How to be a CEO

Lily’s Kitchen went from a small operation to feed just one dog, to a hugely successful enterprise, so popular it was bought by Nestle Purina.The company is run by CEO Nick Magalini who has over twenty years in the pet food industry.Nick tells us about how they maintain a 'cooked in the kitchen' small business culture, while growing into an international brand, and what it means to be the first UK pet food company with B Corp status.They have gone from strength to strength, most recently seeing sales in UK grocery growing by more than 27% during the pandemic pet-boom.Henrietta Morrison is the founder of Lily's, who started the business for her pet dog Lily. The idea was to produce food filled with honest, natural ingredients - unlike many products she found in the shops.In this episode:The story behind Lily’s KitchenHow do you contain the ‘cooked in the kitchen’ small business style when growing it?The cult following and maintaining loyalty from customers against competitionBeing the first pet food company with B Corp statusHow Lily’s Kitchen conducts business and sustainabilityDo customers care about a B Corp status during a cost-of-living crisis?How they formulate new ‘smell good’ recipesWho is the Lily’s Kitchen customer – pet or human?Exciting new vegan, plant-based, and innovative productsTo keep up to date with all the latest business news visit standard.co.uk/business Find us on Twitter #HowToBeACEO Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The entrepreneur who fired herself as CEO, let her staff decide their wages, and put a psychologist in charge. Sam White is the founder and chair of Freedom Services Group, an insurance firm aiming to 'fundamentally change' the industry for the better. She's dealt with sexism and criticism on top of competition while navigating a hugely male-dominated industry.In this episode:Dealing with sexism in businessWhy did you go into the stereotypically "boring" insurance industry?How the industry needs to changeWhy Sam fired herself as CEOSam's interest in psychologyThe changing landscape at work and the impact of 'quiet quitting'For all the latest business news head to www.standard.co.uk/business Follow us on Twitter #HowToBeACEO Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Charlie Bryant has been CEO at Zoopla, the property portal, since 2018. In this episode we talk about:  Why he thinks the UK's housing market's holding up in the cost of living crisisHis advice to new PM Liz Truss, and why keeping mortages affordable should be a priorityHow Zoopla is more than a "find" portal (although he quite likes a rummage around himself)The partnership with homeless charity Crisis that's calling on government to invest in housing benefitWhy hybrid working is here to stay, but in-person crowdsourcing ideas shouldn't be lostHow to build traction on consumer traffic for a start-upWhy the process of buying a property needs to be modernised For the best interviews, news and analysis head to standard.co.uk or check out the Evening Standard newspaper. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Steve O'Hear is Strategy VP at Zapp, one of the earliest quick commerce companies that bring snacks and groceries to your door.In this episode we talk about: The complex supply chain that powers instant grocery services Opportunities for disabled people in the post-pandemic remote work environment The “make the moment or save the moment” problem solving of philosophy of Zapp Why they’re expanding from crisps and ice cream to luxury brands and electronicsWhy they limited discounts when rivals were “throwing money” at customers How quick commerce developed before the pandemic made it so popular The $200m Series B funding round that attracted Lewis Hamilton’s attention What’s inside the giant warehouse that keeps all Zapp’s stock Find us on Twitter at #HowToBeACEOFor more business interviews, news, analysis and commentary go to standard.co.uk/business or pick up the Evening Standard newspaper. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ann Francke is the Chief Executive of the Chartered Management Institute, which is celebrating 75 years raising management standards in Britain. On this episode, we talk about: What Ann would tell the first CMI CEO and why today's business world isn't so differentThe huge gulf in those who say they follow diverse practice and those who actually do itHow homeworking has changed from "skiving" to being recognised as productiveThe impact of having five generations in the workforce for the first time in history"Reverse mentoring" and how the young can teach the old a few tricks For the best news, interviews and analysis, go to standard.co.uk/business or pick up the Evening Standard newspaper. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Timo Boldt founded Gousto when few knew what a meal kit delivery subscription was, now he's running a company valued at $1.75 billion.In this episode we talk about:  Why he left the Dragon's Den with no money, but Duncan Bannantyne became one of their first customersHow the philosophy of Rocky Balboa got him through the hard timesThe Christmas card that got him dinner with Al GoreAdvice on how to make an investor pitch The AI that runs behind Gousto and why he's a Tech boss nowWhy they gave their product away for freeThe growth of the global meal kit marketFind us on Twitter #HowToBeACEO For more business news, analysis and opinion go to standard.co.uk/business or read the Evening Standard newspaper.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From an idea on the back of a napkin in 2011 to one of the fastest growing sports in the world, the Formula E story is one of risk-taking, set backs and extraordinary success. We speak to its founder Alejandro Agag about: Getting momentum back after the pandemicSecrets of a successful marketing campaignHow Formula E's innovating commercial electric vehiclesWhy it's "compatible" not "competitive" with Formula 1Gigamine and battery recycling How the end of the combustion engine will promote electric racingFor the best business news, analysis and interviews, go to standard.co.uk/business or pick up the Evening Standard newspaper.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

SliderCuts, sometimes known as Mark Maciver, is a globally recognised barber and one of the UK's leading black entrepreneurs. He's cut the hair of international superstars like Lebron James and Anthony Joshua, building up a business from his shop in East London.  In this episode we talk about: The rise of a new generation of black entrepreneursHow to get financing when banks won't talk to youThe importance of valuing your business properlyWhen to say no to investorsHow to diversify your brandAnd how to deal with rat infestation on launch day For the best business news, interviews and analysis, go to standard.co.uk/business or read the Evening Standard newspaper Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

eBay's UK Boss Murray Lambell joins the show to talk about how eBay supports SMEs, and why it teamed up with Love Island.Also in the show: Advice on using eBay for your small businessHow to continually evolve a company to keep up with customersWhy Gen Z's powering sales of used itemsEbay's support for black women entrepreneursWhat to expect from the eBay Business RoadshowFor more interviews, news and analysis go to standard.co.uk/business. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Louise Hill founded GoHenry, the debit card for kids, after one of her friend's children accidentally bought a real truck instead of a toy one on an online store with his mum's card. First coming up with the fintech idea in a curry house in London, the company now has more than two million users in the UK and US, doubled its revenues during the pandemic to $42 million and recently acquired French firm Pixpay.  In this episode we talk about:  The importance of teaching kids about money, including how to use cardsHow the cashless society is leaving children behindThe success - and failures - of early marketing effortsThe importance of trusted partners when trying to expand a small businessWhy GoHenry's using different strategies to enter international marketsFor more business news, interviews and analysis go to standard.co.uk/business. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.