Previous guests:
Rohit Arora
CEO & Co-founder, Biz2Credit
Rohit Arora is the CEO and Co-Founder of Biz2Credit, a leading online marketplace which matches small businesses with sources of capital, and has provided $1.5bn in loans. A regular writer for Forbes and the New York Daily News, Rohit was named Crain’s ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ in 2011. In this in-depth interview, Rohit explains why others were initially sceptical of his business, and believed it was for ‘desperate people’; stresses the importance of being out-performed by your team; argues entrepreneurs are ‘doers, not talkers’ and are driven to change history - not merely to make money; and describes how the ‘best life’ comes from leading on your own terms.
Dave Balter
CEO, Mylestoned
Dave Balter is a serial entrepreneur based in Boston, Massachusetts. He is a pioneer in the new ‘deathtech’ space, and his new app ‘Mylestoned’ is aimed at revolutionising the remembrance of loved ones online. In this in-depth interview, Dave makes his case that Facebook ‘is for the living’, Twitter ‘is for news’, Instagram ‘for pictures’ - and his app ‘is for the lost’. He reveals his belief that sheer obsession is the secret to his business success, and shares candid advice about maintaining team morale through difficult times.
Jake Barton
Principal and Founder, Local Projects
Jake Barton is the Founder of Local Projects, an ‘experience design’ firm for public spaces. Named a top entrepreneur by Crain’s in 2013, Jake caught public attention with his work on the September 11th Memorial. In this in-depth interview, Jake explains how necessity drove him to become an entrepreneur; defends the opinions of the ‘uninitiated’ over the experts; argues that success can make you "brittle"; and talks through the evolution of his career, including the highs and lows.
Tom Blomfield
CEO & Co-Founder, Monzo
Tom Blomfield is the co-founder and CEO of Monzo. A former management consultant and VP of growth at Grouper, his first experience with fintech was in 2010 when he co-founded GoCardless. He co-founded the app-only ‘neo-bank’ Monzo in 2015, which currently serves over one million customers and is valued at £1bn. In this in-depth interview, he describes the "monumental challenge" of investing in technology faced by traditional banks, reveals there has been a 70% reduction in betting behaviour since introducing a 'gambling block', and argues there is no reason why every person worldwide can’t have a fully functioning bank account.
Will Butler-Adams
Managing Director, Brompton Bikes
Will Butler-Adams is the Managing Director of Brompton Bikes, the global folding-bicycle company. A former Plant Manager for chemical company DuPont, Will has grown Brompton’s turnover from to £36 million and the number of employees to over 280 since joining the company in 2002. In this in-depth interview, Will explains why he believes product design is superior to advertising, details the benefits of tension in leadership teams and argues that people around the world need to get back to experiencing the cities in which they live and work.
Miles Celic
CEO, TheCityUK
Miles Celic is chief executive officer for TheCityUK. Set up in response to the global banking crisis almost 10 years ago, it is the representative body for UK-based financial and related professional services with nearly 200 members. Appointed in the midst of the EU referendum, Miles is a former broadcaster with a wealth of experience in public affairs and political engagement, including roles at Prudential and HSBC. In this in-depth interview, he describes the process of engagement with Parliament, regulators and international governments, discusses the challenge of improving public perception of the banking industry and gives an insider’s view of the impact of Brexit on UK Plc.
Jean-Pierre Conte
Chairman and Managing Director, Genstar
Jean-Pierre Conte is chairman and managing director of Genstar Capital. Since 1995, he has overseen asset growth from $100million to $10 billion, making the private equity firm one of the highest-performing mid-tier businesses in the US. He also funds projects giving educational equity to children from disadvantaged backgrounds through his charity, the J-P Conte Family Foundation. In this in-depth interview, he discusses the benefits of his collaborative “family first” approach to business, describes the lessons learned throughout his career, and delves into his family history to illustrate the origins of his charity work.
Kemal Curić
Chief Designer, Ford Motor Company
Kemal Curić is chief designer at Ford Motor Company. He is best known as the designer of the sixth generation Mustang launched in 2015. Using a combination of traditional methods and cutting edge technology, Kemal and his 20-strong team crowdsourced opinions from the iconic car’s global fanbase throughout the creative process to design “more than just a car”, upholding Henry Ford’s original vision of “democratising” transportation. In this in-depth interview, he describes how the team overcame the engineering challenges presented by design and style choices, discusses his contrasting experience of designing the Lincoln Aviator – and reveals his top three Mustangs of all time.
Deb Farnworth-Woods
Founder, Australian Skin Clinics Franchise
Deb Farnworth-Wood is the founder of the Australian Skin Clinics franchise. Born in Kenya and raised in the UK, Deb moved to the other side of the world to retire – until an unexpected opportunity started her on the path to building a $70m empire. Having taken over a single, struggling franchise in 2007, Deb grew the business to 60 clinics across Australia and New Zealand and revitalised the brand, scooping up multiple awards in the process. Today, she is focused on a wide range of investments in the world of aesthetics and is a sought-after presenter on the global public speaking circuit. In this in-depth interview, Deb discusses the challenges associated with building a business from scratch, explains what makes a flourishing franchise, and shares her tips for repeated success.
Jörgen Gullbrandson
CEO, Readly
Jörgen Gullbrandson is the CEO of Readly. With 20 years’ experience in management roles, he joined the Swedish magazine app as CFO in 2017 and became CEO after a record-breaking year which saw almost 100 per cent revenue growth. The company which gives users access to over 3,800 magazines in the UK, Ireland, Sweden, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and the United States, has since added the Netherlands to its local markets and raised $10 million for their next phase of global expansion. In this in-depth interview, Jörgen describes the cultural differences to be considered when marketing a global brand, shares the important lessons learnt during his career, and encourages publishers to “let the data decide" when determining what consumers really want to read.
John Harthorne
Founder and CEO, MassChallenge
John Harthorne is the founder and CEO of MassChallenge, the global nonprofit which claims to be the world’s most friendly start-up accelerator. Named Ernst and Young’s ‘Social Entrepreneur of the Year’ in 2013, John is a Young Global Leader at the World Economic Forum, and has supported over 800 start-ups, leading to over 50,000 jobs worldwide. In this in-depth interview, John discusses why his initial business plan was ‘very unrealistic’; expresses the difficulty in finding a career that is both profitable and fulfilling; explains why he can't ever escape being pitched to; and stresses why everyone should ‘kiss a start-up today’.
Sahar Hashemi
Entrepreneur & Author
Sahar Hashemi is the co-founder of Coffee Republic, the first chain of American-style coffee bars in the UK. She left behind a promising legal career in 1995 to launch the business from her mother’s kitchen table. When it sold six years later, it had 110 stores and a turnover of £30 million. She has since founded confectionery brand Skinny Candy, and her latest venture, Change Please, is a social project which trains and hires homeless people to run coffee carts. In this in-depth interview, she describes how businesses can succeed by encouraging staff to think like entrepreneurs, argues that success isn’t about the “big idea” that comes to you on a plate - and recalls the “stab in her heart” when Coffee Republic went into administration nine years after she “handed it to the grown-ups”.
Simon Hayward
CEO, Cirrus
Simon Hayward is the founder and CEO of Cirrus. The firm advises international organisations in developing leadership skills. With over 25 years’ consultancy experience, Simon has helped businesses including Three and HSBC to become agile by evolving with technology and responding to customer demands. In this in-depth conversation, he describes the consequences of a workplace culture where staff are afraid to make mistakes, argues that a “my way or the highway” approach on Brexit has led to a lack of direction, and highlights the importance of self-reflection in thoughtful decision-making.
Vernon Hill
Founder and Chairman, Metro Bank
Vernon Hill is the Founder and Chairman of Metro Bank. Born in the US, Vernon crossed the atlantic to start Metro Bank the first wholly new high-street bank in the UK in 150 years. 6 years later, Metro have nearly a million customers, 48 stores, and were recently awarded ‘Bank of the Year’ by City AM. In this in-depth interview, Vernon passionately argues that businesses should create fans, not customers; explains why wealth is not the objective of a business but the result; and argues that President-elect Donald Trump will put America on 'the right path'.
Steve Hindy
Chairman & Co-founder, The Brooklyn Brewery
Steve Hindy is the Co-founder and Chairman of Brooklyn Brewery. A former Middle East correspondent, Steve discovered the joys of home-brew whilst on secondment in prohibition Saudi Arabia. Inspired, upon his return to New York he began to brew his own beer, and the brewery is now responsible for the sale of over 300,000 barrels every year. In this in-depth interview, Steve discusses his decision to base the business amid the ‘rough and tumble’ of Brooklyn, and how he has dealt with challenges including armed robbery and Mafia threats; expresses his admiration for the ‘lone wolves’ who go into business solo; and shares his concerns for the Middle East following Donald Trump's election.
Nicola Horlick
CEO, Money&Co
Nicola Horlick is the CEO of Money&Co, a crowdfunding business which connects investors with businesses looking for finance. Dubbed ‘City Superwoman’ by the media, aged 28 Nicola became the youngest director of merchant bank SG Warburg; and in addition to her duties as CEO, has also ventured into writing, restaurants and film production. In this in-depth interview, Nicola reveals how enthusiastically fetching a sheet of paper for an office colleague directly led to her first big break; argues women in business need greater determination than men; links her commitment to altruism to her professional success; and shares her belief that entrepreneurs are born, not made.
Clive Jacobs
Chairman and Owner, Jacobs Media Group
Clive Jacobs is the co-founder of Holiday Autos, the first leisure car rental broker in Europe, which he sold in 2003 to lastminute.com for £43 million. He is the owner of Jacobs Media Group, a multifaceted media and events business which includes Travel Weekly, The Caterer, Aspire and Travolution. Clive mentors young entrepreneurs and runs the British Travel and Hospitality Hall of Fame Awards, where he was the youngest inductee. In 2018, he became co-owner of Tully Luxury Travel in Canada, offering bespoke experiences for affluent travellers. In this in-depth interview, Clive shares how a difficult childhood pushed him to strive for success, and explains the importance of retaining a thick skin after he was misrepresented in a BBC documentary which portrayed him as a ‘real life David Brent’.
Robert A Jensen
Chairman, Kenyon
Robert A Jensen is chairman of Kenyon. The private disaster management company provides services to governments, air, maritime and rail businesses internationally. He joined in 1998 after leaving the US military and has directed response efforts to mass fatalities including the 9/11 attacks, Hurricane Katrina and the Haitan Earthquake. In this in-depth conversation, he argues the biggest mistake businesses can make is not recognising the severity of an incident, describes how the news can desensitise people from the reality of disasters, and explains how being a leader is both a “privilege and a burden” with your decisions affecting both your colleagues and family.
Stuart Jubb
Managing Director, Crossword CyberSecurity
Stuart Jubb is the Managing Director of Crossword Cybersecurity. A former platoon commander and recruiting officer in the British Army, Stuart was pivotal to the team rebuilding Afghanistan's infrastructure in the aftermath of the conflict. Now Managing Director at Crossword, Stuart protects global organisations from cyber-attacks and works with universities to bring cutting-edge research to market. In this in-depth interview, Stuart discusses the leadership lessons he learnt in the army, explains why companies need to protect themselves again cybercrime and reveals which scams are catching out the masses––and why.
Edmund King OBE
President, the AA
Edmund King OBE is president of the AA and visiting professor of transport at Newcastle University. Previously director of the RAC, his background in politics and campaigns has established him as a leading commentator on transport issues. Since joining the AA in 2008, he has worked on prominent campaigns such as ‘Cowboy Clampers’ which led to the criminalisation of clamping on private land. In this in-depth interview, Edmund reveals how a crash test demonstration profoundly changed his outlook on road safety, discusses the challenges of the increasing transition to electric cars - not least in the huge reduction in fuel duty - and outlines his concerns about the safety of so-called 'smart' motorways.
Kevin Lamb
Founder and CEO, Medical Expectations
Kevin Lamb is CEO and founder of Medical Expectations. With 35 years’ experience in the healthcare industry, he is striving to improve the delivery of patient care in the US by creating a better understanding of how serious health conditions are treated. Kevin is a Hollywood movie producer with credits including the Oscar-nominated ‘Marshall’, who uses his unique insight into filmmaking to create videos to help alleviate the fear of what surgery and recovery may look like. In this in-depth interview, he discusses the benefits of consumer-driven healthcare in educating patients on costs, argues that regulating sugar intake is not a solution to over-indulgence and sedentary lifestyles, and explains how, with a staggering 80 percent of medical advice forgotten “by the time patients reach their car”, storytelling empowers patients to take responsibility for their own health.
Chris Lewis
Founder & CEO, LEWIS PR
Chris Lewis is CEO and founder of global communications agency LEWIS. He left a successful career in journalism in 1995 to launch the firm, which now has 29 offices and a global turnover exceeding $68 million. In 2016, working with economist Dr. Pippa Malmgren, he co-founded the LEWIS Advisory Board (LAB), and their book, The Leadership Lab, discusses the theory of ‘quantum super-positioning’ to explain how brands can be viewed as both heroes and villains. In this in-depth interview, Chris dismisses the virtue of always being busy in favour of taking time out, discusses the important differences between male and female leadership styles - and explains why being “cheerleader in chief” is his most important role.
Pippa Malmgren
Economist, Trend Analyst and Former Presidential Advisor
Dr Pippa Malmgren is a best-selling author, economist and co-founder of H Robotics. Previously a financial market advisor to President George W Bush, she helps to shape public policy by advising governments and organisations on issues affecting the economy worldwide. Her latest book ‘The Leadership Lab’ offers practical advice to help business leaders overcome geopolitical challenges. It argues that by changing the structure of meetings, women can rise in an organisation - and encourages leaders to be open to new technology and a diversity of ideas. In this in-depth interview, Pippa explains why she is one of the few people who believes the economy is on the up - and reveals the surprising details banks can glean from your personal data.
Alex Mashinsky
Managing Partner of Governing Dynamics
In this episode we meet serial-entrepreneur Alex Mashinsky, Managing Partner of Governing Dynamics, former CEO of Novatel Wireless, and self-proclaimed ‘man from the dark side of Mars’. In this in-depth interview he reveals what makes a great VC and the pitfalls of being a parallel entrepreneur; discusses the ‘blackhole of risk takers’ in Silicon Valley, the role of technology in extending human life, and why acting on an idea too early can slow you down long term.
Patrick McGinnis
Best Selling Author, 'The 10% Entrepreneur'
Patrick McGinnis is the worldwide best-selling author of 'The 10% Entrepreneur'; venture capitalist, private equity investor; and avid traveler, writer, and speaker. In this in-depth interview, Patrick argues you can still be entrepreneurial and start something new, yet also maintain the security of keeping your 'day job'. By investing 10% of your time into side projects, he contends you can generate more income, discover new opportunities, sharpen your skills, and "get the life you've always wanted". He reflects on his own "over achiever affliction" as a student, and how it led him to coin the now-popular phrase 'FOMO' ("Fear Of Missing Out").
Charlie Mullins
Founder and CEO, Pimlico Plumbers
Charlie Mullins OBE is the Founder and CEO of Pimlico Plumbers. He first discovered his trade aged 9, truanting school to help a local tradesman. Inspired, he left aged 15 to start his business; today it's worth £35m. In this in-depth interview, the self-confessed 'plumber to the stars' discusses his transition from South London poverty to multimillionaire businessman; attributes the success of his business to ‘doing things the right way’, rather than trying to 'be clever’; argues the importance of building a brand over making money; and concludes that ‘keeping it simple’ is the key to success.
Martin Newman
Founder, The Customer First Group
Martin Newman is the founder of The Customer First Group. He has over 35 years’ retail experience working with brands including Ted Baker and Burberry. His latest book, ‘100 Practical Ways To Improve Customer Experience’, provides marketing strategies for every step of the retail journey. In this in-depth conversation, Martin argues why scaremongering over the death of the high street is “nonsense”, describes how providing a convenient and personalised experience allows companies such as Uber and Deliveroo to be disruptive, and explains how businesses can differentiate themselves by implementing a “can do” culture.
Art Papas
CEO, Bullhorn
Art Papas is the Co-Founder and CEO of Bullhorn, which provides cloud-based relationship management software. Named Ernest and Young's ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ in 2014, he is a keen investor in start-ups. In this in-depth interview, Art attributes his motivation to his 'extreme dislike' for the mundane and boring; reveals how Bullhorn’s first product came to the marketplace too early; describes both his heroes and anti-heroes in the world of business; and explains why, as a founder, you always view your business as ‘an extension of yourself’.
Oren Peleg
Former CEO, Fitness First
Oren Peleg is the former CEO of Fitness First, the largest privately owned health club group in the world. After beginning his career at Citibank, Oren worked at McKinsey and Terra Firma before joining Oaktree Capital, a leading investment management firm. After helping Oaktree to establish its European business, Oren joined a struggling Fitness First as Chairman following its takeover in 2012. He was credited with leading the successful turnaround of the chain, which has 360 clubs worldwide and over 927,000 members in 16 countries.In this in-depth interview, Oren explains why you should hire people more intelligent than you; gives his reasons for encouraging his employees to make mistakes; and stresses the importance of understanding different cultures when running a global business.
Anna Popova
Senior Vice-President for Strategic Planning, RJI Capital
Anna Popova is the Senior Vice-President for Strategic Planning at RJI Capital, a merchant banking firm with offices in seven major cities around the world. Since its creation as a boutique strategic advisory firm, RJI has grown and developed into a global enterprise, which consults its clients on everything from maximising financial opportunities to solving complex strategic issues. A self-described “wearer of multiple hats”, Anna’s role involves growing the business, developing client strategy and motivating the firm's talent; and in this enlightening interview, she describes her personal professional philosophy, explores the role intuition and fear play in her work, and explains how to balance family and business at the highest professional level.
Shaun Pulfrey
Founder & CEO, Tangle Teezer
Shaun Pulfrey is the Founder of Tangle Teezer, the most successful product ever rejected from the BBC's Dragons Den. Shaun began his career as a hair colourist, and worked at globally recognised salons on both sides of the Atlantic. After discovering a better way to detangle hair, Shaun appeared on Dragons Den, where he was turned down by all five investors but received overwhelming support from the public. Now worth £200 million, Tangle Teezer is sold in over 70 countries and endorsed by celebrity fans including Cara Delevingne and Victoria Beckham. In this in-depth interview, Shaun explains why his product has the potential to turn an innocent woman into a thief; describes how the boss of Take That compares Tangle Teezer to his band; and discusses the importance of curiosity in an entrepreneur.
Vivian Rosenthal
Founder, Snaps
In this episode of Business Leaders we meet Vivian Rosenthal, serial entrepreneur, designer and founder of Snaps – the next generation marketing platform that creates emojis for the likes of McDonalds, Starbucks and L’Oreal. In this in-depth interview, she reveals why she never wanted to be a CEO nor identifies as a ‘Woman in Tech’; discusses the secrets to being a successful entrepreneur; how the fear of failing is both liberating and exciting and why it’s good to be nervous of technology, but never naive.
Dan Rutstein
President, Laduma
Dan Rutstein is president of Laduma. The company helps global brands such as HSBC, NFL and Samsung to incorporate VR technology and provide opportunities for growth. A former journalist, he also spent 12 years as a diplomat for the department of international trade promoting British businesses on the US west coast, which is where he is now based. He joined the company in 2018, and is responsible for leading global growth. In this in-depth conversation, Dan discusses how virtual reality has progressed from headsets and gaming to training heart surgeons, describes how working for the government has taught him significant life skills from leadership to value for money, and argues that building business relationships in America is easier with the “gravitas” that comes with a British accent.
Annastasia Seebohm
Global CEO, Quintessentially
Annastasia Seebohm is global CEO of Quintessentially. The luxury concierge brand is a members-only service with an annual turnover of $100 million. Joining the company as business development director, she was appointed US chief executive two years later, tripling revenues within her first year. Promoted to her current role in 2018, Annastasia is responsible for more than 1,000 staff across 65 offices worldwide. In this in-depth conversation, she explains how “lifestyle managers” enable time-poor entrepreneurs and the wealthy to gain access to some of the world’s most unique places and experiences, discusses how she creates a collaborative and creative work culture using the “power of vulnerability”, and reflects on how a ‘two-way street’ attitude to mentorship benefits the mentor as well as the mentee.
Ryan Simonetti
CEO and Co-founder, Convene
In our very first episode, we meet Ryan Simonetti - founder of Convene, the world's first workplace-as-a-platform service - one of the fastest growing businesses in New York, serving 150,000 people in ten US locations; and creating a niche service blending real estate, hospitality and tech. In this in-depth interview, the self-confessed ‘wisdom stealer’ reveals how he built his business, the importance of a regimented work routine; his commitment to building great team culture, and why being a good person is always more important than being a good entrepreneur.
Paul Simpson
CEO, CDP
Paul Simpson is a co-founder of CDP. The charity, formerly the Carbon Disclosure Project, has been at the forefront of climate change campaigning since 2000. They work with 7,000 companies in 90 countries to help them decrease their use of fossil fuels, increase uptake of renewable energy, and collectively reduce global emissions. In this in-depth interview, he discusses the link between rising global temperature and record-breaking weather events, explains why our food choices have a more profound effect on the environment than we think - and argues that we’re on the cusp of a global attitude change which could be “as big as the industrial revolution”.
Jennifer Tankard
Chief Executive, Responsible Finance
Jennifer Tankard is the Chief Executive of Responsible Finance, the trade association helping to provide access to loans and financial advice. A former consultant in the public, private, non-profit and higher education sectors, Jennifer was appointed to the head of Responsible Finance in 2016. In this in-depth interview, Jennifer discusses what the government could be doing to support the microfinance industry; shares her belief that everyone needs a financial tool; and reveals Responsible Finance’s ambition to reach every market in the UK that wants their support.
Charles Trevail
CEO, C Space
Charles Trevail is the CEO of C Space, a global consultancy with offices in Boston, London and Shanghai and a team of over 200. Throughout his career, Charles has advised well-known brands including British Airways, BMW, McDonalds and Telefonica on rethinking the role of customers. In this in-depth interview, he explains his passion for infusing the customer’s perspective into every part of a business, discusses why building strong relationships with clients, coworkers and customers is fundamental to his career; and reveals that his most important ambition is - above all - to stay married.
Rob Vickery
Managing Partner & Co-Founder, Stage Venture Partners
Rob Vickery is co-founder of Stage Venture Partners, a seed venture capital fund that invests in emerging technology for B2B markets. During his career he’s helped companies such as Lloyds Bank to manage large scale digital investments. He has also served on a number of boards as the global ambassador for BAFTA Games and South Central Scholars. In this in-depth conversation, he explains his focus to fund individuals who are solving hard problems such as using AI to eliminate animal testing, compares an investor-entrepreneur relationship to a “marriage” – narrowing 1,500 pitches down to seven to find the right fit – and argues that, by being there “during the dark days”, an investor offers more than just money.
Jeff Wald
Co-founder, Work Market
Jeff Wald is the Co-founder and President of Work Market, a start-up which assists businesses in managing their on-demand labour force. Described by Forbes as one of America’s most promising companies, Work Market combines the principles of LinkedIn and eBay in order to deliver to customers. In this in-depth interview, Jeff explains how his motivation stemmed from a desire to ‘drive the bus’ rather than become a cog in a wheel; discusses why he believes true entrepreneurs are ‘born with something wrong with them’; and asserts the importance of working within a challenging environment.
Mauricio Umansky
Founder and CEO, The Agency
Mauricio Umansky is the Founder and CEO of The Agency, a luxury real estate company based in Beverly Hills. Ranked third by the Wall Street Journal in their list of the USA’s top estate agents, Mauricio holds the listings to some of America’s most famous properties, including Elvis Presley’s home - and even the Playboy Mansion. In this in-depth interview, he describes how he approaches his work as a form of art, and not as a traditional business; argues that The Agency was the first in the marketplace to give their homes a ‘personality’; and shares his view that landing the sale isn’t the most exciting part of the process, but ‘playing the game’ is.
Laurie Wickwire
Diamond Merchant
Laurie Wickwire is a luxury gem specialist, diamond merchant and TV presenter. Her career has seen her rub shoulders with "models, superstars and Bond girls", mingle with the monarchy, and walk the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival. In this in-depth interview, Laurie explains how clever marketing originally gave the diamond its luxury status; why potential bankruptcy almost led De Beers to dump tons of diamonds in the North Sea; the impact of the artificial diamond; and the effort to promote "real is rare".
