Spotlight On Podcast

In this episode of Spotlight On, Nicholas Barton sits down with Luke Jensen, Executive Chairman at Hana Group. Luke shares his extensive career journey, from banking to leading transformative roles in the global food industry and retail, including as CEO of Ocado Solutions and Group Director of Strategy at Sainsbury's.

Here, Luke reflects on his experiences driving innovation, particularly in grocery retail and technology, and the challenges of moving from strategy to operational leadership. Luke shares insights into the future of retail, highlighting the increasing role of AI, customer data, and personalised promotions in shaping the industry.

In this episode, Nicholas Barton sits down with Suvir Varma, Advisory Partner to Bain's Global Private Equity Business, to explore the evolving landscape of Private Equity in the Asia-Pacific region.

Here, Suvir shares insights on how AI is shaping private equity strategies, from deal sourcing to portfolio management. He highlights the increasing focus on sustainable investments, particularly in energy transition, and the emerging opportunities amidst China's economic slowdown. 

The conversation covers Japan's rise as a critical player in the PE market and the strategic importance of value creation in today's fragmented environment. Looking ahead, Suvir offers his optimistic view on what lies ahead for APAC private equity in 2025 and beyond.

In this episode of Spotlight On, Alex Dyke sits down with Mike Essex, Senior Partner at Wipro, to discuss how effective leadership can thrive in the face of complex, global digital transformation challenges and the fast-evolving dynamics of today’s workforce.

Mike shares his experience leading digital transformation programs across global teams, emphasising adaptability, emotional intelligence, and resilience as essential qualities for modern leaders. He discusses the challenges of managing multi-generational and hybrid workforces, and the importance of balancing well-being with high performance.

The episode highlights Wipro’s AI-driven leadership development initiatives, showcasing how personalised upskilling and strategic talent investment foster innovation, enhance retention, and position leaders for long-term success.

https://www.wipro.com/

In this episode of Spotlight On, Josh White, Co-Founder & CEO of Cano Water discusses his mission to combat plastic pollution. Inspired by a trip to Thailand, Josh and his friends created a sustainable water brand using aluminium cans.

The discussion explores the rewards of building a business with a strong environmental focus and how Cano Water has sold over 40 million cans while staying true to its values. Josh highlights the importance of team building, mentorship, and setting boundaries in the fast-paced world of entrepreneurship, along with the resilience needed to navigate a competitive market. 

Here, Josh shares the transformative impact of setting boundaries and believing in your vision, and we hear how Cano Water navigates the complexities of balancing profit with purpose. 

In this episode, Emily Farrow sits down with Oliver Lang, former Management Consultant turned serial entrepreneur with special expertise in Insurance and Insurtech.

The discussion explores the transition from consulting to entrepreneurship, highlighting practical advice for leveraging consulting skills in a startup environment. Oliver shares insights on positioning businesses for private equity sales, stressing the importance of understanding the buyer's business model and maintaining stable, recurring income. He also discusses the value of engaging board members effectively and the critical role they play in business growth and strategy, advocating for a strategic approach to business growth and balancing immediate operational improvements with a long-term vision for sustainable success.

In this episode of Spotlight On, Michael Fritz welcomes Oliver Mitchell, Partner at ff Venture Capital, as he explores the future of deep tech and robotics. With his experience as a Founder and investor, Oliver discusses the shift in robotics towards a more sales-driven approach, along with the challenges startups face in 'pilot purgatory.' He discusses the resurgence of smart-manufacturing and how robotics are reshaping workforce dynamics. 

The conversation spans the impact of technology on society, touching on the potential of humanoids and the importance of cross-industry collaborations for progress.

In this episode of Spotlight On, Kaitlin Bedford sits down with Sviat Dulianinov, Bright Machines's Chief Strategy Officer. We dive into Sviat's career journey, from consulting with Bain to SPAR and now leading strategy at Bright Machines.

The conversation unpacks how Bright Machines transitioned from consumer products to pioneering AI infrastructure, revolutionising manufacturing processes. Sviat sheds light on the groundbreaking AI-based solutions that drive efficiency and quality in assembly lines, and the pivotal role of machine learning in optimising automation and quality control.

In this episode, Alex Dyke is joined by Christine Rupp, Managing Director of IBM for Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, to discuss the pivotal role of female leadership in the era of AI. Here, they explore the strategic imperative for this leadership, highlighting the significant gap between the demand for women's leadership to counter gender bias and their representation in strategic AI-focussed roles. Christine shares insights into IBM's concerted efforts to bridge this gap, focusing on targeted upskilling programs and events to boost female leadership and participation.

The episode discusses effective strategies to enhance women's confidence in their AI leadership capabilities, underlining the importance of mentorship, role modeling, and allyship. Christine emphasises the critical need for ethical considerations, trust, and transparency in AI's development and implementation, in line with IBM's 5 Pillars and the EU AI Act.

https://www.ibm.com/

In this episode, Nicholas Barton, Founder & CEO of The Barton Partnership, is joined by Graham Elton, Partner in the London office of Bain & Company and Chairman of the EMEA Private Equity business. The discussion explores how cutting-edge AI technologies, including bespoke tools like Helix and Dialog AI, are revolutionising deal sourcing, due diligence, and knowledge management across the deal lifecycle.

The conversation delves into the growing imperative of ESG in shaping investment strategies, highlighting its ascension to a key component of value creation and risk management. Here, Graham emphasises the critical role of ESG in aligning private equity investments with broader societal and environmental objectives, marking a shift towards sustainable and responsible investing, whilst exploring the transformative trends shaping the future of the private equity industry. 

In this episode, The Barton Partnership's Dylan Rodwell is joined by Andrew Bud, Founder & CEO of iProov. Here, Andrew discusses the evolving landscape of biometric security, tracing his journey from the early days of the microprocessor revolution to the founding of iProov. 

The conversation highlights the significant strides iProov has made in biometric authentication, marking a shift from traditional signal processing to advanced AI-driven identity verification. Andrew also sheds light on the critical importance of robust biometric verification technology in protecting against identity theft.