Simon Says

In episode 12 of PEP Talk, Simon talks to Craig Fenton. Craig is a business leader and entrepreneur who has worked in the technology industry for 20 years. He leads Strategy & Operations for Google in UK and Southern Europe, is an investor in and mentor of several start ups, and founded his own record label to give young artists from lower socio economic areas their start in music. Craig has a podcast and YouTube channel called Coffee, Eggs & Inspiration where he interviews inspiring leaders about their story. Craig grew up in New Zealand and lives in London, where he and his family have been based now for more than 20 years.

In season 2, episode 27 Simon interviews Victor Lugger. Victor Lugger is the co-founder and CEO of Big Mamma Group and Sunday App. Being at the head of 26 very popular Italian restaurants across Europe, including La Felicità on our campus, Victor is embarking on a new FinTech adventure with his Big Mamma co-founder, Tigrane Seydoux, and their new partner, Christine de Wendel, to reinvent the way that people pay in restaurants. The trio recently announced a $24 million seed round for their new company Sunday App.

In episode 11 of PEP Talk, Simon interviews Ilana Lever. Ilana is co-founder and co-CEO of Motley, the challenger jewellery brand with a industry-first supply chain model to make great design affordable. Starting her career as a management consultant, she went on to work for consumer and retail brands including Argos, innocent and itsu, before diving headlong into the start up world.

In season 2, episode 26 Simon interviews Justine Roberts. Justine Roberts CBE is Founder and CEO of Mumsnet, one of the UK’s largest and most influential online communities sharing advice, support and product recommendations with over 7 million unique users per month.

Justine is a non-executive director of FTSE100 insurance firm Admiral and of the Open Data Institute founded by Sir Tim Berners-Lee. She is also a member of the Government’s Rose Review Board.

In 2011, Justine launched Gransnet, a website for the original baby boomer generation. She is a mother of four (and two dogs) and was appointed CBE in the 2017 New Year Honours for services to the economy.

In episode 10 of PEP Talk, Simon interviews Oliver Prill. Oliver joined Tide in 2018 and has led its rapid scaling into the UK’s leading business financial platform. He has over 20 years leadership experience in financial services, having worked across the banking and insurance sectors, including starting his own financial services company.

In many of his roles, Oliver has worked closely with small business owners and has always been inspired by their energy and passion. Oliver is adamant about putting founders at the forefront of Tide’s agenda and bringing a better business banking service to small businesses.

Enter to win £25,000: https://www.tide.co/beyourownboss/

In season 2, episode 25 Simon interviews Shara Tochia. Prior to launching wellness brand DOSE, Shara had a career in marketing roles working for brands Ralph Lauren, Facebook, Instagram & fitness startup 1Rebel. She now runs DOSE full time & teaches spinning classes in the early morning hours. Creating a brand with feeling good at the heart of the business, Shara’s career has taught her many lessons about what balance and happiness means to her.

In episode 9 of PEP Talk, Simon interviews Michael Krayenhoff. Michael is co-founder and COO of Inner Circle, a high quality dating app focussed on helping people meet IRL. Prior to this, Michael worked for a consultancy in Singapore. He studied Industrial Engineering and Management in The Netherlands, followed by an MSc in Entrepreneurship at Royal Holloway University of London. At Inner Circle Michael is responsible for anything from team and culture to support and legal.

In season 2, episode 24 Simon interviews Graham Hobson. Graham was the founder and first CEO of Photobox - a startup in 2000 and later becoming Europe’s largest personalisation company. Photobox acquired Moonpig as well as other European brands and the group was sold to Private Equity in 2016. Since then Graham has worked in various roles: as CTO, board member, trustee, angel investor, social impact supporter, coach, mentor and general advisor helping startups and larger companies with scaling and preparing for exit.

In episode 8 of PEP Talk, Simon interviews Emma Jones. Following a degree in Law and Japanese, Emma joined the international accounting firm Arthur Andersen, where she worked in London, Leeds, and Manchester offices and set up the firm's Inward Investment practice that attracted overseas companies to locate in the UK. In 2000, bitten by the dot.com bug, Emma left the firm to start her first business, Techlocate. After 15 months, the company was successfully sold to Tenon plc. The experience of starting, growing and selling a business from a home base gave Emma the idea for Enterprise Nation which was launched in 2006 as the home business website. The company has since expanded to become a small business membership community of over 75,000 people who benefit from events and support: online and in person. Enterprise Nation also presents a campaigning voice to the government and the media on behalf of its members. In 2021, Emma was awarded a CBE for services to small businesses and entrepreneurs.

In season 2, episode 23 Simon interviews Ben Francis. Ben is a 28 year old billionaire and Founder of GymShark. Ben reveals how he grew his side hustle from a family garage to become one of the world's most successful brands in the world.