40 Minute Mentor

In today’s 40 Minute Mentor episode, we’re joined by the World Cup winning England Rugby coach and former Director of Sport for the London 2012 Olympics, Sir Clive Woodward. After spending his childhood with big dreams of becoming a professional footballer, it was playing rugby at his local club as a kid that started Sir Clive down the path to becoming the first England Coach to lift the Rugby World Cup in 2003. What people don’t always know is that rugby only went professional in the late 90s. And while Sir Clive was playing for England and the British Lions in the 1980s, he was also doing his ‘day job’, running his own Finance & Leasing company. As you’ll hear in this episode, he has since applied much of what he learned in the boardroom to his sterling work on the pitch. During our conversation, we cover some really fascinating topics, including: How running a successful business is fundamentally the same as coaching a winning Rugby team. Why you need to become comfortable with pressure if you want to be able to handle it effectively. And the importance of creating a culture where everyone feels comfortable enough to contribute, no matter how controversial their ideas might be. Sir Clive has achieved so much over the years and it was an absolute honor to speak to him for this podcast. No matter whether you’re an avid Rugby fan or you’re simply hungry to succeed in your career, we know you’ll benefit to much from Sir Clive’s advice and insights throughout this episode. We’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode, so please do get in touch at james@jbmc.co.uk If you want to find out more about Sir Clive, take a look at his LinkedIn profile - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sirclivewoodward If you want to find out more about Sir Clive’s Apex2100 Ski Academy, head over to – https://apex2100.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today’s 40 Minute Mentor episode, we’re joined by Co-founder of Bossa Studios and Host of the Hyper Curious Podcast, Roberta Lucca. As her podcast title suggests, Roberta has built a career on her curiosity and it’s paid off in spades. Bossa Studios is a huge multimillion-dollar Games business, which won a BAFTA in 2012, and resulted in Roberta being named on the Forbes Top 50 Women in Tech in 2018. Roberta’s success is testament to her drive and commitment, but as every entrepreneur will be able to relate to, it hasn’t come without its struggles. She talks with refreshing honesty about being a high achiever dealing with a tricky inner critic and battling burnout at various times during her career. During our conversation, we cover some really interesting topics, including: The importance of luck in business and how you can adjust your sail, but you can’t control the wind. The benefits of being strict with the time you allocate to different projects and the importance of being a person first and an entrepreneur second. And how we should all challenge companies on their initiatives to drive diversity and create an inclusive culture. It was such a pleasure to have Roberta on the podcast. She talks so passionately about her work, and about the emphasis she puts on being a good role model and a good person. If you’re a founder or an aspiring entrepreneur yourself, we know you’ll get a lot of great insights and advice from this episode. We’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode, so please do get in touch at james@jbmc.co.uk If you want to find out more about Roberta, take a look at her LinkedIn profile - https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertalucca/ If you want to find out more about Bossa Studios, head over to – https://www.bossastudios.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today’s 40 Minute Mentor episode, we’re joined by the CEO and Founder of Good Energy, Juliet Davenport OBE. From childhood dreams of being a racing driver, to becoming one of the leading voices in tackling climate change, Juliet’s been on an incredible journey and we’re so excited for her to share it with us in today’s episode. Juliet launched Good Energy in 2002, and almost 20 years later, Good Energy now supports over 73,000 homes, businesses and communities, which has led to Juliet being rewarded with an OBE for services to renewables. We cover some really fascinating topics in this episode, including: The lessons Juliet and the team have learned while building a successful mission-driven business and how they’ve adapted their growth plans in the face of the global pandemic. The importance of getting hiring new talent right and making sure the whole team (old and new) share a similar mindset and ultimately get behind the mission of the business. And how you can make changes in your own life, focusing on where you live, what you eat, and how you get around, to help move towards net-zero emissions. Juliet is so passionate about Good Energy’s mission and making sure everyone enjoys the journey that they’re on. She talks with refreshing honesty about the hurdles she’s faced, and the tricky decisions she’s had to make over the years, which we know many founders will resonate with. If you’re thinking of building a mission-driven business yourself, you definitely won’t want to miss this episode and Juliet’s crucial insights from her own journey with Good Energy. We’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode, so please do get in touch at james@jbmc.co.uk If you want to find out more about Juliet, take a look at her LinkedIn profile - https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliet-davenport-643564/ If you want to find out more about Good Energy, head over to – https://www.goodenergy.co.uk/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today’s 40 Minute Mentor episode, we’re joined by Angel Investor and Co-Founder of 10x10, Andy Davis. From early employment as a presenter on Nickelodeon to being named one of Business Insider’s 100 People Transforming Business, Andy’s career is a truly inspirational one, which has found him enjoying success as both a founder and an investor. Interestingly, Andy doesn’t see himself as an entrepreneur, but as a “problem solver” – whether that be in the form of his own startups or in helping first-time black founders find investment through 10x10. In 2020, in the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement Andy also released the Black Report, which examines the landscape facing black founders in the UK. While much of it makes for grim, but unfortunately unsurprising, reading, it also points to a brighter future for D&I, with black founders more likely to build refreshingly diverse teams. We cover some really eye-opening areas in our conversation, including: How vanity won’t help your business, but honesty will. How the word “and” can sound the death knell for a startup, with too many add-ons overshadowing the real point of interest. And why Andy looks for obsession in his founders – the willingness to run through walls to get the end result. If you’re thinking about launching a startup, particularly as a black founder looking for investment opportunities, you won’t want to miss this episode. We’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode, so please do get in touch at james@jbmc.co.uk If you want to find out more about Andy, take a look at his LinkedIn profile - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrandydavis/ If you want to find out more about 10x10, head over to – https://10x10.fund/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today’s 40 Minute Mentor episode, we’re joined by Grace Beverley, the CEO and Founder of sports tech brand, SHREDDY and TALA, a clothing brand specializing in sustainable sports fashion. At just 24, Grace has achieved so much already, from founding her two massively successful businesses to writing her book “Working Hard, Hardly Working”, which was subject of a nine-way auction with publishers champing at the bit to get their hands on it. And it’s easy to see why. Grace is the epitome of the modern entrepreneur – she understands the new business landscape and how you need to think quickly to adapt to it, and to be unafraid of making big changes to move your brand forward. We cover some really interesting topics in our conversation, including: The importance of modern brands being purpose-driven. How collaboration is the key to running a successful business, as well as knowing precisely where your own strengths lie. And why it is important that you invest well in the hiring process, and making sure to find the right people to join your business. We loved talking to Grace. She has found the path that is right for her, and her passion for her work really shines through in today’s conversation. If you’re thinking about launching your own business, or are looking to join a purpose-driven business, you won’t want to miss this episode. We’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode, so please do get in touch at james@jbmc.co.uk If you want to find out more about Grace, take a look at her LinkedIn profile - https://www.linkedin.com/in/grace-beverley-574a10102/ If you want to find out more about SHREDDY and TALA, head over to – https://www.shreddy.com/ and https://www.wearetala.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today’s 40 Minute Mentor episode, we’re joined by the Co-Founder of Entrepreneur First and Code First: Girls, Alice Bentinck MBE. Frustrated by a business landscape that found latent talent shackled by predetermined career paths, Alice set out to challenge cultural norms when she co-founded Entrepreneur First in 2011 – an accelerator that celebrates and invests in talented, ambitious individuals, and looks to match-make Co-Founders to launch successful businesses. Almost 10 years later, Entrepreneur First has launched over 300 companies with a value of well over £2billion, which is testament not only to their passion for the work they do, but also to their tenacity in the face of adversity in those early years. During our conversation we cover some really interesting and insightful areas, including: The most important traits to look for when you’re investing in talent and how to shift culturally pre-determined career paths. The many benefits of having a Co-Founder with a different skill set to you and how you can make the most of this relationship. And the importance of diversity in the workplace, and what businesses need to do to get through to diverse candidates. It was such a pleasure talking to Alice. She talks so openly about the importance of learning from your mistakes and always moving forward. If you’re thinking about launching a startup from scratch or are looking to attract a more diverse talent pool, you won’t want to give this episode a miss. We’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode, so please do get in touch at james@jbmc.co.uk If you want to find out more about Alice, take a look at his LinkedIn profile - https://www.linkedin.com/in/alicebentinck/ If you want to find out more about Entrepreneur First, head over to – https://www.joinef.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today’s 40 Minute Mentor episode, we’re joined by the founder of Teach First, and co-founder and CEO of Tiney, Brett Wigdortz OBE. Driven by a sense of fairness, and a belief that all children should have access to the best education possible, Brett launched Teach First in 2002, convinced that it would ultimately become one of the biggest graduate recruiters and charities in the UK. His instincts were right. After 15 hugely successful years, he stepped down as CEO in 2017 and went on to set up Tiney, a digital startup aimed at positioning small nurseries in homes all around the country. As Brett explains in today’s episode, he saw an early years’ educational system that was completely broken, and made it his mission to fix it. During our conversation we cover some really interesting areas, including: Why resilience and self-belief are key when you’re starting a new business. The importance of getting a full picture of potential hires by talking to as many references as possible. And how to seek out the right mentors and use their knowledge and guidance in a way that suits you. Brett talks with great honesty about the lessons he has learned along the way, and how he might have done things differently – which is so inspiring and insightful from such a successful entrepreneur. If you’re thinking about launching a startup yourself, there are few people better placed to give you a full view of the business landscape – you won’t want to miss this episode. We’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode, so please do get in touch at james@jbmc.co.uk If you want to find out more about Brett, take a look at his LinkedIn profile - https://www.linkedin.com/in/brett-wigdortz-obe-5ba64b If you want to find out more about Tiney, head over to – https://www.tiney.co/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today’s 40 Minute Mentor episode, we’re joined by the founder and CEO of FounderTribes, Gary Stewart. Gary has had such a varied life and career. Born in Jamaica, raised in the Bronx, educated at Yale. He started his career in law, before moving to the UK to pursue his passion for startups. Through his work at Wayra UK he helped to launch 185 start-ups, and he has since launched FounderTribes, an app designed to democratise entrepreneurship by providing founders with the right advice, networks and ultimately capital, no matter what their background, nor where they sit on the socio-economic spectrum. Gary is such an inspiration, and we cover some really important and hard-hitting topics in today’s episode, including: The importance of not letting other people define you by your race, gender, or sexuality – particularly in business. How the challenges of starting a business will always be the same, no matter what your social strata. Plus, what companies need to do to level the playing field, and why adding Diversity and Inclusion ‘window dressing’ isn’t going to change anything. Gary is so inspiring and passionate about the mission he’s on and it was fantastic to speak to a leader who is so driven to challenge and change the assumptions people have about race and gender in the workplace. If you’re thinking about launching your own startup or are looking for ways to play your part in pushing D&I forward in your sector, you’ll definitely want to listen to today’s episode. We’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode, so please do get in touch at james@jbmc.co.uk If you want to find out more about Gary, take a look at his LinkedIn profile - https://www.linkedin.com/in/garystew/ If you want to find out more about FounderTribes, head over to - https://foundertribes.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today’s 40 Minute Mentor episode, we’re joined by the Founder and CEO of Koru Kids, Rachel Carrell. After a successful career in strategy and innovation, including working at McKinsey and growing the healthcare company DrThom to 1.3 million paying users in 3 countries, Rachel took the leap and launched her own business, Koru Kids. The idea for Koru Kids was born out of her own frustration with the lack of affordable childcare options for working parents and is now London’s fastest growing childcare brand. Not only has the business survived the multiple lockdowns of the past 12 months, but it’s thrived. Navigating the restrictions and changing its business model at pace. Speaking to Rachel was truly inspiring and we cover some really interesting topics in our conversation, including: The importance of getting the other areas of your life on track, both financially and emotionally, before launching a startup. The power of creating a positive working environment, and why you want to focus on ensuring that everyone is on the same page. And the self-talk that’s helped Rachel through the tough times over the last year, her advice to others and why we all need to find our own “Sasha Fierce”. Rachel is so passionate and shares so many insights on how to ensure that everyone around her, from her clients to her employees, feel positively about the business. If you’re thinking about launching a startup, or if you’re looking to build a positive work culture around you, you’ll definitely want to listen to this episode. We’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode, so please do get in touch at james@jbmc.co.uk If you want to find out more about Rachel, take a look at her LinkedIn profile - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachcarrell/ If you want to find out more about Koru Kids, head over to – https://www.korukids.co.uk/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today’s 40 Minute Mentor episode, we’re joined by the infectiously optimistic and inspiring former Chief Business Officer of Google X, author of Solve for Happy and Founder of One Billion Happy, Mo Gawdat. There’s no doubting Mo’s pedigree when you look at his career in tech – he made giant leaps up the ladder at IBM, BAT, Microsoft, and Google – but his real passion lies in spreading happiness around the world and promoting purpose-driven careers. Following the tragic death of his son Ali in 2014, Mo wrote his book Solve for Happy, applying his skills as an engineer to understanding human emotion. Today he continues to share Ali’s legacy of joy and fulfilment in all areas of life. Speaking to Mo was an absolute joy. He has such wisdom and clarity about what it takes to make sure you have as rewarding a career as possible and that you don’t find yourself unhappy at work just for the sake of climbing the ladder. We cover some really fascinating topics in our conversation, including: The importance of making sure you savour and enjoy the work you are doing while you’re doing it. Recognising the aspects of your job that don’t resonate with you even if you don’t know exactly what your purpose is yet. And the importance of being selfless in the workplace. Mo is someone who has achieved so much in his career, but who talks with such refreshing humility. No matter what stage of your career you’re in, listening to Mo will inspire you to make positive changes to your life and find what you’re truly passionate about. We’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode, so please do get in touch at james@jbmc.co.uk If you want to find out more about Mo, check out his LinkedIn profile - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mogawdat/ If you want to find out more about One Billion Happy, head over to - https://www.linkedin.com/company/one-billion-happy/ If you haven’t read Mo’s book ‘Solve for Happy’ yet, make sure you check it out at - https://www.solveforhappy.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices