Glenn Smith interviews Mirko Kleiner

What can a controversial fighter jet deal teach us about the way organisations buy products and services?

In this episode of The Art of Being Nimble, Glenn Smith is joined by Mirko Kleiner, co-founder of the Lean-Agile Procurement Alliance and a leading voice in rethinking procurement approaches.

Together, they unpack the Swiss government’s troubled acquisition of the F-35 fighter jet — a high-stakes, multi-billion deal that has become a national scandal. Mirko explains why traditional procurement processes often set both buyers and suppliers up for failure, particularly in fast-moving, complex environments.

The conversation explores:

Whether you’re managing multi-million contracts or simply trying to buy smarter in your organisation, this episode will change how you think about procurement — and why agility, trust, and collaboration matter more than ever.

Glenn Smith interviews Sir Robert Buckland KC

As AI tools become embedded in everyday business decisions, the legal and ethical stakes are rising fast.

In this episode, Glenn speaks with former UK Justice Secretary and Lord Chancellor, Sir Robert Buckland KC, about what companies need to know now, before the regulations catch up.

Drawing on his time in government and as a senior fellow at Harvard, Buckland offers a frank, practical perspective on the realities businesses face: from data retention pitfalls and copyright clashes to the risks of automation and global regulatory drift.

They explore:

Whether you’re building with AI or buying it in, this conversation offers a clear-eyed look at the risks, responsibilities, and decisions business leaders can’t afford to delay.

Glenn Smith interviews Adam Mattis

What happens when a business is working on paper—but not for you?

In this episode, Adam Mattis shares the story of Beans Power Clean, a home services startup he co-founded with his wife and scaled quickly. With strong demand, great branding, and a clear operations model, everything pointed to success. But just four months in, Adam made the difficult decision to shut it down. Why? Because despite the metrics, it wasn’t the kind of business he wanted to run, and the personal cost wasn’t worth the payoff.

We explore the tension between what appears to be success from the outside and what feels right on the inside. Adam reflects on risk, identity, and motivation—how leadership lessons from the corporate world don’t always translate to frontline businesses, and why founders need the courage to walk away when the fit is wrong. It’s a practical, honest look at what it means to let go of a promising business before it consumes you.

Glenn Smith interviews James Savage

Being a founder can be exhilarating — but also isolating. As businesses grow, the decisions get harder, the stakes get higher, and the pressure doesn’t let up. That’s where a good non-executive director comes in.

In this episode, Glenn speaks with James Savage, a Chartered Director, experienced board member, Institute of Directors Ambassador, and advisor to tech companies across the UK and Asia, about the role of a Non-Executive Director (NED). They explore how independent directors provide challenge, calm, and clarity when it matters most, and why many companies misunderstand the role.

Because leadership can be lonely, and sometimes the most valuable thing a founder or senior leader can have is someone who has been there, sees clearly, and has no hidden agenda.

In the interview, Glenn references another podcast episode that covers a multi-generational workforce. This was the interview with Andy Lethbridge.

Glenn Smith interviews Andy Lambert

Every startup talks about finding product-market fit—but few get it right. Andy Lambert and the team at ContentCal didn’t just find it – they used it to unlock rapid growth, build a loyal customer base, and ultimately catch the attention of Adobe. In this episode, Andy shares the real story behind ContentCal’s journey: the early hustle, the painful lessons, and the critical decisions that made the difference—including how putting human faces at the centre of their brand created an unstoppable force of personality-led growth.

We explore how relentless customer conversations shaped the product, why focusing on underserved businesses (not big logos) was crucial for rapid scaling, and how ContentCal’s personal, human approach to marketing established trust that no paid ad could replicate. Andy also shares lessons on rectifying early sales mistakes, expanding a team, and what it’s like to hand your company over to one of the world’s largest software brands. It’s a practical, honest examination of what it takes to grow a company from idea to exit.

The book Andy mentioned was The Startup Owner’s Manual.

Glenn Smith interviews Andy Lethbridge

How do you create a workplace where four generations can learn from each other?

With Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z all working together, organisations must rethink how they share knowledge, develop skills, and adapt to change. But learning looks different across generations—what worked in the past doesn’t always fit today’s workforce. So, how do leaders create a culture of continuous learning that works for everyone?

In this episode, Andy Lethbridge, Global Head of Consulting at BAE Systems Digital Intelligence, discusses how his organisation is tackling this challenge. He discusses what it takes to build a multigenerational learning organisation, from rethinking leadership development and training styles to leveraging AI-driven learning environments and digital twins. As organisations face rapid change, creating a culture that learns and where knowledge flows across generations is more important than ever.

The book Andy mentions is, Be More Pirate.

Glenn Smith interviews Richard Stobart

What does it take to turn an idea into an EV charging network?

Richard Stobart never set out to start a hardware company—he just wanted to charge his new hybrid Volvo outside his London home. That simple need led to the creation of Char.gy, a company transforming urban EV charging using existing infrastructure: lamp posts. But the journey from a cardboard prototype to a certified, scalable product was anything but simple.

In this episode, Richard shares the challenges of launching a hardware startup—navigating government regulations, iterating through product failures, and learning the hard way that software moves fast, but hardware demands patience. He explains how agile principles—often seen in software development—helped Char.gy test, iterate, and adapt in the physical world. We discuss early setbacks, breakthrough moments, and what it takes to scale an innovative idea in a highly regulated industry. 

If you’ve ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes of EV infrastructure, want to build products that interact with the real world or what it takes to build a company from scratch, this conversation is for you.

Glenn Smith interviews Helen Gracie

Why are government services so frustrating to use? And does it have to be this way?

Public services are designed for people who have no choice but to use them. Whether paying tax, applying for a school place, or sorting out your pension, you’re often stuck navigating complicated processes, clunky forms, and long phone queues. All while dealing with frustration, stress, or even urgency. Unlike businesses that compete for customers, government services don’t have competitors. So, what needs to happen to make these services easier for everyone?  

In this episode, Helen Gracie reveals what’s happening behind the scenes. Why poor service design incurs extra costs for everyone, how digital transformation in government has been sluggish and challenging, and what must change to improve these systems for the people who depend on them. We unpack the challenges, examine where progress is being made, and discuss how to create public services that benefit people rather than hinder them.

We will unpack the challenges, explore where progress is happening, and discuss what it takes to create public services that work for people, not against them. We will also see how the lessons learnt in government can be applied to the private sector.

Glenn Smith interviews Jason Sprague

To build or to buy? This is one of the most significant strategic decisions a business can face—but many tend to get it wrong.

In this episode, Jason Sprague discusses the trade-offs involved in build versus buy decisions, the reasons organisations struggle with agility, and how cultural attitudes towards risk influence procurement strategies. We delve into why businesses often desire the control of building while expecting the flexibility associated with buying. How leadership biases affect these decisions, and why the optimal solution is seldom an either/or scenario—it’s a combination. If you believe that the build versus buy discussion is merely a procurement debate, reconsider.

Glenn Smith interviews Andy Smith

AI is only as good as the data it learns from, yet most organisations are sitting on a jumble of outdated, fragmented, and unreliable data. So, how do you clean it up and make it effective you?

In this episode, Andy Smith examines the reality of data cleansing in the AI era, explaining why poor data results in poor decisions and how organisations can prevent themselves from becoming overwhelmed by disconnected datasets. We discuss why data isn’t merely a technological issue, but a challenge that spans the entire business, and how mapping customer journeys can uncover significant opportunities for AI. If you’re considering employing AI but have yet to address your data chaos, this conversation may very well change your perspective.