Navigating with Bertie Russell

Welcome to another instalment of Navigating with Bertie Russell. Today, Bertie is joined by Will Michell, co-founder of Blue Noble, a real estate investment and asset management business working with family offices, entrepreneurs, and investors across Europe.

In this episode, Will shares his journey from managing billions of pounds of real estate assets at HSBC to launching Blue Noble alongside his partners and building the business over the last eight years.

Together, they discuss real estate investing, entrepreneurship, family offices, building long-term wealth, identifying investment opportunities, the future of property, student accommodation, data centres, and the realities of growing a business from scratch.

We hope you enjoy this episode. Subscribe to our channel to be notified of new uploads.

00:00 - Introduction to Will Michell & Blue Noble

01:30 - Leaving HSBC to start a business

04:00 - Working with family offices & investors

07:00 - Blue Noble's club investment model

10:00 - Why student accommodation in Italy

16:00 - The Milan development success story

18:00 - Data centres & future investment trends

22:00 - Investing for the long term

25:00 - Building bespoke portfolios

27:00 - Growing Blue Noble from scratch

30:00 - Leadership, culture & scaling a business

33:00 - Final reflections

Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/navigating-with-bertie-russell/id1756534223

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2qL8sCfmVMnjJJ6KU7XXdc?si=df03ac48ae9045bc

Welcome to another instalment of Navigating with Bertie Russell. Today, Bertie is joined by the team behind Cresconova Labs — an innovative educational space rethinking how children learn and prepare for a rapidly changing future.

In this episode, the founders share their backgrounds across finance, investment, technology, design, and education, and explain how their experiences led them to challenge traditional schooling and create a more creative, collaborative, and hands-on approach to learning.

Together, they discuss the future of education in the age of AI, the importance of curiosity and critical thinking, learning through failure, creativity in children, and how young people can become active creators rather than passive consumers of technology.

We hope you enjoy this episode. Subscribe to our channel to be notified of new uploads.

00:00 - Introduction to Cresconova Labs

01:00 - The founders’ backgrounds and journey

04:30 - Why education needs to evolve

08:00 - Creativity, curiosity & confidence in children

12:00 - AI, technology & future-proofing young people

16:30 - Breaking down silos in learning

20:00 - Collaboration, systems thinking & problem solving

24:00 - Hands-on learning and learning through failure

28:00 - Supporting different types of learners

32:00 - The future of education & human connection

35:00 - Final reflections

Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/navigating-with-bertie-russell/id1756534223

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2qL8sCfmVMnjJJ6KU7XXdc?si=df03ac48ae9045bc

Welcome to another instalment of Navigating with Bertie Russell. Today, Bertie is joined by Charley Law — executive coach, author, and former commodity trader.

In this episode, Charley shares his journey from the fast-paced world of global trading and relentless ambition to experiencing severe burnout that forced him to completely reassess his life, relationships, and definition of success.

Together, they discuss personal growth, vulnerability, high performance, family, self-worth, and what it really means to build a meaningful life without regret.

We hope you enjoy this episode. Subscribe to our channel to be notified of new uploads.

00:00 - Introduction to Charley

03:50 - Success, ego & commodity trading

08:20 - Severe burnout & recovery

12:10 - Family, vulnerability & accountability

16:30 - Redefining success and fulfilment

20:45 - Coaching high performers & finding clarity

26:00 - Writing the book and helping others

31:00 - Final reflections

Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/navigating-with-bertie-russell/id1756534223

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2qL8sCfmVMnjJJ6KU7XXdc?si=df03ac48ae9045bc

In this episode, I’m joined by Jonathan Mount & Sam McArdle, Co-founders and CEO’s of Project London, an architecture, interior design, and project management studio that delivers end-to-end home renovations and developments.

Listen as we delve into how rising construction costs, shifting market dynamics, and increased uncertainty are forcing developers and homeowners to think more strategically about every project - as well as unpack the importance of understanding true end value, building within realistic budgets.

Welcome to another instalment of Navigating with Bertie Russell. Today, Bertie is joined by Cleme de Grivel, an interior designer based in London. Previously known as Lehlo Interiors, the studio has evolved to carry the name of its founder, Cleme de Grivel, reflecting a more personal and expressive identity while remaining rooted in the same values, philosophy and design sensibility established over more than a decade.

We hope you enjoy this episode. Subscribe to our channel to be notified of new uploads.

Welcome back to Navigating with Bertie Russell. Today, Bertie is joined by Geoffrey and Christopher Stiff—a father-son duo and Director and Senior Surveyor at Camerons Stiff. Camerons Stiff is an experienced, trusted and independent property agency operating in North and North-West London.

We hope you enjoy this episode. Subscribe to our channel to be notified of new uploads.

Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/navigating-with-bertie-russell/id1756534223

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2qL8sCfmVMnjJJ6KU7XXdc?si=df03ac48ae9045bc

Thank you to our client for allowing us to film this episode in their wonderful home. Explore Stafford Terrace further here: https://www.russellsimpson.co.uk/buy/stafford-terrace

In this episode, I’m joined by Ali Haszlakiewicz, a private jet broker operating at the sharp end of luxury travel where time, trust and precision matter most.

From high-pressure evacuations in the Middle East to the realities behind private aviation, we dive into what the job is really like beyond the glamour.

Listen in for insights on the industry, the importance of relationships, and what it takes to deliver at the highest level.

Welcome to another episode of Navigating with Bertie Russell. Today, Bertie is joined by Steven Medway, CEO of Knightsbridge Partnership. Knightsbridge Partnership enhances and champions the unique character of Knightsbridge, promoting its many assets and maintaining it as a desirable place to be for residents, visitors, and businesses.

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Welcome to another episode of Navigating with Bertie Russell. This time, Bertie is joined by Joey Byrne, Head of Europe at Pacaso. Pacaso is a service that creates a more accessible category of second-home ownership. The company helps people buy and own a second home through a property-specific LLC, and reduces the cost and hassle of ownership.

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Welcome to the next episode of Navigating with Bertie Russell. This time, Bertie is joined by Joel Baseley and Rupert Nicholson, Directors of Rampton Baseley. Rampton Baseley is an estate agency operating in South-west London. They started the business because they wanted to create an agency they themselves would use. Their aim was to build an estate agency that was friendly, knowledgeable, professional, and committed to putting clients’ needs first, rather than the needs of the agency. A business that would not only provide a superb service, but also be a superb place to work, founded on their core values of respect, honesty, and diligence.

We hope you enjoy this episode. Subscribe to our channel to be notified of new uploads.