OxTalks

How do you stop workplace wellbeing becoming a tick-box exercise and make it something that genuinely changes how teams work?

In this episode of OxTalks, host Howard Bentham speaks with Olga Zilberberg, founder of The Missing Link, about mental health training, neurodiversity, and what real cultural change looks like inside organisations. Olga shares lived experience of anxiety, panic attacks and depression, and explains why effective training starts with self-awareness, everyday communication, and psychological safety rather than diagnosis or compliance.

Against a backdrop of rising work-related stress, the conversation explores what managers and colleagues can notice when someone is struggling, how to create space for honest check-ins, and why supporting neurodivergent people requires inclusive hiring and practical adjustments. Recent UK data underlines the scale of the challenge: the Health and Safety Executive reports 22.1 million working days lost to work-related stress, depression or anxiety in 2024/25. This episode offers grounded, human advice for leaders who want wellbeing to show up in day-to-day culture.

• (00:00) - Welcome to OxTalks

Olga Zilberberg: Olga Zilberberg is the founder of The Missing Link, a UK consultancy providing bespoke mental health and neuroinclusion training to help organisations build more supportive, inclusive cultures. Drawing on lived experience and professional practice, Olga focuses on practical strategies that improve psychological safety, communication, and day-to-day workplace behaviours.

Enterprise Oxfordshire (formerly OxLEP) is an Oxfordshire County Council-owned company. It is our role to champion Oxfordshire’s economic potential, acting as a catalyst and convener to drive a dynamic, sustainable and growing economy. Our vision is for Oxfordshire to be a vibrant and inclusive world-leading economy – driven by innovation, enterprise, collaboration and research excellence.

Our work has made a significant impact, helping to create favourable conditions for economic growth in Oxfordshire. We provide support for hundreds of businesses and communities in the county, supporting their desire to grow and attract the best talent locally, nationally and internationally.

Visit Our Website / Access the Business Support Tool

OxTalks is recorded at the Oxford Podcast Studio and produced by Story Ninety-Four.

How do you build a high-performing leadership team when 82% of UK managers have received no formal training?

In this episode of OxTalks, host Howard Bentham speaks with Claire Croft, founder of Claire Croft Associates and executive coach, about what defines effective leadership in today's workplace. They explore why transparency, clarity and a willingness to develop people's potential are essential management qualities, and why poor leadership continues to drive employees away from organisations.

Drawing on recent data showing that only 10% of UK employees feel engaged at work and that 41% of workers have left jobs due to poor management, Claire explains how organisations can move beyond command-and-control approaches to create cultures where people thrive. From her own career transition from advertising strategist to executive coach, she shares practical insights on how leaders can navigate constant change, foster autonomy without abandonment, and build resilience through thinking before acting. Whether you're a new manager or a seasoned executive, this conversation offers a clear-eyed look at what leadership really requires in 2026.

• (00:00) - Welcome to OxTalks

Claire Croft: Claire Croft is the founder of Claire Croft Associates, an executive coaching and leadership development practice based in Oxfordshire, and a director at Corporate Punk, a specialist change consultancy. A member of the International Coaching Federation, she works with senior leaders and leadership teams to overcome barriers to personal and commercial success, with clients including Unipart, Virgin and Invesco. Before transitioning to coaching in 2011, Claire spent over 15 years working as a strategist and talent director in leading London advertising agencies, including roles at board level with clients ranging from the BBC and BMW to O2 and Great Ormond Street Hospital. She established her own coaching practice in February 2016, marking nearly ten years of helping organisations unlock potential and create high-performing teams through improved communication, emotional intelligence and culture change.

Enterprise Oxfordshire (formerly OxLEP) is an Oxfordshire County Council-owned company. It is our role to champion Oxfordshire’s economic potential, acting as a catalyst and convener to drive a dynamic, sustainable and growing economy. Our vision is for Oxfordshire to be a vibrant and inclusive world-leading economy – driven by innovation, enterprise, collaboration and research excellence.

Our work has made a significant impact, helping to create favourable conditions for economic growth in Oxfordshire. We provide support for hundreds of businesses and communities in the county, supporting their desire to grow and attract the best talent locally, nationally and internationally.

Visit Our Website / Access the Business Support Tool

OxTalks is recorded at the Oxford Podcast Studio and produced by Story Ninety-Four.

Can a business grow and scale whilst genuinely putting purpose before profit? 

In this episode of OxTalks, host Howard Bentham speaks with Bethan Thomas, co-founder and CEO of HotTea Mama, an award-winning women's wellness tea company that has grown from a kitchen-table start-up to a brand stocked in Holland & Barrett, Selfridges and Planet Organic. Bethan shares her remarkable journey from studying tea science in China to creating a business that supports women through periods, pregnancy, motherhood and menopause.

With the UK losing 150 million working days each year due to poor women's health and purpose-led UK businesses achieving 20% turnover growth compared to just 3% for all SMEs, Bethan's story demonstrates how values-driven entrepreneurship can deliver both commercial success and meaningful social impact. 

This conversation explores the practical realities of building a mission-led brand, from navigating supply chains and retail partnerships to maintaining authenticity in an age of greenwashing, all whilst managing the demands of motherhood and running a growing business.

• (00:00) - Welcome to OxTalks

Bethan Thomas: Bethan Thomas is the co-founder and CEO of HotTea Mama, an award-winning women's wellness tea and hot beverage company creating functional blends to support women through periods, fertility, pregnancy, motherhood and menopause. A graduate of Oxford University with a master's in Modern Chinese, Bethan is the first non-Chinese person to earn a degree in Tea Science from Fujian Agricultural University in China, where she specialised in understanding how botanicals and herbs can support health and wellbeing. After more than a decade working as a professional tea buyer and taster for major British tea companies, she co-founded HotTea Mama in 2017 with her friend Kate Achilles, inspired by their own experiences of pregnancy and early motherhood. Under Bethan's leadership, HotTea Mama has grown to a £1.2 million turnover business, winning multiple awards including recognition from the Nourish Awards and UK Baby Awards, and is now stocked in over 750 Holland & Barrett stores nationwide, as well as Selfridges and Planet Organic. Bethan is a graduate of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses programme and a strong advocate for women-led, purpose-driven business.

Enterprise Oxfordshire (formerly OxLEP) is an Oxfordshire County Council-owned company. It is our role to champion Oxfordshire’s economic potential, acting as a catalyst and convener to drive a dynamic, sustainable and growing economy. Our vision is for Oxfordshire to be a vibrant and inclusive world-leading economy – driven by innovation, enterprise, collaboration and research excellence.

Our work has made a significant impact, helping to create favourable conditions for economic growth in Oxfordshire. We provide support for hundreds of businesses and communities in the county, supporting their desire to grow and attract the best talent locally, nationally and internationally.

Visit Our Website / Access the Business Support Tool

OxTalks is recorded at the Oxford Podcast Studio and produced by Story Ninety-Four.

We hope you're enjoying Series Four of OxTalks so far. We are going to be taking a short break over the festive period. But we'll be back in the New Year with more amazing guests and inspiring business stories. From the whole OxTalks team, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, and we'll see you in 2026.

Enterprise Oxfordshire (formerly OxLEP) is an Oxfordshire County Council-owned company. It is our role to champion Oxfordshire’s economic potential, acting as a catalyst and convener to drive a dynamic, sustainable and growing economy. Our vision is for Oxfordshire to be a vibrant and inclusive world-leading economy – driven by innovation, enterprise, collaboration and research excellence.

Our work has made a significant impact, helping to create favourable conditions for economic growth in Oxfordshire. We provide support for hundreds of businesses and communities in the county, supporting their desire to grow and attract the best talent locally, nationally and internationally.

Visit Our Website / Access the Business Support Tool

OxTalks is recorded at the Oxford Podcast Studio and produced by Story Ninety-Four.

How do you build a purposeful, science-backed wellness brand that truly stands out in the highly competitive and saturated UK market?

In this insightful episode, host Howard Bentham welcomes Catherine Hurley Arbibe, founder of the award-winning brand, NEWROAD. Catherine shares her remarkable career journey, from studying medicine at Oxford to a stellar modelling career on the cover of Vogue, and finally, to launching her successful gut health supplement. 

The conversation reveals the challenges of gaining a foothold in a sector now valued at $224 billion in the UK, with consumers spending 31% more on wellness compared to 2019. Catherine discusses how the American Gut Project's findings on the importance of 30 different plant foods a week became the scientific foundation for her organic, freeze-dried product. 

She offers invaluable lessons on maintaining brand authenticity, the complexities of sourcing and production, and the strategic support needed to scale a mission-driven startup against industry giants. 

• (00:00) - Welcome to OxTalks

Catherine Hurley Arbibe: Co-Founder and Managing Director of NEWROAD, an award-winning, science-backed wellness brand focused on gut health and plant diversity. A former international model who appeared on the covers of Vogue and Elle, Catherine's unique background includes medical studies at Oxford University. Her expertise lies in translating cutting-edge microbiome research into high-integrity, whole-food supplements, developed in consultation with scientists from the University of Oxford and other global institutions. She and NEWROAD are committed to social responsibility, including supporting the Oxford Food Hub.

Enterprise Oxfordshire (formerly OxLEP) is an Oxfordshire County Council-owned company. It is our role to champion Oxfordshire’s economic potential, acting as a catalyst and convener to drive a dynamic, sustainable and growing economy. Our vision is for Oxfordshire to be a vibrant and inclusive world-leading economy – driven by innovation, enterprise, collaboration and research excellence.

Our work has made a significant impact, helping to create favourable conditions for economic growth in Oxfordshire. We provide support for hundreds of businesses and communities in the county, supporting their desire to grow and attract the best talent locally, nationally and internationally.

Visit Our Website / Access the Business Support Tool

OxTalks is recorded at the Oxford Podcast Studio and produced by Story Ninety-Four.

What does it truly take to transform a local business into a world-class global enterprise?

In this insightful conversation, host Howard Bentham speaks with Liz Lewis-Jones, the CEO of Liquid, an award-winning integrated communications agency. Liz shares the compelling story of launching her business in a room above her mother's garage in 2004 and scaling it across 26 jurisdictions and 20 time zones, with offices in the UK and Australia.

This episode is an essential listen for ambitious SMEs considering international expansion, exploring the challenges of navigating new cultures, complex tax laws, and fluctuating exchange rates. Liz candidly shares her "glass half full" approach and the strategic moves—including acquisitions and leveraging new trade agreements—that fueled Liquid's immense growth, even winning Global Agency of the Year.

Crucially, the discussion highlights the current environment where a significant majority of UK private businesses (92%) are confident of growth ​​with over nine in ten planning on diversifying and expanding their businesses by creating new service lines or products, or entering new markets including overseas as reported by KPMG, making Liz’s practical, real-world advice on tariffs, business support, and market research more vital than ever.

• (00:00) - Welcome to OxTalks

Liz Lewis-Jones: CEO of Liquid, an award-winning integrated communications agency operating across 26 jurisdictions. Starting the business in 2004, she has built it into a global player with key offices in the UK and Australia. An expert in crisis communications and strategic PR, Liz is a former national president of the CIPR and currently serves as a Midlands Export Champion for the UK Department for Business & Trade, having recently been named Business Woman of the Year in 2025.

Enterprise Oxfordshire (formerly OxLEP) is an Oxfordshire County Council-owned company. It is our role to champion Oxfordshire’s economic potential, acting as a catalyst and convener to drive a dynamic, sustainable and growing economy. Our vision is for Oxfordshire to be a vibrant and inclusive world-leading economy – driven by innovation, enterprise, collaboration and research excellence.

Our work has made a significant impact, helping to create favourable conditions for economic growth in Oxfordshire. We provide support for hundreds of businesses and communities in the county, supporting their desire to grow and attract the best talent locally, nationally and internationally.

Visit Our Website / Access the Business Support Tool

OxTalks is recorded at the Oxford Podcast Studio and produced by Story Ninety-Four.

Welcome to OxTalks, powered by Enterprise Oxfordshire (formerly OxLEP). OxTalks is your partner in tackling business challenges and achieving your goals, giving an insight into the great work that Enterprise Oxfordshire does to support local organisations and communities. OxTalks host Howard Bentham talks to successful leaders from Oxfordshire and beyond to hear their advice to help your business flourish.

This week, host Howard Bentham speaks with Veena Virahsammy, the founder of Oxford Creators, a not-for-profit alternative education provision (AP) born out of her own personal experience supporting her own son. Veena details the need for tailored support hubs that cater to neurodiverse and misunderstood children.

The conversation highlights the innovative approach of integrating emotional regulation and therapy through practical activities like boxing, podcasting, and music. With the number of children and young people with an Education and Healthcare Plan (EHCP) rising by over 10% in the last year alone, this provision is more critical than ever.

Veena also discusses the necessity of running a not-for-profit like a business and her ambitious expansion plans with Resolve Alternative Provision to raise the bar for AP standards nationally. Tune in to understand how a creative approach to education is building the next generation of resilient talent.

• (00:00) - Welcome to OxTalks

Veena Virahsammy: Veena is the CEO and Founder of Oxford Creators CIC, an alternative education provision (AP) she launched in 2022 after years of navigating the system to find support for her son. A highly successful entrepreneur and former Channel 4 award-winning radio presenter, Veena leverages her background in media, clinical hypnotherapy, and video marketing to provide a creative, therapeutic, and practical curriculum for students at risk of exclusion. She is also a founding partner in Resolve Alternative Provision, aiming to expand this innovative model across the UK.

Enterprise Oxfordshire (formerly OxLEP) is an Oxfordshire County Council-owned company. It is our role to champion Oxfordshire’s economic potential, acting as a catalyst and convener to drive a dynamic, sustainable and growing economy. Our vision is for Oxfordshire to be a vibrant and inclusive world-leading economy – driven by innovation, enterprise, collaboration and research excellence.

Our work has made a significant impact, helping to create favourable conditions for economic growth in Oxfordshire. We provide support for hundreds of businesses and communities in the county, supporting their desire to grow and attract the best talent locally, nationally and internationally.

Visit Our Website / Access the Business Support Tool

OxTalks is recorded at the Oxford Podcast Studio and produced by Story Ninety-Four.

Welcome to Season Four of OxTalks, powered by Enterprise Oxfordshire (formerly OxLEP). OxTalks aims to give you more insight into the great work that Enterprise Oxfordshire does, empowering and enabling businesses across Oxfordshire and beyond, to add value to their organisation and, crucially, to the communities they serve.

Enterprise Oxfordshire (formerly OxLEP) is an Oxfordshire County Council-owned company. It is our role to champion Oxfordshire’s economic potential, acting as a catalyst and convener to drive a dynamic, sustainable and growing economy. Our vision is for Oxfordshire to be a vibrant and inclusive world-leading economy – driven by innovation, enterprise, collaboration and research excellence.

Our work has made a significant impact, helping to create favourable conditions for economic growth in Oxfordshire. We provide support for hundreds of businesses and communities in the county, supporting their desire to grow and attract the best talent locally, nationally and internationally.

Visit our website / Access the Business Support Tool

OxTalks is recorded at the Oxford Podcast Studio and produced by Story Ninety-Four.

Flexible working covers a whole range of scenarios, beneficial to employees with diverse needs. Its aim is to strike a work-life balance – but it isn’t always an easy journey getting there. Is flexible working just as effective as having a full-time position? Is there evidence to showcase the real impact of flexibility on productivity and wellbeing?

In this episode of OxTalks, powered by Enterprise Oxfordshire (formerly OxLEP), host Howard Bentham is joined by Helen Wright, Founder of 9-2-3 Jobs.

Made redundant from her job as a broadcast journalist while pregnant, Helen now heads up an award-winning recruitment agency specialising in flexible working. Having seen the impact of workplace flexibility, or the lack of it, from both sides, Helen is passionate about helping others find work that fits around their lives.

Enterprise Oxfordshire’s Communications Manager, Rob Panting, joins the conversation to discuss the support that Enterprise Oxfordshire can offer to entrepreneurs of small businesses like Helen, and shares his own experiences of flexible working.

• (00:00) - Putting the Flex Into Flexible Working… Is 9-5 a Thing of the Past?

Learn more about 9-2-3 Jobs

Enterprise Oxfordshire (formerly OxLEP) is an Oxfordshire County Council-owned company. It is our role to champion Oxfordshire’s economic potential, acting as a catalyst and convener to drive a dynamic, sustainable and growing economy. Our vision is for Oxfordshire to be a vibrant and inclusive world-leading economy – driven by innovation, enterprise, collaboration and research excellence.

Our work has made a significant impact, helping to create favourable conditions for economic growth in Oxfordshire. We provide support for hundreds of businesses and communities in the county, supporting their desire to grow and attract the best talent locally, nationally and internationally.

Visit our website / Access the Business Support Tool

OxTalks is recorded at the Oxford Podcast Studio and produced by Story Ninety-Four.

Equality, diversity and inclusion are often grouped together and have become a buzzword in the workplace. However, each term comes with its nuances and challenges.

Many organisations have a strong commitment to ED&I, but what do they actually do to ensure each area is covered? How can businesses embrace diversity in the workplace, while making it an equal and inclusive environment?

In this episode of OxTalks, powered by Enterprise Oxfordshire (formerly OxLEP), host Howard Bentham is joined by Laura Ayoade, the first ever Equity, Diversity & Inclusion lead at Aston Martin.

With a varied career path starting in hip hop dance to getting a master’s in international human rights law, being a performing arts teacher, and becoming an ED&I specialist, Laura is passionate about civil rights and international humanitarian law.

Laura shares her thoughts on how businesses can embrace ED&I, the benefits it brings, and how to foster an environment where all employees feel valued and listened to. 

Enterprise Oxfordshire’s Communications Executive, Leona Weston, joins the discussion to share the support that OxLEP can offer to help small businesses looking to embrace ED&I.

• (00:00) - Introduction to OxTalks

 Learn more about Aston Martin

Click here to watch a video of this episode.

 
Enterprise Oxfordshire (formerly OxLEP) is an Oxfordshire County Council-owned company. It is our role to champion Oxfordshire’s economic potential, acting as a catalyst and convener to drive a dynamic, sustainable and growing economy. Our vision is for Oxfordshire to be a vibrant and inclusive world-leading economy – driven by innovation, enterprise, collaboration and research excellence.

Our work has made a significant impact, helping to create favourable conditions for economic growth in Oxfordshire. We provide support for hundreds of businesses and communities in the county, supporting their desire to grow and attract the best talent locally, nationally and internationally.

Visit our website / Access the Business Support Tool

OxTalks is recorded at the Oxford Podcast Studio and produced by Story Ninety-Four.