened your eyes to a new industry? Maybe it has inspired you to start your own venture? Or maybe it has you nodding along as you relate to so many of the challenges that our Founders have faced.... 🤝 Connecting, human to human, with our audience is absolutely paramount to our work behind the scenes at 40 Minute Mentor, which is why we would (shamelessly) love to have your vote in this year's Great British Podcast People's Choice awards. 🏆 1. Click here: https://www.britishpodcastawards.com/voting 2. Type in '40 Minute Mentor' 3. Job done ✅ Your nomination would mean the world to us, so thank you in advance! 💙 ENTRIES CLOSE 5th SEPTEMBER.  ⭐Enjoyed this episode?⭐️Keep up to date with all our latest episodes, by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review on https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“We had one month to refinance the business, or lose our home….”Today’s 40 Minute Mentor is Dimple Patel, exited Founder, Advisor and CEO of Trouva - the leading global marketplace for independent boutiques. With roots at Goldman Sachs, Dimple’s story is one of endless resilience, having navigated recessions, a major re-brand that almost cost her her home, a global pandemic and multiple acquisitions, including Made.com’s collapse. In today’s episode, we dive into all of the above, plus: ➡️ Growing up on a Council Estate [05:00] ➡️ Joining Goldman Sachs during a recession and amid mass layoffs [07:12] ➡️ Exploring entrepreneurship as a first-time Founder in a recession [09:38] ➡️ Going from side hustle to full-time Founder [11:47] ➡️ Spotting burnout and the importance of routine rest [14:01] ➡️ Freedom vs Security as a first-time Founder [15:00] ➡️ The decision that almost led to the loss of her house [17:19] ➡️ Exiting her business and navigating what’s next [20:00] ➡️ Making the shift from COO to CEO of Trouva [27:48] ➡️ The collapse of Made.com and leading with kindness [30:24] ➡️ Roulette question: Working as a Venture Partner and the Founders she backs [40:13] ⛳ Helpful links:➡️ Connect with Dimple: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dimple-patel-uk/➡️ Find out more about Trouva: https://www.trouva.com/ 🤫 P.S Has our podcast ever made you feel something? Like properly made you stop and FEEL the feels... Maybe it has opened your eyes to a new industry? Maybe it has inspired you to start your own venture? Or maybe it has you nodding along as you relate to so many of the challenges that our Founders have faced.... 🤝 Connecting, human to human, with our audience is absolutely paramount to our work behind the scenes at 40 Minute Mentor, which is why we would (shamelessly) love to have your vote in this year's Great British Podcast People's Choice awards. 🏆 1. Click here: https://www.britishpodcastawards.com/voting2. Type in '40 Minute Mentor' 3. Job done ✅ Your nomination would mean the world to us, so thank you in advance! 💙(You have until 5th Sept!) ⭐Enjoyed this episode?⭐️Keep up to date with all our latest episodes, by hitting the subscribe button on your favourite podcast platform. And for any feedback on what you enjoy the most and ideas on what we can do to make 40 Minute Mentor even better, please leave us a review on https://ratethispodcast.com/40mm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices