In this episode of Spotlight On, Nicholas Barton is joined by Tim Farazmand, Co-Founder of PCB Partners, and an experienced NED & Advisory board member. 

Tim discusses why assessing risk, return, and measurable impact is the new industry standard, explains how B Corp certification signals quality, and why pursuing social goals can actually strengthen a business's culture and resilience without sacrificing returns.

We explore the "Three Ps and an E" Framework, Tim’s tactical approach to vetting investments: People, Products, Projections, and Exit - always prioritising people first.

This episode also addresses the realities of becoming a Chair or NED, why CEOs often struggle with the transition, and how boards can support leadership through coaching and strategic boundaries.

Private equity (PE) is entering a hyper-competitive new era. While headline deal values are surging, the real story is a "K-shaped" recovery, with megadeals and top-tier performers leading the charge. 

In this episode of Spotlight On, Nicholas Barton is joined by Bain’s Emilio Domingo, Chief Commercial Officer EMEA Private Equity, to break down their latest report and what it means for the European market.

The headlines point to a PE recovery, but the underlying data show a market growing more selective. Emilio explains what this means for fundraising and exits, and the shift from leverage-based returns to the new era of bold value creation.

Emilio also unpacks the "12 is the new five" EBITDA standard, the rise of continuation vehicles, and how AI is delivering real-world ROI within portfolio companies. We also provide a roadmap for executives entering the PE space, focusing on sponsor selection and the "strategy on a page" test.

In this episode of Spotlight On: Women in Leadership, we sit down with Lynda Clarke, General Manager UK at Nayax, to unpack what it really takes to lead in fintech. 

Lynda highlights the need for listening before fixing, using emotional intelligence to build trust, and turning imposter syndrome into practical action. From Middle East boardrooms to inclusive hiring, Lynda maps the small steps that compound into lasting change, whilst advocating for diversity and inclusion in every organisation.

In this episode, Nicholas Barton sits down with Roy Perticucci, former CEO of Allegro and a veteran of large-scale transformation across Europe’s leading digital and retail businesses.

Here, Roy offers a practical view of what defines an effective Chief Transformation Officer today. He discusses the importance of analytical rigour, disciplined execution, and credibility with CEOs and boards, where execution remains the defining factor in successful transformation.

The discussion reflects on how private equity’s focus has shifted from deal execution to operational value creation, and what this means for leaders responsible for delivering measurable change.

In this episode of Spotlight On's Women in Leadership series, Olivia Stainton speaks with Waynn Wu, Chief Strategy Officer at Philip Morris International, about the self-awareness and discipline required to lead through change.

Here, Waynn reflects on her early life, the impact of traditional expectations, and how resisting conformity shaped her ambition. She discusses a defining moment in her career that prompted her to reassess what success should look like and led to her framework of knowing yourself, being yourself, and learning to value yourself.

The conversation explores how to protect balance in high-pressure roles, why compassion must be practised deliberately, and how leaders can create space for experimentation and learning. Waynn also highlights the importance of collective leadership, male allyship, and long-term relationships in supporting people through different stages of their careers.

In this episode of Spotlight On's Women in Leadership series, Jane Harley sits down with Sharon Rice-Oxley, Partner and Co-Founder at Q5.

Sharon discusses the growth of organisational health through leaders telling a clear story, listening deeply, and building a culture where people bring their whole selves to work. Along the way, we discuss hiring, allyship, cross-cultural leadership, and leading through a pandemic while protecting jobs and employee well-being.

In this episode of Women in Leadership, Olivia Stainton sits down with Hanne Andresen, Chief Strategy Officer at Costa Coffee, to learn how she turns long-term ambition into daily action through clarity and consistency. Drawing on her global experience, Hanne details her three-pillar strategy: defining where to win, translating choices into simple action plans, and building a culture that looks ahead without removing the wheel.

We hear why consistency beats reinvention, how to decide what to stop as much as what to start, and why your unique perspective as a woman in strategy is a superpower. Expect practical guidance on grounded leadership, career ownership, and psychological safety. 

In this episode of Spotlight On, Nicholas Barton, Founder of The Barton Partnership, sits down with Kate Gibson, who shares her journey from strategy consulting to becoming a pioneering sustainability leader, revealing how corporate approaches to ESG are evolving from siloed initiatives to integrated business strategy.

For business leaders navigating this landscape, Kate offers practical advice: understand your material risks, develop plans that acknowledge climate realities, and use current regulatory pauses to get ahead rather than relax efforts. Kate's insights are especially relevant for strategy professionals looking to drive meaningful transformation in their organisations.

James Hadley, Senior Partner at Bain & Company and current UK Managing Partner, shares insights from his nearly 30-year career on how corporate strategy functions are evolving to meet today's business challenges. 

Whether you are a corporate strategist, consultant, or executive navigating strategic decisions, this conversation offers invaluable perspective on how the practice of strategy is evolving, and what it takes to stay relevant in an increasingly complex business landscape.

In this episode of Spotlight On, TBP's Founder, Nicholas Barton, sits down with Carl Evander, OC&C's Global Head of Private Equity, who offers an insider's view off the back of a trip to Superreturn Berlin. Carl discusses how private equity is navigating today's tough economic climate, including rising interest rates and tech disruption.

Carl visits PE at a turning point, moving from a boom to a cautious period. Despite this, Carl also notes that long-term PE returns still beat public markets. He notes that firms must transform businesses, not just buy and hold, driving the rise of value creation teams and investment in sectors like energy transition and AI data centers.

He also provides a nuanced take on AI: great for productivity, but not a replacement for human judgment. Join this insightful conversation on PE's evolution in uncertain times.