40 Minute Mentor

“If you eventually want to do investing, become an Operator or Founder, don’t go into banking.” We are back with another season of our popular VC Feature series, where we hear from some of the best Investors in the space. Today, we’re joined by Ash Arora, the youngest Partner at LocalGlobe. Before joining LocalGlobe in 2022, Ash was the Investment Lead for Crypto Unicorn, Polygon’s venture arm, with LPs such as Sequoia, Lightspeed, Softbank, Tiger, etc. In this episode, we discuss Ash’s career journey, her transition from banking to VC and her focus on Blockchain and AI investments.  Episode Chapters: ➡️ Upbringing & early career aspirations [03:10] ➡️ Career foundations in banking [05:00] ➡️ Reflections on her time at Polygon [07:30] ➡️ The value of an Ops background as a VC [10:30] ➡️ Joining LocalGlobe [13:20] ➡️ Why Blockchain & Web3 [16:00] ➡️ What makes Founders stand out to Ash [18:15] ➡️ What to avoid when pitching to VCs [22:25] ➡️ Raising in a challenging climate [26:50] ➡️ Embracing Failure [29:00] ➡️ The importance of mentorship & becoming a mentor [32:20] ⛳ Helpful links:➡️ Follow Ash on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aashima-arora?originalSubdomain=uk ➡️ Find out more about LocalGlobe: https://localglobe.vc/ ➡️ Read about Ash’s parameters for finding your next role: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/aashima-arora_how-do-you-find-your-next-job-half-the-activity-7136378080742318081-E6PV?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop ⭐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

“Dyslexia is a learning difference. There’s nothing difficult about it. You have challenges, but you’re not a difficult individual.” In our final episode in this specialist advice series, we’re joined by Onyinye Udokporo, one of the UK’s youngest education experts, entrepreneur, dyslexic author, neurodiversity consultant and content creator. Onyinye’s entrepreneurial journey started when she was only 12 years old, when she began tutoring children and young people from her local community in her parent’s living room. Following her own diagnosis with Dyslexia, she became an author of ‘Dyslexia and Me: How to survive and thrive if you’re neurodivergent’ and started her own Neurodiversity Consulting firm in 2022, where she delivers training and workshops as well as consulting services to businesses including Google and the BBC. Today we’ll dive into her entrepreneurial journey, from day one in her parent’s living room to using AI for good, and everything in between. Episode Chapters: ➡️ Learning from setbacks [02:15] ➡️ Upbringing & starting a business at the age of 12 [04:10] ➡️ Quitting big 4 consulting on Day 1 [09:10] ➡️ Early entrepreneurial inspirations [18:30] ➡️ Being diagnosed with dyslexia [21:15] ➡️ Making businesses more neuro inclusive [27:50] ➡️ Advice for neurodivergent Founders [30:40] ➡️ Hiring & retaining neurodiverse talent [36:30] ➡️ Education & AI [41:30] ⛳ Helpful links:➡️ Follow Onyinye on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/onyinyeudokporo?originalSubdomain=uk ➡️ Find out more about her work: https://www.onyinyeudokporo.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

“It very often feels uncomfortable for Founders to put themselves out there in that way. But the more you do it, the easier it will get.” In this 40 Minute Mentor episode, we’re covering a topic critical for every early-stage Founder - the power of Public Relations. To help us discover the do’s and don’ts and share some of the biggest advice for Founders and Communication teams, we’re joined by Rhiannon Evans-Young, Founder & Director of Crest, Isabella Cookson, Director at Milltown Partners and Hannah Urbanek, Fractional Head of Marketing and 40 Minute Mentor Producer. Episode chapters: ➡️ The Do’s & Dont’s of PR [01:10] ➡️ Building your Founder brand [05:00] ➡️ Common PR mistakes [10:30] ➡️ Navigating a communications crisis [15:00] ⛳ Helpful links:➡️ Follow Rhiannon on LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/rhiannon-evans-young-0179885b ➡️ Follow Isabella on LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/isabella-cookson-03218280 ➡️ Follow Hannah on LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/hannahurbanek ⭐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

“Make networking a daily occurrence. It’s everyday interactions. It’s making a good impression early doors and really taking the time to build meaningful relationships and connections.” In today’s episode, we’ve put our host, James Mitra, into the interviewee seat. James was recently invited on Alembic Strategy’s Strategy Café, hosted by Founder and MD, Nick Mayhew. If you haven’t heard of Alembic before, they’re a team of facilitators and coaches working at board level with family businesses, founder-led businesses, private equity and with developing leaders, in the UK and internationally. Nick and James discuss the unique journey JBM has been on and the key lessons James has learned over the last 11 years of leading JBM. Episode chapters: ➡️ Introductions [01:08] ➡️ The power of networking [04:45] ➡️ Bringing networking into your day to day [08:20] ➡️ Starting JBM at age 25 [14:20] ➡️ Disrupting traditional recruitment [17:40] ➡️ Dealing with competition [20:15] ➡️ Changing lives through recruitment [24:50] ➡️ The mistakes along the way [28:30] ⛳ Helpful links:➡️ Follow Nick on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayhewnick/ ➡️ Follow James on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesmitra-jbm/?originalSubdomain=uk ➡️ Find out more about Alembic Strategy: https://www.alembicstrategy.com/ ➡️ Find out more about JBM: https://jbmc.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

“[Debating] teaches you to listen, to challenge well, and it teaches you all the skills that you need to be able to be in any room at any time, with anyone.” The world seems more divided than ever before. But is it actually or are we simply shying away from debating and leaning into disagreeing with each other? This is exactly what we’ll explore in today’s episode - the power of debating and the benefits of disagreeing, in business and beyond. To help us unpack this important topic, we’re joined by Scarlett McCabe, Co-Founder and CEO of Debate Mate and Lewis Iwu, debate champion, author of ‘Words that Win’ and Co-Founder and CEO of Purpose Union. Episode chapters: ➡️ 60 second CVs [04:55] ➡️ Finding the right people [13:05] ➡️ Writing your own playbook [16:50] ➡️ Introduction to debating [18:30] ➡️ What debating teaches you [22:25] ➡️ Skills needed to be good at debating [27:50] ➡️ Benefits of debating in business [30:30] ➡️ Getting into debating now [35:00] ➡️ Communicating better [37:50] ➡️ The power of disagreeing [41:30] ⛳ Helpful links:➡️ Follow Scarlett on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scarlettmccabe/ ➡️ Follow Lewis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lewis-iwu-b3125024/ ➡️ Find out more about Debate Mate: https://debatemate.com/ ➡️ Find out more about Purpose Union: https://www.purposeunion.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

“The most difficult part [of going fractional] is starting a business. It’s having to wear every hat yourself, from selling, marketing, relationship building, finances, ops and admin. You are everything.” Fractional careers have been on the rise over the last few years. Both, for experienced Operators making the move into fractional work and for Founders who are looking to hire highly experienced Operators, at the fraction of the cost of full-time hires. To discuss how you make the move into fractional work and why you might want to work with fractional leaders, we’re joined by Neda Sahebelm, fractional COO and Carla Hoppe, Founder and CEO of Wealthbrite, the startup educating non-finance people in finance. Neda and Carla are working together on a fractional basis and open up about how they make fractional work in today’s episode. Episode chapters: ➡️ 60 second CVs [06:15] ➡️ Transitioning into fractional work [14:00] ➡️ The most difficult part of being fractional [16:35] ➡️ Hiring fractional talent [22:15] ➡️ Fractional vs Full-time hiring [27:15] ➡️ Defining your fractional scope [29:35] ➡️ The day to day as a fractional COO [34:30] ➡️ Making your fractional talent part of the team [38:30] ➡️ The experience you need to go fractional [41:40] ➡️ Making the switch from permanent COO to fractional COO [43:45] ➡️ What to consider when hiring fractionally [46:20] ⛳ Helpful links:➡️ Follow Neda on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nedasahebelm/?originalSubdomain=uk ➡️ Follow Carla on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlahoppe/ ➡️ Check out Wealthbrite: https://www.wealthbrite.co.uk/ 🤝 In partnership with Operations Nation 🤝This episode was produced in partnership with Operations Nation, the community-powered knowledge hub for Operations leaders. You can find out more about Operations Nation and join their community here: https://operationsnation.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

“If you’re in a situation where you’re dealing with [a difficult boss], I think the question is - am I actually getting something from this? And if the answer is ‘no, I’m getting nothing’, then it’s time to really think about what could be your next step.” To kick off our brand new ‘Specialist Advice’ series, we’re joined by workplace expert and long-time contributing editor at Harvard Business Review, Amy Gallo. You may have come across Amy on her own co-hosted podcast ‘Women at Work’ or have read one of Amy’s best-selling books, including her latest work ‘Getting Along: How to Work with Anyone (Even Difficult People)’. In today’s episode, we dig into Amy’s advice on effective communication, conflict management and how we can get along, even with the most difficult colleagues and bosses. Episode chapters: ➡️ Failing every day [02:40] ➡️ Leading by example [06:40] ➡️ An early career in consulting [09:50] ➡️ Getting into Harvard Business Review [17:10] ➡️ Why relationships get difficult [19:55] ➡️ Dealing with difficult bosses [25:00] ➡️ The eight archetypes of difficult people [30:00] ➡️ Embracing conflict in your team [35:10] ➡️ Building resilience to bounce back from conflict [41:10] ➡️ Relationships in hybrid & remote first environments [43:55] ⛳ Helpful links:➡️ Follow Amy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amyegallo/  ➡️ Grab a copy of Amy’s latest book: https://www.amyegallo.com/books ⭐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

That’s a wrap on Season 11 of 40 Minute Mentor and 12 weeks of non-stop pocket-sized mentorship. Our guests over the last 12 weeks have candidly shared the ups and downs of entrepreneurship and shared the advice they wish they would have received when they started out. We also celebrated some 40 Minute Mentor firsts this season, including hitting 1 million+ downloads and welcoming our very first Hollywood actor to the podcast. Although we had such a diverse spread of 40 Minute Mentors joining us this season, there were 4 consistent themes we explored with all of them: Resilience, Fundraising, Hiring and Pivoting. No matter whether you’ve religiously tuned in every Wednesday for the last 12 weeks or you have dipped in and out, we’ve selected the best advice from this season to solidify the mentorship from our guests. Episode chapters: ➡️ Pivoting sectors and careers - the transferable skills for entrepreneurs [01:56] ➡️ Building resilience & navigating failure [08:58] ➡️ Hiring & building the best teams [16:03] ➡️ Bootstrapping & fundraising advice [25:32] ⛳ Helpful links:➡️ Catch up on all episodes from Season 11: https://jbmc.co.uk/40-minute-mentor/ ⭐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

“80% of your work, no matter what it is, is confidence. It’s the confidence to know that when you go to a door handle, when you turn it, it doesn’t matter if you don’t know whether you pull or push. You just have to see which way it goes and then go with that.” Today’s 40 Minute Mentor is a podcast first. We’re joined by Hollywood actor and producer Jason Flemyng, known for ‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’, ‘Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels’ and ‘Deep Rising’. In this episode, we don’t just get an inside scoop into Jason’s career and experience working alongside Hollywood greats, Brad Pitt and Johnny Depp, we also discuss Jason’s work with The Samaritans and in prisons. Plus, he shares lots of mentorship, including… Episode chapters: ➡️ Acting in a film nominated for 13 Oscars [02:02] ➡️ Upbringing & route into acting [03:27] ➡️ The importance of luck [05:45] ➡️ Building your confidence [08:00] ➡️ Acting alongside Brad Pitt, Johnny Depp and Sean Connery [09:55] ➡️ The lasting success of ‘Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels’ [12:22] ➡️ Battles with Imposter Syndrome & paying it forward [16:34] ➡️ Speaking up about mental health [21:18] ➡️ Ageing in Hollywood [22:51] ➡️ Audience Question: Common misconceptions of Hollywood [25:30] ⛳ Helpful links:➡️ More about Jason’s work: https://www.themoviedb.org/person/973-jason-flemyng ⭐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

“Had I continued along my path, I could have a very successful private and NHS GP practice. I could be earning multiples of what I’m allowing myself to earn right now. The stability that I can provide for my family is, quite frankly, limited.” Today’s 40 Minute Mentor is Dr Rupy Aujla, Founder of The Doctor’s Kitchen and best selling cookbook author. Rupy is a trained medical doctor turned startup Founder - a path that was never really part of his plan. If you haven’t come across The Doctor’s Kitchen yet, you might recognise Rupy from his cookbooks, his popular podcast, or seen him featured on TV shows across the BBC, ITV or Channel 4. It was a huge honour to have him join us on 40 Minute Mentor and candidly talk to us about his experience as a doctor, what led to The Doctor’s Kitchen, the startup lessons he had to learn quickly and lots of easy to follow advice for all of us to eat healthier and better. Episode chapters: ➡️ Rupy’s upbringing and his parents wanting him to go into business [04:05]   ➡️ Finding his love for medicine [07:25] ➡️ The accidental business that became The Doctor’s Kitchen [10:10] ➡️ Dealing with imposter syndrome [12:43] ➡️ Transferable skills from medicine to business [15:10] ➡️ The Doctor’s Kitchen App [17:55] ➡️ Podcast recommendation: Strategy & Tragedy [20:13] ➡️ The Doctor’s Kitchen impact to date [21:50] ➡️ Pivots & bootstrapping everything [25:20] ➡️ Why entrepreneurship should be simple [29:00] ➡️ What a truly well-balanced diet looks like [34:35] ➡️ Audience question: Learning about food in schools [41:50] ⛳ Helpful links:➡️ Connect with Rupy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rupy-aujla?originalSubdomain=uk ➡️ Check out The Doctor’s Kitchen: https://thedoctorskitchen.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