The 4Networking founder on losing a £2m business overnight, the BBC Panorama and Channel 4 stalking case, and the four seconds that nearly ended it all.

Brad Burton, the founder of 4Networking, bestselling author and Britain’s self-styled No.1 motivational business speaker, returns to In Conversation with Richard Alvin for one of the most unflinching interviews Business Matters has ever published.

In 2020, Burton watched his £2.3 million face-to-face business networking empire go to zero in a single afternoon as the UK went into lockdown. He pivoted 4Networking onto Zoom in days, exited the company in 2022, and then lived through what came next: a four-year online stalking campaign by a woman he had met for 30 seconds at an event in 2019.

That campaign, roughly 500 false posts across LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and X, including accusations of death threats, poisoning her cat and harassing his family, became the subject of BBC Panorama’s My Online Stalker in March 2025 and episode two of Channel 4’s Social Media Monsters. In October 2025, Sam Wall was sentenced to 28 months in prison at Minshull Street Crown Court for a “prolonged, deliberate and calculated” campaign the judge called “breathtaking”. Fewer than 2% of UK stalking complaints reach a conviction.

In this episode, Richard Alvin and Brad Burton cover:

• How to rebuild a business when turnover collapses overnight

• The 24/24/24 decision-making framework Brad uses under pressure

• Why LinkedIn’s reporting tools, in his view, “are not a solution”

• What he would say to the Secretary of State and LinkedIn’s UK MD

• The four seconds at his desk that nearly ended his life

• The Online Safety Act, platform accountability and the gap between law and enforcement

• His new UK-built business network, Motivational Business Network, and why he is building it slow

• Practical advice for any founder facing online harassment: what to document, who to call, and why none of it moves quickly

Essential listening for founders, marketers, SME owners, HR leaders, motivational speakers, networkers and anyone who has ever wondered what really happens when a professional platform stops protecting its users.

Hosted by Richard Alvin, CEO of Capital Business Media and Editor-in-Chief of Business Matters — the UK’s leading SME magazine.

Read the full written interview at bmmagazine.co.uk.

Watch the BBC Panorama episode on BBC iPlayer

Social Media Monsters on Channel 4 on demand.

Subscribe to In Conversation: The Business Matters Podcast for weekly interviews with the UK’s most interesting entrepreneurs, investors and operators.

Brad Burton, 4Networking, online stalking UK, BBC Panorama My Online Stalker, Social Media Monsters Channel 4, Sam Wall, LinkedIn harassment, Online Safety Act, motivational speaker UK, business resilience, SME podcast, Richard Alvin, Business Matters magazine, In Conversation podcast, Motivational Business Network, entrepreneur interview UK

In this episode, we’re joined by Gary Moffatt, Managing Director, and Lesley Leach, People Director at Chubb Fire and Security UK & Ireland.

They share how Chubb Fire and Security UK's leadership philosophy is empowering every employee—from apprentice to executive—to lead with integrity, confidence and purpose.

Discover how Leader Labs, mentoring, and a values-first culture are transforming performance, boosting engagement, and shaping the future of the business.

Plus, hear the inspiring career journey of COO Dave Dunnigan, who started as an apprentice and rose to the top.

In this episode, Richard Alvin speaks with Sara Sabin, a transformational leadership coach, about the importance of emotional mastery and intuition in leadership. They discuss how emotions influence decision-making, the significance of emotional neutrality, and practical techniques for leaders to process their emotions effectively.

Sara emphasizes the role of intuition as a skill that can be developed and its grounding in neuroscience. The conversation also covers the connection between communication, influence, and emotional awareness, as well as Sarah's journey from accountancy to coaching.

Takeaways

• Emotional mastery is about achieving emotional neutrality.
• Leaders must be aware of their internal emotional states.
• Emotions can drive decisions, impacting outcomes.
• Emotional neutrality helps in making rational decisions.
• Simple techniques can help shift emotional states quickly.
• Intuition is a skill that can be trained and developed.
• Intuition is grounded in neuroscience, not just gut feeling.
• Effective communication requires understanding emotions.
• Storytelling can enhance influence and communication.
• Leaders should prioritize self-care to regain clarity.

Welcome to a new episode of In Conversation, the Business Matters podcast with Richard Alvin. In this episode, we sit down with John Wegman, CEO of Customs Support Group, to discuss the complexities of international trade, the impact of AI on customs processes, and how businesses are adapting to an increasingly turbulent global supply chain.

In this episode:

• Customs Support Group’s Growth & Global Expansion:

• How Customs Support Group has rapidly expanded by acquiring over 40 companies in just two years.

• Why businesses are moving towards single customs partners rather than managing multiple brokers across different countries.

• The Impact of Brexit, COVID-19, and Global Conflicts on Trade:

• How recent global disruptions—from Brexit to supply chain crises—have increased customs complexity and trade risk.

• Why companies are now holding more inventory than ever to hedge against uncertainty.

• AI & Digital Transformation in Customs Processes:

• How AI is being used to organise unstructured customs data, reduce human errors, and accelerate clearance times.

• Why machine learning alone isn’t enough—and how AI and human intelligence work together to ensure 100% accuracy in customs declarations.

• The Impact of Political Changes on Global Trade:

• How the Labour government’s EU relationship is affecting UK importers and exporters.

• The potential consequences of Trump’s proposed trade tariffs on US and European supply chains.

• How China’s growing dominance in EV production is shifting global shipping routes and tariffs.

• The Future of Global Shipping & Trade:

• Why businesses are restructuring supply chains and increasing regional manufacturing to mitigate risks.

• Predictions for the next decade of global trade digitisation—from real-time customs clearances to AI-driven supply chain forecasting.

With supply chains more unpredictable than ever, John Wegman offers expert insights on how businesses can navigate customs, tariffs, and digital transformation in an increasingly complex world.

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share the podcast. Follo the UKs leagues business magazine Business Matters for more in-depth discussions on trade, finance, and global business trends.

In the latest edition of 'In Conversation: The Business Matters podcast,' join host Richard Alvin as he delves deep into the intricacies of the UK organic farming sector with none other than Guy Singh Watson, the visionary founder of Riverford Farm.

In this captivating episode, listeners will gain invaluable insights into the challenges and opportunities facing organic farming in the UK, particularly amidst the complexities of post-Brexit landscapes and the looming spectre of margin pressures.

Through a thought-provoking dialogue, Richard and Guy explore the pivotal role of clear government leadership in safeguarding the future of organic farming. With Guy's wealth of experience and expertise, listeners will uncover the nuanced dynamics shaping the agricultural sector and gain a comprehensive understanding of what lies ahead for UK farmers.

Tune in to this enlightening discussion to discover the indispensable perspectives on the future trajectory of UK agriculture, and gain invaluable knowledge on navigating the ever-evolving landscape of sustainable farming practices.

Richard Alvin sits down with Gareth Scargill from University of Leeds’, Nexus and we thank episode sponsor M&S Corporate Gifts, for more information Visit ⁠marksandspencerforbusiness.com⁠

Now innovation hubs are stepping in to help startups overcome their challenges. One of these pioneering resources is University of Leeds’, Nexus. Here, expert academics advise the surrounding region’s young, innovative businesses - including on best routes to funding and how to scale up rapidly. Members can also take advantage of state-of-the-art labs and office spaces, which further enhance their chances of success. Crucially, Nexus also helps overseas startups bring their offer to Yorkshire and UK markets and promote them there, fostering and maintaining vibrant international trading relationships. 

Richard Alvin sits down with the co-founders of new streaming platform lounges.tv Scott Green & Craig Gardner.

Lounges.tv, showcases exclusive content of rising content creators and gives a new chance for their talent to be noticed and most importantly, to be more quickly financially rewarded.

The content creator industry has never been bigger. With a staggering 3.7 million new videos flooding YouTube alongside an additional 34 million TikToks uploaded a day. However creators are finding it impossible to be seen and fairly compensated.

The global video streaming market size expected to reach USD 416.84 billion by 2030. Yet, just under half (46%) of full-time creators make under $1,000 annual revenue.

Thousands of creators have already signed up and the company recently got a YES from Simon Cowell joining the company as an investor.

Richard Alvin sits down with Ben Read, founder of Redeployable and we thank episode sponsor M&S Corporate Gifts, for more information Visit marksandspencerforbusiness.com

Redeployable is a platform aimed at simplifying the challenging journey out of the military and into new, fulfilling careers. 

As a former British Army Sergeant himself, Read could see that there was a problem; leaving the military can be confusing and unclear. 

So after serving in the army for 12 years, Read embarked on a mission to improve the transition process for military personnel. He recognised that there was a real lack of support or clear guidance about where to go next; leading to widespread veteran underemployment. Veterans have the potential to be excellent employees; they’re highly skilled and driven. Combine this with the skills gap that lots of tech-based companies are facing, and there’s a clear soltuion. To get more vets and service leavers into these great careers. 

Redeployable was born out of Read's desire to provide a comprehensive support network for veterans, connecting them with the resources, opportunities, and guidance they need to successfully transition into civilian life. The platform offers a range of services including job placements, training programs and mentorship.

This week we delve into the world of training and employment schemes, skills, careers and future of work opportunities as we’re joined by Daniel Brett, Vice Chair of the T Level Ambassador Network, and brothers, John and James Lack, who have both studied T Levels in different skills areas.

Our guests take us through what T Levels are, with John and James talking us through their first-hand experience of T Levels and industry placements. In addition, we learn about the T Level Ambassador Network, which all three guests are a part of, and why they’re encouraging other employers to host T Level students on industry placement and join the T Level community.

This podcast is brought to you by the Department for Education’s Skills for Life campaign. Search ‘Skills Revolution’ to find out more.