Entrepreneurship and Leadership

"'You never step in the same river twice.' Our intensely interconnected world never stops evolving. Amid the chaos of intended and unexpected consequences we're expected to lead a change initiative. We have to learn fast, as its already started. This highly practical, human and humorous book shows us how to makes complex change attainable - organizational, professional or personal - whether you have years of experience or are facing your first major challenge. It helps us think about what change is and means, how we prepare for it and what we do to make it successful. It may just be the most readable book about change yet."

That's what the publishers say about Elemental Change: Making Stuff Happen When Nothing Stands Still by Neil Usher (Lid Publishing, 2020). And it's more than justified. I have been talking to Neil about how he came to write this book, from his experiences in property and real estate management for large corporations through to his linkage in his previous book The Elemental Workplace about the key connection connection between workplaces and the work that goes on within and around them.  

Neil writes and speaks about complex topics with directness and awareness. In Elemental Change he takes on many myths about change, things that we comfortingly tell ourselves but which provide cover for inaction rather than encouragement to step forwards. The book is in three main parts, each of which has a structure and logic which helps the reader toward thinking clearly. The 'change operating system' and Neil's signature 'periodic table of nine elements of change' are helpful starting points, which he then explains and expands with his characteristic blend of concise language, personal stories and wise connectedness. 

Listen to Neil speak both about this book, how he came to write it, the key elements and how his current life goals involve a Tube train.  

Mark McKergow is an author, speaker, facilitator and coach specialising in solution-focused and post-heroic leadership approaches in organisations. He is the author of six books including The Solution Focus (Nicholas Brealey Publishing, 2007) and Host: Six new roles of engagement (Solutions Books, 2014), and is currently building the Village In The City project. 

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Tessa explains why Olio’s mission of cutting unnecessary food waste is so important, and how her own distress at food waste led to the breakthrough insight that there had to be a better way of dealing with unwanted food. She shares her personal journey, and sets out the exciting road map ahead for Olio.

Tessa Clarke is the Co Founder & CEO of Olio Linkedin Olio is a free app that connects users with unwanted food (households or local businesses) with neighbours living nearby who would like it. OLIO has over 2.5 million users who have together shared 7 million portions of food. 50,000 volunteers who are spreading the word in their local communities.

Download the App and more information here https://olioex.com

Twitter https://twitter.com/olio_ex

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/olioapp/

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/olio.app/

Linked https://www.linkedin.com/company/olio-the-food-sharing-revolution

The NBN Entrepreneurship and Leadership podcast aims to educate and entertain, sharing insights based on the personal stories of our carefully selected guests in the atmosphere of an informal conversation in a bar or over a cup of coffee.

About the NBN

The New Books Network was founded in 2007 as a podcast interviewing the authors of academic books, and has grown to the largest author interview podcast in the world publishing 12 podcasts a day in more than 90 specialist areas, with over a million downloads a month. Read about the founder Marshall Poe and the NBN here. In recent years it has expanded beyond its “author interview origins”. Historically NBN only did audio recordings. E&L is the first NBN podcast distributed on Youtube.

About Kimon Fountoukidis Twitter Linkedin

Kimon is the founder of both Argos Multilingual and PMR. Both companies were founded in the mid 90s with zero capital and both have gone on to become market leaders in their respective sectors. Kimon was born in New York and moved to Krakow, Poland in 1993. Listen to his story here,

About Richard Lucas Twitter Linkedin

Richard is a business and social entrepreneur who founded or invested in more than 30 businesses, including investments in Argos Multilingual, PMR and, in 2020, the New Books Network. Richard has been a TEDx event organiser, supports the pro-entrepreneurship ecosystem, and leads entrepreneurship workshops at all levels: from pre- to business schools. Richard was born in Oxford and moved to Poland in 1991. Read more here. Listen to his story in an autobiographical TEDx talk here,

Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/entrepreneurship-and-leadership

In this episode Kimon and Richard explain why they are launching the NBN Entrepreneurship and Leadership podcast, the topics they are going to delve into with their guests and what aspects of their guests’ entrepreneurial journeys they are most interested in. What has been the role of background and upbringing, social and family pressures, education (or lack of it), and their attitudes to competition and luck. Despite their common business history Kimon and Richard highlight differences in their experiences and how they believe their varying perspectives will lead to a solid exploration of what can be learned from the guests. If you want to get a sense of what this channel is all about, and why it should be interesting to listeners who are into entrepreneurship and leadership, this is a great place to start.

The NBN Entrepreneurship and Leadership podcast aims to educate and entertain, sharing insights based on the personal story of our carefully selected guests aiming for the atmosphere of an informal conversation in a bar or over a cup of coffee. Follow our channels on Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter.

View the episode on Youtube here. You can listen to the episode on the NBN here.  

About the NBN

The New Books Network was founded in 2007 as a podcast interviewing the authors of academic books, and has grown to the largest author interview podcast in the world publishing 12 podcasts a day in more than 90 specialist areas, with over a million downloads a month. Read about the founder Marshall Poe and the NBN here. In recent years it has expanded beyond its “author interview origins”. Historically NBN only did audio recordings. E&L is the first NBN podcast distributed on Youtube.

About Kimon Fountoukidis Twitter Linkedin

Kimon is the founder of both Argos Multilingual and PMR. Both companies were founded in the mid 90s with zero capital and both have gone on to become market leaders in their respective sectors. Kimon was born in New York and moved to Krakow, Poland in 1993. Listen to his story here.

About Richard Lucas Twitter Linkedin

Richard is a business and social entrepreneur who founded or invested in more than 30 businesses, including investments in Argos Multilingual, PMR and, in 2020, the New Books Network. Richard has been a TEDx event organiser, supports the pro-entrepreneurship ecosystem, and leads entrepreneurship workshops at all levels: from pre- to business schools. Richard was born in Oxford and moved to Poland in 1991. Read more here. Listen to his story in an autobiographical TEDx talk here.

Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/entrepreneurship-and-leadership

Family-man and serial entrepreneur, Peter Harrington has a deep interest in education. Following graduation from York University in 1989, he created his first business and over 15 years started and grew companies in the fields of research, marketing, design, print and consultancy.

Since 2005, Peter has been at the heart of Venture Simulations Ltd, a company that builds digital learning solutions and SimVenture business simulation technology for people seeking to acquire business start-up/scale-up skills. Whilst his professional roles involve much travel and reading, Peter is also at home when working with students and staff as an Entrepreneur in Residence at London School of Economics and London South Bank University

About your host Richard Lucas

Richard is a business and social entrepreneur who founded or invested in more than 30 businesses, Richard has been a TEDx event organiser, supports the pro-entrepreneurship ecosystem, and leads entrepreneurship workshops at all levels: from pre- to leading business schools. Richard was born in Oxford and moved to Poland in 1991. Read more here.

Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/entrepreneurship-and-leadership

Mike Southon is a serial entrepreneur, best-selling business author and keynote speake on entrepreneurship, intrapreneurship and sales. He specialises in teaching entrepreneurship to University students. Mike is co-author with Chris West of The Beermat Entrepreneur, The Boardroom Entrepreneur and Sales on a Beermat. He has spoken at over 1,000 live events all over the world and provided face-to-face mentoring to over 2,000 entrepreneurs.

A recent media roundup:

About your host Richard Lucas

Richard is a business and social entrepreneur who founded, led and/or invested in more than 30 businesses, Richard has been a TEDx event organiser, supports the pro-entrepreneurship ecosystem, and leads entrepreneurship workshops at all levels: from pre-schools to leading business schools. Richard was born in Oxford and moved to Poland in 1991. Read more here.

Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/entrepreneurship-and-leadership

Alex Schey is the CEO and co-founder of Vantage Power, which was founded in 2011 and sold to Allison Transmission in 2019, where he is the Chief Commercial Officer for Electrification. The company pioneered the concept of converting double decker buses to a hybrid diesel electric solution to greatly reduced pollution and increases efficiency.

A recent media roundup:

About your host Richard Lucas

Richard is a business and social entrepreneur who founded, led and/or invested in more than 30 businesses, Richard has been a TEDx event organiser, supports the pro-entrepreneurship ecosystem, and leads entrepreneurship workshops at all levels: from pre-schools to leading business schools. Richard was born in Oxford and moved to Poland in 1991. Read more here.

Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/entrepreneurship-and-leadership

Mark McKergow spoke at TEDxKazimierz in 2018 on the topic of host leadership. Dr. Mark McKergow brings new ideas into the world of business and management, with an inimitable combination of scientific rigour and performance pizzazz. Mark is best known for his work on introduction the ideas of Solutions Focus (2002) and Host Leadership (2014), about which he has published extensively and helped to create self-sustaining user communities.

He likes ideas and approaches that make things simpler, quicker, cheaper and more respectful - particularly when they are based on something counter-intuitive and game-changing. More on Mark at http://sfwork.com and http://hostleadership.com. Mark McKergow leads Sunday Assembly in Scotland and plays a leading role in supporting the movement worldwide.

Useful Links

About your host Richard Lucas

Richard is a business and social entrepreneur who founded, led and/or invested in more than 30 businesses, Richard has been a TEDx event organiser, supports the pro-entrepreneurship ecosystem, and leads entrepreneurship workshops at all levels: from pre-schools to leading business schools. Richard was born in Oxford and moved to Poland in 1991. Read more here.

Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/entrepreneurship-and-leadership

Mel Rosenberg is a microbiologist best known for his research on the diagnosis and treatment of bad breath (halitosis). His research led to several successful commercial products addressing the problem. He is also the creator of a wildly popular TED-ED video on the topic. and is an active part of the TED-ED community. Mel is also a jazz singer and musician, an author of children's books and the co-founder of Ourboox, a platform for online publishing of digital picture books.

About your host Richard Lucas

Richard is a business and social entrepreneur who founded, led and/or invested in more than 30 businesses, Richard has been a TEDx event organiser, supports the pro-entrepreneurship ecosystem, and leads entrepreneurship workshops at all levels: from pre-schools to leading business schools. Richard was born in Oxford and moved to Poland in 1991. Read more here.

Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/entrepreneurship-and-leadership

Michael Sliwinski is a productivity guy - he’s the founder and CEO of Nozbe - a project management and collaboration tool for busy professionals and their teams.

Nozbe is a web-based tool with apps for all the major platforms. Michael is also a speaker, author of best-selling books, a podcaster and a blogger. He is happily married to his wife Ewelina and they have three daughters. Michael is known for his un-orthodox way of running Nozbe - our company doesn’t have any physical office (#NoOffice) and we dedicate Fridays to weekly reviews and personal development (#TGIF).

Links

About your host Richard Lucas

Richard is a business and social entrepreneur who founded, led and/or invested in more than 30 businesses, Richard has been a TEDx event organiser, supports the pro-entrepreneurship ecosystem, and leads entrepreneurship workshops at all levels: from pre-schools to leading business schools. Richard was born in Oxford and moved to Poland in 1991. Read more here.

Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/entrepreneurship-and-leadership

Marek Jankowski is the host of Mała Wielka Firma – one of the most popular business podcasts in Poland launched in 2009. He wrote two books for entrepreneurs: Mała wielka firma (Little Big Company) and Pułapki small biznesu (Small Business Pitfalls).

Marek is also a former radio journalist, who in 2004 started his own business. Since 2008 he's been publishing Branza Dziecieca – the biggest opinion-forming magazine in the toys and nursery industry in Poland.

A recent media roundup:

About your host Richard Lucas

Richard is a business and social entrepreneur who founded, led and/or invested in more than 30 businesses, Richard has been a TEDx event organiser, supports the pro-entrepreneurship ecosystem, and leads entrepreneurship workshops at all levels: from pre-schools to leading business schools. Richard was born in Oxford and moved to Poland in 1991. Read more here.

Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/entrepreneurship-and-leadership