From refugee roots to CEO — this is the story of how adversity built a global business.

In this episode of Mastering Business Growth, Paul Fernandez is joined by Ketan Dattani, founder and CEO of Buckingham Futures, to share his remarkable journey from humble beginnings to building one of the UK’s leading environmental recruitment companies.

Ketan opens up about how his early life experiences shaped his resilience, the lessons he learned from failure, and how his personal story became the foundation for a business built on purpose, inclusion, and social impact.

Key Highlights:

How adversity and resilience built the foundation for success
The challenges of growing a purpose-driven business
Why representation and inclusion matter in leadership
How to turn personal experience into professional strength
Lessons from building a global environmental recruitment brand

If you’ve ever wondered how to turn struggle into strength — this episode is a masterclass in purpose-driven leadership and perseverance.

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They don’t teach you this at school.

In this episode of Mastering Business Growth, Paul Fernandez sits down with Gareth Shears—financial planner, entrepreneur, and co-founder of Sanctuary Financial Planning—to talk about the money lessons every entrepreneur needs but most never learn.

From why so many business owners end up paying themselves last, to the truth about savings, pensions, and risk, Gareth shares the raw realities of financial planning for entrepreneurs. With over 100,000 followers built through consistent content, he also explains how visibility and education can transform the way business owners think about money.

Key Highlights:

The financial mistakes most entrepreneurs make early on
Why “playing it safe” with money keeps you broke
How to pay yourself first without starving the business
Why business ownership can be less risky than employment
The content strategy that built Gareth’s 100k following
The money skills no one teaches you (but you need to know)

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Most digital transformations don’t fail because of the software. They fail because of the people.

In this episode of Mastering Business Growth, Paul Fernandez is joined by Dawn Coupe — ERP specialist, consultant, and business change expert—to unpack why so many digital projects collapse despite having the right technology in place.

Drawing on years of experience helping organisations implement ERP systems and manage complex change, Dawn explains why human behaviour, culture, and leadership are the real success factors. From corporate resistance to small business agility, she shares the truth about what it really takes to make transformation work.

🎙 Key Highlights:

Why technology isn’t the problem in digital transformation
The human behaviours that cause projects to fail
How to manage change in both small and large businesses
Why corporate culture often blocks innovation
The truth about AI and why it won’t “save” a failing project
How to put people first and make transformation succeed

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#MasteringBusinessGrowth #DawnCoup #DigitalTransformation #ERP #BusinessChange #Leadership

65% of sales time is wasted. So what’s really stopping teams from hitting their targets?

In this episode of Mastering Business Growth, Paul Fernandez is joined by Nick Bramley—sales strategist, speaker, and coach—to uncover the hidden reasons most sales teams underperform.

From order-taking disguised as selling, to the lack of structured sales plans, Nick shares why so many businesses are leaving money on the table—and how to turn wasted effort into consistent revenue growth.

🎙 Key Highlights:

Why 65% of sales time is wasted on the wrong activities
The difference between order processing and real selling
Why most businesses don’t have a sales plan (and how to fix it)
The simple change that makes sales teams more productive
Why asking for the order is still the #1 skill in sales
How to build accountability and resilience into your sales culture

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#MasteringBusinessGrowth #NickBramley #SalesTraining #BusinessGrowth #SalesTargets #Leadership #PodcastingForBusiness

Recruitment isn’t just sales — it’s a sport. And like any sport, you can’t win without training.

In this episode of Mastering Business Growth, Paul Fernandez sits down with Adam Holt, recruitment leader and sales strategist, to explore the lessons business can learn from sport.

From resilience under pressure to the discipline of daily practice, Adam shares why talent alone isn’t enough in recruitment or sales — and how the best teams are built on coaching, preparation, and the ability to bounce back after setbacks.

🎙️ Key Highlights:

Why recruitment is more like sport than traditional sales
The role of resilience in building a successful sales career
Why discipline and consistency beat talent over time
Lessons from coaching and training that apply to business growth
How to build stronger recruiters and sales teams in 2025

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What can McDonald’s teach you about scaling a business? More than you think.

In this episode of Mastering Business Growth, Paul Fernandez sits down with Diane Thomas—CEO, business leader, and former McDonald’s manager—to unpack the surprising lessons she carried from the fast-food giant into building and leading her own companies.

From mastering systems and processes to hiring the right people and creating a culture that lasts, Diane reveals why simple rules learned on the restaurant floor can transform how you run and scale any business.

🎙️ Key Highlights:

- The business rule Diane learned at McDonald’s that changed everything
- Why systems and processes are the backbone of growth
- The truth about hiring (and how to avoid costly mistakes)
- Why culture isn’t about perks—it’s about people
- How to grow from employee to CEO with confidence and clarity

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They’re not buying your service — they’re buying YOU.

Helen Tudor, business coach and strategist, joins Paul Fernandez on Mastering Business Growth to share why most entrepreneurs are going wrong when it comes to attracting clients.

In a world where everyone is fighting for attention, Helen reveals why chasing more clients is often a trap — and how focusing on the right ones can completely transform your business. With years of experience helping founders clarify their positioning, align their energy, and build authentic relationships, Helen explains why your personality, values, and visibility matter more than a perfectly polished pitch.

This episode dives into the myths of “serving everyone,” how to avoid energy-draining clients, and the surprising reason authenticity is your biggest sales tool.

🎙 Key Highlights:

Why your ideal clients aren’t buying your service (and what they’re buying instead)
The danger of saying yes to the wrong clients
How authenticity and energy alignment attract the right people
Why “more clients” doesn’t always mean more growth
The practical steps to build a business that fits YOU

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At Innersound, we help businesses grow through strategic podcasting — building trust, generating leads, and creating standout content in our state-of-the-art York studio or on location across the UK.

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From battling through the toughest challenges in her career to making a leap that changed everything— this is the story of how one bold decision turned struggle into success.

In this episode of Mastering Business Growth, Paul Fernandez sits down with Holly Price, a top-performing estate agent, to talk about taking risks, backing yourself, and building a career you love.

Holly opens up about the pressures of working in a competitive industry, the moments of doubt she faced, and the pivotal decision that set her on the path to long-term success. Whether you’re in property, business, or any high-pressure role, her lessons are relevant for anyone ready to make a change.

🎙️ Key Highlights:

• The pivotal career risk that changed everything
• How to push through challenges when success feels far away
• Why mindset matters more than perfect planning
• Lessons from working in a competitive, high-stakes industry
• How to recognise when it’s time to make your move

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Dan Franks—professor, data scientist, and co-founder of Optify—joins Paul Fernandez to unpack one of the biggest misconceptions in business right now: AI doesn’t make decisions. Humans do.

In this episode of Mastering Business Growth, Dan explains why over-relying on AI tools like ChatGPT and language models can lead to bad calls in business, especially when context, judgement, and trade-offs are involved.

We dive into pricing optimisation, e-commerce growth, and how to combine AI with real-world insight to scale profitably and stay in control.

🎙️ Key Highlights:

Why AI tools fall short in real business decision-making

The difference between information, context, and action

How Optify is helping brands optimise pricing (without A/B testing)

When AI helps—and when it quietly costs you money

What founders still need to master in an AI-powered world

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Steve Willicot, founder of Uncle Matt’s Hats, joins Paul Fernandez to share the deeply personal story of how he turned heartbreak into a brand with purpose—one that’s starting conversations around mental health and saving lives.

After losing his brother, Matt, to suicide during lockdown, Steve channelled his grief into creating a bold, purpose-driven e-commerce brand. Uncle Matt’s Hats isn’t just about premium headwear—it’s about breaking the silence on mental health, raising awareness, and building a movement through authentic storytelling and unique design.

This powerful episode explores the intersection of entrepreneurship, purpose, and resilience—proving that the strongest brands are often born from the deepest struggles.

🎙️ Key Highlights:

How personal tragedy led to the birth of Uncle Matt’s Hats

Why mental health awareness is woven into the brand’s DNA

Turning e-commerce into a force for good

The power of authentic storytelling in building a movement

How design, packaging, and experience create emotional connection

Why conversations around men’s mental health matter more than ever

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The Growth Guys help brands scale profitably with data-led, creatively-driven paid media strategies.
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