This week we’re joined by Anne Wojcicki, co-founder and CEO of 23andme. A pioneer in the biotech industry, a well-earned spot on the Forbes ‘Power Women’ list and according to reports, a billionaire - on paper at least. Anne is nothing if not accomplished. 

23andme was the first to offer autosomal DNA testing for ancestry, which many companies now use globally. Their tests also provide personalised health insights for individuals. 

Anne co-founded the company in 2006 with Linda Avey and Paul Cusenza. They joined forces with the aim of using genetic information for good and giving people direct access to their medical data. 

In this episode:

• How they came up with the idea for 23andme 
• Getting the company off the ground
• Working and thriving in a male-dominated field
• How success seems to be in her blood
• Instant feedback & the value of a great work environment 
• The importance of using your platform to support others 
• What the future holds for 23andme & herself

For all the latest business news head to standard.co.uk/business 

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If you work in the financial and investment sectors, you will know about the CFA - their exam is known to be “the world’s toughest”.

The mere mention of the gruelling test on Wall Street would probably leave some of the toughest finance veterans weeping.

Celebrating their 75th anniversary this year, we’re joined by Marg Franklin the CEO of The Chartered Financial Analyst Institute.

In this episode, she explains how they’ve navigated through many eras of economic uncertainty, including the pandemic, and how Gen Z’s societal and environmental ethics are transforming the workplace.

 Also in this episode:

• Is it harder for people to advance in a hybrid office?
• What are CEO’s thinking about homeworking?
• The importance of values to an organisation
• Equality in the boardroom

The institute promotes education, ethics, and professional excellence in the investment profession.

For all the latest business news head to standard.co.uk/business

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As an SVP at Diageo Catharina von Franck sits on the company's UK board and is in charge of growing iconic brands like Guiness, Johnnie Walker, Baileys and others. 

Diageo has just moved to a new HQ in the heart of Soho, London's hospitality centre.

In this episode she tells us: 

• What’s it like inside Diageo’s new building
• Why London’s so important to the hospitality industry
• What Diageo did to help hospitality during and after the pandemic 
• How to stay relevant but true to your brand’s history 
• The mistakes to avoid when marketing your brand 

For more interviews, news and analysis read the Evening Standard newspaper or go online to standard.co.uk/business

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We join Meta's northern Europe VP Steve Hatch in the company's new HQ at King's Cross.

In this episode we talk about:

• The opening of the huge new office, and what that means for London
• How to keep a sense of teamwork in a hybrid environment 
• How to promote your start-up on Facebook and Instagram 
• What can the Metaverse offer to SMEs? 
• Facebook’s role connecting people during the pandemic 
• How he overcame challenges like dyslexia to reach the top 
• Where the company’s going next 

For the latest business news, interviews, analysis and features read the Evening Standard newspaper, or go online to our business pages

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We sit down with AXA’s UK&I CEO Claudio Gienal to talk about his career at one of the world’s biggest insurance companies, and their research into the post-pandemic landscape for SMEs.

In this episode we discuss:

• What Claudio learned about leadership while looking after his Swiss village’s cows as a ten year old
• Why 75% of small business bosses still say launching their company was their best decision
• The concerns being raised by people thinking about starting a business
• How insurance can be as important as a bank account for an SME
• His own challenges starting a small business and its international expansion
• Why the Start Up Angel competition was launched, and tips on how to win £25,000 for your business.

The AXA Startup Angel competition, from AXA in partnership with the Evening Standard, will see a panel of judges – business high-flyers, including Evening Standard CEO Charles Yardley – pick the most inspiring ideas from a selection of elevator pitch videos.

There are six chances to win. Two competition winners will each receive the Gold prize of £25,000, mentorship and business insurance for the first year from AXA. There are Silver and Bronze prizes too – both of which include a digital advertising campaign with the Evening Standard. Competition closes 17 July 2022. T&Cs apply.

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William Reeve knows a thing or two about how to sell a successful start-up. His first, Fletcher Research, was bought for around £20m in 1999. He followed that up in 2011 with a reported £200m sale of LoveFilm to Amazon. Since then he’s worked with household names like Secret Escapes and PaddyPower, helping to develop their businesses. Now he’s CEO of digital property lettings platform Goodlord and a non-executive director at Dunelm.

In this episode we talk about:

• Why CEOs should prioritise building a good company, not a sellable one
• Advice on exit strategies
• Leadership skills
• The archaic property rental sector and how to change it
• How interest rates and the cost of living are affecting SMEs

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Euan Blair’s company Multiverse, which offers apprenticeships as an alternative to University, has been valued at $875 million. The son of former PM Tony Blair has built an enormous, multinational, firm that’s disrupting how companies like Morgan Stanley and Microsoft are finding, and keeping, the best staff. 

In this episode we talk about:

• How universities control access to the top jobs 
• Why views on apprenticeships are outdated in a world where they can be offered to data analysts and software engineers. 
• Challenging cultural views that only universities can lead to success. 

For all the latest business news, features and analysis go to standard.co.uk/business.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sarah Friar, CEO of Nextdoor, tells us about the challenges of building a multinational company whose entire purpose is keeping things local. 

In this episode we talk about:

• Why becoming a CEO's like going full circle to your first job. 
• How Nextdoor developed a global business by focussing on the high street. 
• The opportunities for SMEs on the platform and how they stand shoulder-to-shoulder with giants

For all the latest business news, features and analysis go to standard.co.uk/business. 

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It’s been 35 years since Terry Waite was kidnapped while trying to negotiate the release of British hostages in Lebanon.

In this episode of 'How to be a CEO' he joins psychologist Dr Wolfgang Seidl to talk about how he coped in solitary confinement.

They also discuss the pandemic, workplace wellbeing and the power of a simple gesture.

Mr Waite and Dr Seidl are appearing the Watercooler event in association with the Evening Standard on May 25th. It’s being held at the Olympia London, for details on other speakers and how to get free tickets click here.

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This Morning presenter, and former Saturdays singer, Rochelle Humes launched her baby hair and skincare business My Little Coco just as the Covid-19 pandemic swept the world. In this podcast she tells us:

• Why entering business was harder than breaking into showbiz
• The learning curve she faced, including an early challenge by Chanel over the word "Coco"
• Why she partnered with Boots to get her products on their shelves
• The advantage of using her family as a focus group, and how brutally honest her children can be
• How she's expanding the business from cosmetics into furniture and homeware

For more business news, interviews and analysis go to standard.co.uk/business

This podcast was recorded at the Treehouse London Hotel.

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