In this episode of Behind the SME, Adam Kene sits down with Jordan Relfe, Co-founder of Lifeproven, to explore the challenges and rewards of building a purpose-driven business in the real estate sector. From navigating the early days of entrepreneurship to embedding ESG principles in the property industry, Jordan shares candid lessons on resilience, leadership and finding your "why."

Key takeaways include:

• 🔑 The importance of having a strong personal and professional purpose
• 🌱 How ESG and sustainability are reshaping the real estate landscape
• 💡 Lessons in building a business culture centred on ownership, communication and values

If you're a founder, leader or aspiring entrepreneur, this episode is packed with practical advice and inspiration to help you on your journey. Give it a listen!

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Connect with us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/behind-the-sme

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In this episode of Behind the SME, Adam Kene is joined by Sage Lakhani, COO of Kene, whose career journey has taken her from working at PwC to leading high-performing teams in the SME space. As a Chartered Tax Adviser, Sage brings deep expertise in tax solutions, process optimisation, and team management, paired with a passion for building strong client relationships.

Tune in as Sage shares:

• 🔑 How a COO bridges the gap between vision and execution in SMEs
• 🌱 The importance of embedding values into team culture and daily operations
• 🛠 Practical advice for managing teams, fostering trust and aligning goals

Whether you're managing a team, thinking about hiring a COO, or just looking to refine your operations, this episode is packed with actionable advice you can apply today.

🎧 Join us for an inspiring discussion packed with actionable insights to help you refine your leadership and strategy.

Contact us: [email protected]

Connect with us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/behind-the-sme

Connect with us on other platforms: https://linktr.ee/behindthesme

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In this episode, Adam Kene speaks with John Wyer, Founder and Co-owner of Bowles & Wyer, about his 30+ years of experience leading a successful landscape design and build business.

John reflects on navigating crises, redefining business identity, and the powerful role of culture in driving growth. From battling financial challenges to creating a purpose-driven, values-led organization, John’s journey offers invaluable lessons for SME leaders.

Tune in for insights on:

• Building resilience during tough times
• The importance of aligning values with client relationships
• Why culture is the ultimate driver of business success

This is a must-listen for anyone looking to create a business that thrives through purpose and alignment. 🎙️

Contact us: [email protected]

Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/behind-the-sme

Connect on other platforms: https://linktr.ee/behindthesme

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In this episode, Hugo and Rupert, co-founders of the AI-powered marketing tech platform Pockla, share their entrepreneurial journey. They dive into the importance of deeply understanding customer needs through discovery calls, rather than focusing solely on product-building.

They also discuss simplifying business hypotheses and objectively testing them based on customer feedback. The duo reflects on their experience with fundraising, emphasising the importance of building long-term relationships with investors and tailoring pitches to their perspective.

As close friends and co-founders, they talk about the value of open communication, handling tough conversations, and maintaining trust. A very candid convo packed with insights on product development, raising capital, and navigating the co-founder relationship. 

Contact us: [email protected]

Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/behind-the-sme

Connect on other platforms: https://linktr.ee/behindthesme

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In this timely bonus episode, Adam Kene and Catalina Lohmeier dive into the Autumn Statement and discuss its implications for SMEs. From increased National Insurance contributions to adjustments in R&D tax incentives, we examine the ripple effects on payroll, productivity, and overall growth for small and medium-sized businesses.

Join us as we unpack these economic shifts and share practical insights on how SME leaders can adapt, manage rising costs, and continue thriving in a changing landscape.

Contact us: [email protected]

Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/behind-the-sme

Connect on other platforms: https://linktr.ee/behindthesme

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In this episode, we dive deep into the entrepreneurial journey of Roei, who founded his first successful tech company at just 15 years old, scaling it to 6-million monthly users before being acquired in 2018. Roei shares valuable lessons from his experience, including the critical role of timing in business decisions and the impact of burnout post-acquisition.

Roei's next venture, Connectd, looks at his focus on revenue-first growth and avoiding high cash burn, all while building a positive, purpose-driven work culture. He reveals his hiring strategies, focusing on diversity in management styles and aligning employees with the company’s values to create a flexible, thriving workplace. We also unpack how Roei tackled the tricky “cold start conundrum” for his marketplace by initially offering SaaS tools to generate revenue and attract early-stage startups.

Finally, Roei gets real about the challenges of balancing entrepreneurship and personal life, sharing how journaling and following a healthy lifestyle have helped him maintain focus, avoid burnout, and channel his energy into success.

Contact us: [email protected]

Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/behind-the-sme

Connect on other platforms: https://linktr.ee/behindthesme

Tune in for key insights on scaling a business, overcoming marketplace challenges, building culture, and managing work-life balance from someone who’s lived it all.

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Our host, Adam Kene, introduces Behind the SME, a podcast designed to provide real, actionable insights for small and medium-sized businesses. Unlike the typical focus on big corporations, this show gets into the nitty-gritty of how SMEs operate on a daily basis.

Adam shares his passion for learning from the experiences of his guests and passing on valuable lessons to help other SMEs grow and avoid common pitfalls. He highlights a key practice in his own business—regular “town hall” meetings—which have been instrumental in keeping the team aligned, reflecting on progress, and communicating upcoming changes.

With practical takeaways at the heart of the podcast, Adam aims to inspire listeners in senior roles at SMEs to take immediate action on the ideas and strategies shared in each episode.

Tune in to go behind the scenes of SME success, where the focus is always on what really works for small and medium businesses.

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