Welcome to this episode of Experts Uncut, where Simon sits down with Jon Sonnenschein, a multi-time CEO with a rich background in product management and Private Equity. Jon shares his journey from starting in product management to becoming a pivotal figure in various successful business ventures, providing valuable insights into managing $300 million P&Ls without direct authority and rallying teams to drive business growth.

Jon dives into the importance of understanding stakeholders, influencing them to achieve business goals, and the critical role that product management can play in preparing you for leadership roles. He reflects on his time as a CEO and then as an Operating partner at Bregal Sagemount, where he helped companies like truckstop.com expand into new areas with strategic foresight and product development.

The discussion touches on the evolutionary journey that businesses take as they grow, emphasizing the need to break down organizational silos and have a data-driven understanding of business fundamentals. Jon explains how his approach to leadership involves empathy, focus, and leveraging the latest technology trends to innovate and improve business processes.

Join us as Jon shares his thoughts on the challenges and opportunities in the evolving landscape of product management, private equity, and AI, offering advice for leaders at every stage of their career.

In this episode of Experts Uncut, host Simon welcomes Tiger Tyagarajan, the former CEO of Genpact, to discuss the engineering, leadership, AI and fitness. Tiger shares his journey from being a sales leader at Unilever to leading Genpact through its transformation and public listing on the New York Stock Exchange.

Listen in as Tiger elaborates on the importance of long-term relationships, trust, and team building in driving change and success. He also touches upon his passion for fitness and the role it plays in maintaining both mental and physical agility.

The conversation explores the rapid advancements in AI technology and its implications for the business services industry, offering insights into how companies must adapt to stay ahead. With personal anecdotes and expert perspectives, this episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in leadership, innovation, and the fast-evolving topic of AI.

In this episode, Simon sits down with Natasha Gurevich, the former Chief Procurement Officer at Nike and a seasoned expert in procurement leadership. Natasha shares her extensive experience, starting from her unexpected journey into procurement at The Gap, to leading global procurement at renowned companies like McKesson, Salesforce, and PayPal.

Natasha discusses the importance of understanding global factors, building strong supplier relationships, and the strategic role of category management in procurement. She emphasizes the need for procurement professionals to be knowledgeable and adaptable, highlighting how to navigate the complexities of the procurement landscape effectively.

With insights on everything from the impact of geopolitical events on supply chains to the nuances of stakeholder management, Natasha provides a deep dive into what it takes to succeed in procurement today. Whether you're new to the field or an experienced professional, this episode offers valuable perspectives on driving procurement excellence.

In this episode of Experts Uncut, we look behind the scenes of the Food Supply Chain with Howard Graham, a food entrepreneur turned consultant who has worked with some of the world’s largest food manufacturers, distributors, and investors.

Howard discusses how consumer trends have evolved over the last 30 years and the impact that has had on how companies buy, ship, store and sell food products. He also shares some of the techniques he and his team of experts have used to simultaneously reduce food supply chain risks and costs.

Whether you're starting your own food or restaurant business or responsible for hundreds of millions of dollars of food and beverage spend for a large corporation, this interview with Howard is absolutely worth your time.

In this episode of Experts Uncut, we explore Leadership best practices in the face of uncertainty with Kenneth Valentine, a prior-Special Agent in Charge of the Dignitary Protective Division in Washington, DC who served on the US Secret Service's Presidential Detail for Presidents Bush, Clinton and Obama.

Kenneth discusses the importance of vision in leadership through a compelling analogy from his Secret Service training, emphasizing how lifting your gaze can help navigate life's obstacles. He also shares fascinating stories, including a memorable interaction with Tiger Woods, to illustrate key principles of leadership and preparation.

Whether you're a new leader or a tenured CEO, Ken's insights offer valuable lessons from a fascinating and unique career in security and crisis management. 

In this episode of Experts Uncut, we delve deep into the art of negotiation with Scott Walker, a former Scotland Yard detective and kidnap for ransom negotiator. Scott shares his wealth of experience from over 16 years in counterterrorism and hostage negotiations, now channeled into helping businesses and individuals navigate high-stakes negotiations and resolve conflicts.

Scott discusses the importance of preparation, the psychological dynamics at play during negotiations, and practical techniques to manage stress and improve outcomes. He also introduces concepts like the "bunch of fives" for anticipating challenges and the "immediate action drill" for maintaining composure under pressure.

Whether you're negotiating a business deal or navigating personal conflicts, Scott's insights offer valuable lessons on how to turn chaos into order. Tune in to learn from a true expert in the field of negotiation and crisis management.