The Business Leader Podcast

High performance. The buzz term du jour on LinkedIn and in the business community. The man who literally has a podcast on the topic has his doubts about whether people actually know its true meaning.

Jake Humphrey is a former BBC and BT Sport presenter and the Founder of the Whisper Group, a multi-award-winning company that has emerged as the standout breakthrough broadcast production company of the last twenty years. Besides changing the landscape of broadcasting, the company has also been named Best Place to Work every year since 2017 and worked with a variety of broadcasters including Channel 4, BBC, BT Sport, and Amazon Prime, and produces content for Formula One, NFL, UEFA, and The Paralympics, amongst others.

Humphrey’s podcast, the High Performance Podcast, is a chart-topping smash hit that has evolved considerably since its launch in 2021. Hosting the podcast alongside Prof. Damian Hughes, the pair speak to some of the planet's most notable high performers and turn them into life lessons applicable to anyone.

In this exclusive interview, we talk to Jake about failure, imposter syndrome, why high performance may not mean what you think it means, and much more.

Here's what we discussed:

• What makes a great business leader? (00:13)
• Could you give us an overview of your career? (02:00)
• You talk to inspirational people on the High Performance Podcast all the time about mindset. How much do you work on your own positive and determined mindset? (09:38)
• Could you tell us about Whisper and what led you to set it up? (11:45)
• You mentioned that you’re someone who suffers from imposter syndrome. Do you have tips for people who may be in situations as a leader and feel this way? (18:58)
• Some leaders get frustrated because their teams don't think the same way that they do. Have you experienced this or come across it on the High Performance Podcast? (22:24)
• Do you feel like there's a shift to a purpose-driven leadership landscape, compared to years gone by? (29:07)
• Has your perception of high performance changed since starting your podcast? (34:05)
• Have you noticed any particular traits that successful people have in common? (44:05)
• Failure is a part of business. Do you have any tips for people going through a tough period in their business lives? (46:10)
• The Good News Postcard: What was the defining moment for your company? (51:51)

Thanks to Kiaran from the Jill Dando News for bringing us The Good News Postcard this week. Get your dose of positive news by visiting The Good News Post, a website collated by hundreds of young people aged 8 to 18 in the UK. They've written real-life “news that’s good for you”, covering people, animals, stories to cheer people up, and tips to make lives better.

Be sure to subscribe to the podcast and the Business Leader YouTube channel for more interviews with some of the world’s leading business figures.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“Rebel with a cause” is the term often associated with the president of Seat and Cupra. A quick glance at his LinkedIn reveals that Wayne Griffiths is not your usual business leader. He’s a vehement fan of David Bowie, despises suits and ties and is almost always seen sporting jeans and a leather jacket.

In 2016, Luca de Meo, who was recently named the most influential and successful person within the global automotive industry by Autocar UK, brought Griffiths over to Seat as Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “I remember the first management meeting I attended,” Griffiths recalls, “I said ‘I know you guys think I’m just one of these German guys who will be here for a few years and go back to Audi or VW, but that is not the case.’ I knew I was here to stay, and I knew that it was my destiny.”

“This shift from combustion cars to electric cars is allowing a lot of new brands to enter the market,” he says. “When you’re going through disruption, you need to disrupt yourself or you're going to disappear.” He attributes a lot of this change to the attitudes of the next generation: “I think this generation is looking for something different. They want to drive something different than what their parents or grandparents did, something that stands for their values. The old values of prestige, tradition, status, and luxury; are all taboo. They’re looking to define themselves with contemporary values, sustainability, and emotion.”

We spoke to Wayne about transforming Audi into a global brand, launching Cupra, and much more.

Here's what we discussed:

• Could you give us an overview of your career? (01:14)
• What led you to join Seat? (05:22)
• Looking at your career, when did electrification become a priority? (07:53)
• What was the reaction to your idea of launching a new electric car brand? (11:19)
• One of the ways you are disruptive is by hiring from outside of traditional industries. Why is that important to you? (14:46)
• Why have you made it a priority to embrace Spain and Cupra's roots in the country? (18:27)
• What are your thoughts on the UK Government's delaying of the ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles? (22:20)
• The Good News Postcard: If you weren't a business leader, what would you like to be your job and why? (26:19)
• What makes a great business leader? (27:15)

Thanks to Aleyna from the Jill Dando News for bringing us The Good News Postcard this week. Get your dose of positive news by visiting The Good News Post, a website collated by hundreds of young people aged 8 to 18 in the UK. They've written real-life “news that’s good for you”, covering people, animals, stories to cheer people up, and tips to make lives better.

Be sure to subscribe to the podcast and the Business Leader YouTube channel for more interviews with some of the world’s leading business figures.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

30 minutes a day on personal training and development methods, according to research from the Centre for Management & Organisation Effectiveness. Inspiration can come from books, Ted Talks, podcasts and many more sources. But what about improv comedy?

Neil Mullarkey is a unique communication expert who has spent over two decades helping organisations large and small transform their thinking through the power of improv… and yes, that is his real name. His latest book In The Moment provides a powerful case for a more collaborative and creative approach to work and how to achieve it even when embracing hybrid working.

We spoke to Neil about the lessons all leaders can take from improv, getting the most out of hybrid and remote workers, and much more.

Here's what we discussed:

• Could you give us an overview of your career? (01:17)
• Was there a specific moment where you thought that the ethos of improv could benefit the business world? (04:20)
• Can you remember how you felt during that first corporate gig? Was there any imposter syndrome? (11:14)
• Have you had feedback from leaders saying that your sessions were exactly what they needed? (16:12)
• Are people surprised that your sessions are much more than just humour? (21:40)
• Your book includes tips for helping people in remote and hybrid working situations. How did you adapt your own practice during the pandemic? (26:58)
• Is there a characteristic or work-on that is consistent across your work? (33:55)
• The Good News Postcard: What was the highest and lowest point in your career and how did you get through it? (37:56)
• What makes a great business leader? (39:36)

Thanks to Heneh from the Jill Dando News for bringing us The Good News Postcard this week. Get your dose of positive news by visiting The Good News Post, a website collated by hundreds of young people aged 8 to 18 in the UK. They've written real-life “news that’s good for you”, covering people, animals, stories to cheer people up, and tips to make lives better.

Be sure to subscribe to the podcast and the Business Leader YouTube channel for more interviews with some of the world’s leading business figures.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you haven’t heard of disruptive men’s health brand Numan, it’s time to start taking notice. Since its launch in 2018, the company has helped 430,000 men maximise their health.

Having raised over $75m (£61.2m) in funding and boosting a team of over 150 people, the company offers personalised, integrated care in one digital platform and is the brainchild of serial entrepreneur Sokratis Papafloratos.

We spoke to Sokratis about learning from a severe business failure, the key belief you need to look out for in an investor, and much more.

Here's what we discussed:

• Could you give us an overview of your career? (00:22)
• When you came to the UK in 1997, was the plan always to get into business? (02:36)
• Would you call yourself a good employee? (04:00)
• You sold TrustedPlaces to Yell after four years. Did you scale the company for acquisition, or did you get an offer you couldn’t refuse? (05:33)
• What lessons did you learn from the sale that you applied to your next business ventures? (08:51)
• After TrustedPlaces, you launched Togethera and Upshot but decided to shut the business down after a few years. You were 36 at the time and had already been through a lot in business, but did you go through any trepidation or self-doubt? (10:08)
• Sticking with closing down Togethera and Upshot, some people try to raise funds to get out of the hole and some call it a day at the right time. Where would you class yourself on that spectrum? (17:11)
• Onto Numan – you need funding to pull off this brilliant vision you have. You’re not a healthcare expert, but you do have experience in successful businesses. Do investors prioritise experience and vision over expertise? (20:20)
• You are an angel investor yourself. How much does receiving pitches from people change your thinking when preparing to pitch to someone else? (26:00)
• Could you tell us about the funding journey with Numan? (27:47)
• How have you found the experience of hiring people to help you scale Numan? (31:22)
• Could you tell us about Numan's marketing strategy? (33:57)
• What does the future hold for Numan? (35:45)
• The Good News Postcard: What superhero would you be and why? (37:27)
• What makes a great business leader? (38:32)

Thanks to Ella from the Jill Dando News for bringing us The Good News Postcard this week. Get your dose of positive news by visiting The Good News Post, a website collated by hundreds of young people aged 8 to 18 in the UK. They've written real-life “news that’s good for you”, covering people, animals, stories to cheer people up, and tips to make lives better.

Be sure to subscribe to the podcast and the Business Leader YouTube channel for more interviews with some of the world’s leading business figures.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“I wasn’t taught money management at school.” This is a long-held frustration by almost everyone who’s attended formal education. But one company has taken matters into its own hands, with the mission to “make every kid smart with money” and become a household name in the process.

The entrepreneur behind GoHenry, the financial technology company founded in 2012, is Louise Hill.  Targeted at 6- to 18-year-olds, the fintech was born out of frustration after realising that there was nothing in society that could help teach her children how to be good with money in an increasingly digital world. The company now boasts over 2 million members and continues to from strength to strength.

We spoke to Louise about creating a new market, the importance of getting out of the way as a good leader, being on both sides of an acquisition and much more.

Here's what we discussed:

• Who is the Henry of GoHenry? (00:20)
• Could you give us an overview of your career before you set up GoHenry? (03:20)
• You’d imagine GoHenry to be set up by someone who has a background in the banking sector, which you don’t. What made you take the step to start the business? (04:45)
• Would you say your lack of in-depth industry knowledge was actually a benefit? (06:53)
• Could you tell us about starting GoHenry with your Co-Founders? (08:07)
• Could you tell us about your funding journey? (09:09)
• Fast forward to 2016 and you broke the record for the largest equity crowdfunding on Crowdcube, raising £4m. Crowdfunding was in its infancy at the time, were you drawn to it as it was a disruptor like your company? (12:28)
• GoHenry can be regarded as a loud disruptor because most parents are aware of the brand. Were you nervous that established financial companies and traditional banks were going to squash your proposition in the early days? (14:45)
• How did you find the experience of hiring the right people to grow and scale the business? (17:23)
• GoHenry acquired Pixpay. Could you tell us about how this came about and any challenges you came across? (23:12)
• Did you pass on potential acquisitions because of a lack of cultural fit? (26:37)
• You expanded into the US after building a brand in the UK. Did you get frustrated that you had to start from scratch? (27:58)
• Did you find any differences between building a brand in the US, Europe and the UK? (29:18)
• You were acquired by Acorns in April 2023. Could you tell us how this came about? (31:40)
• You’ve been on both sides of an acquisition – when you acquired Pixpay in 2022 and were acquired by Acorns in 2023. Do you have any tips for people going through the process? (34:10)
• The Good News Postcard - If you went down a different career path, what would it be and why? (37:32)
• What makes a great business leader? (39:09)

Thanks to Hayden from the Jill Dando News for bringing us The Good News Postcard this week. Get your dose of positive news by visiting The Good News Post, a website collated by hundreds of young people aged 8 to 18 in the UK. They've written real-life “news that’s good for you”, covering people, animals, stories to cheer people up, and tips to make lives better.

Be sure to subscribe to the podcast and the Business Leader YouTube channel for more interviews with some of the world’s leading business figures.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Five years ago, AI education was provided by Hollywood. Fast forward to today and AI has smashed through the mainstream zeitgeist, and it’s estimated that over 77% of companies across the globe either use or are exploring the use of AI.

Working within a variety of industries, including banking, FinTech, and investments, TurinTech has solidified its place as the leader in AI-powered code optimisation. Along with three of his fellow co-founders, CEO Leslie Kanthan launched the business in 2018 with the vision of unlocking the full potential code and data with GenAI.

In this exclusive discussion, we talk to Leslie about TurinTech’s funding journey, acquiring talent, the negative view of AI, and much more.

Here's what we discussed:

• Could you give us an overview of your career to date? (00:11)
• Could you tell us about Turin Tech? (01:26)
• What made you take the plunge and actually start your own company? (02:55)
• You started a business with three close friends. Some people say that it’s better to not know your co-founders, some say friends and family are best. Where do you stand on this in hindsight? (05:34)
• Could you tell us about your funding journey to this point and do you have any tips for companies raising funding? (08:00)
• How did you find the transition from builder to leader? (10:13)
• There’s lots of talk of a talent shortage in tech. Have you struggled to build the right team to take your company to the next level? (12:13)
• Can you remember when you first started taking an interest in AI? (17:20)
• What does the future hold for AI and what changes need to be made to ensure that it doesn’t end up being a negative for humanity? (19:42)
• As someone who works in the industry, do you get frustrated with the negative headlines around AI? (24:17)
• Is there a technology outside of AI that interests you? (27:50)
• The Good News Postcard: If you could live on another planet, what would it be and why? (29:03)
• What makes a great business leader? (29:54)

Thanks to Holly from the Jill Dando News for bringing us The Good News Postcard this week. Get your dose of positive news by visiting The Good News Post, a website collated by hundreds of young people aged 8 to 18 in the UK. They've written real-life “news that’s good for you”, covering people, animals, stories to cheer people up, and tips to make lives better.

Be sure to subscribe to the podcast and the Business Leader YouTube channel for more interviews with some of the world’s leading business figures.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

She has an unstoppable global brand, her name has become a verb synonymous with class and style, she’s a former Dragon, a renowned presenter and author, and a champion of British enterprise, Kelly Hoppen is without doubt an icon.    

However, Kelly’s story isn’t one of overnight success. She was relentlessly bullied at school, she’s dyslexic, she suffered from severely low self-esteem, and her father passed away when she was just 16 years old. At 16 and a half, she convinced her stepfather’s friend to let her redesign his kitchen. Around this time, her friend was having an affair with a famous racing driver, so she became the interior designer of his house as a front to their affair… and the rest, as they say, is history. 

Over the next four decades, Kelly has done work for some of the most well-known names on the planet, from the Beckhams to P. Diddy, and worked with homes, yachts, jets, hotels, restaurants, and more. She’s written over a dozen books and won numerous awards.

We met up with Kelly at her studio in West London to talk about how business has changed, building a global brand, being a Dragon, and much more. 

Here's what we discussed:

• Do you think you're a competitive person? (01:27)
• Could you give us an overview of your career? (02:20)
• Do you think you'd still have the same level of success if you started your business today? (04:27)
• Networking was a big part of your journey. Did you find that difficult as an introvert? (06:18)
• How did you find developing your leadership style as you grew the business? (08:28)
• Are there any practices from around the world that you wish we did more in the UK? (10:07)
• You haven't taken any external funding. Why is that? (11:23)
• Did you do any investing before you joined Dragons' Den? (13:48)
• Why is mentorship so important to you? (14:58)
• Did you have any mentors growing up? (16:27)
• What would you have done if you didn't go into interior design? (17:13)
• You are dyslexic. Do you feel that people's views of neurodiversity have improved? (17:49)
• How has your business been affected by supply chain struggles caused by Brexit and the war in Ukraine? (20:00)
• How does the current doom and gloom compare to other global crises you've experienced during the history of your business? (21:43)
•  Are you still actively investing in businesses? (22:56)
• The Good News Postcard: If you went down a different business career, what would you have done? (24:00)
• What makes a great business leader? (25:14)
• What is one fact about you that people can't find online? (27:01)

Thanks to Hayden from the Jill Dando News for bringing us The Good News Postcard this week. Get your dose of positive news by visiting The Good News Post, a website collated by hundreds of young people aged 8 to 18 in the UK. They've written real-life “news that’s good for you”, covering people, animals, stories to cheer people up, and tips to make lives better.

Be sure to subscribe to the podcast and the Business Leader YouTube channel for more interviews with some of the world’s leading business figures.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the fast-paced world of digital transformation, Natascha van Boetzelaer shines as a prominent thought leader on all things related to digital talent and organisations.

As a seasoned expert based in the Amsterdam office of global leadership advisory firm, Egon Zehnder, she has been instrumental in guiding both disruptive start-ups and established companies through the intricacies of digital capabilities on a global scale.

With a diverse portfolio of clients, Natascha collaborates with a wide spectrum of talent, ranging from visionary leaders driving transformation in traditional enterprises to trailblazing entrepreneurs leading pure-play ventures. She also partners with domain experts in critical areas like product and technology, growth, artificial intelligence, and data science, enabling companies to stay ahead of the digital curve.

We speak to Natascha about the difference in leadership over the years, the benefit of hiring talent from outside your sector and much more.

Here's what we discussed:

• Could you give us a bit of a summary of your career to this point? (0:15)
• What was it about the entrepreneurial spirit that hooked you, especially in those formative years? (5:37)
• Was disruption something you actively sought out back then? (6:53)
• You mentioned spending a few years in Hong Kong after living in the Netherlands, was this quote daunting, especially with your young family, or was it just an incredibly exciting opportunity you couldn’t turn down? (8:35)
• Did you notice a big difference in leadership style between Hong Kong and the Netherlands? (10:56)
• What kind of differences have you noticed between those leaders that you started with in the early days to the ones you’re placing today? (13:22)
• We’ve spoken to people who believe that hiring someone that’s completely outside of their sector can give their company the edge. Is this something you’ve noticed? (18:07)
• There’s been a lot of talk about a talent shortage in the UK. Is this something you notice in other parts of the world too? (22:15)
• What kind of innovation are you seeing at the moment that really gets you excited and thinking this is going to be big in years to come? (24:40)
• A Goldman Sachs study reveals that 300 million jobs are going to be replaced by AI, but the Institute of Future of Work says 80% of the jobs that will be around in 10-15 years' time don’t exist yet. So from a bird’s eye view of this, as far as where we are heading, how do you view that, are you excited or a little more cautious? (26:34)
• As far as the placement of a person goes, would you prefer candidates to be a little bit more visible in their personal branding, or does it depend on the person? (28:09)
• What's the key improvement that you think some leaders need to really buck up their ideas and really focus on getting better? (31:37)
• The Good News Postcard: what is your favourite part of your job? (34:13)
• What makes a great business leader? (34:59)

Thanks to Amy from the Jill Dando News for bringing us The Good News Postcard this week. Get your dose of positive news by visiting The Good News Post, a website collated by hundreds of young people aged 8 to 18 in the UK. They've written real-life “news that’s good for you”, covering people, animals, stories to cheer people up, and tips to make lives better.

Be sure to subscribe to the podcast and the Business Leader YouTube channel for more interviews with some of the world’s leading business figures.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Roc Nation is an undisputed juggernaut. Since Hip-Hop icon Jay-Z founded the company primarily with the intent of signing pop and rap artists in 2008, Roc Nation has grown into the world’s preeminent entertainment company.

Boasting clients such as Rihanna, DJ Khaled, Jess Glynne, and Alicia Keys, the company announced the formation of a game-changing sports management division, Roc Nation Sports, dedicated to sports representation for professional athletes in 2013. Michael Yormark was brought into the company a year later, and together, they’ve gone on to revolutionise the world of sports management forever.

Meeting Michael at Roc Nation Sports International’s London HQ, we spoke to him about being a disruptor, taking inspiration from his clients, the importance of leading by example, and much more. 

Here's what we discussed:

• Could you give us a snapshot of your working day? (00:10)
• Could you give us an overview of your career to date? (01:30)
• What drew you to sports as a career path? (03:48)
• You did a great job growing the Florida Panthers brand and that’s what caught the eye of Jay-Z. How did you find the experience of growing a winter sport in a warm climate? (05:29)
• What made you switch over from the organisation side of the business to being a representative of athletes? (08:13)
• You’ve got big-name clients at Roc Nation Sports International, such as Kevin De Bruyne, Maro Itoje, Romelu Lukaku, and Siya Kolisi. Is there an X factor that draws you to an athlete that you want to represent? (10:23)
• You've taken a very specific stragetic move to sign Southern African athletes from a variety of sports. What led you to take such a disruptive decision? (12:57)
• Do you feel that working with high-performance athletes gives you extra drive with regard to your leadership? (16:05)
• Many leaders find themselves getting frustrated with the team around them for not being as high-performing as them, and not thinking in the same way as them. Is this something you’ve found while building your team at Roc Nation? (18:33)
• Do you believe that some British companies are missing out on growth potential by not tapping into strategic partnerships? (20:41)
• Why was it so important for you as an organisation to be vocal about societal issues such as racism, and to encourage your clients to do the same? (24:00)
• The Good News Postcard: If you had any three wishes, would it be and why? (26:56)
• What makes a great business leader to you? (29:00)

Thanks to Hayden from the Jill Dando News for bringing us The Good News Postcard this week. Get your dose of positive news by visiting The Good News Post, a website collated by hundreds of young people aged 8 to 18 in the UK. They've written real-life “news that’s good for you”, covering people, animals, stories to cheer people up, and tips to make lives better.

Be sure to subscribe to the podcast and the Business Leader YouTube channel for more interviews with some of the world’s leading business figures.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Reviews can make or break a company. What about going on one of the biggest TV shows in the country and having a respected business say, “I like it because it’s a good lesson on how not to run and set up a business.”

That less-than-glowing review was by ex-career banker turned entrepreneur and business turnaround specialist, Jenny Campbell on the hit BBC show Dragons’ Den in 2018. One of the men in the Den that day was Pasta Evangelists’ Co-Founder, Alessandro Savelli. Fast forward to 2021 and the company was acquired by the world’s largest pasta company, Barilla Group, for £40m.

We spoke to Alessandro about bouncing back from a business failure, searching for Co-Founders to start a business with and much more.

Here's what we discussed:

• Could you give us an overview of your career? (1:57)
• Do you think your smartphone business was a bit ahead of its time? (3:39)
• Towards the end of your smartphone jewellery venture, was there a specific signal that you came across that went this is time to wind this down, or did the market do that naturally? (5:52)
• Could you tell us a little bit about the genesis of Pasta Evangelists and what your mindset was starting again after the failure of your previous company? (7:07)
• Your father was an entrepreneur. How much do you think having a support network around you during the difficult times of closing down your previous company helped? (8:54)
• How did you find the process of finding Co-Founders to help you to grow your business to where it is today? (10:08)
• How did your partnerships, such as your one with Harrods, come about? (14:56)
• How did you avoid spreading your business too thin by having too many commercial offerings? (16:35)
• How did the pandemic affect your business? (19:40)
• You ended up being acquired by Barilla Group. If you could go back and give yourself advice before this acquisition to make it easier, what would it be? (20:56)
• Do you consider yourself a disruptor? (23:55)
• I’m curious about the relationship that countries have with failure. What’s the Italian attitude towards failure in a business sense? (26:17)
• Do you have any tips for business leaders and entrepreneurs who may be going through the fundraising process? (28:17)
• The Good News Postcard: What is your greatest strength and how does it benefit you? (29:50)
• What do you think makes a great business leader? (31:46)

Thanks to Grace from the Jill Dando News for bringing us The Good News Postcard this week. Get your dose of positive news by visiting The Good News Post, a website collated by hundreds of young people aged 8 to 18 in the UK. They've written real-life “news that’s good for you”, covering people, animals, stories to cheer people up, and tips to make lives better.

Be sure to subscribe to the podcast and the Business Leader YouTube channel for more interviews with some of the world’s leading business figures.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.